Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 95

Xiao Bai lowered her eyes quietly, her feather-like eyelashes trembling slightly: "You're afraid of trouble, you don't like it, but I..."

"No, no, it's not that I'm afraid of bothering you, nor that I don't like you. Look how late it is, I'm afraid you won't be able to get back." Zi Jin hurriedly interrupted Xiao Bai, her explanation blurting out without thinking.

Xiao Bai raised her eyes and smiled gently, her warm eyes filled with joy: "I'm not afraid, I'll sleep with you."

"Same, same, same... I'm going to sleep?!" Zi Jin looked at the person who said this, as if they were saying, "Let's eat, let's drink, let's sleep," as if sleeping with a stranger had become a normal part of daily life.

Xiao Bai reached out and grasped Zi Jin's hand, turning back with a faint smile: "Let's sneak back."

The ethereal smile under the moonlight left Zi Jin in a daze. Unconsciously, she was pulled along by Xiao Bai, following him step by step into Weiyang Palace and into her own bedroom, without encountering the slightest disturbance along the way.

Xiao Bai quietly closed the door with one hand, then took Zi Jin's hand and led her to the bedside. He released Zi Jin's hand, carefully raised his own, and clumsily unbuttoned her collar.

When she reached the third one, Zi Jin felt a chill run down her spine. Startled, she grabbed her collar, took a step back, and asked in surprise, "Wh...what are you doing!"

Xiao Bai's dark, jade-like eyes blinked as he looked at Zi Jin. He slowly lowered his head and whispered, "If you don't like it, I'll learn it and help you."

Zi Jin thought for a while before realizing what he was trying to say: "I don't like helping others take off their clothes, not that I don't like taking off my own. Do you understand?"

"You, help me." Xiaobai propped herself up with her hands as before, closed her eyes, and stood still.

"Didn't you already learn it?" Zi Jin asked helplessly.

Xiao Bai slightly opened her eyes and smiled gently: "I like you. Help me."

Zi Jin's heart skipped a beat at that smile. She quickly lowered her head, resignedly reaching out to tremblingly unbutton Xiao Bai's clothes.

"Your scent smells so good, so familiar." Xiao Bai, having removed her long robe, smiled gently, her lips forming a beautiful curve. She lay down on the bed, hugged the blanket, and whispered.

Wearing only her undergarments, Zi Jin stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to lie down or not.

So, who slept with whom here? This guy seems like an idiot, but he's incredibly perceptive when it comes to reading people's expressions. If you're unhappy, he can tell right away who's playing the victim and who's feigning innocence. If you go along with him, he'll immediately take advantage of you. What if he makes me take responsibility tomorrow morning? Wouldn't I be more wronged than Dou E?

Xiao Bai moved closer to the inside, patted the empty space beside her, looked at Zi Jin, and her gentle eyes curved into slits: "Come on, let's go together."

Come here! You dead man's head! Do you think I'm your dog?!

Xiao Bai slowly lowered her eyes, her beautiful smile vanished, and her long, feathery eyelashes trembled slightly: "You're unhappy. I know you don't like it."

Under the dim light, the lonely figure resembled a small animal abandoned by the roadside, shivering in the cold wind, just wanting to absorb a little bit of warmth from those who care for it.

Zi Jin felt as if her heart had been squeezed hard, the pain bringing tears to her eyes. She quickly went forward, lowered the bed curtains, blew out the palace lanterns, and lay down on the bed.

In the darkness, Xiaobai's face instantly lit up with a radiant smile, dazzling and luminous, like the most brilliant pearl in the night sky. He reached out and pulled the blankets up between them, obediently resting his head on Zi Jin's shoulder, enveloping her hand in his own, and slowly closing his eyes: "What's your name?"

“Zi…”, “Young Master? You’re back?” came Xiaopu’s voice from outside the door.

"Yes, I'm back. I'm asleep." Zi Jin reflexively covered Xiao Bai's mouth and quickly replied.

"Then young master, please rest." Outside the door, the sound of Xiaopu's footsteps receding into the distance could be heard.

In the darkness, Xiao Bai's eyes were full of laughter. He quietly stuck out his tongue and lightly licked Zi Jin's palm. Zi Jin was startled and quickly let go of his hand, looking at Xiao Bai in surprise.

"Little Purple, it smells so good." Little White nuzzled into Zi Jin's shoulder again and murmured.

Zi Jin was furious! She had actually been humiliated by an idiot! It was simply outrageous! Zi Jin took a deep breath, pinched Xiao Bai's cheek hard, and pinched it again and again.

