Her room. Her bed.
Without hesitation, he tossed her onto the soft mattress, immediately leaning down to capture her lips in a deep kiss.
Warm breath ghosted over her face, light and teasing. His soft tongue slipped past her lips—not as gentle as before, no longer holding back with tenderness. There was something deeper, more complex in his touch. Hong Ning felt breathless, her heart pounding. She didn’t know whether to surrender to him or push him away.
“I couldn’t wait for you to come to me.” He lifted his head, his lips curving into an irresistible smile. “I’m ready to give myself to you. Will you repay me… with a son?”
Red silk slipped away, revealing skin as pale and delicate as snow.
His lips trailed downward, lingering at her long, slender neck, brushing over her collarbone… Suddenly, the tip of his tongue flicked across her left breast.
Hong Ning gasped, biting down on her lip. A tremor ran through her body, her fingers clenching, then loosening, then clenching again.
Sensing her hesitation, he looked up at her. His eyes burned with desire, his voice husky, tinged with something deeper. “Give me your heart.”
Hong Ning lowered her lashes, avoiding his gaze.
“You’re still afraid of me?” He chuckled softly, kissing her gently. “It won’t hurt.”
He guided her hand to his belt, his tone coaxing, his anticipation unmistakable. “Undo it. Give me your heart. Let me take care of you from now on.”
Her fingers hovered at his waist, unmoving.
She stared at the exquisitely crafted belt, willing herself to pull at the knot. But her hands wouldn’t obey. She didn’t understand why.
He understood her. He had given her a place to stay, a sense of belonging. She wanted to leave the past behind and live as an ordinary person. She had made that choice when she agreed to stay. And yet, when the moment came, her body hesitated, even recoiled. That frightened her even more.
Feeling her resistance, he tightened his grip on her hand and murmured, “I don’t know what comes in the next life. But in this one, I promise—I will treat you well. You don’t need to worry.”
Hong Ning closed her eyes for a moment before finally looking at him with a faint smile. “Does Young Master Duan always conquer women this way?”
The passion in his gaze slowly faded, replaced by something deeper—disappointment, loneliness.
He stared at her for a long time before speaking, his voice carrying a hint of self-mockery. “So you’re not the same as them. I was wrong, wasn’t I?”
Hong Ning turned her face away, avoiding his gaze. “You believe in me. But I can’t believe in you.”
Duan Fei smiled faintly. “It’s not just that you don’t believe—you don’t understand.”
Hong Ning was silent for a long moment before finally saying, “How could I possibly understand Young Master Duan’s heart?”
Duan Fei burst into laughter, flinging her hand aside as he stood up. “I understand you, but you don’t understand me. Forget it, forget it!”
Outside, the black night stretched endlessly, swallowing everything in silence. Without a backward glance, he stepped into the darkness, his figure blending seamlessly into the night.
Hong Ning slowly closed her eyes.
* * *
The Grand Festival of the Flower Dynasty City—a once-in-a-century celebration—was held much earlier than the mortal world’s Flower Festival. Immortals and demons alike gathered in revelry, all the flowers of the world paying tribute. A three-day feast filled the city, the emperor himself leaving the palace to visit his people, only returning to the palace late in the evening. Everything followed tradition, save for the festivities being livelier than ever.
Yet amid the splendor, that familiar figure was nowhere to be seen.
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