Chapter 16: Urging Him On
How can you let someone who has been thirsty for so long take a sip and then spit half of it out?
The room was so quiet that only rapid breaths and frantic heartbeats could be heard.
Song Hemei had no mind to ponder whose heartbeat it was. She only felt her entire body tense up. She had been bracing herself for the impending intrusion, yet it was stuck, neither advancing nor retreating.
Her calves wanted to press together but couldn't. She lifted her eyes impatiently, only to see the ink-black pupils of the man before her in the darkness, carrying an indescribable aggression and danger. He was waiting for her answer, but it seemed that if she answered wrongly, he would pierce and split her in two.
To be honest, at this moment, she kind of wished he would just get on with it.
But his stubbornness came suddenly. Song Hemei gritted her teeth. "Do you have to ask this right now?"
Her veiled urging seemed to get through to Yu Yeqing. His hips sank slightly, but only slightly. Song Hemei felt all her attention shift downward, her body tensing even more, but then it abruptly stopped.
How could you let someone who's been thirsty for so long take a sip and then spit half of it out?
Yet Yu Yeqing seemed oblivious to her urgency. "When does Second Miss think would be the right time to ask?"
Song Hemei's voice trembled uncontrollably. "At the very least, not now."
Yu Yeqing fell silent, but finally he gave her everything, causing her to tilt her head back uncontrollably. Her slender, elegant neck was thus exposed to the lips of the man before her.
Whether it was male instinct or suppressed impulse and desire, both drove him to slowly close and part his lips while still lowering his head to kiss her neck.
The feeling was entirely different from that night. Not only because their positions were reversed, but also because this flood of love under clear consciousness made every limb and bone seem filled with a thrilling sensation.
In the midst of rising and falling, thoughts were bewitched. In the pure, swift current of joy, when the mind went blank for an instant, the only thought was to forever entwine with the one who brought her this feeling, never to be separated for a lifetime.
No wonder such matters made people blush and their ears burn. It wasn't just because of shedding everyday clothes and pressing skin against skin.
It was also because this sensation disturbed the heart—continuous, unceasing, surging without rest—blending the clear, pure emotions from the depths of the heart with the body's uncontrollable response, impossible to distinguish or separate.
Was this merely amusement?
But this time, she could clearly hear her own heart pounding wildly because of the man before her.
At an inopportune moment, she wondered—over these five years of such extreme entanglement, was there really any emotion involved? Could Shao Wen'ang truly tell the difference?
That ridiculous word "amusement" echoed in her mind.
She didn't know whether to laugh at herself for unknowingly being caught in such a relationship with those two for five years.
Or to shudder at his true fickleness—after five years, he could still utter the phrase "just amusement."
The final ascent reached its peak after the rush. Song Hemei used both hands and feet to hold the man before her tightly. She had never been so close to anyone before—seamlessly joined, like mortise and tenon fitting perfectly. Her heartbeat could pound against his chest.
She bit her lip hard, nearly letting a sound escape, but at that moment, Yu Yeqing's precious kiss fell, swallowing her voice, letting it dissipate dully in his chest.
How could it not be precious? Hadn't every single time required repeated urging and an additional price paid?
What was this this time? A complimentary gift for this bedding affair?
But soon, that precious kiss seemed to demand payment.
Yu Yeqing leaned close to her ear, his low, hoarse voice entering her ear. "Why me?"
Song Hemei clearly understood why pillow talk was so effective. If Yu Yeqing were asking for anything else at this moment, she would surely nod without a second thought.
But he insisted on asking such an unimportant question.
If this had started from feelings, she would have many sweet words to say. But it hadn't.
Him asking this... was probably because he felt wronged, wasn't it?
A perfectly good scholar, ending up in such a situation.
Scholars all have their pride, she understood.
Then she absolutely couldn't be too serious. If she said that she had this idea the moment she saw him that night, wouldn't that imply he was born to be a kept man or a male concubine?
Song Hemei cleared her throat, trying to keep her voice as steady as possible, not letting the lingering thrill show. "It was just a coincidence."
Yu Yeqing's body stiffened.
Song Hemei's arms were still looped around his neck. "Probably because fate brought us together. Running into you that night was by chance. If it had been someone else, perhaps—"
He moved suddenly, cutting off the rest of her sentence.
His teasing brought back the subsiding sensations, but he said casually, as if unintentionally, "Apologies, Second Miss."
Song Hemei's eyes were hazy, unable to read his expression, but he seemed indifferent to whether they continued or not, lightly murmuring by her ear, "Shall we continue, Second Miss Song?"
His words were very polite, but his narrow, powerful waist seemed less polite.
But Song Hemei could no longer make the decision to shake her head.
She nodded.
No subsequent movement came.
She gritted her teeth, forcibly suppressing the shame that belonged to a woman, and said bluntly and politely, "Please continue, Young Master Yu."
This continuation went smoothly, much smoother than the first time.
She didn't know if everyone got better with practice and could draw inferences after a few times, or if the two of them just inexplicably fit together well.
But Song Hemei understood why, before her marriage, her sister-in-law and mother had warned her that no matter what, she must not be lazy the next morning and must rise early to pay respects to her mother-in-law.