Xiao Bai chuckled, neither angry nor crying out in pain. He raised the hand that was tightly clasped with Zi Jin's, placed it on his chest with an air of importance, and patted it.

Zi Jin, who was already furious even if she strangled him, deflated completely like a punctured balloon. She angrily withdrew her hand and ignored Xiao Bai.

In the darkness, ripples of joy rippled in Xiao Bai's jade-like eyes. He obediently rubbed his face against Zi Jin's shoulder a couple of times, then chuckled softly again.

The night was so gentle it seemed you could squeeze water from it...

A lifetime of love and hate, hard to understand, reincarnation begins again. The bamboo grower is heartless, searching for him a thousand times across the crowd. (Part 5)

Searching for him among the crowd (5) As dusk fell, Zi Jin had been absentmindedly staring at the book in her hand since dinner, glancing at the door from time to time, as if waiting for something.

These days, although Xile still comes for lunch every day, she hasn't come for dinner even once. Xiaopu naturally has no reason to let Zijin continue to eat only vegetables, radishes, and tofu for dinner.

west Le always looked preoccupied, as if she was seriously troubled by something, and the dark circles under her eyes were getting worse day by day.

Zi Jin had kindly asked a few questions, but Xi Le's sharp glare turned Zi Jin's well-intentioned words of comfort into silent anger, and she eventually simply ignored Xi Le's increasingly haggard appearance. Xiao Pu, on the other hand, became increasingly attentive, preparing all sorts of nourishing soups for Xi Le every day. Xi Le was a very picky eater and rarely drank the soups, so they all ended up in Zi Jin's stomach.

Since that night, Xiao Bai would sneak in every night at 9 PM sharp, waiting for Zi Jin to undress him before going to bed. Zi Jin had felt resentful, resisted, and been angry. Every time this happened, Xiao Bai would lower his eyes, his feather-like eyelashes trembling slightly, his pink lips pressed tightly together, and a small sob would escape from his throat.

If Zi Jin grits her teeth and hardens her heart to ignore it, Xiao Bai will raise his face, gazing at Zi Jin with teary eyes. He bites his lower lip hard, his innocent and aggrieved appearance as he tries to hold back his tears will move even the most hard-hearted person.

Fortunately, Xiao Bai was very well-behaved. Every night, as long as he held Zi Jin's hand, he would fall asleep in no time. Even though he was sound asleep, if Zi Jin wanted to leave, he would wake up instantly. Zi Jin, who urgently needed to use the restroom, had to make promises and promises again before Xiao Bai would reluctantly let go of her hand, sit up, and stop sleeping. He would wait for Zi Jin to come back, then grab her hand tightly and lie down again.

Every morning when Zi Jin woke up, Xiao Bai was nowhere to be found. Sometimes Zi Jin even doubted whether Xiao Bai was human at all. This heavily guarded Weiyang Palace felt like his own backyard; he could come and go as he pleased. At least so far, no one had discovered a living person sleeping in his room for half a month. Therefore, Xiao Bai must not be human; he must be having the same strange dream day after day.

To prove her point, Zi Jin once viciously pinched and pulled Xiao Bai's face hard.

Xiao Bai didn't cry out in pain. Perhaps Zi Jin had been pulling for a while. Xiao Bai leaned on Zi Jin's shoulder with a smile, put her inner hand in front of Zi Jin, and said softly, "If you're injured, you'll see. Let's go somewhere else."

Zi Jin immediately deflated and released Xiao Bai's face. Xiao Bai's dark eyes shone brightly, and his face gently rubbed against Zi Jin's shoulder. When their skin touched, Zi Jin could clearly feel the half of his face that she had kneaded burning hot: "Xiao Zi, it hurts, I can't bear it."

From then on, Zi Jin never dared to harm Xiao Bai again, fearing she would die of guilt.

A white figure darted in quickly, quietly closed the door, and tiptoed behind Zi Jin, who was still lost in thought. The figure put its arm around Zi Jin's waist and gently nuzzled its face against her neck, saying, "Little Zi..."

Smelling that familiar scent, Zi Jin didn't turn around; she was utterly exasperated by his coquettishness. If he weren't so clingy one day, Zi Jin would be surprised: "Why are you up so early today?" The question would slip out without a second thought.

A smile played on Xiao Bai's lips as his warm, dark eyes gazed at Zi Jin: "After dinner, no one will be watching."