The commotion of Zhu Ning's return quickly spread throughout the mansion.
Xu Liunian rushed out of his room and pushed open the door. Zhu Ning suddenly turned around, only to see Xu Liunian's eyes filled with mist.
"Hey, hey, why are you about to cry..."
Xu Liunian said, "I thought you were going to abandon this family."
Zhu Ning replied, "Nonsense. I just went out for a while."
Xu Liunian retorted, "You went out with Pei Jin and didn't reply to any of my messages."
Zhu Ning felt embarrassed. She had been busy kissing Pei Jin.
"It's not like that. We were busy discussing scriptures... and got parched."
She took out a tissue to wipe his tears.不得不说, he was really good - looking, and even when crying, he was still charming, like a hibiscus or a crabapple in spring, making one feel intoxicated.
Xu Liunian lowered his head and said, "I couldn't even eat without you at home. Why couldn't you discuss those scriptures at home instead of going out?"
"I also learned some scriptures."
It was really hard on him. Zhu Ning knew that he hated those obscure scriptures the most.
"Alright. Next time I'll take you with me, okay?"
Anyway, Zhu Ning decided not to go out like this again.
Xu Liunian immediately threw his principles out of the window and said, "It's a deal!"
Zhu Ning said, "You're changing your mind a bit too quickly, aren't you?"
Xu Liunian looked at her strangely.
"My goal is to stay with you, not to uphold some principle about not being able to go out."
Zhu Ning coughed and said, "You're quite flexible then."
Xu Liunian was about to smile, but then he noticed something strange about her lips. "Your lips..."
"Ah, I'm so sleepy, Liunian. I want to go to sleep."
Xu Liunian was reluctant but said, "Okay, you should rest."
He left reluctantly. Zhu Ning waved with a smile, then turned around and rushed to the mirror.
Her lips were red and there were even some broken skins. Although she had applied medicine before coming back, they were still obviously swollen.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Wasn't it obvious what had happened?
Chi Wunian...
'Don't say anything.'
'Don't tell.'
Zhu Ning suddenly felt restless.
The carved wooden door was knocked again. Zhu Ning said, "Liunian, I'm going to sleep."
"It's me."
The young man's cold, lazy voice came. "Qi Yuwu."
The door opened a moment later. Zhu Ning opened the door wearing a mask.
"Mr. Qi, what can I do for you?"
Qi Yuwu stood at the door and looked down at her. Then he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
"Mr. Qi?"
After the door was closed, Qi Yuwu looked at her and asked, "Did you sleep with Pei Jin?"
"Absolutely not!"
Zhu Ning blushed all over. "I'm a Buddhist practitioner!"
"Buddhist practitioner." Qi Yuwu sneered faintly. He stepped towards her, and Zhu Ning stepped back step by step until he pinned her against the couch.
Qi Yuwu used two fingers to pull down her slightly large mask, revealing her red lips. His phoenix - like eyes were filled with a strange light. His index finger rubbed across her lips and said, "Can a Buddhist practitioner be kissed like this?"
The young man propped his arms on the couch. Zhu Ning was leaned against the head of the bed. Qi Yuwu's slender fingers pulled down the collar of her clothes. There were still bite marks left by Pei Jin on it. He said playfully, "Virtuous Lady Zhu? Oh, what kind of Buddhism are you practicing?"
"Qi Yuwu!"
He was just like Pei Jin.
But compared with Pei Jin, he was even more malicious.
That was because of his youth.
Qi Yuwu said lazily, "I'm here."
He continued, "By the way, sister still owes me a favor."
Zhu Ning of course knew what he was talking about. She gritted her teeth and said, "I've devoted myself to Buddhism. All the past events are wiped out."
"That won't do."
Qi Yuwu smiled. "Have you ever seen a loan - shark go back empty - handed?"
He reached out and stroked the bite mark on her collarbone. "The loan - shark's rule is to give nine and take back thirteen, sister."
"Don't regret provoking me."
"Even if you don't provoke me, I'll still stick to you on my own initiative."
"You can think of me as a piece of dog - skin plaster."
