Trembling, moist eyelashes, like butterflies resting on the dewy lotus after rain.
Between breaths, a faint medicinal scent emanated from the girl, clearly discernible.
In this moment, time stood still.
Thump, thump, thump—
Whose heartbeat was magnified infinitely?
He Buxian stood dumbfounded in place.
Ningxiang's expression showed astonishment.
Biyuan took a sharp breath.
The onlookers in the room were dumbfounded.
It felt like a century had passed, yet also like just a fleeting few seconds.
Yehua Ran slowly parted from Xie Yubai's lips.
Having experienced life and death, how could Yehua Ran care about the modesty and reputation of a daughter? What mattered was the living person before her. Index finger resting on Xie Yubai's lips, their breaths intertwined and entangled. Yehua Ran spoke, her voice hoarse and mocking, "You said, Xie Guinian, don't ever let me go."
In this life, never be so foolish again. If he let her go, even if he had to bind her, he must keep her by his side. For the first time, Xie Yubai realized that his usually meticulous and fast-moving brain could also stop working. At least, at this moment, his mind was blank. But it was only for an instant. A person couldn't change their nature without reason in a short period of time. Xie Yubai's eyes turned cold, and he fiercely pinched Yehua Ran's chin, lifting her face. His sharply handsome features approached hers, a surge of murderous intent evident in his eyes. "A beauty trap, hmm?"
Xie Yubai's expression was fierce, like a grim reaper come to collect souls.
Yehua Ran, however, suddenly smiled. Her eyes sparkled brightly. "Is the young master so sure of Dongzhu's appearance?"
Xie Yubai was taken aback, even the hand holding Yehua Ran's chin involuntarily loosened, and his gaze towards Yehua Ran was filled with strangeness. His eyes seemed to say, "Has the person in front of me suddenly grown three heads and six arms?" In fact, even if Yehua Ran did grow three heads and six arms, Xie Yubai wouldn't be as shocked as he was now, and... flustered...
Yehua Ran's interest deepened.
Interesting.
In her past life, had she ever seen this cold-faced demon reveal such a... lovely side?
He had a sore throat from inhaling too much smoke last night in the burning forest. Every word he spoke felt like rolling on a knife's edge, but Yehua Ran savored it. Pain was good; didn't the pain prove she was still alive? Yehua Ran's eyebrows curved, her throat still hoarse, yet she was unrelenting, deliberately provoking him. "Why is the young master silent?"
As the Qing dynasty aristocracy, Yeshua Ran naturally had a decent appearance. Her brows resembled distant Daiyun veiled in mist, and her eyes were like autumn moonlight reflecting on water, yet her slightly pale complexion, with a hint of illness, added a touch of pity.
At this moment, her lips were slightly curved, like the fresh spring colors peeking out in March, enchanting souls. The whispers of admiration around them proved the stunning beauty of this Qing dynasty noblewoman.
This time, there was no need for male guests to drag their wives back to their rooms. The women took the lead in dragging their husbands back to their rooms. Not every woman could be as fierce as the lady just now. Most of the female guests could only watch their husbands staring foolishly at this well-known beauty of the Qing dynasty, secretly gritting their teeth, their eyes revealing jealousy.
"Pah! What 'number one lady of the Qing Dynasty'? She's more like the number one slut of the Qing Dynasty. Engaged and running off with someone else? She even has the nerve to ask for someone's blessing! Not just embarrassing, downright shameless!"
"Heh, indeed. If it weren't for the fact that the Great Qing has long perished, in our time, under the Great Qing's rule, such a woman would have been thrown into a pig cage and dumped in a pond! Shameless!"
Women's tongues were always too long. Although there were few who shouted for love and freedom like the lady just now, most people were still bound by the old feudal ideas.
The mocking words, like thorns, pierced through Biyuan's ears. She glared, her chest heaving, her face red with anger. But she couldn't retort. Yet Yehua Ran seemed unaffected by these remarks, as if they were nothing but a passing breeze, stirring up no ripples.
Xie Yubai's eyes, like shards of ice, suddenly swept over those women.
That gaze was like ice pellets, causing everyone to shiver uncontrollably.
The reputation of a business tycoon was not undeserved. Wherever Xie Yubai's gaze swept, those women shut their mouths in fear.
But Yehua Ran didn't feel relieved because of this.
This man, clearly defended her in every aspect. In her previous life, how blind had she been to not notice his deep affection? Instead, she poured out her love for him and fed it to the wolves?
Yehua Ran suffered from inhaling too much smoke in the forest fire last night, coupled with the recent integration of memories from her past and present lives. Both her body and mind were still very weak.
The room spun for a moment, and Yehua Ran's body swayed.
"Miss!"
"Miss!"
Biyuan and Ningxiang, the two maidservants who protected her, ran towards Yehua Ran.
Before the two could approach, they saw their lady leaning her head against Xie Yubai's shoulder, seemingly unaware of when she had done so.
Both of them stopped in their tracks, their faces turning pale.
Especially Ningxiang, who turned even paler, her chest still aching from being kicked.
Yehua Ran could hear Biyuan and Ningxiang calling out to her, but at this moment, she had no intention of leaving the embrace of the person in front of her.
Just now, when Yehua Ran tentatively leaned on Xie Yubai's shoulder, the latter did not push her away.
Yehua Ran took the liberty to shift her entire weight onto the man, boldly wrapping her arms around Xie Yubai's waist. Frowning slightly, she parted her lips. "I feel a little dizzy, Young Master. Would you help me to my room?"
(End of this chapter)