The night was deep and heavy.

Xie Queshan had only intended to tease Nanyi a little. He had always been someone skilled at restraint. Even with dark tides of desire surging in his eyes, he had ways to stop abruptly.

He thought he did.

She probably saw through his paper tiger nature, so he had to use more dangerous methods to be evenly matched with her. Although such methods often trapped him as well.

Like at this moment—Nanyi didn’t dodge. Her eyes, filled with mist, looked at him quietly. Her thick, dense eyelashes trembled slightly as the mist gathered and condensed into a pearl-like tear embedded at the corner of her eye, about to fall but not quite falling. Only then did he see clearly the fear and relief in her eyes. So in her heart, he was precious.

He had thought that water surface was as calm as usual, not knowing that stepping into it, he would discover it was a violent whirlpool that swept him entirely in.

Within this close distance, he lost his footing, feeling only the surging waves pushing him along. All his pretenses disintegrated in the tide, leaving only himself.

They were both in the deep sea now, where none of the mundane world existed—only them.

He had thought she was duckweed floating attached to him. It turned out she had long been the butterfly flying toward him with spread wings, silent yet magnificent.

Nanyi seemed to sense what would happen next. She slowly closed her eyes, waiting for what was to come.

Her slightly trembling eyelids seemed to hide an inviting mystery, the answer being their life and death—it turned out to be a mutual pursuit concerning romance.

She faced herself honestly.

Those beautiful clothes worn on the body, the Three Guidelines and Five Constants that taught righteousness—actually weren’t that important. In this drifting world, in days of living today without knowing tomorrow, only the present mattered.

She wore human skin, but beneath it remained a primitive beast surviving on instinct. At this moment, she craved the intimacy of skin touching skin, as if only this could fill the enormous emptiness of waiting, could prove the reality of what was lost and found again.

She had experienced an extremely sorrowful day—let her enjoy this momentary illusory joy.

But after waiting for a while, he made no move, only his hand sliding along her leg, the force somewhat unnaturally strong. In the humid air, countless water vapors seemed dormant—part becoming thin sweat in his palm, part winding along her body, boiling together with her blood.

She unconsciously tensed her legs, opening her eyes to look at him in confusion.

Xie Queshan’s lips curved in a half-smile, tilting his head to focus on her: “What are you thinking?”

Nanyi’s face suddenly flushed red to her ears, embarrassed and annoyed, wanting to flee—then at this moment, he leisurely leaned down to kiss her.

He kissed meticulously and lingeringly, turning inch by inch, completely different from his previous dominance. She was kissed until her whole body went soft, her thoughts fragmenting. In her mind, the last string swayed precariously—when had he become so skilled at kissing? This cunning man, at any time, had to take the initiative, unwilling to be teased by her, wanting to turn defeat into victory and ignite her inch by inch.

But she vaguely felt this kiss was different from their past intimacy.

He was also so desperate, yet desperately using some method to whitewash the peace, covering this hopelessness.

Physical closeness was an instinct, a dead end. Mountains of knives and seas of fire, frightening waves—they were just specks of dust. They had no choice but to move closer to each other, closer still, as if this way they could share vulnerabilities and armor, entwined together for warmth, drawing strength sufficient to resist the bitter cold.

But they were just themselves. What could human will resist?

No one knew where this lonely boat would go. They could only grasp each other’s hands.

Under the eaves, spring rain fell urgently.

Inside the window, curtains hung lightly, silk garments piled at her waist.

He quickly stripped off her undergarment in a few moves. Her hands were also busy, insisting on removing his clothes, reciprocating courtesy. But that jade belt hook was fastened with skillful technique—she didn’t know how to unfasten it, becoming increasingly flustered, unable to manipulate it open.

On her slender bare arms, only a bracelet remained, swaying annoyingly.

He caught her wrist, wanting to pull off this bracelet without question.

Nanyi startled, blurting out: “Can’t remove it.”

Her voice was urgent and soft, containing half a breath.

She immediately wanted to explain: “This is…”

He hoarsely interrupted her words quickly, his eyes bright as a wild wolf’s in the darkness: “Don’t speak, don’t mention him.”

She was scolded and felt somewhat at a loss. Slowly tasting something, she raised her hand to hook his neck, wanting to see clearly the expression on his face. She couldn’t help but curve into a smile, a trace of cunning leaping into her confused and mesmerized eyes: “Xie Queshan, are you jealous?”

He wasn’t just jealous—he was also envious, petty, would go mad, very frightening. He was on the edge of some boundary where all emotions were infinitely magnified. Pulling back one point still held reason; going one inch further would turn him into a beast, wishing to possess her completely.

