Chapter 25: Are You Seducing Me?

There was no way to go back the way they came. Old Madam Ling was just about to turn the corner!

What was to be done?

Ling Zhao remained relatively composed. He slipped into the bedroom and gently closed the door.

"Can't you just fly out of here?" Xiao Ming whispered urgently, pointing at the window.

"The window is so high; what if I fall and die? Is my life not worth anything?" Ling Zhao retorted, shooting her a sideways glance.

Xiao Ming’s eyes widened. Wasn't it just the courtyard outside? How was that high?

"Ming’er..." Old Madam Ling was already right outside the door.

Ling Zhao scanned the room, kicked off his shoes under the bed, and pulled Xiao Ming into the bed with him. Qingzhu and Chun’er immediately understood, swiftly drawing the bed curtains and the outer drapes, tucking them in tightly.

Yet, a faint light still filtered through, revealing the silhouettes of two people on the bed.

Old Madam Ling entered.

In the dim light, her figure could be seen drawing closer. Both their hearts pounded wildly. Ling Zhao held Xiao Ming in his arms without a sound, and they lay down together.

Old Madam Ling sat on the edge of the bed and asked affectionately, "Ming’er, are you asleep?"

Xiao Ming, still draped over Ling Zhao, feigned the weakness of someone just recovering from a serious illness. She replied in a hoarse voice, "Thank you, Grandmother, for coming to see me. I... *cough, cough*... I am feeling a bit better..." As she spoke, she lifted the quilt to cover them both.

"Reporting to the Old Ancestor, the young lady was afraid of passing her illness to you, so..."

In the darkness, she heard his muffled breathing, as if he were restraining something.

He was too hard, pressing against her and making her ache all over, especially her swollen knees and ankles, which felt even more uncomfortable in this awkward position.

She leaned toward his ear, wanting to ask if they could change positions, but as her head moved, her lips were suddenly blocked by something warm and soft.

She had been pressed against his chest, but he shifted, turning them over with fluid grace and pinning her beneath him.

Even in the darkness, he could see her startled eyes, shimmering like stars in the night, which made his heart tremble.

Beside her ear, she could hear his rapid, chaotic heartbeat, thumping like a drum.

"Close your eyes."

His hot breath brushed against her ear like a feather, sending a tingling, numbing sensation through her.

He cradled her face, watching her eyelashes flutter, and kissed her with extreme tenderness, a lingering, unending kiss that effortlessly stirred a shiver within her.

"Ming’er, you must rest well during these days..."

"Mmm..." Xiao Ming responded to Old Madam Ling in a state of near-intoxication, her hands resting on his shoulders, trying to push him away, but her limbs were limp and powerless.

Separated by only a curtain, there was the Old Madam’s concerned inquiry on one side, and on this side, a scene of languid, intoxicating intimacy.

Old Madam Ling offered a few more slow, parting words before finally leaving.

But Ling Zhao’s kisses did not stop.

His large hand moved down to her lower back, sliding under the hem of her nightclothes, his palm pressing against the soft, smooth skin of her waist, tentatively inching upward.

She turned her head to avoid him and pressed her hand against his wandering one. He did not insist, shifting away from her lips to nuzzle her earlobe instead.

"Don't..." her voice was small, soft, and trembling.

His handsome phoenix eyes held a faint, elusive smile. He trailed kisses from under her ear down to the side of her neck, his voice low and raspy as it rumbled from his throat: "Ming’er, are you seducing me?"

"Eldest Young Master, the Old Ancestor has left," Chun’er reminded them "timely" from outside the curtain.

Ling Zhao lowered his head, looking at Xiao Ming’s eyes, which still burned with the remnants of passion—misty and incredibly alluring. He couldn't resist planting another light kiss on her beautiful lips.

He commanded toward the outside, "You may all leave."

She was stunned. The two maids outside were even more taken aback.

What was he planning to do?

Chun’er and Qingzhu exchanged anxious looks. Chun’er, hot-tempered, stepped forward to pull back the curtains, but Qingzhu grabbed her wrist and shook her head gently.

It was true; if even their young lady couldn't resist him, the two of them intervening would only add fuel to the fire. If they angered this "living Yama," their lives in the mansion would surely become even more difficult.

"Young Lady..." Chun’er couldn't help but call out in worry.

"I..."

The sound that escaped her lips was delicate and charming. Xiao Ming bit her lip in a panic, not daring to make another sound.

There was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of the bedroom door closing.

Before she could react, his dense, soft kisses began to travel downward.

A soft, broken moan shattered the silence of the room.

Ling Zhao suddenly laughed. He sat up, holding Xiao Ming, and looked at her jade-like neck, now scattered with a few ambiguous red marks.

His eyes darkened. "Ming’er, kiss me. Anywhere will do."

Xiao Ming, dizzied by his teasing, gradually forgot to resist and surrendered, sinking into this lingering embrace with him.

"Anywhere will do...?" she murmured to herself.

Her gaze swept over his handsome face, inch by inch, stopping at his Adam’s apple.

Just above and to the right of it was a tiny, sesame-sized black mole. It was faint, and as it moved with his swallow, it looked incredibly bewitching.

She suddenly wanted to taste it.

Since anywhere would do, would this small mole be all right too?

Suddenly, it felt as though all sound had vanished. Between heaven and earth, she could only see his slender neck. Trembling, she clung to his shoulders and kissed it with clumsy, inexperienced movements.

The moment they touched, his breathing hitched, and he clenched his palms.

Her sweet, ripe lips lingered on his long neck, her hot breath brushing against his ear, leaving behind visible red marks.

Ling Zhao was driven into a state of chaotic desire by her kisses. His large hand, resting on her waist, quietly loosened the sash of her nightclothes. The fabric slipped, revealing her fair, trembling shoulders.

"No, no, you haven't found the truth yet..." Xiao Ming suddenly sobered up and pushed him away with all her might.

In the soft candlelight, their eyes met. Her shimmering eyes were veiled in mist; she was a little scared, a little shy, but mostly at a loss.

Ling Zhao’s heart sank, and a surge of nameless fire clogged his chest.

"Between us, is there nothing but a transaction? No other feelings?"

Xiao Ming’s eyes flickered, and she whispered, "Of course there are..."

"What are they?" His eyes brightened.

"Grandmother tells everyone that you are my elder brother. Naturally, I respect you as such and would never disregard the bond between siblings."

Ling Zhao’s body stiffened, and the fiery passion receded like a tide.

Both were breathing slightly hard. After a moment of silence, Xiao Ming spoke: "I heard that Mo Shichang was drinking in a brothel in the middle of the night and provoked some thugs, resulting in half his tongue being sliced off. Was... was that done by you, Brother?"

Ling Zhao shifted his back, his expression somewhat unnatural.

Xiao Ming lowered her eyes and whispered, "Thank you, Brother, for taking care of this for me. This matter was my own lack of shame, yet I let you go to such trouble. I know I was wrong, and I will never be so foolish again. I owe you a favor, so..."

She took a deep breath, looked up, her gaze firm: "So, I have just repaid it."

Ling Zhao’s brows twitched, and the words tumbled out: "You pay me back today, you pay me back tomorrow—why don't you ever ask if I like you?"