Pei Zhiyan led Song Ruotang towards the official road. They trudged through the snow, each step making a soft rustling sound.
After walking for a long time, Pei Zhiyan finally broke the silence. "Did you just call my name?"
Song Ruotang halted in her steps. She looked up at Pei Zhiyan's expression, unable to tell whether he was happy or angry. So she lowered her eyelashes. "I was too impatient just now, so I accidentally said the wrong thing, my lord, you..."
"Just call me by my name." Pei Zhiyan interrupted her gently.
Song Ruotang looked up at him, meeting his eyes. There was a smile in his eyes. He tightened his hold on her hand. "I don't want you to call me my lord anymore."
"Why?" Song Ruotang pursed her lips. "All the servants in the mansion call you that. I'm your concubine. It would be improper for me to call you by your name."
"They are servants. You're not." Pei Zhiyan stopped and looked at her. The reason the servants in the mansion called him that was to distinguish him from Pei Yu. Now that he had someone he loved, who was much younger than him, he privately didn't want Song Ruotang to call him that anymore.
Song Ruotang still wasn't quite used to it and didn't say anything. Pei Zhiyan added, "I like it when you call me that."
Hearing this, Song Ruotang blushed a little. She lowered her eyes to avoid Pei Zhiyan's gaze. Pei Zhiyan held her hand and continued walking. The rustling sound under their feet resumed.
"Zhiyan..."
The forest was quiet, and the voice was particularly clear. Song Ruotang's words were like two crisp pearls falling into a jade plate, clear and pleasant.
Pei Zhiyan stiffened. His fingers tightened instantly. Song Ruotang waited for a long time but didn't hear Pei Zhiyan's response. She couldn't help but lift her eyelashes slightly to look at him.
Pei Zhiyan turned his face sideways. He covered his lips with his fist. The tips of his ears were as red as if they were bleeding. Even his cheeks seemed a little red.
Song Ruotang immediately realized that Pei Zhiyan was shy. She couldn't help but curve her lips. At this moment, she didn't feel uncomfortable anymore. Instead, a little mischievous thought came to her mind.
She slowly approached Pei Zhiyan and wrapped her arm around his. She said softly, "Zhiyan, why don't you look at me?"
Hearing this, Pei Zhiyan turned his head and met her gaze. Seeing the teasing look that hadn't faded from Song Ruotang's eyes, Pei Zhiyan's eyebrows twitched slightly. He bent down and leaned closer to her. His voice was low and seductive. "Say it again."
His breath tickled Song Ruotang's face. Her eyes, which originally held a hint of teasing, now dodged. Song Ruotang took a step back, trying to create some distance between them.
Pei Zhiyan pressed forward step by step until her back was against a tree trunk. There was nowhere to retreat, so she had to look up at Pei Zhiyan.
There was a conciliatory look in Song Ruotang's eyes. She wanted to slip away from the side, but Pei Zhiyan didn't give her a chance. He raised his hand and propped it on the tree trunk, trapping her inside.
"A Tang, say it again." Pei Zhiyan curved his lips and spoke again.
This time, it was Song Ruotang's turn to blush. She bit her lower lip and secretly regretted teasing Pei Zhiyan just now. Now she was in a dilemma.
Pei Zhiyan didn't move. Obviously, he wasn't going to let her go. Song Ruotang had no choice but to whisper, "Zhiyan..."
As soon as the words came out, her cheeks burned like fire. Song Ruotang didn't dare to look at him, but Pei Zhiyan raised his hand and pinched her chin. He gently lifted her face and bent down to kiss her lips.
Pei Zhiyan trapped Song Ruotang in his arms. The kiss was intense, making Song Ruotang's legs go weak.
The air in her chest seemed to be drained. Song Ruotang couldn't help but press her hand against Pei Zhiyan's chest. During the moment when he left her lips, she pleaded softly, "Zhiyan, I was wrong..."
