"He went. During the meal, he looked quite indignant, just like a dog that had just been kicked into the water."
"Where's Bo Feng?"
"Although Bo Feng didn't attend, his spies were everywhere at the banquet, so it seems he does indeed have doubts about Rong Chenfei."
Lan Wuxie lowered his eyes and pondered.
The orchid then said:
"Even if Bo Feng and Rong Zaisheng are at odds, seeing this now, he should be relieved."
"This person is inherently suspicious and not easily trusted."
"So what do we do now?"
"All he wants is the Yellow Springs Martial Arts Manual. Then give him the Yellow Springs Martial Arts Manual."
"Are you really going to give it to him?!"
"Give him all the techniques Bai Lu has practiced. This man is ruthless; otherwise, he'll cause trouble for the brothel sooner or later for the secret manuals."
Lan Cao was taken aback:
"Wouldn't Bailu and the brothels be at a disadvantage?"
"Don't worry. Bai Lu will definitely use the same moves better than Bo Feng." Lan Wuxie said calmly. "Immediately tell Anping, Lan Ye, and Lan Shu to pack their things; we'll return to Hangzhou."
After saying that, he turned and walked back.
Lan Cao nodded and followed, her head already covered in cold sweat.
He stayed by Hua Chongyang's bedside all night, but even he didn't realize that Lan Wuxie was pretending to be asleep.
They rode at breakneck speed, arriving back at the brothel by daybreak. It was rather strange that they had gone out on foot but returned on horseback. But Hua Chongyang remained silent, and Liu Dahuang San kept quiet, only Bai Lu leaned closer to scrutinize her.
"What happened? You look terrible."
"nothing."
By this time, Bai Lu already knew what had happened after she went into seclusion, so she raised an eyebrow:
"Is Lan Wuxie picking a fight?"
Before Hua Chongyang could reply, she shook her head herself:
"That shouldn't be. He's like a mouse before a cat when he sees you—could it be Yanzu Valley?!"
"No, that's not true. I'm tired, I'll talk about it when I get up."
After uttering those words, Hua Chongyang collapsed onto the couch.
When she woke up, she found the room dimly lit. Still half-asleep, she sat up, rubbing her temples, and groggily walked to the table. Just as she picked up the teapot to pour water, a soft voice sounded from behind her:
"The tea has gone cold. Tell someone to bring some hot tea."
Hua Chongyang was so startled that his hand trembled, and the teapot clattered onto the table.
Before she could react, a pair of arms reached out from behind her, lifted the teapot, and then wrapped around her waist.
"Double Ninth Festival."
Upon smelling the familiar scent, Hua Chongyang finally felt relieved.
Lan Wuxie held her face and buried it in her neck. After a long while, he said in a hoarse voice:
"More than a month has passed since then."
Hua Chongyang involuntarily touched his hand, and finding it was no longer warm, she let him hold her:
When did you arrive?
"Around noon."
Why didn't you call me?
Lan Wuxie raised her head and answered irrelevantly:
I'm a little hungry.
Hua Chongyang's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes suddenly burned. Then, Lan Wuxie's seemingly innocent words plunged her into the abyss of evil:
"Would you like to stay and have dinner with me?"
Hua Chongyang, whose mind was suddenly filled with wicked thoughts, felt utterly ashamed. He gently pushed Lan Wuxie away and walked out while saying:
"Alright. You're not fully recovered yet, I'll have them get some porridge—"
Lan Wuxie paused for a moment before asking:
How did you know I was sick?
"--Ah," Hua Chongyang opened the door, first instructing the maid outside, before turning back to calmly change the subject, "It's been raining a lot and the weather's been cool these past few days, yet you're dressed so lightly."
Could it be that Lan Cao really didn't tell him that she had gone to see him?
It's rare to see that gossipy man so restrained.
As she spoke, she closed the windows in the room one by one.
Only one candle remained lit in the room.
Lan Wuxie sat at the table, staring intently at her, but remained silent; when she sat down at the table as well, he lowered his gaze. Just then, the food was served, and the maid ladled rice for the two of them. For some reason, Hua Chongyang suddenly had an appetite, took the bowl of porridge, and began to wolf it down.
"I only realize how hungry I am when I see food."
Lan Wuxie, who had initially claimed to be hungry, was no longer in a hurry. He held up a spoon and sipped the porridge into his mouth one spoonful at a time, displaying an elegant and composed demeanor that left the maid standing to the side speechless.
So, during the same mealtime, Hua Chongyang finished three bowls of porridge, while Lan Wuxie put down his chopsticks with only a little over half of his bowl remaining.
"I don't have much of an appetite."