She meant no seduction, yet her voice was so soft it was coquettish, like a red thread winding from his ear to his heart. With just a gentle pull, it made his whole body tremble. He forgot propriety, raising his hand to cover her mouth while the other hand explored beneath her skirt.

Coolness and burning heat invaded simultaneously. Her first uncontrolled moan shattered between his fingers.

She could no longer speak a complete sentence. Under his conquest, her throat could only emit whimpers and moans like a small beast. The hairpin tassels swayed on her loose hair bun, rustling softly.

The spring night had extinguished the charcoal fire, yet a trace of chill lingered. Her skin was cool as white porcelain, unconsciously wanting to press close to him.

He freed his attention to kiss her eyes. The newly grown stubble on his chin, blue and soft, scraped across her cheek. She finally regained her senses, opening misty eyes to look at him. She raised her hand wanting to embrace him, and his body cooperatively collapsed down, lying on top of her.

Her palms caressed his shoulders and back inch by inch, fingertips sliding over taut muscles hard as iron, like an impregnable pass.

She was extremely dazed, even developing some illusions at the peak of desire. As if this was the trace left on his body by every bow he had drawn, every sword he had wielded; this was the wall built up on his body by every day and night his horse galloped with whip flying, his footsteps treading over thousands of mountains and rivers. This was the sum of all his past, forged into his present self. All of him was honestly displayed before her, each movement kneaded into her body.

They were in the deep sea, they were in hell, they were sinking together in this secret, unspoken night.

Who cared where in the world autumn frost would fall?

…

Until dawn broke, her soul still hadn’t returned to its place. Her legs trembling, she was softly held in his arms. But she didn’t want to sleep yet, always feeling something would slip away in a moment.

Finally unable to resist the exhaustion, her half-closed eyelids could no longer be lifted.

Not knowing how long she slept, she hazily heard someone outside calling for Xie Queshan, seeming to have some urgent matter. She gained some consciousness but remained in dreams, her arms holding him unwilling to let go.

Xie Queshan lightly kissed her forehead, still extracting his hand and saying by her ear that he would return by evening.

She continued sinking into dreamland, not knowing day from night, until a ray of sunset fell on the window lattice and she drowsily awakened.

Her feet touched the wooden floor. The aged floorboards made inappropriate creaking sounds. When footsteps stopped, this sound also stopped, the surroundings incredibly quiet—even the distant scattered bird calls could be heard clearly.

If not for the soreness in her body, she would almost think everything last night was a dream.

She draped on clothing and rose. Her long-stagnant brain slowly resumed operation—this was Xie Queshan’s Jingfeng Residence. Presumably he had left hastily; last night’s chaos hadn’t been cleaned up yet. Clothes scattered on the floor, hairpins thrown everywhere, that messily painted screen still standing there like a shocking ruin.

Nanyi was dazed for a while before remembering he had said when leaving in the morning that he would return by evening, but apparently he still hadn’t returned.

She guessed Wanyan Jun was difficult to deal with, surely many trivial matters had detained Xie Queshan. She gathered the clothes from the floor piece by piece and dressed, simply tidying up before quietly preparing to slip back to her small courtyard.

Fatally, she couldn’t even climb over a wall now.

She could only tuck her tail between her legs and return through the main gate. She hid by the wall observing for a long time, waiting for when no one was around outside, then rushed to the corridor in one breath, pretending to pass by.

Just turning the corner, she encountered a group of maidservants. Everyone just normally bowed to her, yet she suddenly felt extremely guilty, her face burning red, afraid something unusual would be detected.

When indulging, she had only thought of breaking the jar and smashing it, destroying heaven and earth, not caring about tomorrow. But when truly sober, she discovered the mess was still there, even worse.

This was Wangxue Wu after all. They still had to actually live here, seeing each other constantly. What should be done in the future?

Nanyi thought she couldn’t remain in Wangxue Wu as the young mistress anymore.

But this matter would have to wait until Xie Queshan returned for discussion—how she should leave most safely, and with what identity she would operate in Li Du Mansion afterward.

She thought confusedly again—when he returned, how should she face him in front of others?

What happened with lights out was one thing; walking in bright daylight was another. She must not show half a trace of abnormality.

She straightened her face and lightly nodded to the empty air.

No good—this wasn’t right either, appearing too affected. Everyone feared him. If she put on airs, wouldn’t that arouse suspicion?

Better to lower her eyes and bow properly. When no one was paying attention, give him a meaningful glance and arrange to meet.

No, no, this was too improper.

Hey, now she thought of propriety? Nanyi found herself somewhat amusing.

Her mind full of wild thoughts, she returned to her room in a daze.

The sky darkened again. Nanyi spent this day in confusion, heating water to wash herself, then collapsing into bed to sleep immediately upon touching it.

The second day, Xie Queshan still hadn’t returned home.