Chapter 9 - Seduction

Shen Juncheng coughed again, putting on a good act of being sick and weak. "But my aunt is especially concerned about my health and about the child. She'll definitely ask you tomorrow..."

 Su Anan understood that he was afraid that, if Liu Shi asked, she would tell her the truth and cause Liu Shi to have more doubts. She immediately promised, "I know how to answer aunt's questions tomorrow. Don't worry, husband."

 Shen Juncheng was surprised.

 She still had Madam Liu's orders. Even if she did not use the medicine, Shen Juncheng thought that she might have hidden some tricks. Unexpectedly, she was very calm. There was even a trace of relief on her face, as if she was satisfied that they did not need to go to the bridal chamber.

 Putting away his doubts, he said in a formal manner, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Madam."

 "It's no trouble, my husband's health is the most important."

 After she finished speaking, she carried two blankets over and laid them on top of the bed. Then, she said considerately, "Husband, you've been tired for the whole day. Go and rest."

 "If you need anything, just call me."

 Shen Juncheng glanced at her from the corner of his eye and replied, "Okay."

 The two of them were polite and respectful to each other from beginning to end.

 Su Anan made the bed and touched her sleeve unconsciously. It was gone. She was shocked and turned around, only to find that it had fallen on the new bed. It must have slipped from her sleeve. She heaved a sigh of relief and hurried to retrieve it.

 Perhaps it was because she was anxious, but when she was about to reach the bed, her left foot suddenly stepped on her skirt.

 "Ah!" With a cry of alarm, she fell straight forward.

Shen Juncheng had already reached the bedside. He felt a sudden gust of wind behind him and his expression immediately became serious. What was that? Was someone planning to attack them openly?

He subconsciously turned around and gathered strength in his palm. However, what welcomed him was not a sneak attack, but a beauty in his arms carrying a faint fragrance.

With a loud crash, Su Anan threw Shen Juncheng onto the soft red bed, shaking the curtains.

When the two maidservants outside the door heard this soft cry and movement, their ears instantly turned red. Then, the two of them tacitly walked to the corridor. These maidservants couldn't hear their master having sex.

 At the end of the corridor, nanny Li heard the noise and turned around quietly with a smug smile on her face.

Su Anan was stunned for a second. She looked at the handsome face in front of her and her eyes widened.

 Her face was red as she quickly got up and tidied her clothes."S-sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. I just wanted to grab something, but I accidentally stepped on the corner of my skirt and lost my balance. I'm really sorry."

 "Are you alright?"

 Her tone of apology was sincere, but her actions just now made Shen Juncheng sneer.

 Ha, I was just wondering why she didn't have a backup plan. So, this was what she wanted to do.

 She was afraid that the drug would be discovered, so she planned to seduce him directly?

 Shen Juncheng did not believe that it was an accident when she ran into his arms.

 Su Anan was a cautious girl.

 His eyes darkened slightly. He slowly sat up, coughed a few times, and pretended to be very weak. Then, he feigned surprise and asked, "Madam, are you planning to consummate our marriage?"

 Su Anan was abashed. "No, no, I just ..."

 "Sorry," Shen Juncheng interrupted Su Anan and pretended to be helpless. "Your husband's body has been getting worse and worse recently. I really have the heart but not the strength. Sigh ..."

 He wanted to say something but stopped, looking extremely troubled. "Let's wait for a while more, until I'm healthier."

 Su Anan felt extremely embarrassed.

Indeed, her actions just now could be considered as those of a tiger and a wolf. She had directly pushed him down.

 She closed her eyes and explained again, "I'm really just here to grab something. It's not what you think."

She looked very serious and did not fake anything.

Shen Juncheng did not say anything. He looked at her from the corner of his eye, then covered his mouth and pretended to cough weakly. He asked, "Then what does Madam want?"

 "Oh, when I was moving the blanket just now, the bracelet on my wrist slipped onto the bed."

 Su Anan hurried to pick up the things beside him and put them into her sleeve.

 Shen Juncheng squinted his eyes. This was obviously not a bracelet, but an exquisite butterfly jade pendant.

 She had come over so anxiously to take it. Could it be that there was some mystery to this jade pendant?

 Or was it a gift from her sweetheart?

 He thought to himself and did not say anything. He only pretended to cough a few times out of habit.

 Su Anan felt a little uneasy after hearing this series of coughs. She wondered if he had suffered internal injuries because of her recklessness just now.

 "Are you alright? Do you want me to call a doctor for you?"

 Shen Juncheng stopped coughing and waved his hand. "No need. It's an old illness. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

 Su Anan heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good. Go to bed now."

 "Yeah, you too."

 Su Anan smiled and thoughtfully closed the curtains before she left.

 When she returned to her bed, she rubbed the jade pendant on her sleeve and thought that she should make a hanging rope and wear it around her neck.

 This jade pendant must not be lost in this world.

 After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the room fell into silence. Su Anan was exhausted after a long day and had fallen asleep.

 However, her dreams were not peaceful.

 It was as if she had returned to that back alley, washing clothes in the hot weather, chopping firewood, and doing endless work.

 She was tired, hot, and dehydrated.

 However, she couldn't find water no matter how hard she looked. The sun was unusually bright, and she was sweating profusely from the heat, making it difficult for her to move.

 She couldn't walk anymore and collapsed in the back alley. The hot air had evaporated the moisture in her body, and she was extremely thirsty. At that moment, a man suddenly walked over...

 She couldn't see his face clearly. She only saw him rubbing his hands and revealing a wretched smile. Then, he reached out his hand, as if he wanted to...

 "No, no." She retreated in fear. "Don't come here. Don't come here..."

 "Ah!" Su Anan suddenly opened her eyes and sat up. She looked at her clothes subconsciously.

 They were intact and not torn.

 Dragons and phoenixes loved candles and did not put them out all night, illuminating the entire room. Su Anan looked around and took a deep breath to calm her fear.

 It was a dream, just a dream.

 It wasn't real. She had started over, over again...

 She would never return to that back alley again.

 She consoled herself repeatedly, then helplessly hugged her knees.

 Shen Juncheng lifted the bed curtains slightly and looked at her curled up back with a deep gaze.

 Su Anan didn't realize that she was actually thirsty and hot until the nightmare was over. There was a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.

 She got off the bed barefooted. Without even wearing her slippers, she went to the table to get a glass of water and drank it in one gulp.

 She was still thirsty, so she poured two more glasses.

 After drinking three cups in a row, her thirst was slightly sated, but it was still very hot. She was surprised. It was only an April night, why was it so warm?

 He touched her face, it was a little hot.

 She thought to herself, what's going on?

 She slowly walked back to the bed. Suddenly, she felt as if there were ants gnawing at her body, and her blood seemed to be restless.

 Her legs gave way and she fell in front of the bed.