She wasn't used to this kind of intimacy and pushed hard against Jian Shichu several times.
Jian Shichu's arms were like iron hoops, firmly clasping her waist; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move at all.
Above her head, she heard the triumphant voice of Jian Shichu, "See clearly? My woman! Who dares to say Jian Shichu doesn't have a woman?"
"Didn't you say that you know how to kiss?" someone teased with a laugh, "Hearing is false, seeing is believing. You'll have to let us see with our own eyes before we'll believe it!"
"It's just a kiss, who doesn't know how?" retorted Jian Shichu with disdain, and with a move, he pressed Ye Qingci beneath him.
Jian Shichu's lips pressed down, and Ye Qingci, unable to dodge in time, was kissed forcefully by him.
It was only after Jian Shichu was satisfied with the kiss that he was willing to let go of Ye Qingci.
Ye Qingci was already out of breath, slumped on the sofa, completely unable to move.
With her eyes closed, she tried hard to hold back her tears and not to cry out loud.
What did Jian Shichu take her for?
A courtesan?
To think he could insult her in front of his friends, publicly humiliating her!
Even if she were his maidservant, he had no right to insult her dignity and self-respect!
She wanted to raise her hand and give him a hard slap, but she simply couldn't muster any strength.
Jian Shichu pulled her into his embrace, caressing her back, smugly saying, "So, how is it? Seventh Master's kissing skills aren't bad, right?"
Ye Qingci didn't want anyone to see her face, but since Jian Shichu wouldn't let her leave his embrace, she could only bury her face in his shoulder to hide the endurance and humiliation on her face from others.
Teasing voices reached her ears again, "Seventh Brother, what does your woman look like? Why is she so shy? Show us her face. Which family's fairy is this, that has made our Seventh Master Jian, who never used to indulge in the company of women, break his abstinence?"
Seventh Master Jian declared authoritatively, "Seventh Master's woman is obviously the best!"
He praised Ye Qingci, but his hand was on the back of her head, not intending to let her lift her face at all.
Yet another woman's charming and flirtatious voice rang out beside Ye Qingci's ear, "Seventh Master, we're all curious now. Which family's daughter has won your favor to such an extent that you treasure her so much you won't even let us take a glance? Hurry and let her lift her head; let us open our eyes!"
Ye Qingci lay against Jian Shichu's shoulder, filled with shame and anger unto death.
She felt like a courtesan in a brothel, with clients laughing silverly by her ear, asking her to lift her head, to check the goods before deciding whether to buy.
She was both ashamed and enraged, her head spinning, her hands and feet ice cold, nearly passing out.
Another voice said, "Seventh Brother, seeing your woman so distressed, could it be that you've forcefully taken a commoner's daughter? Look at our ladies, how proactive and open they are. You should get your woman to learn from them!"
"Yes, Seventh Master, do you want me to serve you?" followed the enchanting and coquettish voice, seductively seeping into the bones, "I promise you'll ride the clouds and fog, unable to stop!"
The woman speaking was Lin Lang, the popular queen of the entertainment circle.
In public, she was proud, cold, and unattainable.
In private, though, she was the mistress of Young Master Du, Du Hongjun.
She was beautiful, calculative, and capable, with high standards to match.
Her goal had once been to become Jian Shichu's woman.
Unfortunately, Jian Shichu detested women and never indulged in female company.
Left with no other choice, she had to settle for Young Master Du, Du Hongjun.
Tonight, seeing Seventh Master Jian, who never indulged in the pleasures of women, holding a woman in his arms, one could easily guess how she felt.
She was jealous of Ye Qingci.
Seeing Ye Qingci nestled in Jian Shichu's embrace was an unbearable sight for her.
She picked up a glass of red wine, took a sip, and leaned over to Du Hongjun's lips, feeding him mouth to mouth, then turned back to shoot Jian Shichu a seductive smile, "Seventh Master, this is what true favor from a beauty looks like! Why don't you let your beauty take care of you in the same way?"
"Yeah, Seventh Brother!" Du Hongjun, with his arms around Lin Lang's soft waist, chimed in, "Seventh Brother, let your woman take care of you too. After all these years living like a monk, it's time to enjoy some worldly pleasures!"
Jian Shichu, seeing Lin Lang's forwardness with Du Hongjun, suddenly had an idea.
He and Ye Qingci had kissed countless times.
But each time, it was he who initiated the kiss; Ye Qingci had never once kissed him first!
He suddenly felt incredibly annoyed, lowered his head, and gently bit Ye Qingci's ear, whispering at a volume only the two of them could hear, "Lift your head and give your master a kiss, don't embarrass me!"
Ye Qingci trembled with anger.
Even if she was a maid, she wasn't a prostitute, not there to sell smiles!
Humiliated and furious, she violently pushed Jian Shichu away, got up, and tried to leave.
Jian Shichu quickly grabbed her wrist, pulled her into his embrace, and bit harshly behind her ear, growling, "What madness are you spouting now?"
"Let go of me!" Ye Qingci pushed him away again and tried to flee, but stumbled and fell to the ground.
The clothes belonging to Jian Shichu that draped over her body slid off, revealing her slender jade legs, pale arms, and elongated neck.
Every part of her was exquisite, every part was perfect, captivating to the point of breathlessness.
She fell right at Du Hongjun's feet, intoxicated by the sight before him, Du Hongjun's Adam's apple bobbed as he reached down to grab Ye Qingci's arm, teasingly said, "It seems Seventh Brother hasn't trained this beauty well. Do you want little brother to teach you a few tricks?"
"Don't touch her!" Before Du Hongjun's hand could touch Ye Qingci, Jian Shichu hurled a wine glass at him.
The glass struck Du Hongjun's head solidly, and blood immediately started to pour out.
"Ah..." Lin Lang covered her mouth in fright and screamed.
Everyone present was stunned.
Jian Shichu stepped forward, picked up the clothes from the floor, covered Ye Qingci with them, and then bent down to hold her in his arms.
Touching his bleeding head, Du Hongjun was momentarily dazed.
Holding Ye Qingci upright, Jian Shichu stared coldly at Du Hongjun, his presence menacing, "Who gave you the right to touch her?"
Clinging to his head, Du Hongjun rose from the sofa, his face deathly pale, stammering, "Seventh Brother, I didn't mean to..."
Today, there were nine people at the gathering, four with female companions.
To them, women were merely playthings, something new to taste, to be cast aside when they grew bored.
He thought Ye Qingci was just another of Jian Shichu's playthings. Seeing her fall at his feet, he didn't think too much and reached down to help her, never expecting Jian Shichu to react with such fury.
Although Jian Shichu was wilful, domineering, and hot-tempered, he was always protective of his own people and treated them well.
They had all grown up together as brothers; Jian Shichu was ruthless and merciless to outsiders, but he had never truly been angry with his own people.