Chapter 61:
Thanks to those dreams, Xie Wanning was not truly an innocent young lady ignorant of worldly affairs.
She instantly understood the implication in his words.
Her face immediately flushed red.
She broke free from his arms, sat up straight on her own, and said awkwardly, “I was just curious, I didn’t mean to tease you on purpose.”
With his arms suddenly empty, Pei Yuqing subconsciously rubbed his fingertips lightly, noticing her discomfort, he lowered his eyes slightly and said, “Curious about what?”
Xie Wanning was silent for a few breaths, then confessed honestly. She stared at the protrusion on his neck, her eyes sparkling as she said, “Curious why men’s throats protrude like that.”
“…” Pei Yuqing looked at her speechlessly and said softly, “Nonsense.”
He didn’t allow her to openly study his Adam’s apple. Although Xie Wanning was bold in front of him, because of the earlier awkwardness, she didn’t dare to act rashly for the moment.
Her experience in the dreams told her that men seemed unable to endure much in this regard.
Lu Ziyan was such a cold and proud man, utterly devoted to Liu Manrou, yet during their newlywed period, he still clung to her bed desperately, impossible to shoo away when overcome with desire.
And he had been just an eighteen-year-old youth then, while the man before her was twenty-seven.
He should be even more…
Realizing what nonsense she was thinking, Xie Wanning’s face slightly reddened.
Those dreams being too realistic wasn’t good either; she could always recall the details among them, as if she had experienced them personally.
A perfectly fine young lady, yet her mind had become that of a married woman.
While Xie Wanning was feeling a bit annoyed, her hand was grasped by the person beside her.
Pei Yuqing thought she was throwing a little tantrum because he hadn’t indulged her mischief. After hesitating for a moment, he said softly, “If you really want to play, then play.”
“…” Xie Wanning swallowed in her throat, her heart pounding wildly.
She didn’t know if it was because of his words or his spoiling attitude.
Even her mother, who treated her with gentleness and love, and her father, who was the most protective, had never spoiled her so unconditionally, let alone her elder brother who always nagged her.
But this man…
Xie Wanning’s lips curved slightly. She slowly raised her hand to caress the side of his neck, feeling the vein trembling lightly under her fingertip, inching bit by bit toward his Adam’s apple.
Pei Yuqing endured the torment with difficulty. His heart raced wildly from nervousness, and his breathing gradually quickened.
His heartbeat was so loud that Xie Wanning, close at hand, could hear it. She finally stopped her movements, unable to bear teasing him further.
“Elder Brother Changqing,” she said seriously to him, “You need to have your own principles and temper. You can’t agree to everything I want.”
Pei Yuqing accepted the guidance, “Good.”
Xie Wanning smiled in satisfaction and offered more guidance, “I have a bad temper and excel at pushing my luck. If you agree to everything, you’ll only spoil me into bullying you more outrageously.”
Pei Yuqing hummed softly.
“Good that you understand,” Xie Wanning poked his neck and laughed, “Like now, I’m deliberately trying to tease you. You should sternly refuse me and not be soft-hearted.”
Pei Yuqing nodded, “Good.”
The young lady’s fingertips were gentle; that slight pressure only made him feel tormented. Pei Yuqing’s Adam’s apple swallowed again. Fortunately, she didn’t notice this time, but her cute little mouth was still chattering on.
“Don’t always say good,” Xie Wanning urged, “Now open your mouth and sternly refuse me.”
Pei Yuqing was truly helpless against her. He took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and finally didn’t say good, but admitted frankly, “I can’t bear to refuse.”
Xie Wanning: “…”
She, who prided herself on having thick skin, was made to blush deeply by his words. She gritted her teeth and endured for a few breaths, finally unable to hold back and said, “You sure are obedient.”
Telling him not to say one thing and mean another, and he didn’t even pretend at all.
Pei Yuqing understood her meaning. He lifted his eyelid to glance at her and sighed, “Wanwan…”
His voice was helpless yet indulgent.
Xie Wanning pursed her lips, unable to say a word for a long time.
Finally, she stood up abruptly, “It’s late, I’m going back to rest.”
After speaking, she hurried to leave, but was stopped by the seated man grasping her wrist.
Pei Yuqing said, “Do you want me to go to your courtyard to check?”
He still remembered his earlier promise to help check if the servants in her courtyard had properly scattered the insect-repelling powder.
Xie Wanning thought for a moment and nodded.
Pei Er appeared from nowhere, holding a jade bottle identical to the one she had thrown into the lake earlier.
This time, Xie Wanning said honestly, “I brought the pills to the farmhouse; they’re in the room.”
As for why she had lied about not bringing them, of course it was to tease him into coming over…
Pei Yuqing was not surprised. After dismissing his subordinate, he stood up holding her wrist.
The two walked side by side toward her courtyard, hand in hand.
The bright midsummer moonlight made even the tree shadows clearly visible. The slightly cool night breeze blew, making everything feel serene and peaceful.
Xie Wanning’s fingers moved silently, interlocking with his. She said softly, “I don’t have it either.”
This was a very abrupt statement. Pei Yuqing was slightly stunned at first, but soon understood her meaning.
He stopped in place, and Xie Wanning followed suit. Tilting her head to look at him, the moment their gazes met, her eyebrows and eyes curved, teasing, “Want to kiss me? As long as your heart can handle it, I don’t mind.”
She was used to flirting boldly in front of him; such audacious words came naturally. But this time, the man before her didn’t lower his eyes in embarrassment to avoid her gaze; instead, he looked at her steadily.
“Wanwan…” Pei Yuqing moved his lips, struggling to speak, “Do you like me?”
Xie Wanning was stunned for a moment and said, “If I didn’t like you, why would I insist on marrying you?”
As she spoke, her brows furrowed tightly, explaining herself, “Although I want to marry you to avoid Lu Ziyan, and in terms of identity and character, you’re the best choice, if I didn’t like you at all, I wouldn’t have come chasing after you to ask if you’d marry me after you refused me once.”
Did he really think she couldn’t get married?!
Xie Wanning was glaring at him indignantly when she saw the man, whose expression had remained unchanged, move his lips as if wanting to say something. But after a long moment, he didn’t utter a word, instead lowering his head.
The next instant, her lips were covered by his. A warm, cool breath hit her face. Her pupils contracted sharply, her heart skipped beats, and her palm reflexively pressed against his chest to push him away.
But in the end, not knowing what she thought of, she didn’t use force, merely resting it lightly on his heart.
Their lips rubbed together for quite a while. Xie Wanning felt the heartbeat under her palm growing more chaotic before she pushed him away forcefully, “Your heart is beating so fast, be careful…”
Her words were cut off halfway as the man before her pushed her back two steps until her back pressed against a nearby tree trunk. Her chin was lifted again, and her lips were once more claimed.
This time it was no longer just lip pecking. The moment he covered her, the fingertip gripping her jaw applied slight pressure.
As her lips parted slightly, he plunged straight in.
Xie Wanning’s unfinished words all turned into soft sobbing sounds.
Lu Ziyan would be furious… He would spit blood, really!
