"Zhen!"
Ming Zheng reached out and pressed Zhen's shoulder, her voice raising slightly.
That face, which could topple cities, seemed to suck the air from her surroundings.
It also made her heart inexplicably begin to race.
She blinked.
And swallowed again.
Trying to quell her wildly beating heart.
This pounding sound.
Even she herself could hear it.
If that troublesome person heard it.
Wouldn't she be laughed at?
"Zheng Bao..."
His voice was slightly hoarse.
When it coiled around her ears, it was as if she was drowning in his allure.
Ming Zheng felt her ears itch intensely.
Even her heart was itching.
She withdrew uncomfortably, pressing down on the man's shoulders, pulling them apart.
And making his voice and breath move away from her ears.
But after creating distance.
The man's top-tier divine looks entered her pupils even more clearly.
Those eyes, like black obsidian, were filled with lingering, beautiful tenderness.
They were almost drowning her.
Ming Zheng's face flushed slightly.
Even her earlobes were a faint pink.
"You, what are you doing..."
Before Ming Zheng could finish her tight-lipped words.
The corner of her lips was suddenly covered by something soft.
The rich sandalwood fragrance instantly filled her nostrils.
That soft touch.
Made Ming Zheng momentarily stunned.
It felt...
Kind of delicious?
Ming Zheng blinked her crow-feather-like eyelashes.
Whether it was from being stunned or some other reason.
She didn't push Zhen away immediately.
As for Zhen, his heart had been hanging by a thread because of everything that had just happened.
He couldn't help but pull the girl into his embrace.
Couldn't help but...
Hold her tightly.
As if only then.
His constantly clenched heart could slightly ease.
Feeling her warmth, her breath.
Only then could he be sure...
She was by his side.
Looking at that face that haunted his dreams.
Hearing the girl's thunderous heartbeat.
They all turned into an invisible temptation.
Constantly seducing his reason.
Finally.
His lips landed on Ming Zheng's lips.
Fireworks exploded in his mind.
A tingling sensation spread through his body, and his reason completely snapped.
Originally, he only wanted to give a gentle kiss.
But at this moment, he could no longer control himself.
Deeper, more lingering.
Completely imbuing the girl with his scent.
Ten seconds.
Twenty seconds.
A minute...
The suffocating sensation of air being drawn out brought Ming Zheng back to her senses from the sweet, soft touch.
The fingers clenching Zhen's collar slowly tightened.
"Zhen..."
Muffled words escaped from between her lips and teeth.
His onslaught was too fierce.
This was the first time in her life, past or present, that Ming Zheng had been treated like this.
This feeling was very foreign.
But...
She didn't exactly dislike it.
She just couldn't handle it.
Ming Zheng pushed him away.
Sensing the girl's resistance, Zhen's eyes, full of haze, gradually cleared.
Although he was reluctant.
He quickly released the girl.
Ming Zheng's feet finally landed on the ground.
The hand pressed against his chest pushed him away with force.
Creating distance between them.
Her body softened, and she sat on a nearby chair.
Gasping for air.
Zhen took a step closer to her.
Ming Zheng raised her eyes, glared at him, and yelled in a husky voice, "Don't come any closer!"
As soon as she spoke.
Ming Zheng was stunned.
Where was her usual powerful and cool "dominant sister" voice?
Why was it so soft?
Was it hoarse?
It sounded like it tugged at her heartstrings!
This wasn't her voice!
Ming Zheng raised her hand and covered her mouth.
But with this cover.
Her mouth and nostrils were filled with the man's clear sandalwood smoke-like scent.
The soft touch from before seemed to linger on her lips.
Ming Zheng's face became even redder.
She widened her pupils.
Then quickly lowered her hand.
And glared at him fiercely.
That scoundrel, how dare he take advantage of her!
In the dim light.
The girl's eyes were still as brilliant as stars.
Especially her fair and bright little face, flushed with a faint scarlet, her lips a deep red, glistening with moisture.
Her seductive eyes, her vibrant beauty, were nothing more than this.
Everything seemed to proclaim what had just happened.
Zhen's gaze traveled inch by inch across the girl's face, her lips.
His eyes became even more lingering.
As if transforming into clinging threads, they slowly entwined Ming Zheng.
This affectionate gaze made Ming Zheng unable to glare anymore.
He... his gaze.
It was really hard to resist!
Ming Zheng's small heart couldn't help but tighten.
She couldn't help but swallow again.
No.
This male presence was too alluring.
"Zheng Bao."
He obediently did not move closer to Ming Zheng.
But the distance between them wasn't too far.
When he spoke, his voice seemed to linger in Ming Zheng's ears.
Deep within his voice, there was a clear, suppressed husky tone and an aroused emotion.
Ming Zheng felt a tingle in her ears.
"Wh-what do you want..."
The voice that came out was a little stuttered and娇软 (jiao ruan - soft and sweet).
Ahhhh!
Why had her voice become like this!
This was too embarrassing!
Was this a honey trap?
It was too intoxicating!
"When Chi Zonghan said he captured you, and when Si Lin said you had been to the Chi family and left."
"My heart felt empty."
"I knew you were strong, and Chi Zonghan couldn't do anything to you. But because it concerned you, I couldn't control my fear and panic."
"Chi Zonghan was right about one thing: as long as I care about you, I can't gamble, and I dare not gamble with your safety."
"At that moment, countless thoughts arose in my mind, I even wanted to give up my position as head of the Chi family, just to exchange for your safety."
The man's husky, lingering voice stroked Ming Zheng's eardrums.
His tone was incredibly serious.
Those deep, ink-like eyes, even in the dim light, were extremely earnest and firm.
His adoring gaze slowly softened: "Will I be scolded for being love-struck like this?"
Ming Zheng's heart trembled, then felt numb.
Her crow-feather-like eyelashes fluttered uncontrollably.
"You, you are indeed love-struck!"
She clearly knew Chi Zonghan couldn't do anything to her.
And yet he thought of giving up his "career."
Wasn't this a textbook case of being love-struck?
"But... I can't help it."
Zhen slowly took a step closer to Ming Zheng.
Ming Zheng didn't stop him.
He took another step closer.
As he walked, he said, "When I saw you appear, my empty heart felt filled."
"But when the Grand Elder made a move against you... I was so scared I could barely stand..."
The man's voice even trembled slightly.
He stood in front of Ming Zheng.
His toes touching Ming Zheng's toes.
His hands slowly opened, propping on either side of Ming Zheng's chair.
In this posture, at this distance.
He lowered his gaze and met Ming Zheng's eyes.