Liu Rongruo’s expression remained unchanged upon hearing her taunt.
The moment she leaned in to kiss him, he cupped her head, taking control.
Who knew how long they kissed before Chi You pushed him away, her voice laced with anger.
“A kiss is a kiss, but was that just *one* kiss?”
Liu Rongruo gripped her waist, pulling her closer, and looked at her with a faint smile.
“That was me kissing you. You didn’t kiss me.”
“----”
He was insane.
Chi You asked, “Doesn’t your mouth hurt?”
“Your lips are soft, so it doesn’t hurt.”
“---”
Seeing her glaring at him coldly, Liu Rongruo said, “Do you still want your bracelet or not?”
Chi You took a deep breath and leaned in to kiss him again.
When he pulled away from her mouth, still wanting more, Chi You felt her bones go weak.
She immediately twisted her waist, struggling, and reached out.
“The bracelet.”
Liu Rongruo glanced at her, held onto her leg, and flipped her over, pinning her down.
Inside the room, only a faint candlelight flickered, crackling softly.
In the dim tent, she couldn’t see his expression.
Chi You’s patience was running out. She asked him in a hushed voice,
“The esteemed Prime Minister of Daliang, you won’t go back on your word, will you?”
“I’ll give it to you after we’re done.”
With that, he sealed her lips again.
It was early autumn, and the night wind had grown sharp.
The candle on the table was blown out by the wind with a sudden gust.
After an unknown amount of time, tranquility descended upon the tent.
Liu Rongruo got up, put on his inner garments, and carried her to the washroom behind him to clean up.
Chi You’s legs felt weak, but she didn’t need him to carry her. She pushed herself off him, intending to jump down.
“Move again, and I’ll throw you down.”
She ignored him, pushing him to get down.
The next second, he slammed her into the bath.
Chi You choked, splashing as she struggled out of the water.
“Are you sick?”
Liu Rongruo stood by the edge of the pool, looking at her fury, and raised an eyebrow.
“You asked for it.”
She was too lazy to argue with him and reached out.
“The bracelet.”
He didn’t speak, staring down at her in the water.
Chi You frowned, but seeing his expressionless face, she felt a sliver of fear.
Honestly, this beast’s temperament was too unpredictable. One moment he was showering you with affection, the next he could be killing you with a knife. He was inherently cold and detached.
“Are you going to keep your word or not?”
Hearing her, Liu Rongruo withdrew his gaze and slowly took the jade bracelet from his chest.
Chi You’s lips twitched. He truly kept it close to his person.
Was he not afraid it would poke him while he slept?
She climbed out of the pool, leaning on the marble, and reached for it, but he raised his hand, evading her grasp.
“What do you mean?”
Liu Rongruo looked at her indifferently. “I’ll return it to you, but it depends on whether you can get it.”
Chi You glared at him, then tiptoed, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him down to snatch it.
He was so tall. Though she was also quite tall, she could only barely reach his shoulders. Standing on tiptoe like this, she still couldn’t reach it.
Angrily, she stomped on his boot and wrapped an arm around his neck, hanging onto him to grab the bracelet.
Liu Rongruo didn’t move, his raised hand swaying back and forth.
Chi You saw his wicked amusement and bent her knees, kicking him hard in his vulnerable spot.
“How childish of you.”
Liu Rongruo immediately caught her leg and squeezed it tightly, his grip so strong it felt like he would snap her bones if she moved again.
Chi You froze, looking down at him.
Their eyes met, and neither spoke.
A moment later, Liu Rongruo released her, put an arm around her waist, and carried her into the bath.
He leaned against the edge of the pool, fiddling with the bracelet in his hand, and looked at her indifferently.
“This bracelet doesn’t seem to be anything special.”
Chi You leaned against the opposite edge of the pool and sneered.
“Prime Minister, you’re not trying to trick me into revealing something about this Silver Snake Illusionary Bracelet, are you?”
This beast clearly hadn’t studied her bracelet thoroughly and couldn’t open the mechanism.
Liu Rongruo raised an eyebrow and banged the bracelet twice against the edge of the pool.
“If I smash it, I’ll be able to see.”
“----”
Chi You said, “That’s my mother’s last keepsake.”
He stared at her, his expression as if to say, *So what?*
“Prime Minister, you are a man of your word and should do as you say.”
Liu Rongruo spun the bracelet and calmly stated, “I took it out. If you can’t get it back, it’s your own fault.”
“----”
For a moment, she wanted to rip his mouth off.
The moonlight poured into the pool, illuminating the room with a frosty sheen.
Liu Rongruo leaned against the edge of the pool, quietly watching her swim over and embrace him.
“Trying to seduce me?”
He lowered his eyelids to look at her.
Chi You wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head up to look at him.
She truly detested his aloof and proud demeanor.
“Then will the Prime Minister take the bait?”
Liu Rongruo suddenly curved his lips, encircling her smooth, delicate waist and pulling her into his embrace.
“This isn’t enough.”
Chi You tiptoed and directly sealed his lips.
Liu Rongruo’s body tensed but he didn’t move. He stared down at her face, his hand around her waist tightening.
She could feel his gaze, and an inexplicable ache welled up within her, spreading like a thousand tiny needles to her heart, causing her eyes to redden.
Closing her eyes, she pressed down.
His lips were soft. Her tongue traced his teeth, then pushed past his lips. Their breaths instantly intertwined, their breathing becoming ragged.
Liu Rongruo, sensing her fragrance and the heat of her lips, closed his eyes slightly.
He then began to hold her head and kiss her passionately.
They embraced by the edge of the pool, their kisses growing tighter and deeper.
Chi You’s eyes turned rosy from the kiss. She slightly opened her eyes, glanced at the bracelet in his hand, and reached out to interlock her fingers with his.
Liu Rongruo felt her movement.
As their hands met in the warm pool water, he naturally clasped hers, slid the bracelet back onto her wrist, and then held her fingers.
Their fingers were intertwined, the warmth of their pulses transferring into their bodies and spreading to their hearts. Chi You’s palm suddenly felt hot, and she abruptly pulled her hand away, retreating with an extreme reaction.
Water from the pool splashed up, obscuring his vision.
The air around them seemed to freeze for a moment.
Chi You didn’t look at him, directly got out of the pool, put on the clothes from the rack, and turned to leave.
Inside the room, silence fell.
Liu Rongruo leaned against the edge of the pool, his gaze turned sideways, watching her departing back for a long time.
After a while, he stood up, casually threw on a robe, and walked out.
In the inner chamber, Chi You was already asleep under the quilt.
Liu Rongruo got into bed, threw the quilt aside, got in, and pulled her into his arms.
Chi You wasn’t asleep. She was lost in thought, touching the bracelet on her wrist.
As he embraced her, she squirmed uncomfortably from the warmth.
“Sleep,” his voice came from behind her. She closed her eyes and said faintly,
“Your arm is heavy. It’s pressing on me.”
“You never complained when it pressed on you all night before.”
Liu Rongruo finished speaking, held her waist, turned her over, and embraced her.
Chi You was forced to bury herself in his embrace, frowning in annoyance.
She struggled, but he held her even tighter. Too lazy to say anything more, she closed her eyes, feeling sleepy.