“What are you nervous about? Weren’t we alone together in that cave?”

That time was much more improper than now.

“That, that was different…”

“How was it different?”

Shao Mingyuan smiled bitterly: “Zhaozhao, you forgot – I was unconscious then.”

He didn’t know if other men were the same, or if there were men like the legendary Liu Xiahui. But for himself, sharing a bed with the girl he loved, even though he rationally knew he shouldn’t have improper thoughts, he couldn’t stop his mind from wandering.

“Why did Jiang Yuanchao appear here?” Qiao Zhao simply changed the subject directly.

Jiang Yuanchao’s appearance was like a dark cloud hanging over their hearts. Hearing Qiao Zhao say this, Shao Mingyuan indeed shifted his attention.

“We previously guessed that Jiang Yuanchao went to Lingnan. Could we have been wrong? Or does he have another mission that brought him from Lingnan to Fudong?”

Shao Mingyuan turned his head to look at the young girl on the inner side, feeling they were still too close. He turned his gaze upward: “He should be like us, having just entered Fudong territory. Otherwise, with his status, he wouldn’t be staying at such an inn.”

“Perhaps he’s trying to keep a low profile?”

“That’s also possible.”

“Zhen Niang mentioned that the Jinlin Guards stationed in Fudong have been bought off by Xing Wuyang. Tingquan, do you think Jiang Yuanchao came to investigate this?”

“Hard to say. The Jinlin Guards act mysteriously – it’s difficult to predict their exact purpose. But Jiang Yuanchao’s timing is somewhat subtle.” Shao Mingyuan put his hands behind his head, found the position uncomfortable, and quietly shifted his body inward.

With his body no longer half-suspended, he finally felt more comfortable. Shao Mingyuan let out a soft sigh and continued: “The inn’s waiter said many wealthy households from Fuxing City have come to this town, which suggests something must have happened in Fuxing City – and something bad – to make those life-cherishing wealthy people flee for refuge. Jiang Yuanchao’s sudden appearance here might be related to whatever happened in Fuxing City.”

Qiao Zhao sighed: “I just hope he doesn’t bring us trouble.”

“Zhaozhao, let’s sleep. Whatever happened in Fuxing City, we’ll find out tomorrow when we get there.”

“Mm, let’s sleep.”

The room fell quiet again, and they could hear each other’s light breathing.

The oil lamp burned out, and the room fell into darkness.

After a long while, Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but turn over, suddenly meeting a pair of bright eyes.

Their gazes locked, both startled.

“You’re still not asleep?” Qiao Zhao felt inexplicably nervous.

“Just about to sleep.” Shao Mingyuan was equally nervous.

Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together: “Then… hurry up and sleep. We have to travel early tomorrow morning.”

“Alright.” The man obediently agreed but still kept his eyes open, looking at her.

“What are you looking at?” Qiao Zhao quietly clenched her fists.

Shao Mingyuan was somewhat flustered: “I, I just think you’re beautiful.”

Qiao Zhao secretly took a breath and said with feigned calm: “I know I’m beautiful. Hurry up and sleep.”

“Mm, sleeping now.” Shao Mingyuan closed his eyes.

Outside, thunder could occasionally be heard rumbling, but the rain still hadn’t fallen.

The room had only one small window, and because it was closed, the room was quite stuffy.

Qiao Zhao quietly pulled the thin quilt down, revealing her graceful waist.

Shao Mingyuan opened his eyes, then quickly shut them again, his breathing becoming more rapid.

Qiao Zhao’s back stiffened, and only after a while did she slowly relax, thinking to herself: Ignore that fool, she would sleep her sleep!

She couldn’t help but move further toward the inner side.

“Zhaozhao, don’t press so close to the wall – it’s too cold.”

Qiao Zhao’s body went rigid as she said flatly: “I know. Hurry up and sleep, or it’ll be dawn if we delay any longer—”

As she was speaking, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky outside, suddenly illuminating the gauze window, followed immediately by tremendously shocking thunder that seemed to shake the very ground.

This thunderclap was so startling that Shao Mingyuan instinctively pulled Qiao Zhao into his arms, saying gently: “Zhaozhao, don’t be afraid.”

Qiao Zhao’s whole body went stiff, and only after a while did she say: “I’m not afraid.”

Being suddenly embraced in the middle of the night was much more frightening than thunder, shocking her so much that she didn’t recover for quite a while.

Fortunately, it was Shao Mingyuan – if it had been someone else, she probably would have stabbed them with a needle.

Outside, torrential rain arrived, accompanied by fierce wind violently beating against the window frame, as if trying to penetrate the gauze window and surge into the room.

Thunderclaps sounded one after another, and lightning occasionally illuminated the interior.

The two lay facing each other, and in the instant when lightning flashed, they could clearly see each other’s appearance.

Shao Mingyuan gazed at the young girl within arm’s reach, motionless.

Qiao Zhao was drawn to those particularly dark eyes of his, momentarily forgetting to look away.

Amid the sound of thunder and rain, Shao Mingyuan gently licked his dry lips, his voice husky: “Zhaozhao?”

“Mm?”

“Let’s get married next year.”

In such an ambiguous atmosphere, hearing the man beside her suddenly bring this up, Qiao Zhao’s face grew slightly warm: “I won’t have my coming-of-age ceremony next year.”

Outside, wind and rain raged, and the man’s voice seemed low and hoarse: “There are quite a few women who marry before their coming-of-age ceremony.”

He really couldn’t wait much longer.

“But my parents and elders wouldn’t agree.”

Given Li Father and Li Mother’s love for their daughter, they surely wouldn’t bear to see her marry early.

“I’ll work hard to persuade them.”

“Then we’ll talk after you’ve worked hard at it.” Qiao Zhao said vaguely.

Shao Mingyuan was overjoyed: “Zhaozhao, does this mean you don’t object?”

Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together and remained silent.

In such a delicate moment, her silence was tantamount to agreement.

Shao Mingyuan was beside himself with joy and kissed Qiao Zhao’s forehead.

After he kissed her, he couldn’t help but freeze.

They were extremely close, their noses almost touching, their breath intermingling, their heartbeats gradually synchronizing.

“Zhaozhao, I—”

Qiao Zhao extended her index finger and placed it on Shao Mingyuan’s lips: “Don’t explain.”

The young girl’s fingertip was soft, seeming to create a series of electric currents that made the man’s whole body tingle.

Qiao Zhao avoided his burning gaze and awkwardly turned around, but as she turned, she suddenly noticed something hard pressing against her back.

Qiao Zhao turned back around as if electrocuted, but because she turned too hastily, her soft lips collided with his.

Shao Mingyuan’s breath caught.

Their gazes locked, lips pressed to lips.

After the initial shock, Qiao Zhao hurriedly tried to pull back, but a large hand supported the back of her head and pressed her forward, kissing her deeply.

Their rapid breathing was masked by the thunder and rain, yet to both their ears it was louder than the startling thunder outside.

Qiao Zhao was kissed until her mind went blank, hearing only the great crash of thunder.

The young girl’s compliance made the man’s breathing even more rapid. Just then, a bolt of lightning flashed, and he saw the young girl’s trembling, long eyelashes and her peach-blossom-like, rosy cheeks.

The string called reason suddenly snapped, and the man’s hands moved down to the young girl’s waist, suddenly lifting her and placing her on top of him.