Chapter 203

Having visited a few times before, Ning Ning had roughly familiarized herself with the layout of the mansion, allowing her to reach the City Lord and his wife’s bedroom relying on her memory. Surprisingly, the door was slightly ajar, and the room was empty, with only the flickering candlelight, presumably lit by a servant, illuminating the entrance.

So late at night, what could this couple be doing together? Hunt for badgers in a melon field under the moon?

(T/N: Actually, the translation is supposed to be like this: ‘hunt for 猹 (chá/zhā) in a melon field under the moon’ Cha is a badger-like wild animal mentioned in a short story by Lu Xun (Hometown)… but I’m not sure what kind of badger Cha is..Anyway, “猹 (Cha/Zha) in the Melon Field” means there are too many gossips to read at once. Cha originally refers to an animal, but nowadays it is also a synonym for the melon-eating crowd on the Internet. In Lu Xun’s “Hometown,” Cha always comes to the melon field to steal melons, so Cha has become a synonym for people who love to eat melons. Now it refers to netizens who browse gossip information and read the latest gossip (also called “eating melons”)… so what can be inferred from this chapter when the author puts ‘Hunt for badgers (cha) in a melon field under the moon’ means that the city lord mansion and his wife are probably not sleeping but gossiping (eating melon)…hehe… )

The open door indicated that they had been in the bedroom earlier. The reason they left without closing the door might be due to an unexpected event.

But what could have happened that made them leave in such a hurry?

Ning Ning exchanged a glance with Pei Ji and mouthed, “Should we go in and check?”

Pei Ji nodded.

The bedroom was unlit, making the feeling of solitude even more profound. The room appeared normal on the surface, with a carved wooden bed and light gauze curtains. However, the absence of the hosts raised suspicion.

Their unusual movements suggested there might be clues left in the room. Ning Ning couldn’t light a lamp or make too much noise. Just as she was about to search more thoroughly, she noticed Pei Ji moving—

A woman’s playful laugh came from not far outside the door, accompanied by footsteps, indicating Luo Yuanming and Luan Niang were returning to their room. Pei Ji reacted quickly, pulling her into a standing wardrobe for cover.

The wardrobe was barely half a person’s height and contained scattered clothes. Ning Ning, caught off guard, fell against Pei Ji’s chest. Before she could adjust to the darkness, she felt something warm and soft cover her mouth.

Pei Ji had covered her mouth with his palm.

Wait, wait a minute.

Had Pei Ji just pulled her into his arms…without warning?

Ning Ning quickly collected her thoughts and tried to discern their current position in the narrow, dark wardrobe.

Pei Ji had released his grip on her shoulder, sitting with his legs spread and bent, while she was naturally seated on the wooden board between his legs.

Though Pei Ji was slender, his chest was unexpectedly broad. With Ning Ning constrained within it, unable to move, she could feel his intense heartbeat against her back, like a burning flame.

This position was surprisingly comfortable, even making her reluctant to leave.

Wait.

Luckily, Pei Ji was behind her and couldn’t see Ning Ning’s flushed face.

…What was she thinking? Who would want to be held by Pei Ji all the time?

Pei Ji remained still, showing no further reaction.

Although he initiated the move, Ning Ning could clearly feel the boy behind her stiffen and his heartbeat quicken the moment his palm touched her lips, as if he were very nervous.

Of course, he was nervous.

Pei Ji tried to calm his restless heart, closing his eyes slightly.

The wardrobe wasn’t high, and sitting inside, he practically enveloped Ning Ning in his arms.

The girl’s soft body was close, her head lightly resting against his chin, with fine strands of hair brushing his throat and neck like silent teasing.

The darkness heightened their other senses, with the faint light through the slight opening adding a hazy veil to the space, creating an extremely ambiguous atmosphere.

The most nerve-wracking part was his right hand.

Ning Ning’s breath fell on his finger, like a feather gently scratching, warm and soothing. Her soft lips sometimes pressed against his palm when she unconsciously pursed them, brushing against his skin like a kiss.

He suddenly recalled the night he was drunk, feeling even more restless.

Luo Yuanming’s cultivation far exceeded theirs, so using spiritual energy recklessly might alert him.

Ning Ning and Pei Ji couldn’t communicate through sound transmission and had to stay silent in their current position.

“I’m so exhausted tonight.”

The candle on the table was lit, and Luan Niang’s lazy, cat-like voice followed: “Let’s rest early.”

Luo Yuanming laughed, “Alright, alright. What incense are we using tonight? Madam loves peach blossoms; let’s use that, shall we?”

“Husband usually use bamboo incense. If you change to my scent now, people will gossip behind our backs.”

“So what? They’re just jealous of me having such a wonderful wife.”

Then came a series of playful laughs and the sound of clothes rustling.

Luo Yuanming truly adored Luan Niang, as the rumors suggested, with undisguised love and desire in his voice: “Madam, I wish I could be close to you like this every day, whispering sweet nothings.”

Luan Niang’s voice was like wine, softly repeating his words: “Aren’t we doing that right now? Since we’ve already had skin-to-skin and ears-to-hair contact… then I’m yours.”

Ning Ning, lips pressed against Pei Ji’s palm, held her breath.

Damn it, does this couple usually talk so cheesy? She got goosebumps all over her body.

Pei Ji, his black hair mingling with Ning Ning’s strands, stiffened.

…If this is the case, then she is his?