Chapter 10: Sinking Deeper
Song Hemei's words drifted lightly into his ears, yet they suddenly exploded in his mind, stirring up towering waves.
Yu Yeqing instinctively looked behind her, but saw the person in front of him raise a hand, her slender, fair fingers waving before his eyes, drawing his full attention back to her.
Song Hemei clicked her tongue. "What are you looking at, Young Master Yu? If you really did catch a glimpse of him, wouldn't he also see us here together?"
Her smile faded; she would not delay here any longer. She grabbed hold of his wrist.
Yu Yeqing's breath hitched. The force of her grip on his wrist made him feel as if the flesh beneath his robes was being seared. But before he could speak, she had already pulled him through the moon-gate archway, leading him towards a young lady's private chambers.
His scattered senses finally returned. He called out in a low voice, "Second Miss Song."
Song Hemei hummed in acknowledgment, not turning her head, striding swiftly as she led him towards her own courtyard.
Yu Yeqing knew that at this moment he should stop, that he should go no further.
Such ambiguous matters should not continue, especially when her childhood sweetheart husband was just behind them.
But the secret desires he had always suppressed deep within his heart propelled him forward at this moment, making his steps unceasing. He followed her all the way across the empty courtyard, into her private chambers.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the sweet, clear fragrance belonging solely to the person before him rushed to meet him, wrapping around him tightly—just like that frantic, chaotic night.
Yu Yeqing's gaze darkened; his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. The person before him then ordered him casually, "Close the door."
Acting on some inexplicable impulse, he obeyed, turning back to latch the door securely.
Though it was daytime, the room still dimmed somewhat. She stood before him, a young lady of no short stature, yet still appearing somewhat delicate compared to him. They were very close—close enough for him to see her long lashes, and even the fine down on her cheeks in the sunlight filtering into the room.
Did she even know what she was doing?
He was a man, and she had brought him straight into her private chambers like this?
Yu Yeqing could almost hear his own heart thudding within his chest. A hundred different emotions coiled around his heart and lungs, rising up little by little.
Gratitude or fear?
If he hadn't gone out that day, if he hadn't met her on the country road, would the person being pulled into her private chambers right now be some other man of unknown character?
His gaze had not shifted from her since it had landed on her. He wanted to say something, his lips parting slightly, but then he saw her place a finger against her own lips: "Shh—"
The next instant, a knock came at the door behind him. "Mei'er, come out. Can we please talk properly?"
Song Hemei's hand was still clasped around Yu Yeqing's wrist. Because they were still standing by the door, the knocking felt like it was beating directly against her heart.
It stirred up a secret sense of urgency.
Her parents had intended to foster a match between them, and they had already performed the public wedding ceremony. A place he had never been allowed to set foot in before—her private chambers—he could now approach openly and boldly. She had sent away the servants in the courtyard, originally to ensure Yu Yeqing's arrival would go undetected, but now it had also cleared the path for Shao Wen'ang.
"Mei'er, please say something, alright? I know you're in there."
The man outside softened his voice, coaxing her gently with slow, soothing tones.
Song Hemei looked up and caught sight of Yu Yeqing's aloof, cold profile. He stood against the light, casting half his face in shadow, making his nose appear even more sharply bridged and his eye sockets deeper and more defined.
Whether it was the nauseating feigned intimacy of the man outside, or Yu Yeqing's handsome, alluring features, Song Hemei felt the blood in her veins flow more eagerly, making her heart race wildly.
She seemed to be anticipating something… What was she anticipating?
Song Hemei swallowed, meeting Yu Yeqing's deep, dark ink-black eyes. But when she spoke, she was answering the person outside the door: "I have nothing to say to you."
Shao Wen'ang received her response, and his tone immediately brightened. "Mei'er, you've finally deigned to acknowledge me."
"I know I broke your heart. It's because you care for me so much that you couldn't tolerate me having a concubine. It was all my fault; I should have thought of that sooner."
Song Hemei released her grip on Yu Yeqing's wrist, moving her hand slowly upwards until it rested on his shoulder.
That night, he hadn't removed his nightclothes, and she had only touched his waist. But now it was different; she could feel the firmness beneath her palm, a quality that didn't match the elegant handsomeness of his face.
Yu Yeqing felt as if he was teetering on the edge of losing control. Outside the door was the man nominally her husband, gently begging for reconciliation; before him was her unwavering gaze fixed upon him, and also… her hand resting on his shoulder, bringing them even closer.
Then, she leaned in, lowering her voice until only the two of them could hear: "If I pushed you out right now, would you be afraid?"
She was threatening him.
A smile curled at the corner of her lips. This smile was no different from any he had seen before, yet at this moment, he inexplicably detected a hint of malice in it.
She lifted her chin. "Young Master Yu, you know what you should do now, don't you?"
Yu Yeqing's breath caught, his wildly beating heart seemed to find the medicine it needed to calm down at that moment.
Without waiting for her to continue, he leaned down and kissed her directly.
Lips and teeth met, just like yesterday.
He clearly shouldn't be doing this. But was he being threatened? Was he truly afraid of being pushed out, exposed before her nominal husband?
Or had those unspeakable thoughts of his gained the upper hand, consuming his sanity at this moment?
This closeness now—the sweet fragrance at the tip of his nose and the soft touch of her lips—felt like something he had stolen, like a sliver of light that had happened to fall into a dark corner. It made him feel that even if it was fleeting, he wanted to rush forward recklessly, consequences be damned.
Song Hemei felt his breathing grow thicker and heavier. She thought it would be just like yesterday afternoon, a mere pressing of lips. But unexpectedly, he moved his lips slightly and gently sucked her lower lip into his mouth.
Warm, moist, as if a numbing, tingling sensation flowed through her heart, causing her to part her lips slightly.
But that slight parting was like throwing open the city gates—it became the beginning of a deep and utter fall—
Get instant access to all chapters now.
Post a Comment