Ma femme escalade le mur

Chapitre 86

Zhan Yun was deeply intoxicated by the kiss when he gradually felt the resistance from the woman in his arms. Although he was reluctant to part with her, he was also afraid of being too impulsive and frightening her. In addition, the two of them were pressed very close together, and his clothes were thin. Her simple rubbing and twisting had already aroused a deeper desire in his body. If he continued, he was afraid that he would not be able to have a good time either.

Zhan Yun smiled bitterly to himself and slowly released his embrace. He then tenderly pecked the lips he had kissed until they were red, the corners of the lips slightly upturned, and the cheeks flushed. Finally, he gently held the person in his arms, his breath slightly unsteady.

Duan Chen's cheeks flushed slightly, and her stomach churned, like butterflies fluttering, a sour taste mixed with a slight itch. Though extremely shy, she felt no anger whatsoever. Zhan Yun secretly regulated his breathing, gently supporting the beauty's slender waist, looking down into Duan Chen's eyes, his heart filled with bittersweet emotions, his heart pounding with trepidation: "Chen'er, I just..."

Duan Chen took two steps back, moving away from the alluring embrace, and turned his face to the side: "Go put on a coat, you'll catch a cold."

Zhan Yun carefully observed the beauty's expression. The suppressed joy gradually took over. Chen'er wasn't angry with him! He took three steps at a time to the bedside, found a piece of clothing to put on, and let his wet hair fall down his back. Zhan Yun frantically searched around.

Duan Chen found it amusing and whispered, "Right arm."

Following Duan Chen's directions, Zhan Yun noticed a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. He had been so focused on getting close to her that he'd carelessly draped the towel he used to dry his hair over his right elbow. Now that his wish had been fulfilled, he worried that Duan Chen might be angry and ignore him, so he was preoccupied with how to appease her. But when he realized Duan Chen wasn't angry at all, he was so overjoyed he almost forgot his own name, let alone where he'd put the towel!

Zhan Yun quickly wiped his hair a few times with a cloth, walked to the table, touched the outside of the teapot with his finger, poured a cup of hot tea, and handed it to Duan Chen. Duan Chen shook his head, his eyes still looking to the side, and said softly, "Wipe your hair again. Didn't you say you had a headache earlier?"

Zhan Yun blinked, a subtle smile playing on her lips. She put down her teacup and obediently dried her hair carefully as Duan Chen had instructed.

Duan Chen picked up the cup of tea Zhan Yun had poured for her earlier and slowly sipped it. The flush on her face gradually dissipated, but her heart remained warm, with a sweet aftertaste. Recalling Xiao Changqing's words from that time, Duan Chen frowned slightly. Was this what it felt like to like someone?

Zhan Yun sat to one side and saw the beauty frown. He raised his hand and gently touched the teacup in her hand: "What's wrong? Is it cold?"

Duan Chen gently shook his head, turned to look at him, a slight smile playing on his lips, his face displaying a rare gentleness. Zhan Yun also maintained a smile, his crescent-shaped eyes overflowing with tenderness.

Duan Chen gazed silently at the man before him. His white robes were like snow, his raven hair cascaded down his back, and his handsome, ethereal appearance was like that of a banished immortal. Yet, his eyes were filled with affection as he stared intently at him. Thinking of the kiss just now, and the man's cautious reaction afterward, Duan Chen's expression remained calm, and his voice was soft: "You like me?"

Zhan Yun was taken aback by her question, but nodded with a smile.

Duan Chen lowered his eyes and continued drinking his tea. Zhan Yun was at a loss for words. After hesitating for a moment, he reached out and covered Duan Chen's hand, which was resting on the table: "Chen'er."

Duan Chen didn't dodge. She put down her teacup and looked at him, her phoenix eyes clear and calm, but the corners of her lips remained slightly upturned. Zhan Yun, always perceptive, couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion upon seeing Duan Chen's expression. His throat tightened slightly: "Chen'er, does this mean you've accepted me?"

Duan Chen tilted his head slightly, frowning as he said, "Otherwise what?" Kissing and hugging him, letting him hold his hand—aren't these things that only people who like each other do?

Zhan Yun smiled upon hearing this, took her hand and kissed it gently, then placed it on his heart, saying with a serious expression, "Then Chen'er must take responsibility for me for the rest of her life, and you are not allowed to go back on your word."

Duan Chen thought for a moment and said calmly, "As long as you don't regret it, I naturally won't."

Zhan Yun smiled gently and promised, "I will never regret it."

Duan Chen stared at him quietly for a long time, and Zhan Yun smiled faintly as he let her look at him, gently holding the beauty's soft hand and placing it on his heart.

Duan Chen tried to pull his hand back, but found that the other person was holding it very firmly, and the crescent-shaped eyes were also staring at him. He couldn't help but find it a little funny: "Let go of me, I have something to show you."

