Yaoguang's mind went blank for a moment. It wasn't until the air in her lungs was almost gone that she truly realized what was happening.
She instinctively struggled and tried to push Shi Luohan's shoulders with both hands, but he caught her wrists and pinned her against the door.
"Are you crazy?" she gasped slightly, her lips tingling.
Desire glinted in the man's eyes as his gaze raked over her fair, delicate skin inch by inch.
His other hand grasped her waist, and the heat seemed to rise, as if it could burn her clothes at any moment.
"I'm not crazy. I just don't want to deceive myself anymore!"
He had fallen in love with Yaoguang. Feeling guilty towards Wanchu, he had run away for a few days, trying to calm himself down and think things through.
He sorted out his thoughts and convinced himself that his attraction to Yaoguang was just a normal reaction of a man seeing a beautiful woman. He still loved Wanchu.
But this was nothing but self - deception.
After being out in the cold wind for so long, he still couldn't cool his heart. Instead, Yaoguang's face and her alluring red lips that night kept flashing through his mind again and again.
When he saw her tears tonight, the tenderness and the urge to hold her in his arms welled up in his heart.
Since he had already made a mistake, he might as well go all the way with the help of the alcohol.
He kissed Yaoguang's lips again and undid her belt.
Yaoguang was shocked, but before she could think, she was already on the couch.
She lay on the couch, her mind in a complete mess.
Dense, hot kisses landed on her back. Shi Luohan kissed the coquettishly bright blood - red rose on her back as if in a trance.
Yaoguang's waist gradually went limp.
The curtains around the couch swayed all night long.
Yaoguang had always thought that she was not a delicate flower. She had a will no less than a man's, high - level martial arts skills, and extraordinary eyesight and hearing.
But all that changed when she met Shi Luohan.
It was this man's strength that made her realize the huge physical difference between men and women.
Not to mention his powerful explosive power.
She wanted to ask Shi Luohan what was going on between them, but she was too tired to even open her mouth and fell into a deep sleep.
Shi Luohan held her in his arms, letting Yaoguang lie on his chest.
As the alcohol wore off, his mind became clearer.
He clearly heard the contented sigh of his soul.
So this was what it felt like to be with the one you loved.
Once, he had also hoped to take the relationship with Wanchu further, but he had never really imagined making Wanchu his woman.
Even after they were engaged, in front of Wanchu, he still saw himself as her elder brother.
His hazy love for Wanchu was more like an extension of the innocent feelings in his youth.
It was far from the level of a man falling head - over - heels in love with a woman, being unable to live without her, and yearning to be entangled with her.
So, for all these years, he had loved the wrong person!
After figuring all this out, he felt calm.
The sense of guilt for betraying Wanchu also disappeared.
The person in his arms was sleeping soundly. Shi Luohan brushed aside a few strands of hair on her forehead and kissed her on the forehead.
"Sleep. I'll be back soon."
...
It was almost dawn. Song Wanchu heard the sound of sweeping in the yard. The maids and servants had already gotten up.
Suddenly, she heard the little maid Huasui let out a scream. The broom fell to the ground, and she walked away in a hurry.
A moment later, Nanzhi walked in, lifted a corner of the curtain, her face showing a complicated expression.
Song Wanchu had slept poorly. Her head was heavy. She rubbed her temples and asked, "What's going on outside?"
"Miss, when Huasui opened the door, she saw Taoist Priest Liang... Yu Zhou sleeping in front of our courtyard gate."
Song Wanchu was jolted awake instantly.
She got out of bed in a hurry, put on a fox fur coat over her nightgown, and rushed out.
In front of the courtyard gate, among the swaying plum shadows, Liang Yuzhou slowly opened his eyes in the dawn light.
When he saw Song Wanchu, the sharp lines of his face softened, and his voice was light, "Wanchu."
He stood up, gasped a few times, and coughed lightly.
Song Wanchu suddenly remembered the scene of him spitting out a large mouthful of blood. Her heart tightened, and her face turned pale.
"Liang Yuzhou, what are you doing?"
Although the winter in Yunzhou was warm, it was still very cold at night during the coldest days of winter.
Didn't he know he had a lung disease? How could he sleep outside all night?
Nanzhi glared at him angrily. "Taoist Priest Liang is a grown man. Doesn't he care about our miss's reputation at all by sleeping in front of her door?"
It was already bright. Maids and servants would soon be coming and going on the road outside.
If they were seen, the news would spread quickly. And the miss was about to get married. She would be drowned in gossip!
Song Wanchu shifted her gaze from his pale face. "Go away. Stop being so childish!"
Liang Yuzhou lowered his head slightly. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his eyes were full of bloodshot. "I just wanted to be closer to you."
He lacked confidence because he knew this would trouble her.
But he couldn't help it.
The cold nights without her were bone - chilling, almost freezing him.
Song Wanchu hadn't slept well, and seeing him in such a pitiful state, her head throbbed.
"Do whatever you want!"
She gave up and turned back into the courtyard.
At the door, a few little maids and servants craned their necks to look out, full of curiosity.
Nanzhi was fuming. "Close the door! That man outside is just a drunkard!"
Although the door was closed, it couldn't stop the maids and servants from whispering.
"It's Taoist Priest Liang. He came to our courtyard to exorcise evil spirits for the miss!"
"He's so dedicated. He guarded outside the miss's door all night. Is he afraid that evil spirits will disturb the miss?"
Suyue came over with hot water, almost bursting into scolding.
Dedicated? Liang Yuzhou himself was the evil spirit!
Song Wanchu was in a complete mess. When she entered the room, she got another shock.
Liang Yuzhou had sneaked into her boudoir!
Suyue let out a scream and stood in front of Song Wanchu, splashing a basin of boiling water on Liang Yuzhou.
The hot water burned his skin, but he stood still. Water droplets dripped down his cheeks, making him look like a white jade statue that had been washed.
Song Wanchu stared at his red - skinned hand, and her eyes welled up with tears.
She didn't know if she was angry or really felt sorry for him.
"Are you still not leaving?" Suyue glared at him. "Do you want to be drenched in hot water?"
She angrily went to get another basin of hot water.
"Suyue!" Song Wanchu's temples throbbed. "Put the basin down."
"Miss, why are you being soft - hearted? Have you forgotten that back then, in order to protect Yu Huiyan, he splashed a bowl of boiling soup directly on your thigh! You jumped up in shock, and the wound on your back tore open..."
Suyue's eyes turned red.
Liang Yuzhou felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife, filled with endless remorse and self - blame.
"Wanchu, let her splash. I owe this to you. At that time, I was just angry that you reported Yu Rongbai to Uncle on your own initiative. Yu Rongbai was imprisoned, and the interests of the Princess were damaged. I was afraid for you, afraid that Uncle and you would be targeted by the Princess."
He tried to explain, but his words seemed so pale.
At that time, he was angry and secretly protected her, but he never thought of explaining to her.
The rift between them just grew bigger and bigger.
Now, it was too late to make up for the harm he had caused to Wanchu.
The physical pain was secondary. Wanchu really thought that he was protecting Yu Huiyan back then, and her heart had turned cold towards him.
How stupid he had been before.
Song Wanchu grabbed his arm and pushed him out. "If you want to be a dead pig and not afraid of boiling water, I'm still afraid of wasting water!"
Suddenly, a servant's voice came from outside. "Young Master Shi is here so early?"
Song Wanchu's mind went blank, as if it was about to explode.