Chapter 95: Caught Out
Suddenly lifted, Song Hemei could only cling to him with all her limbs until he set her down on the bed.
Yu Yeqing propped himself up before her, reached over to grab the folded quilt beside them, and draped it over her lower abdomen. Then he leaned down further, kissing her neck while lifting her leg higher for convenience.
Song Hemei's hands rested on his back, skin against skin—she felt his body was even hotter than her palms. She arched her neck, letting him go through the motions with practiced ease, yet increasingly found the quilt troublesome.
It kept him from pressing down completely, and she couldn't pull him closer the way she wanted. She tugged the quilt aside and embraced him anew, lightly pecking his reddening ear tip.
Yu Yeqing half-raised himself to look at her, breath hot and heavy. "No need to cover up?"
Song Hemei felt a little exposed under his gaze but still nodded. "It's in the way."
He let out another low laugh, the smile spreading to the corners of his eyes and brows. When he kissed her again, it carried a fierceness he could barely contain; his suckling made her lips tingle numbly.
The bed curtains swayed back and forth. This time, he truly went all the way, and Song Hemei couldn't help sighing against his ear: "It really is extremely pleasurable. No wonder some people get addicted and can't quit."
Yu Yeqing held her, uncertain of the taste in his heart. Earning her approval was indeed good, but he didn't want to be remembered merely for this kind of thing.
When Song Hemei heard nothing from him for a while, she squeezed his arm. "Don't you like it?"
Yu Yeqing paused. If he said he liked it, he feared that in time she would only think of him in this context.
But if he said he didn't like it, that would dampen her spirits. He pondered a moment.
"It's alright. If you like it, then I like it too."
Yet to Song Hemei's ears, his words sounded somewhat reluctant.
She held him close, her thoughts drifting away. Perhaps he simply wasn't a man of strong desires.
As the saying goes, likes and dislikes spring from the same root. She loved his self-restraint, that he didn't get entangled with others, and that even after becoming an official he never took a concubine or kept a maid—so she should also accept that he didn't enjoy this pursuit.
Even if he were a thousand times perfect, ten thousand times wonderful, as long as he was human, there would always be things that didn't quite satisfy her. But she thought Yu Yeqing was already good enough, and on this matter she could accommodate him a little.
Song Hemei gently stroked his back. "I understand what you mean."
She considered herself quite understanding. "It's fine if we do it less often. You don't have to force yourself for me."
Yu Yeqing froze, propped himself up to look at her, confusion coloring his eyes. Song Hemei could still muster a smile at the corner of her lips.
But now her hair was disheveled and the flush on her face hadn't faded—anyone might think she'd been thoroughly bullied. Still, she raised her hand and patted his shoulder.
"If you're not that interested, you can tell me straight next time. I won't force you again."
Yu Yeqing immediately grasped her hand, his brows unconsciously knitting. "Why are you saying that?"
He paused, as if a thought struck him, and when he spoke again, his voice lacked confidence. "Do you think I did poorly?"
"No, don't let your mind wander." Song Hemei sat up, feeling a bit sticky all over.
She didn't want to keep talking like this, so she pushed at him lightly.
But Yu Yeqing pulled her closer. "I'm not disliking it, and I don't feel you're forcing me."
Perhaps to prove his words, he began to kiss her earlobe, clearly intending to continue. Song Hemei thought he was just accommodating her again, and gave him another gentle shove.
"Alright, time to bathe." The night was already deep; even if he wasn't just humoring her, she was truly exhausted and needed a break.
Yu Yeqing paused for a long while before finally releasing her, his gaze lingering darkly on her.
After bathing and changing clothes, Song Hemei lay down first on the bed, now fitted with fresh bedding. Yu Yeqing, still having some official documents to review, returned to the desk.
He found a cloth to wipe away the traces left there, then picked up the paper and brushes that had fallen to the floor.
Song Hemei watched him through the lowered bed curtains, her affection growing. She thought everything he did was pleasing to the eye—even now, merely cleaning up the mess.
She wanted to keep him company until he finished and ask him not to leave. But the pleasure had faded, leaving her body heavy with weariness.
Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and she didn't even know when she fell asleep.
She slept very soundly, though it was a bit hot. With the window open at night, it was fine, but when morning light streamed into the room, the heat became inescapable.
Song Hemei woke first, opening her eyes to see an arm before her face, then realized she was encircled in Yu Yeqing's embrace, his chest pressed against her back. No wonder it was so hot.
She carefully turned around, her movements light, but still woke him. She met his hazy eyes and immediately noticed something amiss beside her thigh.
She froze for a moment. By the time she registered what it was, Yu Yeqing had already shifted away slightly, as if nothing had happened.
"It's still early. We can sleep another half an hour."