Zhan Yun released his hand as instructed, and saw Duan Chen take a narrow, long wooden box from his sleeve and place it on the table. Zhan Yun untied the brocade ribbon on the box, reached inside, and took out the white sandalwood hairpin. He examined it for a moment by the lamplight, his brows gradually furrowing. He glanced at the blue velvet lining the inside of the box, then looked up at Duan Chen: "Li Lingke?"

Duan Chen nodded slightly.

Zhan Yun recalled that day when Duan Chen stood on the street in a disheveled state, holding this very wooden box in her hand. She also remembered her slightly red eyes and the cut on her palm. Zhan Yun's expression hardened: "You met him that day?"

Duan Chen shook his head: "No. This wooden box was given to me by a fortune teller." As he spoke, he pulled out the piece of paper from the bottom of the box and gestured for Zhan Yun to open it himself.

Zhan Yun opened the letter and examined it carefully, then frowned and looked at Duan Chen: "What do you mean by the 'grand gift' he mentioned?"

Duan Chen looked displeased and remained silent for a moment before speaking softly: "Did you find anything at the teahouse this afternoon?"

Zhan Yun nodded, his handsome brows still furrowed: "This matter is rather strange. Zhao Ting and I went into the teahouse but didn't find anyone, and there seemed to be nothing wrong with the teahouse. However, we found a pill under a table on the second floor, exactly the same as the one we bought at Yidulou."

Duan Chen pondered for a long while, then looked up at Zhan Yun: "It seems we really have to go again." Whether it was a genuine accidental fall or a deliberate trap, the First Tower was a must-go, because the second-rank official who possessed the secret list died there. After all this time, everything seemed to have returned to square one.

Zhan Yun nodded in agreement: "Did the coroner's office find anything?"

Duan Chen curled his lips into a smile: "Quite a haul."

Zhan Yun also smiled and said, "You can tell him again tomorrow when everyone is here." If she tells him now, she'll have to repeat it again tomorrow morning.

Duan Chen was silent for a moment, then looked up at him: "Aren't you going to ask me what I was doing that day?" That day on the street, he clearly saw himself holding this wooden box and the note in his hand, but he was only focused on the wound on his palm and didn't even glance at the note. Now, seeing the contents of the wooden box and the contents of the note, although he had some doubts about Li Lingke's words, when he asked him about what happened that afternoon, Li Lingke answered without any concealment, and he no longer clung to his previous doubts.

Zhan Yun smiled faintly: "If Chen'er wants to talk, I'm naturally willing to listen." As she spoke, she reached out and stroked the stray hairs at Duan Chen's temples, tucking them behind her ears. She then gently rubbed her cheek with the back of her fingers. Her crescent-shaped eyes were full of seriousness, yet exceptionally gentle. "If you don't want to talk, that's fine too. I don't mind."

Duan Chen watched him quietly, letting his fingers gently caress her cheek, finally sliding down to her chin, gently supporting it with his index finger, leaning forward slightly, and pressing a kiss to her lips.

As he moved, a gentle breeze swept by, carrying with it his unique, clear and refreshing aura, like the cool, slightly sweet scent of green willows by a lake in early spring—subtle yet warm.

Zhan Yun withdrew his hand, his face slightly embarrassed, a smile still playing on his lips, but upon closer inspection, it revealed a hint of helplessness: "Chen'er, why are your eyes so wide open..."

Duan Chen looked at him calmly: "You had your eyes open just now too."

Zhan Yun cleared her throat twice, her cheeks slightly flushed, and explained to her, "It's better to close your eyes."

Duan Chen nodded: "Okay."

Zhan Yun was both amused and exasperated. He glanced at the water clock by the bed and said softly, "It's getting late. I'll take you back to your room."

Zhan Yun put the hairpin back into the wooden box and folded the paper back up. He then handed both items back to Duan Chen, saying, "You should keep these with you."

Duan Chen took it and put it in his sleeve, then looked up at him: "Aren't you angry?"

Zhan Yun shook his head, his crescent-shaped eyes revealing deep thought: "Li Lingke is an extremely shrewd man who never does anything useless. Whatever his purpose is, it's never a bad thing to carry him with you."

Opening the door, Zhan Yun took Duan Chen's hand and gently instructed, "However, try to avoid direct confrontation with him in the future, and don't recklessly chase after him whenever something happens. In terms of intelligence, you may not be inferior to him. But when it comes to scheming and manipulation, you are far no match for him. Moreover, his martial arts are far superior to yours. If a real fight breaks out, even I may not be able to escape unscathed..."

Both of them recalled their time at Wanliu Manor. Duan Chen's lips curved slightly, and he nodded gently. Zhan Yun smiled, placed one hand on her waist, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Close your eyes..."

Duan Chen closed his eyes as instructed. A warm and refreshing scent lingered around his nose, and something gently touched his lips, soft and tender... A warm current flowed through his heart, sweet and comforting.

Author's Note: There will be an update tomorrow at 9 AM!

Did you all see the long review written by Lingfei below? Just like that is fine!

This chapter was so sweet! You guys should share in the sweetness with Xue Luo by writing a long review~ *twitch*