Page 209

Xuetuan had been sulking; Shen Chuwei had gone out without taking it with her, but instead left it at home.

It looked up and meowed plaintively, "Meow!"

The cat’s cry snapped Shen Chuwei back to reality, and she quickly averted her gaze to Xuetuan, only to see it looking as woeful as could be.

That look in its eyes was clearly seeking comfort.

I can’t even take care of myself right now, let alone comfort you!

You should stop making noise; Xiao Jinyan will only get angrier, and I’ll be the one who suffers.

Xuetuan, be good!

Xuetuan blinked its deep blue eyes a couple of times, somewhat baffled.

When Xiao Jinyan came out, he noticed Shen Chuwei staring at him. He had just realized during his bath that he had forgotten to bring his clothes and had to come out wrapped in a towel.

He walked over slowly, glanced at Xuetuan, and tossed two words its way, "Get out."

"Meow." Already feeling wronged, Xuetuan became even more so under Xiao Jinyan’s overwhelming presence. Reluctantly, it jumped down from the chair, went to the window, and leaped out, vanishing into the night with its snowy white silhouette.

Watching Xuetuan leave, Shen Chuwei’s uneasiness returned. She withdrew her gaze and looked towards Xiao Jinyan, who had already walked over.

Now she had a close-up view, and it was very clear.

Xiao Jinyan’s figure could be said to be perfect, with not an ounce of excess fat on his waist and sinewy muscles throughout his body. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say the lines were fluid and his flexibility superb.

When she had studied painting, she had searched for reference pictures online. Many were overly exaggerated, featuring either muscle-bound or too simplistic bodies, leaving little to reference.

Xiao Jinyan chuckled with a very light smile, "I didn’t expect Xiaojiu to be so interested in me."

Shen Chuwei felt awkward, realizing that she had been thinking about now having a reference for painting.

She hastily denied, "Not at all, this concubine wouldn’t dare."

Xiao Jinyan, of course, didn’t believe her, "Is that so? I remember you are quite good at painting."

Shen Chuwei felt extremely guilty; this old sesame rotten grain matter, he actually remembered?

"This concubine just doodles aimlessly, Your Highness shouldn’t take it seriously."

Xiao Jinyan questioned further, "Then why did you paint me?"

Shen Chuwei feigned ignorance, "...Really? Your Highness must be mistaken."

Shen Chuwei beat her chest and stomped her feet, filled with regret.

If she could go back, she would promise not to paint.

And she definitely wouldn’t take up painting because she found Xiao Jinyan handsome, using him as a model, nor would she paint such pleasing images!

Xiao Jinyan chuckled lightly, "My eyesight is still good; the portrait is clearly of me."

Shen Chuwei gritted her teeth and simply admitted it. It was just a painting, after all, not a crime!

But when she spoke out, she sounded utterly timid, "This concubine was so dazzled upon seeing Your Highness’s appearance that I couldn’t help but sketch it down."

And she didn’t forget to flatter him.

"Why then, is the attire so scant?"

Shen Chuwei hadn’t expected Xiao Jinyan to question so persistently. Why? Of course, she couldn’t say.

"Because this concubine foolishly does not know how to draw those complex patterns on the clothes."

Xiao Jinyan watched her for a while. The first time he saw that painting, he was indeed shocked.

Not only because her painting was incredibly detailed—so much that the strands of hair and muscular lines were very lifelike.

But also because the protagonist of the painting was himself, and he was smiling.

"Your Highness, this concubine will fetch your clothes." Shen Chuwei didn’t want to continue this topic. She got up from the bed neatly, put on her shoes, picked up the clothes from the bed, only to be grabbed by Xiao Jinyan.

"There’s no need."

Shen Chuwei looked Xiao Jinyan up and down, puzzled, "Then Your Highness is planning to sleep like this tonight?"

A trace of a faint smile crossed Xiao Jinyan’s eyes as he took two steps forward.

Involuntarily, Shen Chuwei stepped back, her calves hitting the bed, causing her to fall backward. Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed Xiao Jinyan’s arm, "Ah!!!"

Xiao Jinyan wrapped his arm around her waist and they both fell onto the bed; fortunately, the bed was soft and, with Xiao Jinyan holding her, the fall didn’t hurt.

Shen Chuwei breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that it was the bed behind her and not the floor, which would have surely been painful.

When she looked up at Xiao Jinyan, she realized just how close they were.

The touch in her palm was firm and hot.

Xiao Jinyan’s gaze remained fixed on her as he called out with a slightly deep voice, "Xiaojiu."

Shen Chuwei’s fair cheeks grew warm, "Your Highness, please get up first."

Xiao Jinyan noted a slight blush on her face, and his long fingers touched her cheek, feeling the warmth.

"Why is your face red?"

Shen Chuwei meekly replied, "Your Highness, if you get up, this concubine will stop blushing."

Xiao Jinyan chuckled, "What if I don’t get up?"

Shen Chuwei responded earnestly and in a tone suggesting she knew best, "Then we can’t possibly sleep in this position! It doesn’t bother this concubine, but you might find it uncomfortable, Your Highness. It’s for several hours through the night."

Holding back laughter, Xiao Jinyan said, "Xiaojiu, you’re so adorable."

Shen Chuwei was taken aback as she noticed Xiao Jinyan laugh several times that evening. It took her a moment to reconcile that with the image of him as an imposing and cold ruler.

Although he looked quite handsome when he laughed, she was still a bit unaccustomed to it.

Xiao Jinyan said, "I have ordered you not to wander off; why did you knowingly disobey?"

Shen Chuwei hurriedly replied, "This concubine realizes her mistake and guarantees it will not happen again."

Xiao Jinyan had no real intention of holding her accountable, so seeing her apologetic attitude, he decided not to pursue the matter any further.

He pressed the hand at his chest back down onto the bed and bent down to kiss her lips.

Shen Chuwei blinked her beautiful eyes, suddenly recalling the way Xiao Jinyan had nibbled on her the night before. Her lips had still been a bit sore while eating the spicy soup that evening.

As she braced for pain, she found that his kiss was truly gentle compared to the night before.

Not only gentle, but there was also a touch of restraint and patience in it.

Shen Chuwei’s body instantly melted, just as it had the previous times, dazed by the kiss, lost and unaware of direction.

She, who had never been in love before, didn’t understand how a single kiss could make her forget time and even where she was.

It was as if the person leading the kiss was intentionally guiding her.

Just as she was running out of breath, Xiao Jinyan suddenly let her go. He got up, closed the bed curtains, and then climbed into bed, his actions seeming somewhat eager.

At this point, if she didn’t know what Xiao Jinyan wanted to do, she would be a fool.

It seemed that she was truly about to perform her conjugal duties.

She, the little salted fish, was about to be tossed and turned again.

Xiao Jinyan kissed her again, still tender and restrained.

"...Your Highness."

Xiao Jinyan spoke in a hoarse voice, "Call me Jinyan."

Shen Chuwei hesitated, "Your Highness, this concubine..."

She had something to say, and if she didn’t speak now, she would lose the chance.

Unfortunately, Xiao Jinyan didn’t give her the opportunity to talk.

He stared at her intently and repeated, "At this moment, you should call me Jinyan, understand?"

Left with no choice, Shen Chuwei yielded, calling out, "Jinyan."

...

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