How should she respond to him? She didn't know...
Looking at the dazed woman before him, his affection deepened, and a smug smile crept onto his lips. He was the first man to kiss her. She was his, and he wanted to possess her, for all eternity. No, if he could, he wanted to possess her for all eternity.
The Fourth Prince held Chu Xiyin tightly in his arms, domineeringly caressing her lips and then forcefully licking open her teeth.
Finally, he ignited her desire, and she began to respond to him shyly.
He was overjoyed, and the kiss deepened...
Chapter 15: The Ghostly Appearance
The lingering, passionate kiss made the night air feel ambiguous.
Heavy, sorrowful sighs drifted through the ambiguous air.
The Fourth Prince and Chu Xiyin were so engrossed in the sweetness of their kiss that they were completely unaware of the black, humanoid mist lurking beside them.
“Xi Yin…”
“Xi Yin…”
Chu Xiyin heard that familiar call—it was that damned, masked man! Startled, she shoved the Fourth Prince away.
"What's wrong with you?" the Fourth Prince asked Chu Xiyin in astonishment.
"No...nothing, didn't you hear anything just now?" Chu Xiyin asked nervously.
The Fourth Prince shook his head.
Strange? Could it be that only she could hear that voice?
Chu Xiyin cast her gaze into the vast night, but saw nothing!
"I'm sleepy, let's go back!" Chu Xiyin said with some disappointment.
The Fourth Prince had seen countless people, yet he couldn't see through Chu Xiyin. Just a moment ago she was as gentle as water, but in the blink of an eye she became as cold as ice.
Chu Xiyin left the Star Gazing Tower absentmindedly.
Just now, she clearly heard the masked man calling her name, but why wouldn't he let her see him? Where is he?
She must find him; only by finding him can she return to her own world.
The Fourth Prince quickly caught up with Chu Xiyin. Seeing her brows furrowed and her expression demanding to be left undisturbed, he could only silently follow beside her.
"We've arrived!" the Fourth Prince said, taking Chu Xiyin's hand. He didn't know what she was thinking, nor did he want to ask; if she wanted to tell him, she would.
Chu Xiyin twitched the corners of her mouth, but there was no smile in her eyes; she was still thinking about the masked man.
The Fourth Prince stood there awkwardly for a long time, unsure whether to speak or remain silent.
"Get some rest!" the Fourth Prince sighed and said helplessly.
"Hmm," Chu Xiyin responded weakly and closed the door.
Hearing the Fourth Prince's departing footsteps, Chu Xiyin slowly turned around.
"Miss, you're finally back!" Chunhua wiped her drool and said in a simple and honest voice.
"Why aren't you going back to rest yet?" Chu Xiyin asked with a smile.
"I just tidied up the room. The quilt, sheets, and pillows are all newly changed. They smell so good!" Chunhua said excitedly, as if praising delicious food.
"Oh, right, Miss, let me help you with your bath!" Chunhua said as she walked behind the screen.
"No need. Chunhua, you should go back and rest!" Chu Xiyin also walked behind the screen.
As soon as Chu Xiyin walked behind the screen, she was dumbfounded to see a huge wooden bathtub filled with rose petals.
A flower bath! She'd only ever seen that in period dramas!
"Miss, are you shy?" Chunhua asked with a simple smile.
"It's alright! I'll just close my eyes." After saying that, she actually closed her eyes.
"Really, no need! Thank you, Chunhua!" Chu Xiyin helped Chunhua up from the bathtub, held her hand and said, "Don't call me Miss anymore. My name is Chu Xiyin. If you don't mind, you can call me Xiyin."
"Xiyin... Chu Xiyin... No, no, no, if the Prince finds out, he will punish me." Chunhua hurriedly broke free and knelt on the ground with a thud.
"In our world, calling someone 'Miss' has a derogatory connotation. Also, stop calling me 'Servant' all the time, it sounds weird! How about this: in front of outsiders, you can call me by your local way of addressing me, but in front of me, you can call me Xiyin, okay?"
Chunhua nodded, then asked in confusion, "By the way, what did you mean by 'your world'?"
"It's our hometown!" Chu Xiyin scratched her head awkwardly.
"You're so funny!" Chunhua said with a smile.
"Alright, alright! Chunhua, go back and rest first!" Chu Xiyin said as she pushed Chunhua towards the door, but Chunhua didn't budge no matter how hard she tried.
"But……"
"No buts! Otherwise, I won't cook for you next time!" Chu Xiyin believed that only food could threaten Chunhua in this world.
Chunhua probably remembered the taste of fried rice with eggs, swallowed hard, and said, "Well, I...I...I'll go back to my room first."
Chunhua moved her chubby body slowly toward the door.
After Chunhua left, Chu Xiyin bolted the door. What a tumultuous day! A whole host of strange and bizarre things had happened. A bath to clear her head would be much better! At least she wouldn't have to marry that tyrant! At least, Prince Yichuan was there!
