Wu Jinmai's POV
My heart is beating wildly. Shanguan Zu Jin's voice was raspy because he had just woken up. But for me... I think of something lewd and perverted! Damn!
He held my face and claimed my lips. My eyes dilated. I think this man is still half asleep! He forced his tongue inside mine and succeeded.
His tongue searched in every corner of my mouth, and our tongues also tasted each other. Oh my...
'His lips... It's different from what I did. He's good at kissing! This is bad. It starts to feel good and sweet!'
I gasp when we drift apart. I was ready to get up and run away when he flipped our bodies, and now he's on top of me.
"Li Susu, your kiss is different than Wu Jinmai," he murmurs huskily. Is he getting turned on? Oh no! NO!
"I get it. Uhm... I think you're still half asleep, A'Zu. Can you get off me?" I ask. I am trying to negotiate for my future. I like his kiss, and it shouldn't be that way.
'I have to convince him, or else I might want to have sex with this guy. This is not the time for any lewd actions!'
I place my hand on his chest and tap gently. "I think you're okay now. We can go back in my quarters and start working. Yes! We need to work, hmm? Can you get off me already?!" I begged as if I was going to cry.
I am not in a television drama. This kind of scene shouldn't be happening in the first place! He didn't listen to me.
A'Zu raises his palm and brushes the side of my face, looking at me with such strange emotions.
"You're different from Wu Jinmai. You've got your tone, words, and actions. You're even more charming than her," he whispers huskily.
I gulp. The way he runs his fingers in my face and brushes my lower lip, it's giving me a tingling sensation. Why don't I have the strength to push him off me?
"Totally different," he murmurs again, pressing his soft lips on me.
I'm scared of myself. I am losing myself because of this man. We are totally strangers, but here I am…
My body won't listen to my commands. I'm kissing him back, and it's frustrating but strangely enjoyable.
Zu Jin crawls his fingers on my arms until they reach my palm and intertwine our fingers. I need to stop, or else I'll fall once again. I can't let that happen!
As soon as our lips parted, I gasped and spoke. "Shanguan Zu Jin, this isn't the right time. Let's stop before we regret this," I mumbled.
"As your puppet, I need a reward that fits into what I want. You need me in your plans, don't you?" he stated.
I rose up and leaned my back on the headboard. I look at him. "Are you trying to blackmail me, Shanguan Zu Jin?" I ask. He arched his brow and didn't answer me.
I laugh and hold his face. "I can't believe men in the Xia dynasty are nasty as well," I stated.
He held my hand and landed a kiss on my palm. I blink. My heart feels like it will leap out of my chest. I was trying to take back my hand, but he was holding it tightly.
Oh my gosh! He's flirting with me! Wu Jinmai's memories tell me that Shanguan Zu Jin was a cold person. He never looked at her or treated her like this.
"Uhm, is it okay for me to ask?" I mumbled. He looks at me in the eyes and nods.
"You may speak, your highness," Zu Jin replied. I gulp.
"Are you in love with the person who owns this face? I feel like you do. I apologize for my rudeness, but I don't get it. Everything," I mumbled.
Out of the blue, I don't know what I should ask. I can't think of the right words to use. I'm really confused. I can sense that he likes Wu Jinmai but hates her more. Now he's flirting with me?
'Oh my! That's a red flag for me. There's no way I will trust a man who loves two women. I will never fall into such a trap, especially since Harem was... ugh, a pain in the neck! Plus… I already knew the pain of being cheated.'
Zu Jin looks at me with such a puzzled expression. I look at him coldly. I sighed. "Forget about it, milord. Let's go back to my pavilion and continue to work our asses out. Being an empress is shit," I murmur, escaping swiftly by talking like a madman.
He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. I landed on his lap, and he wrapped his muscular arms around me. I can't even move because of it! Is he a pervert!?
Based on Jinmai's memories, he never acts like this, no matter how many times she tries to seduce him. Why is he acting like this now?!
Is it part of his regret for killing this woman twice? I placed my hand on his chest and tried to push him. We need distance!
"Shanguan Zu Jin, have you heard the word personal space? I need it, hmm? Let me go now, okay? We're moving back into my pavilion. Come on," I negotiated. I tried not to look flustered and nervous while looking into his eyes.
"Wu Jinmai, you have to remember that's your name. You might be Li Susu, but in everyone's eyes except me and Eunuch Liu, you're the tyrant empress—a woman who became an empress to make everyone suffer," he explained.
I gulped. His tone changed as if he was voicing a character in an anime. A voice where that person kills you and chops you, and...
"Ahem!" he coughs. That stops me from thinking silly things. I fake my laugh.
"Pardon? I mean, can you... start again? On the part that I make everyone suffer?" I mumbled. He sighed and bumped his head on mine. I gasp and brush my forehead.
"Why did you do that? Agh, it hurts. What are you made of stone?! I remember when I first met the three of you. I bump into you, and it feels like you're a stone!" I said.
He laughs. I tried to control myself, but witnessing his laughter, which wasn't fake or tainted with mockery, was refreshing.
Shanguan Zu Jin's eyes were filled with stars when he laughed like this. "I wonder if the other two will show me their true laughter—ouch!" I exclaimed.
He's pressing his fingers on my cheeks after holding my face with his huge palm. I tap his wrist, but he's not letting me go.
"You must remember this if you want me to follow you like a dog, Li Susu. You shouldn't tell the truth to Pei Qin and Li Jin. I want this secret between the two of us with the exception of Eunuch Liu. He's not your husband anyway," he says.
I furrowed, giving him a suspicious glance. I feel like he's being jealous or something. His actions are making me confused! Gosh!
"You have to promise me that you will never tell them. That's my condition if you want to use me. If you break this term, I'll be your greatest enemy," Shanguan Zu Jin stated. I blink.
My jaw drops. "Are you serious?!" I ask.