Although Li Ying was a good swimmer, she still choked on the sulfur spring water. Her eyes stung terribly, and tears streamed down her face, making it hard for her to tell which way was which.
Lu Xunguang saw her thrashing about in the water and didn't think twice. Without hesitation, he leaped right into the sulfur spring.
Li Ying suddenly felt light as he wrapped his cloak around her haphazardly and picked her up in his arms, holding her safely against his chest.
"Brother Lu... I... I'm fine. It's just that the steam from the hot spring made me a bit dizzy..."
Li Ying could hear Lu Xunguang's clear heartbeat in her ear. There were only two thin layers of fabric between her cheek and his chest, and her voice unconsciously sounded a bit timid.
Lu Xunguang's body was as warm as the rock slab just used for roasting meat. Li Ying was naked under the cloak. Even though she always thought of herself as a modern - minded person, she still felt a bit uncomfortable at this moment.
Li Ying struggled to get out of his arms, but Lu Xunguang grabbed her slender ankle without hesitation.
His fingers were cool, and just by gently holding her arch, Li Ying couldn't help but gasp. Then she finally snapped out of her embarrassment and noticed that her foot had swollen up badly.
"I think you hit the volcanic rock when you fell. Ying, I'll take you back to the boat to get some bruise - treating wine."
Lu Xunguang's voice brooked no argument. Li Ying stopped struggling and buried her head in his arms, acting like an ostrich.
The curtain hung low.
Li Ying was lying on the couch in Lu Xunguang's cabin. The faint scent of soap, carrying his unique smell, surrounded her.
Li Ying blushed again and instinctively shrank further into the brocade quilt.
Lu Xunguang wasted no time. Soon, he came back with an armful of medicine, including wound powder and bruise - treating wine.
"Ying, bear with it a bit. I'll have to use some strength to knead out the stagnant blood and qi in the wound. Otherwise, it'll be bruised tomorrow."
Of course, Li Ying understood this. She nodded obediently.
Lu Xunguang looked straight ahead and held her foot. His big hands kneaded the bruise - treating wine until it was slightly warm.
At first, Li Ying felt a bit of pain, but later, she felt extremely comfortable all over.
When Lu Xunguang finally stopped, her foot was moving freely again, without any sign of discomfort.
He put away the medicine and wine but still couldn't help worrying. He carefully examined her ankle again and again.
Li Ying felt shy under his intense gaze. She didn't know what he was thinking. In this small, swaying cabin with just the two of them, the atmosphere gradually heated up.
She blushed and, feeling shy, was about to pull up the quilt to hide herself completely when she couldn't help stealing a glance at Lu Xunguang.
The man's handsome face was also flushed.
Only then did Lu Xunguang realize what he had been doing. A woman's bare foot was such a private thing, and he had been staring at it absent - mindedly. Even though they were already engaged, he felt guilty for his impolite behavior.
Seeing his embarrassed look, Li Ying felt a bit mischievous and started to laugh.
"Hey? The usually powerful and fearless head of the Lu family, who doesn't change his expression even when a mountain collapses in front of him, is he shy now?"
"We're already engaged. Today, it was just an emergency. Brother Lu, why do you have to be so rigid about etiquette?"
Although the man tried to stay calm, there was a hint of shyness in his eyes. The sunlight shone through the window lattice on his red ears, making them almost translucent. Li Ying laughed even more and deliberately pretended not to care as she continued to "comfort" him casually.
"It's just a bare foot. Brother Lu, don't be so embarrassed. In my hometown, not only walking bare - foot but also wearing spaghetti - strap dresses and cropped tops in the hot summer is perfectly normal. Today's incident really isn't a big deal..."
Before she could finish, Lu Xunguang's face changed instantly.
"Oh? So you've also gone out in just your underwear?"
He raised his eyebrows, and his eyes showed a bit of gloom.
Li Ying secretly cursed herself.
She had just wanted to tease him for fun, but now she had clearly stirred up his jealousy!
Lu Xunguang was an ancient person after all. It was too much for him to understand the "freedom of dressing" in later generations!
She decided to stop while she was ahead. She quickly put away her playful mood, lowered her head obediently, and explained in a small voice.
"Brother Lu, you misunderstand me! It was just a joke!"
Seeing the fire in Lu Xunguang's eyes burn brighter, she quickly grabbed his hand and pressed it tightly against her chest through the thin quilt.
"Brother Lu, if you don't believe me, just listen. My feelings are clear. I'm not lying..."
Lu Xunguang's breath caught in his throat.
In his eyes, it was like magma was surging, and his passion could no longer be hidden.
His knuckles turned slightly white as he exerted a bit of force.
The quilt slipped down quietly, revealing her porcelain - white neck.
Lu Xunguang leaned in, and his thin lips covered her words before she could finish her defense.
A storm of kisses, full of irresistible love, landed messily on her eyebrows and eyes. His cool fingers roamed all over her body, planting one hidden spark after another.
The thief who stole her heart and started the fire was still not satisfied. He hoarsely pushed aside the loose hair by her temples and whispered her name.
"Ying..."
He looked up, and his eyes showed an undisguised, greedy desire like that of a glutton.
Li Ying let out a long sigh.
In today's "battle", she had started by teasing him, thinking she could have a good laugh at the serious head of the Lu family. But in the end, it seemed that he had turned the tables on her. She was completely defeated. Her usually bright eyes were now full of confusion.
Li Ying simply closed her eyes, raised her soft red lips, and let him do as he pleased. Her arms gently wrapped around Lu Xunguang's shoulders and softly encircled his neck.
If it was Lu Xunguang, she thought she would be willing to give herself completely to him.
The lava was like a strange and fiery flower, blooming wantonly in the earth's core, in rhythm with the pounding of their hearts.