At the time, she thought—why did Mother and Sister-in-law think so little of her? Was she usually such a lazy person?
But thinking about it now, after a night like that, it was indeed hard not to be lazy.
The hot water prepared in advance came in handy. Since there was no maid or servant to attend them, cleaning had to be done by Yu Yeqing himself. She had the money for it, but not the face.
Shame always came inevitably and unexpectedly. When she dressed neatly and turned around, Yu Yeqing was standing at the door, looking at her.
He still had that bright, clear, and refined appearance, but now there were additional memories in her mind, making it impossible to see him the same way as before.
"Would Second Miss like to rest first?"
Rest where? In his room?
Song Hemei bit her lip, looking down hesitantly. "Won't it be a problem for your sister?"
Yu Yeqing's thin lips moved. "I thought Second Miss would first ask about not returning home all night. Wouldn't it be a problem for the Song residence?"
Song Hemei felt his implication might be that she would bring the Song family down on him, implicating him?
She met his gaze directly. "Rest assured, Young Master Yu. I will keep the people in my household well-silenced. Even if it's discovered one day, it won't involve you."
Yu Yeqing fell silent, turning his head away.
Song Hemei was already used to his silences, but now she did feel exhausted. If she rode back now, aside from fatigue... it would probably hurt.
She paused, then asked proactively, "Where does Young Master Yu think I can sleep? Shall I go to your sister's room now?"
"If Second Miss does not mind, you may rest here in this room."
Song Hemei's eyes showed surprise. "And you?"
Yu Yeqing's tone was as usual. "There are still some dry branches in the courtyard that haven't been split."
Song Hemei was stunned for a long moment, then understood his meaning.
He was saying he wouldn't sleep tonight and would go to the courtyard to split firewood instead?
Her expression involuntarily turned strange. Was he still so energetic? Was he really not tired?
"Splitting firewood makes noise. Aren't you afraid of disturbing me, or your sister?"
"My younger sister takes medicine and always sleeps soundly." He paused, then said in a deep voice, "She couldn't hear earlier, and she won't hear now either."
Song Hemei pursed her lips, not knowing what to say.
If she couldn't hear, why didn't he say so earlier?
Keeping quiet all this time—she still felt a bit out of breath.
But she was too embarrassed to say that. After a moment's thought, she sighed softly. "Young Master Yu is being too formal. We've already done everything; sleeping together is no big deal."
She turned and went up to the bed. Yu Yeqing was still attentive in looking after people—the bedding had been changed to fresh ones, and several extra layers had been added. Though not as soft as the bedding in her boudoir, it was much more comfortable to lie on than before.
She lay down and patted the spot beside her generously. "Come here."
Yu Yeqing's throat moved involuntarily, but he didn't move immediately.
Song Hemei patted again, with a hint of impatience in her voice. "Do I always have to say everything twice for you to do it? I told you to come here!"
Yu Yeqing could no longer delay and slowly walked to the bed, lying down beside her.
His bed was very narrow. Even lying down carefully, their arms still had to touch.
When he had built it, he had economized on materials, only properly setting up his sister's bed. If he had known this day would come, he would surely have—
"What sort of family is the Zhao family?"
Song Hemei's sudden voice interrupted his thoughts.
Yu Yeqing's brow twitched. "Which Zhao family?"
"The one your aunt mentioned. Was she planning to betroth Minglian to someone?"
Song Hemei did the math—Minglian was only eleven or twelve now. Who would arrange a betrothal so early in a respectable family?
As soon as she asked, she clearly felt the man beside her turn cold. After a long silence, he spoke. "The Zhao family's only son has been weak since childhood. A wandering Taoist once suggested arranging a marriage to offset his misfortune—if it couldn't bring him luck, then at least pair him with a ghost bride. When they calculated the birth dates, Minglian was a match."
Song Hemei's heart trembled. She instinctively turned to look at him.
In the darkness, she couldn't see his expression, but she could still feel his displeasure at the mention of this matter.
Her heart pounded as she asked instinctively, "The Zhao family must have promised you many benefits, right?"
"Probably so."
Song Hemei quickly said, "What do you mean 'probably'? Is there any ambiguity in such a matter?"
Yu Yeqing answered flatly, "The messenger hadn't finished speaking when I refused. I indeed don't know what benefits they would have offered, but it doesn't matter. My sister, I will raise myself. I will not send her to the Zhao residence to be trampled."
His tone was ordinary, as if it were only natural.
But raising a sister with a chronic, hard-to-cure illness all alone—how could that be easy?
Song Hemei felt a chill in her heart. Yu Yeqing could hold his ground under such circumstances, but what about her brother?
A bitterness rose in her throat, and she couldn't help murmuring softly, "If only you were my elder brother."
Yu Yeqing was at a rare loss for words. "...Second Miss, please rest early. Don't speak such nonsense."
This was a refusal.
Song Hemei was a bit indignant. "What, Young Master Yu thinks I'm not worthy to be your sister?"
Yu Yeqing fell silent again, but Song Hemei wouldn't let it go. She nudged him with her elbow. "Speak."
But the next moment, Yu Yeqing actually turned and gripped her wrist. Skin touched skin, and the thrill from before instantly replayed in her mind.
"Does Second Miss think this is what siblings do?"
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