Cheng Chi laughed with a “pfft” sound, pinched Zhou Shaojin’s pert nose, and said, “Close your eyes quickly and go to sleep!”

Zhou Shaojin felt like she was dreaming, afraid that if she didn’t obey the dream would end. She hurriedly closed her eyes.

Cheng Chi laughed softly.

The laughter vibrated in his chest, transmitting to Zhou Shaojin’s ears, into her heart…

She secretly squinted to peek.

His smile was so warm and gentle, like brilliant spring sunshine.

Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt sad.

So wonderful.

He was such a wonderful person—why did he have to encounter her?

If he hadn’t encountered her, would he and Peony already be sharing conjugal bliss in perfect harmony?

She bit her lip, grabbed Cheng Chi’s lapels, and said in a low voice, “Fourth Master, I… I can…”

Cheng Chi’s heart suddenly beat violently, his mind buzzing, thinking he had heard wrong.

But Zhou Shaojin firmly gripped his chest, and said again in a low voice, “I can.”

Cheng Chi forcefully held the little girl in his arms, so tightly it was as if he wanted to embed her into his embrace, make her part of his own body.

His little girl always put him first, always took his feelings as her own feelings. In her eyes, in her heart, all he could see was himself.

How could there be such a lovable little girl!

And now she was his wife!

How could he be so fortunate?

In this vast mortal world, even through rebirth, she had to meet him.

Was this a blessing from the Bodhisattva?

Seeing his anger, seeing his unwillingness, seeing his struggles, so she was sent to his side, making him unable to leave this tender affection and sweet intimacy, embellishing his gentle humility, completing his gracious nobility, allowing him to remain that Fourth Master of the Cheng family…

Zhou Shaojin felt her bones were about to be crushed by him. She wanted to cry out in pain, but could clearly and distinctly feel his joy and affection. For a moment she was reluctant, so she could only grit her teeth and endure it. When she really couldn’t bear it anymore, she finally let out a low moan.

Cheng Chi immediately came to his senses.

No one knew better than himself how strong he was.

Cheng Chi quickly loosened his arms and asked urgently, “Does it hurt badly? Let me look.”

Two glowing orbs of light appeared in the bed curtains.

Zhou Shaojin looked and saw they were actually two luminous pearls the size of longans.

She was shocked.

But Cheng Chi smiled nonchalantly and said, “Originally the family had one that I was planning to give you to play with. Later I thought it would be better to have a matching pair, so I searched for a long time before finding the other one. Then we started preparing for the wedding, and Fourth Aunt moved into Elm Tree Alley. It wasn’t that I didn’t give it to you—I was also a bit afraid of exposing such wealth, that someone would covet it and it would harm you instead. So I thought…” As he spoke, he bit Zhou Shaojin’s soft earlobe, his voice also lowering, like intimate whispers. “After I got you… I could use it to coax you… Never thought I still didn’t succeed…”

Zhou Shaojin’s throat felt blocked by something. She couldn’t say a word, just stared blankly at Cheng Chi without blinking.

She was just a timid and cowardly woman. What difference was there between her and those young ladies raised in inner chambers? What virtue or ability did she have to deserve such treatment from him…

Zhou Shaojin buried her head in his chest, as if this way she could hide her heart that resisted him, so he couldn’t see it.

Cheng Chi thought she was shy.

He laughed softly.

Supporting himself, he checked her arms and back, using the light of the luminous pearls to see if she was injured.

But as soon as his gaze fell on her body, he felt great regret.

He had originally practiced controlling his vision, and those two luminous pearls were of excellent quality. To him they were like clear moonlight. Zhou Shaojin’s flawless back was presented before him like a white jade pipa, and above that willow-thin waist was actually tied a purple silk ribbon.

Cheng Chi’s breathing shortened.

Could she be…

His gaze involuntarily looked over.

It really was a purple undergarment embroidered with pink peonies.

From his angle, he could just see those magnificent flower petals.

“Shaojin!” His heart stirred with emotion. He bent down and kissed that fair, delicate yet rounded shoulder.

Her shoulder felt as if scorched by fire. Zhou Shaojin’s body trembled, acting of its own accord, making her uncontrollably feel a tearing pain.

But this pain was different from the past.

In the past, she only felt fear, humiliation, unbearable torment. Now, she only felt anger, resentment, overwhelming hatred… Those memories—why should they dominate her emotions, why should they control her feelings of disgust?

She was unwilling!

She wouldn’t admit defeat!

She wrapped her arms around Cheng Chi’s neck, pressing herself tightly into Cheng Chi’s embrace.

“Take me! Take me!” She murmured, tears streaming down like March rain.

She wanted that pain, wanted that earth-shattering pain.

Wanted the pain that Cheng Chi gave her.

Wanted the pain given by Cheng Chi, pain that pierced her heart and lungs.

That way, the pain she had suffered would be covered over, wouldn’t it?

“Take me…”

After the fact, thinking back on it, Cheng Chi found it somewhat incredible.

Was it that men were essentially beasts, just usually hidden beneath respectable clothing, not having encountered the right moment?

He clearly knew what Shaojin meant, yet still couldn’t help but act.

And he actually felt very good about it.

