Chapter 19

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Xie Yao’s expression stiffened for a moment. He simply lowered his head, gazing at Yuli.

Yuli held him, feeling the rise and fall of his chest.

He was not as indifferent as he appeared on the surface.

Yet, he made no further move.

Perhaps he was still angry and didn’t want her to touch him.

Yuli was about to let go when he suddenly raised his hand and embraced her tightly.

They were pressed close through their robes.

Xie Yao lowered his head to look at her, pressing his lips together. “There’s more.”

Yuli froze briefly, then, seeing his lips reddened from biting them, understood. She stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.

They were soft, fragrant, and Yuli didn’t mind at all.

She straightened up, noticing Xie Yao blink once. Then she saw ice melting, snow thawing, spring waters flowing.

But after another blink, it vanished, replaced by a dark abyss.

Yuli was momentarily stunned. His face suddenly drew near, warmth on her lips, and at the same time, his embrace tightened. Yuli found it hard to breathe.

Every breath she took was filled with Xie Yao’s subtle fragrance. His lips and tongue pressed heavily against hers, tingling until he sucked lightly.

An unusual, electric sensation surged from her brow through her entire body, and the contact made her legs weak.

Before long, her breath weakened; Xie Yao’s breathing echoed in her ears, mingled with the soft sound of water, making her blush with shame. She wanted to push him away but couldn’t.

Moments later, or perhaps much longer—it was hard to say—Yuli felt something pressing against her lower abdomen.

She grew uncomfortable and shifted slightly.

Xie Yao’s breath faltered, then he suddenly released her.

Yuli was still dazed, gasping through mouth and nose, and when she realized what it was, her face burned as if bleeding.

Xie Yao lowered his head, watching her every subtle reaction. Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed wildly, and her gaze darted away out of shyness.

Her forehead was slightly damp with sweat, looking feverish.

Xie Yao completely let her go.

Yuli stepped back and looked at his face. He wasn’t much better—also sweating, cheeks flushed, but his eyes were deep and unreadable, without a hint of embarrassment.

Just now, she thought he was angry enough to drive her away, but it seemed he still liked her touch.

Xie Yao remained expressionless, but the cold, harsh aura was gone. Suddenly, Yuli was no longer afraid.

“Shall we eat first?” Yuli asked. After all the commotion, she was hungry and thirsty.

Xie Yao nodded faintly.

Yuli turned her head and noticed Xi Yun and Jing Yu were gone.

She remembered they had bowed upon returning and then left immediately.

They hadn’t even had time to pour a cup of water.

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Yuli glanced again at Xie Yao, whose expression was inscrutable and somewhat intimidating. Xi Yun and Jing Yu must have been terrified.

Fortunately, she had managed to turn the tide.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Yao asked as she kept watching him.

“Are you not angry anymore, husband?” she said.

Xie Yao paused. “Eat first.”

His thoughts were completely unreadable. Yuli went out to find someone.

After a few steps, she anxiously looked back at him. He met her gaze with a calm face, showing no sign of anger or joy.

As Yuli stepped out of the Moonlight Residence, the corner of Xie Yao’s mouth twitched slightly.

She feared his anger.

She feared him but wanted to satisfy him, not avoid or disdain him; her heart was with him.

Xie Yao’s smile deepened before returning to his usual inscrutable calm before Yuli came back.

During lunch, Yuli kept observing Xie Yao’s expression, but he seemed unaware and indifferent.

After the meal, Yuli wanted to nap, but Xie Yao was present, and she didn’t want him to leave.

She felt that if he left now, he would go confront someone and seek revenge.

Summoning courage, Yuli asked, “Husband, do you want to rest a while? You can stay here.”

Xie Yao looked at her. “I don’t have the habit of napping.”

Yuli had nothing to say and decided to keep him company instead of sleeping.

But then Xie Yao said he had to leave.

Yuli hurriedly asked, “Where are you going?”

“Busy with business matters,” he replied.

“Will you be back tonight?” she asked again.

Xie Yao saw her reluctant expression. Though he understood why, he couldn’t help feeling touched.

His expression softened slightly, a faint smile appearing. “I will come.”

Seeing him finally smile, Yuli relaxed greatly and smiled back.

“I’ll prepare some good food for you.”

Xie Yao nodded and turned to leave.

After he left, Yuli checked on Xuemi, who had been frightened by Xie Yao and was hiding in its nest. Yuli coaxed it out with a cloth ball and held it to soothe it until it calmed.

Seeing Xuemi recover, Yuli felt happy again.

Soon, Xi Yun returned and, seeing Yuli somewhat cheerful, seemed to put aside the earlier shock.

Yuli lay down but only dozed briefly before rising, her heart still uneasy and unsettled.

Whenever she moved, Xi Yun hurried in.

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Usually, Xi Yun would rest a bit too, but today she had stayed outside all along, clearly affected as well.

Yet she acted as if nothing was wrong, fetching water for Yuli, wiping her face, and discreetly fanning her.

Yuli took the fan and fanned herself, while Xi Yun poured her a glass of clear water.

Watching Xi Yun bustling about, Yuli suddenly made up her mind.

Tonight, she would consummate her marriage with Xie Yao.

Once resolved, she no longer felt anxious. Yes, this was the key.

Yuli decided to strive for a beautiful first time for herself.

In the original story, due to many unmentionable terms, though there were many bed scenes, none were described in detail. Aside from some bloody scenes and harsh dialogues, everything was implied indirectly.

Often, the maids would gasp seeing the heroine’s body covered in bruises.

Or the heroine would be bedridden for three days.

Three days! When she had COVID with body aches, she could barely get up for two days. What sort of torment was that to last three days?

Though Yuli had no personal experience, she had extensively researched such matters online.

With the right techniques, the first time need not be painful.

The key lay in foreplay.

Yuli thought that even if she couldn’t share tender love with Xie Yao, she must create a full atmosphere—two consenting people naturally sharing something intimate.

First, it must happen when Xie Yao was in a good mood, not during his rages as in the original story, where intimacy felt like torture.

Then she would guide him actively, encouraging patience…

Suddenly, Yuli realized she had no idea how to do foreplay.

She would have to improvise when the time came.

This time, Yuli took out the scented spice Xie Yao had given her, choosing one with a romantic fragrance to burn in the bedroom in advance.

Twilight deepened.

Yuli grew increasingly nervous, repeatedly wanting to back out.

Xie Yao had been angry today; his mood was not good. Should she postpone?

No, rewriting the story should be done sooner rather than later, and if he suddenly lost control again, she wouldn’t even have time to respond.

But what if she took the initiative and he refused?

Would he refuse?

Normally, Yuli was sure he wouldn’t, but today was uncertain.

After several such thoughts, Yuli suddenly called out for Jing Yu from outside.

“Do we have any wine in the residence?” she asked.