Volume One, Chapter 70: Life and Death

“Go!” Pei Jingmo spoke the word, but his grip on Song Qingyu’s hand showed no intention of letting go—in fact, he held her even tighter.

Song Qingyu’s heart beat rapidly; she had no idea what might happen if she stayed. But to abandon Pei Jingmo, tormented by the effects of the drug, and simply walk away—she could not do it. After all, whenever she was injured or sick in the past, Pei Jingmo had always been at her side, caring for her meticulously, never leaving her alone.

“What…what can I do to help you?”

A surge of wild joy exploded in Pei Jingmo’s mind, mingling with the reaction of the drug coursing through his body. He stared at Song Qingyu in disbelief. “What did you say?”

“I want to help you.”

Her nervousness and fear were obvious, yet her gaze was unwaveringly resolute.

Pei Jingmo could no longer restrain himself. He cupped the back of Song Qingyu’s head and pulled her forcefully toward him.

A heady, ambiguous atmosphere swelled between them. His sharp nose brushed against her cheek with deliberate restraint, his hot breath fanned across her face, sending shivers through Song Qingyu.

A hoarse voice sounded by her ear, “No matter why you chose to stay, I’ll take it as you care about me.”

Before Song Qingyu could respond, he yanked her with such strength that she stumbled helplessly into his arms.

The water was cold; Pei Jingmo’s body burned with heat.

Song Qingyu could hardly believe he would truly kiss her. Her breath caught, her mind blanked out, her eyes flew open wide.

The friction of their lips was not enough—he wanted more.

With what little reason remained, he gently pushed her back a bit, their foreheads touching. He kissed her carefully. “Can I be a little rougher this time?”

Song Qingyu was panting heavily, unable to speak.

“Is it alright?”

Sweat trickled down his exquisitely sculpted jaw. Pei Jingmo stared into Song Qingyu’s eyes, nearly aflame.

“I’ll give you three seconds. If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as consent.”

“One! Two! Three—”

He counted swiftly, and before Song Qingyu could react, his fierce kisses rained down over her.

He deftly pried open her teeth, kissing her deeply, hot and lingering.

Song Qingyu was kissed until her whole body tingled, her mind dizzy, utterly lost to what she was doing.

Bang bang bang—

Suddenly, urgent knocks sounded at the door.

“Qingyu! Song Qingyu, come out here!”

Recognizing Chu Xingzhi’s voice, Song Qingyu instinctively pushed Pei Jingmo. The gesture triggered Pei Jingmo—his eyes darkened and he bit her lips.

Hearing her cry of pain, he gently soothed the wound with his tongue.

“Qingyu—come out!”

Chu Xingzhi’s voice continued with the pounding at the door. Pei Jingmo pressed his hands over Song Qingyu’s ears and kept kissing her.

With her ears blocked, the rest of her senses sharpened.

In Song Qingyu’s eyes, there was only Pei Jingmo; in her breath, only his scent.

Outside the door.

Chu Xingzhi hammered at the door like a madman. He had drugged Pei Jingmo and arranged for a woman to sleep with him, intending for Song Qingyu to catch them in the act.

He hadn’t expected Pei Jingmo to drive the woman out and remain alone with Qingyu.

The thought of Pei Jingmo doing such things with Qingyu nearly drove him insane.

Fu Linhan walked over and glanced at Chu Xingzhi. “The couple is inside together. Young Master Chu, isn’t it inappropriate to make such a fuss?”

Chu Xingzhi collapsed to the floor, tears of regret streaming down his face.

He pounded the door in despair. “The woman inside is my Qingyu.”

He knew it was too late for words. If Qingyu truly hadn’t done anything, she would have opened the door.

“But they’re married now! You lot, take Young Master Chu away.”

Chu Xingzhi shook his head. “No! I won’t leave! I’ll wait for Qingyu to come out. No matter what she’s done, I still want her.”

Fu Linhan: “…”

If only you’d thought of this sooner.

—

Outside, everyone was disheartened.

Inside, passion burned.

Pei Jingmo’s hand rested on Song Qingyu’s waist. He was no longer content with mere kissing, nor limited to one place.

He began to kiss her chin, her neck, her collarbone.

To leave marks on the woman he loved seemed to be every man’s favorite act.

He was nearing his limit, but a shred of reason kept Pei Jingmo from taking Song Qingyu right away.

He wanted her first time to be perfect, not under such circumstances.

“Qingbao, help me.”

Song Qingyu was lost in a haze, but when Pei Jingmo guided her hand downward, placing it on something—

She was startled.

Everything that night was chaotic.

Song Qingyu barely sensed the passage of time.

She didn’t know how long it lasted—it felt like a lengthy dream.

When she woke again, night had fallen.

As she sat up, her hands touched the bed, aching and sore.

“Hiss—”

Hearing her sound of pain, Pei Jingmo hurried over, gently massaging her hands.

All the memories flooded back. Song Qingyu’s face turned crimson. She abruptly withdrew her hands and hid her face under the blanket.

Heavens!

Pei Jingmo had kissed her like a madman—unbearable!

She had used her hand to help him—utterly mortifying!

How was she supposed to live under the same roof as him from now on?

Pei Jingmo knew Song Qingyu was shy. She hadn’t drunk this time, so it would be even harder for her to accept.

He sat at the edge of the bed and spoke softly, “I never expected the drug to be so strong. Thank you. If not for you, I don’t know—”

“Stop talking!”

Song Qingyu cut him off, both embarrassed and annoyed.

Her face under the blanket was burning.

Knowing she couldn’t hide forever, she took a deep breath and lifted a corner of the blanket, revealing only her eyes.

“Do you know who drugged you?”

She looked so adorable that Pei Jingmo wanted to kiss her, but dared not provoke her further.

“I don’t know.”

Song Qingyu frowned. “Really don’t know?”

“I think it was Chu Xingzhi.”

Song Qingyu’s expression turned sour; in truth, she had suspected as much.

Pei Jingmo was her accompanying family and knew no one here. Who else would go to such lengths to drug him?

No one but Chu Xingzhi.

“Are you hungry? Want something to eat?”

“I want to go home.”

“All right, we’ll go home.”

Getting up, Song Qingyu realized she was wearing a hotel bathrobe.

Both their clothes had been soaked, impossible to wear.

Knowing Pei Jingmo had changed her into the bathrobe, Song Qingyu wished she could dig a hole and hide.

“The clothes—I asked Young Master Fu to buy them for you. Your wrist hurts, you need—”

“No need!”

Song Qingyu grabbed the clothes and dashed into the bathroom.

Closing the door, she leaned against it, patting her burning face. “Calm down, calm down. Between husband and wife, lending a hand means nothing. Anyway, we didn’t go all the way.”

But when she saw in the mirror that her neck and shoulders were covered with kiss marks and bite marks, and her lips were bruised, Song Qingyu wanted to go out and beat Pei Jingmo up.

Suddenly, his words echoed in her mind: “Can I be a little rougher this time?”

Damn!

Was it just a little rough? It was very rough!

That man usually seemed honest and gentle—who would have guessed how fierce he could be!

She must never let him kiss her again!

When the two finished tidying up and opened the door, they saw Chu Xingzhi sitting outside.

His face was as pale as paper, head drooping onto his arms like a man who had lost his soul.

When he saw Song Qingyu, he sprang up. “Qingyu—”

The next moment, his gaze fell on the ambiguous kiss marks on Song Qingyu’s neck.