The more Hua Chongyang looked at him, the more she felt he seemed somewhat absent-minded. Coupled with the fact that he had been watching over her all day, she felt even more sorry for him, and so she couldn't help but speak:
Why don't you say -- tonight?
Lan Wuxie glanced at her, her gaze perfectly composed. But because of that glance, without realizing it, Hua Chongyang's words, "Go back and rest early," unwittingly turned into:
"...Stay."
The words had barely left her lips when she regretted them on Double Ninth Festival.
Kelan Wuxie suddenly smiled and nodded softly:
"good."
That smile was so gentle.
Hua Chongyang couldn't bear to change her mind and send him away, so she had no choice but to acquiesce. Under the dim candlelight, both of them seemed somewhat distracted. Hua Chongyang always bathed in the evening, and her maid would automatically bring her hot water when the time came. The inner and outer rooms were separated only by a screen. She glanced at Lan Wuxie, and without thinking, waved her hand at the maid:
"Let's skip it tonight."
Lan Wuxie, however, looked at the screen and then at Hua Chongyang, and said:
"You've slept all day, a shower will help you relax."
The maid who was about to leave stopped and looked at him. Lan Wuxie then directly gave the order:
"Prepare some water."
So the girl completely ignored Hua Chongyang's opinion and obediently carried the water into the inner room. Lan Wuxie looked at Hua Chongyang again:
"You can wash yourself, don't worry about me. I'll just read a book here for a while."
Several books were stacked on the wall, and he casually picked one up and opened it. Hua Chongyang, having bathed for quite some time, finally emerged from behind the screen, dawdling. He saw Lan Wuxie lying on the bed, wearing only his undergarments, engrossed in reading. He smiled and raised his eyes as she approached.
"So fast."
"……oh."
She walked to the edge of the tatami mat, stood for a moment, then slowly sat down and kicked off her shoes.
Lan Wuxie looked at her quietly, her smile calm and composed:
"Are you sleeping inside or outside?"
"Ah... this--"
"Go inside," Lan Wuxie said with a slight smile. "You're a terrible sleeping man."
"……good."
So Hua Chongyang loosened the cloth wrapped around his hair and crawled sideways onto the inside of the bed.
Lan Wuxie leaned against the headboard, motionless, still clutching the scroll in her left hand. She was probably too nervous; her foot tripped over his leg, but he caught her with his other hand.
"careful."
"……"
For some reason, Hua Chongyang felt that the scene was a bit strange, so she couldn't help but laugh. After laughing, she felt completely relaxed. She was half-kneeling on the bed, pulling back the quilt, and was about to lie down on her side when her arm, which had been supported by Lan Wuxie, was suddenly pulled hard, and she fell onto the bed.
Before she could even gasp, Lan Wuxie leaned over and pressed down on her, kissing her fiercely.
A dizzying sensation swept over her, and by the time Hua Chongyang came to her senses, her undergarments had been completely removed. Lan Wuxie, one hand supporting her waist and the other cupping her face, leaned down and whispered a sentence in her ear:
"...Chongyang, I want you."
76. Borrowing a knife
Huang San has a theory: to see how a man treats you, look at how he treats you in bed.
If he always puts your feelings first, then he absolutely cherishes you. Because if he still considers a woman's feelings in such situations, it shows he truly loves you to the core. If his principle in bed is mutual benefit, then he truly cares about you. If he completely disregards his own feelings and only cares about his own pleasure, then this kind of man must be dumped, and if necessary, even castrated, to prevent future problems.
Hua Chongyang always believed that Lan Wuxie belonged to the first category.
But he seemed different that night.
He did it with the same utmost seriousness, his gaze filled with the same extreme tenderness when he looked at her. But his approach was different from before; it was as if each stroke was meant to strike deep into her soul, leaving a mark before he would stop. By the end, they were both almost exhausted, just as dawn was breaking outside. Hua Chongyang's thoughts were in turmoil; she only felt Lan Wuxie embracing her from behind, as if he were whispering in her ear, but she couldn't make out what he was saying.
By the time she finally came to her senses, it was already dark outside again.
She slowly sat up, pushed aside the messy quilt on the bed, and squinted as she scanned the entire room.
Lan Wuxie was not in the room, but there were neat clothes on the bedside table: a bright yellow shirt and a dark purple skirt, with dark gold embroidered on the skirt.
Such a flamboyant and extravagant style is clearly Lan Wuxie's.
Hua Chongyang lazily got out of bed, walked to the table, poured herself some tea, and drank it all. Just as she put down the teapot, she heard a knock at the door. She responded softly, and a maidservant walked in with a grin.