amaotonovel Chapter 451: Collapse
Chapter 451: Collapse
Chapter 451
The atmosphere in the car was so tense that it felt like water could be squeezed out of it. Luo Shuiyao clutched the hem of her skirt tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, wishing she could just disappear into the cracks of the ground.
It would have been embarrassing once, but she had to face the same awkward situation twice in a row. Her mind was filled with the image of Chun Xing catching her in the act, and even her breathing became hot. The thought of seeing Chun Xing again soon overwhelmed her with shame.
But it was precisely this unexpected episode that, like a sharp dagger, pierced through the invisible window paper, shattering the suffocating and tense atmosphere just now.
Unlike her, Ye Yunzhou was calm and not agitated at all.
Seeing the intense shame and anger on her face, he naturally understood what she was thinking. He raised his hand to straighten his clothes, as if nothing had happened, and said softly, "Go down quickly. You've been riding in the carriage all day. When you get to the inn, wash up and get some rest."
Ye Yunzhou's calm demeanor also infected Luo Shuiyao. She closed her eyes, knowing she couldn't hide out of embarrassment, so she mentally prepared herself. Then, she lifted the car curtain and walked out.
When Chun Xing saw her come out, she hurried forward to support her.
Luo Shuiyao bit her lip, and with the help of Chun Xing's arm, she got off the carriage. She tried hard not to look at Chun Xing's expression, and the two of them walked into the inn together.
Chun Xing was equally uneasy, but she was known for her carefree nature. While waiting outside, she reflected carefully. Since her mistress had taken the initiative, she figured she wouldn't be at a disadvantage. As her mistress's maid, she naturally had to side with her. After this realization, she seemed even more calm and composed than Luo Shuiyao.
The master and servant hurried into the inn, and they both ignored the other person in the carriage, and were completely unaware that the carriage had not yet been pulled to the backyard.
Ye Yunzhou shook his head helplessly, hopping off the carriage with ease. He watched the two men departing, a smile playing on his lips. Then, he reached out to take the reins and walked slowly towards the inn's backyard.
Arriving at the inn, the guards had already booked the guest room. Luo Shuiyao was led into the room by the waiter. After washing up and finishing the dinner prepared by the inn, she lay down on the bed alone to rest.
When she was washing up just now, Chun Xing wanted to serve her, but she refused. Firstly, she was still a little uncomfortable in front of Chun Xing; secondly, Chun Xing was extremely tired after traveling all day, and serving her would be even more tiring.
Chun Xing also knew that the young lady did not like servants to serve her closely, so after hearing her refusal, she turned around and left the room without saying much.
The events of the day replayed in her mind, and even now, as she thought about them, Luo Shuiyao felt utterly embarrassed. She felt as if she had relived all the shameful things in her life, both this one and the last. As she thought about this, she suddenly realized—where was Ye Yunzhou? She had completely forgotten about him.
Luo Shuiyao hesitated whether to get up and inquire about his whereabouts. At this moment, a subtle noise came from outside the door. She held her breath and asked tentatively, "Ye Yunzhou?"
"It's me." A low voice came from outside the door. It was the person she was thinking about just now.
She pursed her lips, her tone a little alert: "Why are you coming to my place so late at night instead of resting?" Although she asked this, her body had already slipped on and went to open the door.
Ye Yunzhou heard her approaching footsteps but didn't answer. The moment she opened the door, he slipped in sideways and shook the medicine bottle in his hand: "You have an injury. I went to find some medicine to apply to you."
Luo Shuiyao was confused when she heard this. How come she didn't know that she was injured?
Seeing her confused look, Ye Yunzhou did not explain much, but instead took a few steps forward.
Luo Shuiyao subconsciously took two steps back. It was not because she was afraid of him, but because she remembered the extraordinary scenes when she was with him today, and she was afraid that any embarrassing accidents would happen again.
Ye Yunzhou's hands froze in mid-air, and he looked at her with a slightly hurt look in his eyes. Although he didn't say anything, his eyes clearly said: Didn't you say you don't blame me? Why are you still hiding from me?
Luo Shuiyao explained softly: "I'm not avoiding you, it's just..."
"Are you just afraid that I might do something to you?" Ye Yunzhou continued.
Although she didn't think so completely, she did have some thoughts like that. Thinking of this, she was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to explain it.
Ye Yunzhou's eyes became even darker: "I accidentally hurt you today. Seeing the obvious bruises on your neck, I found some blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing ointment. If you are afraid of me, I will leave now." He did not say the second half of the sentence, but stared at Luo Shuiyao's neck with burning eyes.
Hearing this, Luo Shuiyao reached out and touched her neck, only then did she feel a slight sting. She frowned and did not answer Ye Yunzhou, but walked over to the bronze mirror.
The mirror was a little blurry, but I could still vaguely see the faint bruise on my neck.
She could have applied the medicine herself, but the candlelight in the room was dim and the bronze mirror was blurry, so it was inevitable that some parts were unclear. If she applied the medicine sooner, the blood stasis would dissipate faster. Otherwise, if the redness and swelling returned tomorrow, it might affect her speech.
After thinking this, she turned to Ye Yunzhou and nodded gently: "Then I'll trouble you, big brother, to apply the medicine for me."
Ye Yunzhou's expression softened considerably upon hearing this, and he said softly, "Okay."
Luo Shuiyao then walked over to the bedside and sat down. Seeing him open the medicine bottle, she lifted her neck and let the cool ointment rub onto it. Her complexion was already fair, and the bruises made her face look even more like porcelain jade, her skin as smooth as cream, a sight that could not help but linger.