Zhu Ning said, "You can say whatever you want!"
Qi Yuwu replied, "Thank you for the compliment."
She tried to persuade him. "Qi Yuwu, this is wrong."
"Moreover, I've devoted myself to Buddhism. I'm a disciple of the Buddha. I need to abstain from lust. Do you understand?"
"Understand."
Qi Yuwu said, "So we can have an affair secretly."
Zhu Ning said, "Are you crazy!"
Qi Yuwu said, "Huh?"
"Is that not okay?"
Zhu Ning said, "Of course not! I'm a decent person!"
Qi Yuwu readily said, "Then we can have a decent secret affair. Or, have a secret affair in a decent place."
Secret, secret, secret. Are you the Secret Agent Man? Secret, secret, secret!
She kicked Qi Yuwu out of shame and anger. Qi Yuwu winced in pain but then burst into laughter. His laughter echoed above Zhu Ning's head.
Zhu Ning glared at him again. Qi Yuwu just looked at her with a teasing smile and said, "Really not going to have a secret affair with me?"
Secret your sister!
He laughed softly twice, then leaned forward towards her. Zhu Ning held her breath.
Qi Yuwu turned his head and took off her hair tie while Zhu Ning was breathing nervously.
"Interest."
"You haven't fulfilled your promise to me."
Zhu Ning held her breath until her face turned red. Qi Yuwu straightened up with a smile and left.
His back was full of satisfaction.
"The debt hasn't been settled yet. I'll settle it with you slowly."
"Now, good night."
Zhu Ning picked up a pillow and threw it at him. "Get out of here!"
Qi Yuwu caught the pillow with his backhand. He looked at the pillow, then at her, and finally raised his eyebrows and hooked his lips.
"Thank you."
Then he hugged the pillow and walked out of the room.
Zhu Ning shouted, "Ah!!"
What kind of people had she attracted!
One was more shameless than the other!
Zhu Ning's mind was in a mess. She tossed and turned in bed, feeling ashamed, angry and depressed.
'Don't say anything.'
'Don't tell.'
She reached out and took out her phone from under the pillow.
She scrolled through the chat interface.
11:00
Wunian: Have you gone out? When will you be back home?
13:00
Wunian: Have you arrived at your destination?
16:00
Wunian: Am I disturbing you?
18:16
Wunian: Are you coming back home tonight?
Ten minutes later, he sent another message.
[I'll wait for you.]
Zhu Ning turned off her phone and stared at the head of the bed with her eyes open.
She turned over, threw off the quilt, got out of bed, put on her clothes and walked through the corridor. She stood in front of Chi Wunian's room for a while.
She raised her hand, then put it down.
Just as she was about to turn around, the door suddenly opened.
He stood at the door. The emotions in his eyes were so faint that they would disperse with a wave of the hand. He asked in a low voice, "Why didn't you knock?"
Zhu Ning curled her hands that were holding the coat and said, "I thought you were asleep..."
"Not yet."
He said softly, "I'm still awake."
"Then..."
Chi Wunian stepped aside to invite her in. Zhu Ning paused for a moment, then stepped into the room.
He slowly closed the door with both hands. His whole body exuded a quiet and lonely aura. Zhu Ning opened her mouth and said, "I didn't expect you to still be awake."
"Yeah." He reached out and closed the window, blocking the prying eyes of the corridor lamp outside. Only their shadows were reflected through the window paper.
Zhu Ning followed behind him. Looking at the faint emotions on his extremely handsome side face, she said dryly, "Did you wait outside for a long time today?"
"Yeah."
Chi Wunian still replied in a soft voice without even looking at her. He was rarely so cold. Zhu Ning thought he was angry and bit her lips guiltily.
"I saw your messages. I didn't expect you to wait for me outside all the time. It was so cold. You still waited. You're not in good health. If you catch a cold, all the medicine I've given you will be in vain. Next time..."
"Zhu Ning."
Chi Wunian closed the last window.
He stood still and took off his wristwatch.
"Get ready."
"I'm going to kiss you."