Chapter 101
Chapter 101
In broad daylight, Shengsheng Zhou stood hesitantly outside Fusheng Duan’s bedchamber.
She firmly believed that after a night to think, Fusheng must have realized yesterday’s behavior was a moment of madness. He was probably regretting it now, unsure how to dissolve the awkwardness.
As for her, if she pretended nothing had happened and let the matter pass naturally, they could remain perfectly happy mistress and servant.
Having taken medicine exchanged from A-Pang, Shengsheng stood outside Fusheng’s room and encouraged herself.
You’re definitely right, Shengsheng!
Believe in yourself. You know Fusheng from the tips of his hair to his heels!
She smiled confidently and entered, supporting her waist.
Though healed, she still had to pretend or she could not explain it.
Fusheng reclined on his favorite couch. Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes.
After dawdling outside so long, she had finally come in?
“This servant greets the Noble Consort.” Shengsheng bowed shallowly.
Seeing her steady stance, Fusheng guessed she had mostly recovered.
“What is it?” he asked.
Shengsheng had not devised an excuse, but first she needed to flatter him.
“This servant’s injury has improved. Fearing others might serve Your Highness poorly, this servant came personally to check on you,” she said solemnly.
*I need a favor, sob.*
Fusheng watched her inscrutably, then beckoned. “Come here.”
After considering, Shengsheng decided he surely would not misbehave and approached.
“What does Your Highness com–!”
The instant she drew near, his long arm swept her onto his body. His familiar scent filled her nose; that astonishing face enlarged before her, her chin was caught, and he unceremoniously invaded her lips again.
Shengsheng’s mind went blank.
*An Encore.*
Breathless when they parted, Shengsheng released the scrap of fabric she had clutched at his chest and panted.
Yet he seemed unsatisfied and tried to pull her in again.
Shengsheng hastily placed an arm between them, attempting to create distance.
Fusheng persisted with a soft scoff, seemingly mocking her for overestimating herself.
She had indeed overestimated herself. He moved forward slightly, forcing her to lean back. She nearly fell and had to cling desperately to his waist like a lifeline.
Fusheng flicked aside her disordered hair, laughter sparkling in his eyes.
“See? You came back yourself,” he said.
He lowered his head and caught her already swollen lips again.
He finally understood why that fool Xunlan Liu filled his head with such sordid affairs.
As it turned out…
the taste truly was addictive.
A-Pang had covered his eyes and flown away as soon as they drew too close.
He felt like a dog kicked while walking down the street.
Thus, without effort or a single soldier lost, Shengsheng obtained Fusheng’s permission to visit the Jiang family.
Though a palace maid had no reason to go, Fusheng asked nothing, as if unconcerned. He even gently told her to finish her business and return.
The only restriction was that she could not stay away too long. He said he could not wait that long.
As for what he was waiting for, Shengsheng Zhou chose to ignore it.
After straightening her disheveled clothes, Shengsheng raced for the door like a gale, afraid Fusheng Duan might suddenly change his mind and pull her back.
Before she could open it, a tall body pressed close behind her. Then a soft chuckle, its lingering note curling like a hook, sounded beside her ear.
Every hair on Shengsheng’s body stood on end. As if struck mute, she did not dare make a sound.
Something fastened around her waist, after which the man personally sent her out.
The door slowly closed before her. Shengsheng stared blankly down at herself for a while before realizing she had fled so hastily that she had left her sash behind without noticing.
*Damn it. How mortifying.*
If she had not feared being seen, Shengsheng would have curled up right there and wept over having embarrassed herself to death.
Normally, she could run her mouth with the best of them. But the moment she actually kissed someone, she became timid and shrinking, like a completely different person.
Fine, Fusheng Duan. She admitted her tone toward him had been a little loud at first.
But let it be known: honeyed traps did not work on her!
*So, Shengsheng, are you dating the villain now?* A-Pang had appeared beside her at some point.
Shengsheng’s pupils contracted. Striding rapidly toward her room, she stammered, *D-Don’t talk nonsense! You’re only a… panda! What would you know about dating?*
A-Pang gave her a speechless look. *Then what does dating mean?*
Shengsheng threw open her door in one burst of courage and slammed it shut behind her. After panting several times, she said, *Dating means… Oh, I can’t explain it to you!*
Shengsheng waved him away.
A-Pang understood now. She did not know either, did she?
After standing blankly before her dressing table for a while, Shengsheng touched her lips.
No wonder some people had no interest in dating and only wanted to kiss.
It really did feel good.
But surely that heady rush that sent all the blood in one’s body surging the wrong way would be the same no matter whom one kissed…
As she thought that, she suddenly noticed a box.
Oh, right.
Come to think of it, Weiqing Song seemed to have asked A-Si to deliver a box to her.
He had called it a farewell gift.
Siran Ming had given her gold bars. Surely Weiqing was not so stingy that he begrudged her even a single pearl?
So she thought.
As though sincerely trying to divert her own attention, she reached out and opened the box.
But no brilliant blaze of jewels illuminated the unremarkable room.
Frowning, she pinched the object inside and lifted it out.
It was a book.
Despite a bad feeling, curiosity ultimately drove Shengsheng to open it.
The title was peculiar:
*What Is Long Remembered Will Find an Echo.*
— Scene Change —
“Xiaoyu… I believe your mother taught you not to pick up people from outside. Do you remember?”
Xiyuan Duanmu stared at her now graceful, grown daughter and the extraordinarily handsome, if somewhat bedraggled, man behind her, then sank into thought.
Even a fool could tell this man was no ordinary person!
Zhiyu Jiang shook her head. “He isn’t a stranger. He’s Little Ming.”
Siran Ming stepped forward. Though dusty from travel, he was an accomplished pretender as always and said with impeccable courtesy, “Greetings, Auntie. I brought you a gift for our first meeting.”