Chapter 49: Upended
Song Hemei slowly drew a breath, instinctively sucking in her stomach. In this subtle movement, it seemed to give him an idea.
She could clearly feel Yu Yeqing's arm around her stiffen slightly. Perhaps he intended to release her, but after only a brief loosening, he tightened his grip again.
Yet he did move that dangerous part further away. In the darkness, she could almost hear the subtle sound of his throat bobbing as he swallowed.
Song Hemei felt the heat rise from her neck upward again. Fortunately, they were in the dark now, which spared her some dignity.
She cleared her throat and tried to steer the conversation back to more serious matters. "I had indeed planned to return to the Shao residence back then, but what does that have to do with what's between you and me? Who says that returning to the Shao family means I have to cut ties with you completely? Don't tell me that's the reason you left without saying goodbye."
Yu Yeqing stared at her intently. The words he had heard three years ago replayed in his mind now.
The things that had tormented him, filled him with regret, resentment, and bitterness for three years—even now, recalling them still made his heart ache, as if his old wounds were faintly flaring up again.
Song Hemei had no idea what he was thinking and guessed on her own: "Or is it that once I returned to the Shao family, you didn't want to have any private dealings with me?"
She furrowed her brow slightly. If that were really the case, then who was buying whom? Did she have to remain chaste for him?
But then she heard Yu Yeqing's unusually hoarse voice: "No."
"Then what is it? I rather think it should be me asking you—when you left without a word back then, did you ever imagine how you'd face me now?"
Song Hemei raised her hand, grabbing the front of his robe and pulling him closer. In the darkness, she sought out his deep, dark eyes. "And what do you think you're doing now? Bringing me to your room—what do you want to do? What am I to you? What, now that I'm in an inner courtyard and my husband has to watch your expression, you think you can come and insult me as you please?"
Yu Yeqing's gaze shifted, and his tone grew heavy. "I have no such intention."
Song Hemei let out a cold laugh. "Before you say that, take your hand off me first."
Yu Yeqing had no reply this time.
He looked away, his long lashes hiding the expression in his eyes, as if lost in thought.
Before Song Hemei's patience ran out, he lifted his head again, his tone earnest. "What you said is not right."
Yu Yeqing's gaze fell on her lips, a hint of unyielding pressure in his eyes. "But the outcome can be right."
What did he mean?
Before she could voice her question, Yu Yeqing's lips covered hers again.
This time, there was none of that teasing, gentle friction. He directly took her lips, entwined with her tongue, even making her numb and sore. Such fierce movements didn't seem like something he was capable of—at least, the Yu Yeqing from three years ago would never have done this.
Song Hemei's rationality scattered under his assault. She instinctively leaned her head back, unable to resist, but at that moment, his warm palm pressed against the back of her head, pushing her closer to him, allowing no escape.
The arm around her waist tightened slightly, and he lifted her directly onto the table. She was locked against him, not a single gap between them.
Just as she was lost in the haze, a sudden knock came from outside the door. "Lord Yu, have you retired for the night?"
The female voice suddenly broke through, extinguishing the passion. Song Hemei's reason finally returned, and she slapped Yu Yeqing's chest hard.
Her lips were finally freed. Yu Yeqing held her tightly, resting his head lightly against her shoulder, his heavy breaths right by her ear.
She swallowed and said, "Let me go. That's Chunhui outside."
Yu Yeqing didn't let go. The hand that had been on the back of her head moved to her back, holding her—not as if to trap her, but more like the intimate affection between husband and wife.
Song Hemei held a grudge in her heart. She pushed him hard, but couldn't budge him, and the anger only fueled her fury.
He really did come to humiliate her. What did he want? To take things all the way right here?
Song Hemei gritted her teeth, also hating herself for being so weak-willed, letting him muddle her head so easily.
There was still no sound from inside the room. The knocking came again from outside. Song Hemei smacked his back. "At least say something!"
