The candlelight in the tent flickered, casting a warm yellow glow on Ji Jinmo's face, sketching his features.
He propped his well-defined hand behind his ear, his tied-up hair spilling out, falling through his hand and onto the satin pillow. The sash around his waist seemed a little loose, his collar half-open, revealing large expanses of skin as white as snow. One could vaguely discern the well-defined, powerful contour of his chest.
Nan Shiying found herself unable to look away. She had lived a lifetime and seen countless beauties, but this unparalleled human specimen, who perfectly blended the qualities of noble and cold demeanor with a bewitching and devilish charm – a combination of opposite poles – was something she had never encountered before.
As for Yue Sinan.
She had not, after all, seen that banished immortal figure in bed, so she would refrain from commenting!
Her gaze, fixed and unblinking, seemed to surge with a fiery light, brighter than the candlelight. Ji Jinmo's lips slowly curved upwards, adding a touch of desire to his fragmented beauty.
Nan Shiying couldn't help but curse inwardly. She turned her head, picked up the teacup by her side, and drank a whole cup in quick succession, finally calming the turmoil in her heart.
Ji Jinmo patted the bed, his deep voice seemingly laced with alluring hooks, rolling with laughter as it reached Nan Shiying's ears, tugging at her heartstrings: "It's late, aren't you resting yet?"
These seemingly ordinary words were like an invitation.
Nan Shiying's face instantly flushed, all the way to her earlobes. She turned her head and shot Ji Jinmo a fierce glare. Then, she abruptly stood up: "I'm going to wash up."
She fled as if escaping.
Lu Wan watched Nan Shiying, wrapped in a coat, dart out. She blinked and peeked through the gap of the tent flap, which had not yet fully fallen. Upon seeing her master wrapped in the quilt, her eyes immediately lit up.
Had the Prince and Princess finally decided to consummate their marriage tonight?
She became somewhat excited.
"Princess, this servant will immediately have the servants bring bathing water." Saying this, she was about to give the order, but Nan Shiying quickly grabbed Lu Wan and, in the same motion, covered her mouth, effectively stifling the words that had yet to be spoken.
Lu Wan mumbled and shook her head, her blinking eyes filled with confusion.
Nan Shiying gritted her teeth fiercely: "If you dare have them bring bathing water, I'll pour it all over your Prince!"
Lu Wan's eyes lit up again.
Was the Princess planning to bathe with the Prince? She wondered if there was such a large bathtub in the hunting camp and if she should go ask. If there was... Seeing Lu Wan's eyes darting faster and faster, Nan Shiying flicked her forehead with her finger and snarled at her through gritted teeth, "Get lost and sleep!"
Lu Wan, thinking of something else, smiled so broadly that her mouth seemed to split to her ears. She happily agreed and left, looking back three times.
Nan Shiying felt utterly vexed.
Seeing her return in a huff, Ji Jinmo asked with a smile, "Have you finished washing up?"
Nan Shiying glanced at the teacup in her hand, then at Ji Jinmo. After weighing her options, she decided not to risk picking up the teacup.
Yet, the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
What was the big deal about sharing a bed? It was nothing!
Her age in her previous life, combined with this one, was enough to make her Ji Jinmo's grandmother. What was she afraid of? It was just sleeping!
Thinking this, Nan Shiying darted to the bedside, kicked off her shoes, removed her socks, shook out her hair bun, and with swift, fluid movements, climbed into bed fully clothed, clutching the quilt tightly.
Her back turned to Ji Jinmo, only the very tip of her head was visible.
Ji Jinmo watched Nan Shiying, who had burrowed into the quilt like a giant silkworm cocoon. A deep, low laugh escaped him, reaching Nan Shiying's ears and provoking an angry glare.
What was so funny? Had he never seen someone sleep with their clothes on?
Her eyes, shimmering with a watery brilliance, seemed both coy and reproachful. The round contours of her face couldn't hide the natural allure that flowed from her eyes. Ji Jinmo's gaze darkened, as if something at the bottom of a bottomless dry well was about to spill out, creating layer upon layer of ripples.
An aura of danger filled the air.
Nan Shiying shivered and quickly turned her head, daring not to look back.
Ji Jinmo reached out and wrapped his arm around Nan Shiying's waist. A flash of anger flickered in Nan Shiying's eyes, and her voice was like rolling knives, dripping with blood: "Let go!"
Ji Jinmo tightened his grip, pulling Nan Shiying, quilt and all, into his embrace: "Let me hold you for a while, just a while."
His voice was somewhat hoarse, as if he were desperately restraining something. Yet, Nan Shiying vaguely heard fatigue and entreaty in his voice.
She stiffened abruptly, her body, rigid as if bristling with thorns, gradually softening. She lowered her head, burying her face deep in the quilt, and let out a soft, almost inaudible hum that sounded muffled.
Silence fell in the tent, broken only by the slow, flowing sound of their breaths.
...
As the first rays of morning sunlight slanted through the tent flap, Ji Jinmo slowly opened his eyes. The cold glint in his eyes vanished in an instant. He turned his head, looking at the sleeping figure, his eyes filled with a tenderness so profound it seemed to have melted into spring water.
He lowered his head, his cool lips leaving a fleeting, dragonfly-kiss on her forehead.
The kiss on her forehead made Nan Shiying's body tremble. She snapped her eyes open, and Ji Jinmo's face was right there, appearing before her without any warning. Even at this close distance, close enough for them to feel each other's breath, his face remained smooth, without a single visible pore.
Awakened from deep slumber, Nan Shiying's first reaction was not panic, but rather an admiration for Ji Jinmo's skin.
Once she registered what was happening, Nan Shiying's heart sank.
This state of being accustomed to the other person, so accustomed that she didn't find it at all improper to have his presence envelop her, was not a good thing.
At least, it wasn't a good thing for Nan Shiying.
She abruptly pushed Ji Jinmo away, grabbed the quilt, and sat bolt upright.
Ji Jinmo propped himself up on the bed, tilting his head slightly to look at Nan Shiying.
Nan Shiying, feeling somewhat annoyed by his gaze, threw off the quilt, got out of bed, walked to the table, and sat down. She picked up a teacup and poured herself a drink.
Ji Jinmo, quick as lightning, seized her wrist. He frowned, a hint of displeasure appearing on his handsome face: "It's cold, and you're still drinking it?"
Nan Shiying looked at the bed, then at Ji Jinmo. At this moment, she even had the leisure to marvel at his ability to teleport. In the blink of an eye, he had changed positions.
As she was thinking this, the teacup in her hand was taken away.
Ji Jinmo walked to the stove, picked up the kettle, poured a cup of hot water, and handed it to Nan Shiying: "Drink this water first."
Nan Shiying stared blankly at Ji Jinmo.
She increasingly felt that he was an imposter.