Song Hemei coughed softly, tacitly not mentioning it, and turned to face him, burying herself in his arms. "Then let's sleep."
His body had already absorbed the scent of the new fragrant soap she'd bought recently, as if she had stamped him with a mark uniquely her own. Song Hemei took a deep breath against his chest, feeling that even the heat didn't matter now.
At a time like this, even if they truly sweated from the warmth, it felt like proof of their fusion. She wished she could hold him like this forever, until even their flesh merged into one.
Song Hemei thought this idea was somewhat alarming, so she didn't tell him, only tightened her hold around his waist.
Sleep was out of the question. Her fingers lightly traced his waist, even the faint scars left from when he fell into the river years ago—she didn't skip an inch, stroking them inch by inch.
Yu Yeqing's Adam's apple bobbed. Finally, he couldn't bear it any longer and grabbed her hand. "Don't touch recklessly."
Song Hemei looked up at him from his arms, her eyes holding no hint of deliberate teasing. Yu Yeqing's expression was dark.
"It was the same back at the Song residence. I was afraid someone might come in again."
Song Hemei's thoughts snapped back, suddenly recalling that awkward moment. She truly didn't want to relive it, so she sat up straight.
"You sleep a bit more. I'll go check the small kitchen. You can eat something here before you leave."
She was about to climb over him when Yu Yeqing let out a soft sigh. "No need, I'll go with you."
He rose without hesitation—he had already put on his underclothes the night before. But when he stood, he deliberately turned his back to her, not wanting her to see those things.
Song Hemei didn't notice. She tidied herself and opened the door.
The courtyard maids originally belonging to the Shao family had long been sent away by Chunhui. Now, when she opened the door, she saw Suhui standing at the entrance, hesitating and peering inside.
Upon seeing Song Hemei, Suhui immediately sprang forward, almost biting her tongue as she spoke: "Milady." She bowed slightly, her gaze shifting to Yu Yeqing standing behind Song Hemei, and for a moment she didn't know what to call him.
Song Hemei had expected to feel awkward, but now she found it wasn't so embarrassing. Seeing the basin of water and fine linen cloth in Suhui's hands, she smiled.
"I was just about to call for you. Perfect timing—bring it in."
The items were prepared in duplicate. No one had ever stayed overnight in her courtyard before.
Although she had been married for three years, this was the first time she actually lived a life for two—and it was now. Still, being with Yu Yeqing like this in the Shao residence inevitably carried a hint of regret. It would be far better in her own household, so that even though Shao Wen'ang wasn't around, it wouldn't feel like stolen sweetness.
After washing up, they had breakfast. Usually Lianzhu would eat with them, but today Suhui had taken him away, so only the two of them sat at the table.
It was a fairly peaceful meal. "I remember at your place, you used to make breakfast."
Song Hemei looked up at him, making casual conversation. "Can you get used to the food here?"
"As long as there's something to eat, I'm fine," Yu Yeqing said, setting down his bowl and chopsticks after finishing most of his meal. "My cooking was mediocre anyway. Back then, I made you suffer."
"It wasn't that bad. Why do you make it sound so terrible? It's just a meal—as long as you're full, that's what matters."
Song Hemei spoke casually, but Yu Yeqing nodded slightly. At this moment, he felt fortunate that he now had some wealth, or else he would have had to drag her through more hard times.
Shao Wen'ang had said one thing right: she had been raised in luxury since childhood. He couldn't let her live with him in the fields, ending up worse off than in her maiden home.
Yu Yeqing's thoughts wandered to his residence in the capital. Song Hemei didn't notice, thinking he had eaten too fast and was waiting for her. She gulped down the last few mouthfuls of congee, wiped her lips with a handkerchief, and said, "Come on, I'll see you out of the manor."
She took his hand and led him out. But once they left her courtyard, they might run into servants at any moment, so she had to let go.
They walked side by side. She quietly calculated the days and spoke in a low voice: "You need to finish up your business in Linzhou quickly. Don't let it drag on until I'm ready to leave here and you're still not done."
At the prospect of leaving the Shao residence in the future, the corners of Yu Yeqing's lips curled into a smile. He obediently replied, "Alright."
"I felt it was a bit hot when I got up today. Take care of yourself outside and don't get heatstroke."
"Alright."
"And don't indulge in cold things."
"Alright."
The smile on Yu Yeqing's lips deepened. As they passed through a moon-gate doorway—only one corridor remained before the exit—he stopped and pulled her into his arms.
Bumping suddenly against his chest, Song Hemei felt shy. She whispered, "Alright, don't let anyone see."
But just as the words left her mouth, a startled cry came from not far away. She instinctively looked toward the sound and saw Madam Zhang had somehow appeared at the moon-gate.
The cry had come from the maidservant at her side.
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