Yu Yeqing's Adam's apple bobbed. He took a breath before speaking to the door: "What is it?"
Perhaps it was a guilty conscience—even though she could feel him trying to suppress the subtle hoarseness in his voice, she still felt that someone outside might hear it.
As his voice carried out, the person outside seemed to notice something or was thinking of how to respond, because there was a brief silence before she spoke: "Your slave knows I shouldn't disturb you, my lord, but my lady has disappeared—the room is empty. We've searched everywhere and found no trace. I had no choice but to come ask you, my lord—have you seen my lady?"
By the end, her voice betrayed some urgency.
But this was a difficult question to answer. Yu Yeqing straightened up slightly, meeting her eyes in the faint light, his gaze seeming to ask for her decision.
Song Hemei was indeed in a dilemma. It was truly inappropriate for her to be alone in a room with Yu Yeqing so late at night.
Given their current identities, which were different from before, if word got out, it would be extremely troublesome to handle.
She lowered her voice: "Just make up some excuse. Say I'll be back soon."
Yu Yeqing followed her instructions and said to the outside: "I saw her a moment ago. She said she was going for a walk and would be back soon. I don't think anything's wrong."
Chunhui didn't reply immediately. After a moment of silence, she hesitantly said, "Then could you open the door, Lord Yu, and let the young master see you?"
She seemed to know this was an intrusion, but she still steeled herself to say, "The young master had already gone to sleep, but he woke up from some dream and started crying, insisting he saw his lady being caught by a demon and eaten. He's crying terribly now. I thought since my lady isn't here, it might be good to let him see you."
Yu Yeqing looked at her with a strange expression at this and asked in a low voice, "What exactly do you usually tell him?"
Song Hemei's expression also soured. She wanted to ask that child what went through his head all day—could he even astral project in his sleep?
She gritted her teeth: "What can I say to a half-grown child? He just keeps pestering me to sleep with him. I casually told him I had to go fight demons at night and couldn't stay with him, and he actually remembered it. But something like tonight has never happened before."
She glanced at Yu Yeqing and forced a smile, deliberately saying, "Maybe it's because he saw you—a kind of father-son connection at heart."
She emphasized the words "father-son" heavily, clearly mocking his earlier words.
Yu Yeqing seemed to feel a bit embarrassed. He looked away, coughed lightly, and then said to the outside: "Go back first. I'll come see him in a moment."
Chunhui sighed with relief and quickly acknowledged before returning to her room.
Song Hemei took the opportunity to push him again. This time, she managed to loosen his grip slightly. She raised an eyebrow at him and smiled lightly: "Quite the trouble for Lord Yu, having to help soothe someone else's son at this hour."
Yu Yeqing looked at her, his hand tightening slightly.
So, Lianzhu was still her child with Shao Wen'ang.
Then her choice back then, and the things she said now—how much was true and how much was false?
He stared at her intently, trying to find the answer on her face, but he couldn't tell whether the conclusion he reached was the truth, or if he was simply deluding himself.
Song Hemei had no idea what was going through his mind. Taking advantage of the slightly wider space, she slid off the table. She looked at him, and the more she looked, the angrier she got. She lifted her head and bit him hard on the chin.
She used considerable force. Yu Yeqing couldn't help but grunt, then raised his hand to grab her shoulder. "What are you doing!"
Song Hemei let go. "No matter how down and out I am now, I'm not someone for you to bully."
She straightened her back. "If all you want to talk about is Lianzhu's father, then there's nothing for us to say. Now that you know Lianzhu has nothing to do with you, there's no need for any further entanglements between us from now on."
She pulled free forcefully, stepped out of his embrace, and headed for the door.
Yu Yeqing's heart suddenly ached fiercely. Just these few words brought a suffocating pain that surged over him like a tidal wave.
He took a deep breath. He wanted to try one more time.
"We'll reach Changzhou tomorrow."
His voice deepened. "Once you're back at the Song residence, ask your elder brother properly, Second Miss Song."
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