After walking behind the screen, Chu Xiyin slowly took off her Hu-style clothing.
The water temperature is just right, neither too hot nor too cold.
Chu Xiyin closed her eyes and leaned quietly against the bathtub, letting the rose petals brush against her fair and delicate skin.
Before she knew it, Chu Xiyin had fallen into a deep sleep...
A sudden, bone-chilling coolness from her thighs and arms jolted Chu Xiyin awake!
When did the candles in the room go out? Why was her body suspended in mid-air?
No, someone picked her up...
What's going on?
Could it be? That damned, masked man!
Chu Xiyin reached out and touched it—a ghost face mask!
"Are you the man in that cabinet?" Chu Xiyin asked timidly.
The ghost did not answer, but its breathing became much more rapid.
Chu Xiyin then remembered that she had just been taking a bath and her body was not covered at all.
"Let me go!" Chu Xiyin's voice rose eight octaves as she struggled in the ghost's arms. Although she felt a sliver of sympathy for this masked man, he wasn't someone she would be willing to give herself to. How could she, a pure and innocent young woman, allow her chastity to be ruined by a ghost!
"Smack!"
Chu Xiyin was thrown heavily onto the bed by the masked man. Fortunately, the mattress was sturdy, otherwise, she would have cursed this damned man for not knowing how to cherish a woman!
The masked man stared intently at Chu Xiyin, his eyes filled with unspeakable pain.
Chu Xiyin, as if afraid that he would see something, quickly burrowed into the quilt.
The masked man slowly sat down on the edge of the bed. The night enveloped his black attire, blending him into the endless darkness.
The masked man gazed silently at Chu Xiyin; this was his only wish for over a thousand years…
Chu Xiyin was deeply stung by the melancholy in his eyes, and asked casually, "If you keep looking, I'll gouge your eyes out!" Inadvertently, she pulled the blanket up a little more.
The masked man laughed. He hadn't laughed in over a thousand years, but today, he laughed because of her witty remark and her small gesture...
"You have such a low threshold for laughter! But your laughter is quite pleasant! Laugh more in the future, maybe you'll be reincarnated sooner and meet your soulmate!" As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Xiyin realized that she had said the wrong thing.
That woman was a sore spot he couldn't touch, and now she had hurt him again.
The masked man's smile froze beneath the mask, his eyes filled with helpless sorrow. He longed to meet her again, but for over a thousand years, he had encountered countless women who bore her likeness, yet none of them were her. If she weren't there, he would rather remain in darkness forever, preserving their memories, than drink the ghost soup that would allow him to forget her for the sake of reincarnation.
"I'm sorry!" Chu Xiyin reached out a hand and placed it on the masked man's hand.
The masked man was slightly taken aback; it had been a long time since he had felt the warmth of a human body. Now, this soft little hand gently covered the back of his hand, and although it was only a little warm, it was enough to ignite his cold heart.
"You don't need to apologize!" The masked man wanted to place his other hand on Chu Xiyin's hand, but after hesitating for a moment, he withdrew his hand. He couldn't give her the warmth she needed; he was a ghost without warmth!
Yes! Why should she apologize? It was clearly that damned, masked man who pushed her to this place! No matter what, he's the one who should apologize!
"Then you should apologize to me. You brought me here for no reason, and almost made me marry a tyrant! I don't care, you have to find a way to get me out of here!" Chu Xiyin complained, pouting.
The masked man's eyes were filled with remorse. He sighed heavily and said, "I'm sorry!"
What good is an apology? Does it mean that petty theft, prostitution, murder, and arson can all be dismissed with a simple "sorry"?
"I don't care, since you brought me here, you must have a way to take me back! If you don't take me back, I won't let you leave. If you don't take me back, I'll... I'll..." For a moment, Chu Xiyin couldn't think of any way to scare the ghost.
"I really don't know how to take you back!" The masked man slowly pulled his hand away from Chu Xiyin's, saying with a wronged expression.
Chu Xiyin sat up abruptly and grabbed the man's hand. In that brief moment, she caught a glimpse of the candlestick beside her out of the corner of her eye.
By the way, this masked man always turns off the lights whenever he appears; he's probably afraid of light.
"If you don't take me back, I'll light a lamp and reduce you to ashes!" Chu Xiyin threatened him.
The moment Chu Xiyin sat up, the blanket slipped from her shoulders to her waist, and the boundless scenery became even more alluring under the moonlight.
The masked man turned around awkwardly and gently broke free from Chu Xiyin's grasp.
"I'm not afraid of the light!" the masked man said calmly.
"Then why do you always choose to see me at night? And why do you always turn off the lights when you appear?" Chu Xiyin asked aggressively.
"I'm afraid you'll be scared when you see my ghostly face!" As he spoke, the masked man disappeared into the darkness, leaving only his deep and magnetic voice echoing in the room.
"Go to hell!" Chu Xiyin cursed fiercely at the man's back.
He desperately hoped her curse would come true; he longed to die completely.
But can fate always grant our wishes?