No, not very good.

Extremely good.

Thinking of this, Cheng Chi felt somewhat dejected.

He leaned against the headboard, involuntarily glancing at the small person beside him.

She closed her eyes, tightly wrapped in the quilt. Her complexion was still as pale as before, but compared to earlier, a shallow pink color appeared on her cheeks, making her like an elegant cymbidium orchid with a faint beautiful color.

He thought of that flower he had ravished.

Pink and tender, just budding, not yet bloomed.

Yet it made all the beasts in his heart run out…

He didn’t know how he could be like that.

When helping her clean up afterward, even his gentlest touch would make her shrink back.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but bend down, kiss her cheek, and say in a low voice, “Are you very uncomfortable?” He hesitated, then said, “Should I find a female physician for you?”

“No!” Zhou Shaojin said urgently, not daring to open her eyes at all.

How, how could she have dared to say those things to him?

As if afraid he wouldn’t want her, before he could speak she had already put her hand inside his clothing…

She must have been crazy!

She must have been possessed.

Her body hurt so much.

She thought she would die… but she still accommodated him, still lived through it.

But it was also so shameful.

He saw her clearly.

Even places she herself had never seen.

He even applied medicine for her, cleaned her body.

How did she not just faint then…

Though it could barely count as semi-unconscious, right?

At that time her mind was unclear, she thought he wanted to do it again. She didn’t expect he was cleaning her body…

Zhou Shaojin also felt a bit sweet.

Now, she had truly become his person!

They were truly husband and wife now!

They would share a bed, have children, grow old together. They would be happy and content, wouldn’t they?

Zhou Shaojin wanted to look at Cheng Chi.

She couldn’t help but squint to peek at him.

Cheng Chi sat half-naked against the large welcoming pillow at the head of the bed, his hair somewhat disheveled, his expression relaxed, his manner satisfied, with undisguised lightness and… contentment.

Yes, contentment!

Like tasting a good tea, drinking good wine, eating a good dish… full of pleasure in this moment.

Zhou Shaojin felt shy.

Did this mean he really liked her just now?

But her body still hurt so much!

Grievance inexplicably welled up in her heart.

She wanted Cheng Chi to hold her, wanted to cry in his embrace… Her body moved toward Cheng Chi ahead of her thoughts.

Cheng Chi watched her move toward him like a cocoon. He couldn’t help but laugh softly.

He didn’t know if it was from fear of frightening her or from concealing his own bestial desires—when he covered her body, he had casually prepared to push those two luminous pearls under the pillow, but she stopped him… His base nature wanted to watch her appearance beneath him, going with the flow… Yet she kept her eyes open looking at his face, as if wanting to see clearly who was unscrupulously wild upon her body.

At that time, she wanted to forget past memories, right?

Thinking this, Cheng Chi took the initiative to embrace her along with the quilt.

Only now did Zhou Shaojin feel afraid after the fact.

Under the quilt, she wore nothing at all.

What if she aroused Cheng Chi to seek her again—what would she do?

Good thing there was a layer of quilt between them.

She let out a long comfortable breath, obediently nestled in his embrace, and closed her eyes.

Her long lashes were like flower stamens in a gentle breeze, trembling.

Another flower appeared in Cheng Chi’s mind… Blood surged downward… Unbearably uncomfortable…

He smiled bitterly, covered Zhou Shaojin’s eyes with his hand, and said, “Sleep quickly! We have to get up early tomorrow morning!”

Zhou Shaojin nodded.

But his body not only didn’t calm down, it became even more agitated because of the warm smoothness in his palm.

What a little enchantress!

What to do tonight?

Touching her was absolutely impossible.

Even if she was willing, he had to consider her body.

But not touching her…

Cheng Chi doubted his self-control for the first time.

He couldn’t help muttering to himself.

Could they really sleep in separate beds?

Even if they slept in separate beds, they’d have to wait until after the wedding period. Otherwise how would Shaojin establish herself in the family? How would Mother view Shaojin!

Cheng Chi scratched his hair in distress.

The consequences of indulgence became apparent after daybreak.

Cheng Chi was full of vigor, looking radiant and spirited.

Zhou Shaojin found it painful to walk.

Old Madam Guo couldn’t hide her knowing smile, especially after Nanny Lü whispered a few words in her ear while watching them. The joy overflowed from her eyes and brows, impossible to contain.

She said to Cheng Chi, “The manor is so large—walking to the ancestral hall takes at least half an hour. The family relatives are all waiting for you to serve tea. After that there’s still opera to perform at the manor. Have someone prepare a sedan chair for you both to ride together. After paying respects to the ancestors at noon, go serve tea. After that, send Shaojin to me. I have several old sisters here waiting to drink Shaojin’s tea! Do you understand? Don’t torment her anymore!”

Being a widow, even for her own son’s wedding, Old Madam Guo couldn’t participate.

Naturally there were also other old madams and matrons in similar situations by her side.

These people would all give Zhou Shaojin meeting gifts when she came to kowtow to Old Madam Guo after recognizing the relatives.

But Mother’s suggestive words still made Cheng Chi’s ears burn, and he responded somewhat unnaturally with “Yes.”