Tan Yin closed her eyes.
His lips brushed lightly across her cheek like a feather—soft and gentle. His arms wrapped tightly around her, his muscles tense, and his fingertips slightly rough—a stark contrast to her own delicate frame. His scent was elegant and distant, and though they hadn’t spent much time together, his presence felt as familiar to her as if she had known it for a thousand years—comforting and deeply cherished.
Yuan Zhong’s lips slowly moved away from her face, leaving only the light touch of his fingertips tracing her skin. When Tan Yin opened her eyes, his beautiful black and white irises were so close, filled with nothing but her. Within his soul, she was the only one, and his gaze burned with focus and intensity.
She had once wanted to ask him, “What would you do if I were gone one day?” But the question seemed unnecessary. His eyes already gave her the answer.
“I’ve taken the bait,” he suddenly said with a smile, his eyes narrowing into crescent moons, and his slightly parted lips curving into a seductive smirk. His voice was hoarse as he added, “I’m on the hook, ready for you to do as you please.”
In a moment like this, what was she supposed to say? What kind of expression should she give him? Her mind was clouded, and every sensation in her body was heightened to its fullest. Meanwhile, all rational thought had been drowned in the haze of alcohol. She felt an overwhelming, unfamiliar impulse. Slowly, she leaned in closer, inch by inch, tentatively glancing up at his eyes. She could see the fire burning in them, so bright it was almost blinding.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her lips to his, clumsily aligning them, gently exploring.
His hands, which had been resting on her shoulders, slid upward, finally resting on the back of her head, pulling her entire body toward him with urgency. His kiss was wild, and though it began clumsy, that awkwardness quickly disappeared. His natural instinct to take control took over, and in an instant, he dominated the kiss. His once dry lips turned hot and wet, his tongue sliding over hers, then over her lips. Unsatisfied with just that, he moved downward, kissing along the graceful curve of her jaw. His trembling fingers undid one of her clothing ties, loosening her collar. His lips and hands worked in unison, exploring the skin just beneath her collarbone.
With his head buried in her chest, he kissed every inch of skin around her collarbone. Tan Yin felt as though she was melting, unsure whether the burning pain in her soul or the pleasure of his touch overwhelmed her more.
Her fingers brushed his cheeks, as though she wanted to push him away, yet it felt more like an invitation. At some point, his lips found their way to her forearm, kissing her even through the fabric of her clothing. Tan Yin trembled, feeling him gently roll up her sleeve, and his scorching lips met her bare skin. He was trying to remove her glove, gripping its edge with his teeth, pulling it off bit by bit.
No, the gloves can’t come off! Tan Yin’s body reacted before her slightly dazed mind could catch up. Like a startled rabbit, she jumped up, her sleeve brushing against the table, sending the four jars of Tianxia Wu Shuang wine tumbling down. Yuan Zhong, lost in the heat of the moment, was startled as she pushed him away. He froze, but when he saw the precious jars of Tianxia Wu Shuang about to shatter, he waved his sleeve just in time, catching two of the jade wine jars. Tan Yin managed to grab the other two with her hands, catching them perfectly.
The two stood there, one bending over and the other still seated, staring at each other for what felt like an eternity. Suddenly, Yuan Zhong laughed.
“What a shame.” He gently placed the two unbroken jars back on the table, wiping his lips lightly.
Tan Yin’s face flushed red. Most of the alcohol-induced haze had been shaken off by the panic of almost losing her gloves. The rest of it dissipated as she scrambled to save the wine. The mood was ruined, and so was the atmosphere. She awkwardly set the jade wine jars down, stammering, “I-I’m going to bed…”
Bed? Yuan Zhong glanced outside, realizing it was still afternoon.
She quickly noticed the poor excuse she’d made for an exit, lowering her head in embarrassment.
As the sound of footsteps drew nearer, she saw Yuan Zhong’s shoes appear in her view, standing right in front of her, so close they almost touched her. Tan Yin’s entire body tensed up, filled with both anticipation and fear. She stared blankly at his hand as it reached out and lightly grasped one of the loose ties of her robe.
“You’re all disheveled, with your chest exposed,” he said with a mischievous tone, though his hands slowly retied the knots he had undone earlier. “If you’re ever this bold again, I won’t stop.”
Tan Yin’s ears burned with heat, and she didn’t dare look up. She only heard the sound of him going upstairs, entering the bedroom, and closing the door. Only then did she exhale in relief, lifting her gloved hands before her eyes.
Will there really be a next time? she wondered silently, her eyes growing hot again as if she were about to cry, yet also on the verge of laughter. Slowly, she crouched down, wrapping her arms around her knees.
She didn’t dare let there be a next time.
The four jars of Tianxia Wu Shuang that they had taken from the cellar—Yuan Zhong ended up drinking two of them by himself. Tan Yin didn’t dare touch another drop.
It was said that Tianxia Wu Shuang was brewed during the heyday of the Youhu clan and was reserved exclusively for offerings to the gods. In truth, however, whether it was the war spirits or the Youhu tribe, their so-called “service to the gods” was more of a self-aggrandizing notion than actual servitude.
The vastness of the divine realm was something that mortal immortals could never comprehend. The ritual the Youhu tribe held every sixty years to offer their finest wine to the gods was more about sending their thoughts up to the heavens. Whether a god received the offering, whether the same god would receive it each time, and whether they would even descend to acknowledge it—no one knew.
0 Comments