"Naturally, it's even more fun!"
Before the tail of Dai Chengfeng's words had faded, he swiftly flipped over, pinning Qiu'er securely beneath him in the blankets.
The soft bed sank slightly, and the atmosphere grew intensely intimate.
"Eh?"
Qiu'er let out a startled gasp. Her golden eyes, shimmering under the moonlight, widened instantly, still misty with lingering confusion as she stared at Dai Chengfeng above her. Her beastly instincts immediately put her on high alert.
"No, no! Not now… really, not now!"
"Hmm?"
Dai Chengfeng paused his movements. He hadn't intended to force anything—he was simply teasing this innocent yet bold little creature who had just tasted the first hints of romance.
But the unmasked panic and resistance in Qiu'er's eyes instantly extinguished most of his amorous thoughts.
"Did I scare you?"
Dai Chengfeng sighed, loosening the pressure of his arms and no longer restraining her. However, he remained leaning over her, gently poking her slightly cool cheek with his fingertips in a soothing manner.
This little girl's beautiful golden eyes were brimming with tears. "I…"
"How could you suddenly… look so terrifying… like you were going to eat me!"
"And now it's my fault?" Dai Chengfeng chuckled helplessly, but seeing Qiu'er's pitiful expression, he eventually nodded. "Alright, alright, it's my fault."
With that, he rolled over completely, lying beside her. Through the blanket, he pulled her close, hugging both her and the blanket as if comforting a child, gently patting her back.
"I won't touch you. But from now on, you can't keep shocking me with your words, understand? Hmm?"
The warmth of his embrace carried a soothing presence. Qiu'er's tense body gradually relaxed, and she leaned against Dai Chengfeng's chest, softly mumbling:
"I promise…"
"Next time," Dai Chengfeng said with a smile, lowering his head to gently kiss her smooth forehead, "when you're not afraid anymore, I'll teach you something even more interesting…"
Qiu'er didn't say anything further. She simply nestled into Dai Chengfeng's arms and closed her eyes slightly.
The room fell silent for a moment.
After an unknown amount of time—
"Oh no! Time's up!"
Qiu'er suddenly exclaimed, her entire body glowing with golden light.
The next second, the glow dimmed and receded. The warm body of the maiden in his arms disappeared.
In her place appeared a fluffy, round, golden-furred little beast—her true form as the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
Qiu'er shook her slightly disheveled golden fur, which had been pressed by the blanket, and lifted her small head.
"Dai Chengfeng, next time… you'll teach me again, right?"
Dai Chengfeng looked at this little creature who had instantly transformed from an enchanting beauty into an adorable animal form. He pinched her soft ear and chuckled softly. "Mm, alright…"
With that, Dai Chengfeng glanced out the window. The bright moonlight had shifted slightly without him noticing.
The night had grown deeper.
"Qiu'er, you sleep first. I'll go out for a bit and check if Teacher is done."
As he spoke, Dai Chengfeng placed Qiu'er, in her Three-Eyed Golden Lion form, in the center of the large bed. He then carefully covered her with another blanket. "Sleep well."
"Mmm…"
Qiu'er nodded, snuggling into the soft blanket and finding a comfortable position. Her small head rested on the pillow, and her eyelids drooped heavily with drowsiness.
"Go ahead… Lady Qiu'er is tired and needs to rest."
"You…"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled and shook his head, watching as Qiu'er's breathing gradually steadied. He stood up, adjusted his slightly disheveled clothes, and quietly slipped out of his room.
---
Dai Chengfeng's room wasn't far from Bibi Dong's, so he soon arrived at her door.
He didn't enter immediately but instead listened closely. He wanted to see if Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue had finished their conversation.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the Swan Hotel had been designed with soul masters' heightened senses in mind, using special soundproof materials.
Thus…
Outside the door, Dai Chengfeng could only hear silence.
"Never mind…"
Without overthinking it, Dai Chengfeng pushed the door open and stepped inside.
At this moment, Bibi Dong's room was exceptionally quiet, the air filled with the rich aroma of wine and a faint trace of rouge.
The living room lights had been dimmed. The exquisite dishes on the table were barely touched, but the aged bottle of red wine was already empty. At some point, Bibi Dong had even fetched several more bottles of new wine.
And, predictably, those were also empty.
Two tall wine glasses lay toppled on the table and carpet edges.
Shifting his gaze toward the sofa by the window, Dai Chengfeng's eyebrows twitched slightly.
There, curled up on the wide, soft chaise lounge, was none other than the usually dignified and majestic Pope Bibi Dong. Her body was slightly curled, the hem of her elegant long dress slipping down to reveal a smooth expanse of calf.
Her cheeks were flushed like the evening glow, a few strands of purple hair falling across her face. Her normally sharp eyes now appeared unusually soft, even carrying a hint of girlish innocence and fatigue.
Her breathing was steady and deep, clearly indicating she had fallen into a profound, drunken slumber.
The fragile quality she usually suppressed was now subtly revealed in her unguarded, intoxicated state.
Not far from her chaise lounge, on the carpet…
Yes, on the carpet.
Another woman, Qian Renxue—the once perfectly elegant "Xue Qinghe," Crown Prince of Tian Dou Empire—was sprawled carelessly on the carpet, leaning against the base of the sofa.
One leg was bent, her arm resting on her knee, while the other leg stretched out casually. Her golden hair spread across the luxurious Persian carpet, partially covering her face.
Her pristine white palace attire remained intact, but her cheeks were also tinged with a rosy hue. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if plagued by some troubling thought even in her dreams. Her long lashes cast a faint shadow over her eyelids, and her usual cold, rigid demeanor had softened.
Only a vulnerable, defenseless tenderness remained, tugging at one's heartstrings.
Two women with vastly different temperaments, who should have been irreconcilable foes, now lay unconscious from intoxication in this living room bathed in moonlight and the scent of wine.
However, it was clear…
The distance between them had unintentionally narrowed significantly compared to their usual deliberately confrontational stances.
"Looks like they had a good talk."
"But how much did they drink…?"
Dai Chengfeng shook his head. "Thankfully, this is a king suite with plenty of bedrooms; otherwise, it would've been hard to accommodate them."
But as he said this…
Dai Chengfeng's gaze lingered on Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue's faces for a moment. "But… in the future, having them share a bed… might not be impossible?"
"Tsk."
Soon after, Dai Chengfeng chuckled and shook his head again, temporarily suppressing this overly 'dangerous' thought. However, the burning intensity in his eyes did not fade.
Quickly, Dai Chengfeng approached the chaise lounge, bending down to gently lift the sleeping Bibi Dong into his arms.
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