Pei Zhiyan paused. His eyes looking at Song Ruotang darkened. There was a hint of lust in them. Before Song Ruotang could understand, he pressed forward again.
The ambiguous sound of water and the low gasps intertwined. After Pei Zhiyan finished the kiss, Song Ruotang was already limp in his arms.
Her cheeks and the corners of her eyes were tinged with a rosy color. There were tears in her almond eyes. After taking a few deep breaths to steady her breath, she pouted and looked at Pei Zhiyan.
Pei Zhiyan held her and kissed away the tears from the corners of her eyes. His voice was hoarse, suppressing his lust. "What's wrong?"
Song Ruotang gave a soft snort. "How could you be like this? I've already admitted my mistake, but you still won't let me go..." She pushed Pei Zhiyan's chest slightly to show her dissatisfaction.
Pei Zhiyan let out a soft cry. His eyebrows knitted slightly, as if he was in pain. Song Ruotang became nervous again. She quickly leaned closer to him. "Did I touch your wound just now? Where is it hurt? Is it serious..."
Before she could finish speaking, Pei Zhiyan had already hugged her. He curved his lips and smiled. He turned his head and leaned closer to her ear. "I'm not in pain. As long as I can hold A Tang, I feel perfectly fine."
The blush on Song Ruotang's face hadn't faded yet, and now it flared up again. But she didn't push Pei Zhiyan away this time. She just gave him a reproachful look in his arms and turned her head away, ignoring him.
Only then did Pei Zhiyan give in. "Okay, it's my fault. Don't be angry, okay?"
Seeing that his attitude of admitting his mistake was good, Song Ruotang reluctantly forgave him.
The two continued towards the official road. It was already dark when they finally saw the shadow of the official road.
Pei Zhiyan took out something like a fire starter from his body. He opened it and threw it into the sky. A blue firework instantly pierced the night sky.
Pei Zhiyan was just about to turn his head and say something to Song Ruotang when his gaze passed over her and landed on what was behind her. His expression instantly became serious.
Before Song Ruotang could ask, Pei Zhiyan pressed her into his arms. He dodged to the side, avoiding a sharp sword with a cold light.
Pei Zhiyan drew out the dagger from his body and stood in front of Song Ruotang. There were two masked men on the opposite side, looking at them sharply.
The masked men didn't say a word and just attacked directly. Their target was Song Ruotang. Pei Zhiyan's heart sank. He fought with the two of them. But since Pei Zhiyan was injured, he was at a disadvantage. One of the opponents found an opportunity to hold him back, while the other directly raised his sword and stabbed horizontally at Song Ruotang.
The sword passed by Pei Zhiyan's side. His eyes showed a hint of surprise. He struck the person in front of him with his palm and took the opportunity to plunge the dagger into the opponent's heart. Then he quickly raised his hand and grabbed the sword that was stabbing at Song Ruotang.
Bright red blood instantly stained the sword. It dripped onto the white snow under their feet, looking particularly eye - catching.
Song Ruotang was shocked. She couldn't help but grab Pei Zhiyan's sleeve and said tremblingly, "Pei Zhiyan, let go quickly!"
Pei Zhiyan stared at the masked man. The latter didn't expect him to grab the sword with his bare hand. He tried to pull it out, but Pei Zhiyan held it tightly. The masked man gritted his teeth and said, "Let go!"
Pei Zhiyan didn't say a word. He suddenly stepped forward, grabbed the masked man's wrist and twisted it. The crisp sound of the bone dislocating was particularly clear. The man let out a painful cry and took several steps back.
Pei Zhiyan took the sword that the man dropped and pursued the attack.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the opponent suddenly whistled. As soon as the loud whistle sounded, footsteps sounded around them not long after.
Song Ruotang saw men in black clothes surrounding them from all sides. Pei Zhiyan protected her in front of him. He pointed the sword at the defeated masked man. His cold expression didn't change at all.