Nan Yu struggled to open her eyes and finally made out Tan Linyuan's face.
She was in his arms. From this angle, his facial features were extremely distinct and three - dimensional.
His eyelashes cast shadows as he stared intently at her.
This scene made him look like a divine Buddha coming to save the world.
The moment she recognized his face, Nan Yu grabbed onto the collar of his robe tightly with both hands, as if clutching at a life - saving straw.
She opened her mouth and called his name, "Tan Linyuan..."
Beyond these three words, she couldn't utter anything else. Her mouth opened painfully as tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes.
She felt so uncomfortable.
The pain was so intense that her tears just wouldn't stop, dripping onto his robe.
Shen Yanche was almost stunned.
As soon as Nan Yu fell, he was about to go and help her, but unexpectedly, Tan Linyuan was quicker. He strode forward and blocked in front of Shen Yanche.
Then, right in front of everyone, he picked up Nan Yu.
"Uncle, please hand Yu Yu over to me," Shen Yanche reached out his hand to take Nan Yu.
But to his surprise, Nan Yu wrapped her arms and legs around Tan Linyuan tightly, like a koala, refusing to let go.
Due to this sudden incident, the religious ceremony was forced to be suspended.
"Why is she crying?" Tan Linyuan's voice was cold. "It's a big taboo for an outsider to cry in the mourning hall."
As soon as he said this, the elders of the Shen family all looked at Shen Yanche.
Such behavior of bumping into the late Mr. Shen and disturbing the religious ceremony would surely lead to rejection from the Shen family.
Shen Yanche was taken aback. Afraid that the blame would fall on him, he quickly made up an excuse. "No, no. I guess Yu Yu was just reminded of her parents. After all, they've passed away..."
At this point, he pretended to sigh helplessly, then quickly added, "Uncle, you should continue the ceremony for Grandpa. I'll take Yu Yu back to her room and comfort her."
Feeling Tan Linyuan's hand loosening, Nan Yu's heart sank. She grabbed his collar again and shook her head painfully.
In her current state, she mustn't go with Shen Yanche.
"Uncle?" Shen Yanche called out to him.
Tan Linyuan remained still, holding Nan Yu in his arms, his eyes glancing over indifferently.
"Since she misses her parents, it's just right for her to go back to the room with me to copy Buddhist scriptures," he turned his head. Immediately, the other monks closed their eyes again and continued chanting scriptures.
Apparently, even without Tan Linyuan, the memorial ceremony could still be carried out by the other monks.
With this arrangement, the other Shen family members naturally had no objections.
After making these arrangements, Tan Linyuan was about to leave the mourning hall with Nan Yu.
This couldn't be allowed. Nan Yu didn't really miss her parents. Moreover, the effect of the medicine was just kicking in.
"Forget it, Uncle. It's more important for you to stay in the mourning hall..."
Before Shen Yanche could finish his plea, Tan Linyuan had already walked past him, striding out of the mourning hall with Nan Yu in his arms.
He could only watch as Tan Linyuan took Nan Yu towards the room where he rested.
"Uncle! This is improper!" Shen Yanche was extremely anxious and shouted at him directly. "A man and a woman staying alone in a room..."
The rest of his words were choked back by Tan Linyuan's cold and calm gaze.
Tan Linyuan's eyes were as cold as frost, emotionless, as if he had lost the vitality that a person should have.
It was hard to believe that such a divine - like figure would do anything improper.
"Are you worried that I'll do something to her?"
Tan Linyuan's thin lips parted slightly, his tone emotionless. "Yanche, she's your fiancée, but she's also my disciple."
He raised his eyes, his Adam's apple twitched slightly, and he gave an order as if chanting scriptures. "And you, as the great - grandson of Grandpa Shen, should stay in the mourning hall to keep vigil."
This was a clear reminder that he was the one who should leave at this moment.
Shen Yanche was left speechless.
Apparently, Tan Linyuan had blocked all his ways out.
If he continued to fight with Tan Linyuan for Nan Yu, it would only prove that he had something to hide.
Helplessly, he could only watch as Tan Linyuan carried Nan Yu and turned into the room.
Shen Yanche had no choice but to return disappointed.
Halfway through his walk, he suddenly realized:
Even if Tan Linyuan, as a Buddhist disciple, could remain chaste and keep away from women; Nan Yu had taken the medicine after all.
Nan Yu's reaction just now was a sign that the medicine was taking effect.
He didn't dare to imagine what Nan Yu would do to Tan Linyuan in such a situation.
Even if it was the remotest possibility, if something did happen...
He would never allow anyone else to sleep with Nan Yu!
Thinking of this, his face changed, and he turned around and ran back.
"Uncle! I also want to copy Buddhist scriptures!" he shouted as he ran. "Let me in too. I'll join you!"
He intended to rush in directly, but there were already two strong men standing at the door, both in black, on high alert.
It seemed that they were well - prepared, specifically to prevent others from entering.
"Mr. Shen, Mr. Tan is sitting in meditation and chanting scriptures inside. No one is allowed to go in and disturb him," one of the strong men said.
Shen Yanche was desperate and roared, "Let me in!"
As he took a step forward, the two strong men immediately grabbed his arms. "Mr. Shen, we're sorry for any offense!"
With a little strength, they pushed him away.
They had received the order not to allow anyone to enter the room where Tan Linyuan was.
"You won't let me in, right?" Shen Yanche's eyes were blood - red. Just thinking that Nan Yu might take the initiative to cling to Tan Linyuan inside, he was furious. "This is the Shen family! I'm in charge here!"
The strong men guarding the door remained calm, not affected by his imposing manner at all. They still replied, "We only follow Mr. Tan's orders. He's in charge."
After several fruitless attempts to enter, Shen Yanche finally exploded in anger. "If you don't let me in, I'll call people right now and break down the door!"
The strong man reminded him, "Mr. Shen, Mr. Tan gave instructions when he went in. If anyone tries to go in and disturb him, he'll leave the Shen family tonight."
"Don't you forget that Mr. Tan is needed to preside over Grandpa Shen's funeral tomorrow."
Shen Yanche was stunned. The raging anger in him instantly died down.
Even if he had a hundred guts, he wouldn't dare to ruin Grandpa Shen's funeral.
He felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow or spit it out.
It was as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly.
He didn't want to leave and wanted to stand outside the door to see if he could hear any noise from inside.
But the sound insulation in the Shen family's ancestral mansion was always very good. No matter how hard Shen Yanche pricked up his ears, all he could hear was the sound of his own pacing back and forth in the corridor.
Just then, one of the strong men kindly comforted him, "Mr. Tan will take good care of Miss Nan. Please rest assured."
Shen Yanche: ...
He glared in anger but was helpless. He turned around impatiently and returned to the mourning hall.
---
Inside the room.
After Tan Linyuan carried Nan Yu in, he laid her on the bed.
Then, he locked the door from the inside and called someone to guard outside.
He could guess that Shen Yanche would never let this go easily, so he had already made full preparations.
Nan Yu was burning hot all over. She fumbled with her hands to undo the buttons on her clothes and simply stripped herself naked.
Without the restraint of clothes, she finally felt a little better.
But it only lasted for a few seconds. A new wave of heat came rolling in.
She lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling with her eyes and wriggling her legs desperately.
No longer able to endure, following her instinctive desires, she called out his name straightforwardly.
"Tan Linyuan, give it to me."