The cold was severe. At night, only the howling north wind could be heard beating against the windows, trying to seep through every crack.
The lights in Haitang Residence were still on.
Jiang Si was reading a travelogue, leaning against the heated kang. The warmth, mixed with a faint charcoal fragrance, made her drowsy.
She couldn’t focus on the book but rather enjoyed the idle leisure that came after the sudden relaxation of tense nerves, feeling a bit bored and lost.
Jiang Si relished this boredom. Who wouldn’t? Boredom is often a luxury born from the absence of pressure and crisis.
For instance, earlier, the ill fates of Second Brother and Big Sister from their previous lives had hung over her head like sharp swords, leaving her feeling only urgency and worry. Where was the time to be bored then?
The feeling of being lost was about her future with Yu Qi.
Before she had only thought about staying away from that man, so there was no need to worry about these things. But now that she had decided to start anew with him, she was concerned about the difficulties ahead.
Father didn’t approve of her marrying into the royal family, and as for the royal family, they certainly wouldn’t favor her either.
Jiang Si placed the book over her face and closed her eyes.
Never mind, she thought. Let Yu Qi worry about these things. Even if she wanted to help, she couldn’t do much. It’s not like she could go before the Emperor and recommend herself.
A rhythmic knocking on the window broke the silence.
Jiang Si lifted the book from her face and looked towards the window.
Winter nights came early, and it was already pitch black outside. The gauze window was hazy, with occasional dark shadows passing by—withered banana leaves swept past by the wind.
“Miss?” Aqiao was on duty that night. Hearing the noise, she picked up a vase and walked towards the window.
The knocking paused briefly, then resumed.
Jiang Si gestured for Aqiao to open the window.
Aqiao, holding the vase in one hand, opened the window with the other.
As the cold wind rushed in, a figure nimbly jumped inside.
The young man who emerged from the darkness had ink-black eyes and brows, contrasting with his red lips and white teeth, exuding unparalleled charm.
Aqiao calmly closed the window, curtsied slightly to Yu Jin, and walked to the outer room with the vase.
Yu Jin was slightly surprised. He walked over to sit beside Jiang Si, smiling, “Asi, your maid is quite sensible. I thought she was going to hit me with that vase.”
Jiang Si glanced at him sideways and put the book aside.
“It’s really cold,” Yu Jin said pitifully, pressing his hands against the heated kang.
Asi might have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Seeing him like this, she might not be angry about him climbing the wall again.
“Asi.”
“Hmm?”
The girl’s smile gave the young man great courage.
“I missed you, so I came to see you.”
His right eye had been twitching badly, making him feel that something bad might happen. Seeing Asi safe and sound put him at ease.
Jiang Si was silent for a moment, then smiled even more deeply. She said casually, “Me too.”
Yu Jin was suddenly stunned.
What did he just hear?
Asi said “Me too”—
“Asi, what did you say?” He must have misheard.
Jiang Si smiled, “I said, me too.”
“You too what?”
Jiang Si adjusted to a more comfortable position against the kang and said with a smile, “I missed you too.”
Yu Jin was stunned again, this time for longer. It lasted so long that Jiang Si was about to yawn when he suddenly moved closer to her.
Outside it was freezing, but inside it was warm and cozy. The man, who hadn’t had time to take off his outer garments, quickly broke into a sweat.
Those beads of sweat couldn’t match the heat in his heart at that moment.
Yu Jin suddenly undid his sash, carelessly tossing aside his dark cloak, revealing a well-fitted cyan-padded robe underneath.
“Asi.” He examined her carefully, trying to capture every nuance of her expression.
“Are you secretly angry and just teasing me?”
The young woman, pressed against the kang, tilted her head and smiled, “You’re not a kitten or a puppy, why would I tease you?”
Yu Jin rubbed his nose sheepishly.
That’s right, in terms of being lovable, he probably couldn’t compare to Erniu. Asi had no reason to tease him.
If so, were Asi’s words just now sincere?
But it still felt too unreal, like a daydream.
“Asi, do you miss me too?” He leaned in closer, his gaze intense.
Jiang Si nodded.
“But, but how…”
“Don’t believe it?”
Yu Jin wanted to nod, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it, fearing that if he did, she might tell him it was all a joke.
If that happened, he would be very unhappy.
Right now, alone together, with passion rising, if he became very unhappy, he might do something to make himself feel better…
Jiang Si tilted her head up and pressed her lips to his.
The room was very warm, and their intertwined lips were even warmer. The poor kang beneath them bent more and more under their weight, gradually approaching the charcoal fire.
Jiang Si felt her back was about to be roasted. She murmured, “Hot…”
The man embraced her and rolled to the side, landing on the nearby bed, and knocking off pillows and blankets.
Then they fell to the ground, fortunately landing on the soft bedding.
Their lips never parted throughout.
He became increasingly passionate as if wanting to devour the young woman in his arms.
She wasn’t to be outdone, her hand exploring downward, skillfully grasping that proud sword.
It didn’t seem as… as in her previous life…
Just as the thought flashed through her mind, the young man suddenly released her and flipped over, supporting himself on the ground, breathing heavily.
“Do you believe me now?” Jiang Si asked softly, her breath slightly uneven, her cheeks like blooming peach blossoms.
Yu Jin couldn’t speak.
This audacious girl was what she just did intentional or accidental…
Thinking about it briefly, he felt like he was about to explode. Only one crazy thought remained in his mind: To hell with etiquette and rules, he wanted to consummate their marriage right now…
Because of this, his breathing became even more rapid, but he dared not make any move.
This wasn’t right. He was supposed to be the rogue trying to take advantage…
Using all his self-control to gradually regain his composure, Yu Jin wiped his face and sat up straight.
Jiang Si calmly adjusted her disheveled clothes.
After a long while, when the warmth in the room was no longer so overwhelming, Yu Jin finally spoke, “Asi, I’m going to take this seriously.”
Jiang Si leaned closer.
Yu Jin watched her warily.
His willpower was now extremely weak; he couldn’t restrain himself a second time.
The young woman looked at him and smiled, her eyes sparkling, “Want me to kiss you again?”
With that question, the weight that had been hanging over him finally lifted.
Yu Jin rubbed his stiff face and pounded the ground hard. Joy washed over him like a tidal wave.
“Asi, will you marry me then?”
Jiang Si nodded, her voice very soft, somehow tinged with a hint of sadness, “I will.”
In this life, she could finally tell him with a righteous identity that she was willing to marry him, and she knew that the person he wanted to marry was Jiang Si.
This felt so good.
“That’s wonderful!” Yu Jin was overjoyed, hugging her tightly. “Your father asked about my age today. It seems he approves of me and is considering arranging our marriage…”
Jiang Si pursed her lips and kindly reminded him, “My father knows your identity now.”
Yu Jin froze, clinging to a glimmer of hope as he asked, “And then?”