This ointment needs to be massaged to promote absorption and dissipate blood stasis faster. Ye Yunzhou leaned over slightly and moved closer to her neck, rubbing it gently with his fingertips. Luo Shuiyao felt a slight sting and subconsciously wanted to dodge, but he held the back of her head with one hand to stop her: "Don't move, wait for me to rub the blood stasis, it will subside a little tomorrow, just bear with it."
A warm palm pressed against the back of her neck, the coolness of the ointment rubbing the stagnant blood vessels. Luo Shuiyao felt a subtle tingling behind her ears. She lowered her eyes to stare at the dark pattern on the hem of her dress, swallowing the tension in her throat. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Ye Yunzhou's focused profile. The candlelight cast a light on his eyelashes, which fluttered slightly with his movements, making him seem even more gentle than in the daytime.
"Does it still hurt?" Ye Yunzhou suddenly spoke, his warm breath sweeping across her round chin.
Luo Shuiyao hurriedly shook her head, forgetting that someone was restraining her neck. The next second, her lips touched Ye Yunzhou's, who was looking down to check the effect of the medicine.
A faint medicinal fragrance mixed with a crisp breath hit her face. She could hear her own violent heartbeat that hurt her eardrums, as if it was about to burst through her chest.
Both of them froze, and the air seemed to freeze in an instant.
Ye Yunzhou's fingertips were still lingering on the bruise on her neck. Luo Shuiyao could even feel the warmth and slightly trembling touch of his palm.
Time seemed to pass for an eternity. Luo Shuiyao's eyelashes trembled violently. She tried to retreat, but was firmly fixed in place. She opened her lips slightly and subconsciously raised her hand to push him away, but in Ye Yunzhou's eyes, this action looked like an invitation that was half-heartedly accepted.
The two people's breathing intertwined, and almost instinctively, Ye Yunzhou exerted a little force with his palm and actively closed her open lips.
Luo Shuiyao's mind was blank. She neither resisted nor responded, but just let his breath envelope her.
Ye Yunzhou's kiss gradually became hot and lingering from the initial tentativeness. His fingertips unconsciously caressed the unhealed bruises on her neck, as if he wanted to rub all the unfinished tenderness into this kiss.
The candlelight flickered in the wind, stretching the two figures entangled in each other's movements. Luo Shuiyao felt a gentle lift on the back of her neck, Ye Yunzhou's scorching palm nearly burning through her skin. His refreshing scent, mixed with the heat of his breath, washed over her, causing her legs to weaken, and she unconsciously grasped at his shirt for support.
I don’t know how long it took, or when it started, but Luo Shuiyao was gently pushed down and lying on her back on the soft bed.
Ye Yunzhou propped himself up with his arms, carefully controlling his strength, fearing he would accidentally crush her. The candlelight flickered beside them, casting an ambiguous shadow on their intertwined figures.
Luo Shuiyao hadn't recovered from the passionate kiss when she suddenly felt a chill. Looking down, she was shocked to see her clothes had been undone, exposing a large area of her porcelain-white skin. The contact with the warm air in the room sent a subtle shiver through her.
She subconsciously wanted to raise her hand to cover it, but Ye Yunzhou gently held her wrist.
His eyes were incredibly fiery, yet also contained a hint of restraint and caution. A low, hoarse voice escaped from his throat: "Don't be afraid..."
"Don't be afraid." He whispered again, his palms trembling slightly, but he still reached out decisively to gather Luo Shuiyao's scattered clothes, carefully covering the large area of snow-white skin. Then, his hot breath sprayed all over her sensitive neck.
Luo Shuiyao shuddered all over, and a tingling sensation ran up her spine to the top of her head. She subconsciously wanted to turn her shoulders to avoid it, but Ye Yunzhou held her tighter.
She stiffened, but didn't struggle. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the sound of their intertwined heartbeats pounding her eardrums.
After an unknown amount of time, Ye Yunzhou finally stood up, but he did not leave. Instead, he slowly lay sideways beside her, his arms still domineeringly around her.
Luo Shuiyao didn't look at him, but stared at the flickering candlelight on the bed curtains, the heat on her cheeks lingering.
"Can I sleep with you today?" After a while, Ye Yunzhou's voice was not as hoarse as before, and sounded much calmer, but what he said startled Luo Shuiyao.
Seeing Luo Shuiyao about to refuse, he quickly spoke before she could say anything, "When I got separated from my subordinates, I didn't have a pass with me. And if I go to get one, I'll inevitably be discovered by the Third Prince and his men. If you refuse me, I'll have no choice but to find a woodshed or a stable to spend the night."
Hearing this, Luo Shuiyao glared at him fiercely, her eyes filled with annoyance, yet she couldn't bear to refuse. She bit her lip and finally said angrily, "Then I'll give you half of this bed. You have to promise me that you won't cross the line!"
"Of course not. If I dare to cross the line, you will kick me out of bed in the future." Ye Yunzhou vowed.
This made Luo Shuiyao roll her eyes again. What did he mean by "later"? He even included next time. It was so ambiguous, yet he was being frank. She really didn't want to argue with him anymore. She was already exhausted from the days of running around, and now, after being disturbed by him, she felt even more exhausted.
Luo Shuiyao slapped away his hand around her waist, lay down on the inside of the bed, wrapped half of her body with the quilt, turned her back and stopped talking, leaving only the back of her head facing him.