Dai Chengfeng was momentarily stunned by Qian Renxue's question, gazing at the gleaming light beneath the misty moisture in her eyes.
He didn't deny it.
Seeing this, Qian Renxue smiled faintly, tilting her face upward. Her breathing grew slightly rapid, and a whirlpool of complex emotions churned in her hazy eyes.
Was it loneliness? The recklessness of intoxication? Or the unease of impending separation?
"Dai Chengfeng…"
Her voice was low and raspy, her fingertips unconsciously curling as they brushed across his palm. "Next time we meet… take me…"
"I… will be ready!"
Hiss!
In an instant, Dai Chengfeng's heart skipped a beat. He stared in astonishment at Qian Renxue's foggy yet unusually serious golden eyes—eyes that were usually filled with pride but now brimmed with misty moisture.
"Little Xue…"
Dai Chengfeng's voice deepened, carrying a barely perceptible rasp. He turned her cool hand over, completely enveloping it in his warm palm, gently caressing the delicate skin on the back of her hand with his fingertips.
"Do you know… what you're saying?"
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue didn't pull back. Instead, she gripped Dai Chengfeng's large hand even more tightly, though her strength under the influence of alcohol felt so soft and pliant…
But still, she tilted her head slightly upward, the moonlight outlining her graceful jawline and neck. "I… of course I know…"
She seemed to be trying hard to appear sober, but the languidness and slurred tone of her voice betrayed her. "Not now… next time… when we meet again…"
She paused, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings as if gathering courage.
"I don't want… to regret it… Next time, I'll definitely be prepared…"
Qian Renxue's voice grew softer and softer, eventually becoming almost a whisper, carrying an unprecedented vulnerability and dependence, as well as a maiden's shyness.
At this moment, Dai Chengfeng's heart felt as if it had been gently brushed by the softest feather. He leaned down, moving closer to Qian Renxue until he could clearly feel her warm, wine-scented breath brushing against his cheek.
He didn't immediately respond to Qian Renxue's bold request. Instead, with his other hand, he gently brushed aside a few stray strands of her golden hair.
"Foolish girl."
His voice was deep and gentle, filled with boundless affection. "Something like this… how can you, a girl, be the one to say it?"
Dai Chengfeng's fingertips traced along her temple, slowly sliding down to her slightly flushed cheek, feeling the heat emanating from her delicate skin.
"Something like this… must naturally be initiated by me. Next time, I'll devour you!"
Qian Renxue's heartbeat skipped a beat, and a flicker of nervousness and anticipation flashed through her hazy eyes.
"You just need to…" Dai Chengfeng leaned even closer, his warm breath almost touching her small ear. "Wait for me peacefully."
"Trust me. On that day, I'll make sure you… never forget it."
Qian Renxue's body trembled slightly—not from cold, but from the intense possessiveness embedded in Dai Chengfeng's words.
An indescribable sweetness and sense of security instantly washed away the bitterness and unease brought by the impending farewell. Instinctively, she nestled her cheek closer to his warm palm like a small creature seeking refuge, letting out a contented, sleepy hum:
"Mmm…"
"So," Dai Chengfeng's voice carried a smile as he gently pinched her cheek, "for now, sleep well. Rest up and wait for me… to come find you again."
"Okay…"
Qian Renxue responded vaguely, her tense nerves finally relaxing completely. Her heavy eyelids could no longer stay open and slowly closed.
But her grip on Dai Chengfeng's hand didn't loosen; instead, it tightened slightly.
Dai Chengfeng didn't pull his hand away, allowing her to hold it.
He quietly gazed at Qian Renxue's sleeping face. Under the moonlight, her face—free of all defenses and pretenses—was unbelievably pure.
He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her brow.
"Sleep, Little Xue."
Dai Chengfeng whispered softly, his voice tender. "Have a good dream."
Qian Renxue seemed to feel Dai Chengfeng's gentle touch. In her sleep, the corners of her lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile, as if she had truly fallen into a sweet dream.
Her breathing became even deeper and steadier, and her tight grip finally loosened, her hand slipping onto the soft velvet blanket.
Dai Chengfeng gazed at Qian Renxue for a moment longer before carefully tucking her in to ensure she slept soundly.
He stood up, taking one last look at the sleeping golden-haired girl on the bed, then quietly slipped out of the secondary bedroom, gently closing the door behind him.
He then turned his gaze toward the closed door of the master bedroom…
---
The next morning.
The soft glow of dawn seeped through the gaps in the velvet curtains, casting a few hazy rays of light across the luxurious bedroom.
The faint aroma of wine still lingered in the air.
The long lashes of the Pope of the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong, fluttered gently in the sunlight.
The discomfort of a hangover caused her delicate brows to furrow slightly.
Soon, her consciousness gradually returned, and her awareness of her surroundings became increasingly clear—painfully so.
A warm, solid arm was wrapped around her waist, and the scent of a young man—fresh and invigorating—lingered at her nose.
"???!!!"
Bibi Dong's body instantly tensed!
Last night… fragments of drunken memories flooded back: her confrontation with Qian Renxue, their reconciliation, the uncontrollable drinking, and finally, only the vague recollection that Dai Chengfeng had come?
Thinking about it.
Bibi Dong cautiously, almost holding her breath, turned her head slightly to confirm her perception.
The heterochromatic golden and deep blue eyes were peacefully closed, and the sharply defined jawline was close enough to touch.
The young man's handsome sleeping face carried a rare tranquility. His steady, even breathing brushed against her forehead.
Their current position was incredibly intimate. Her back pressed firmly against his warm chest, both covered by the same velvet blanket. His arm, like the strongest ring, encircled her securely within his embrace.
Boom!
Blood rushed to her head, a blush spreading from her cheeks down her neck, even creeping beneath her collar.
Bibi Dong's heart pounded as if it were about to leap out of her chest.
It wasn't the flutter of shyness—it was shock and panic!
If her daughter saw this scene in the next room…
The thought sent a jolt through our Pope, and almost instinctively, she tried to break free from Dai Chengfeng's embrace.
However, just as she attempted to pull away, the arm around her waist reflexively tightened even more!
"Mmm…"
A low, nasal groan came from above, laced with the lazy rasp of someone just waking up.
Dai Chengfeng seemed to have been stirred awake by the slight movement in his arms. Instinctively, he pulled the soft, warm body, exuding a cool fragrance, closer to him. He even unconsciously nuzzled her soft hair with his chin, murmuring contentedly:
"…Don't move… Teacher…"
"Dai Chengfeng!"
Bibi Dong hissed in a low voice, tinged with urgency. "Let go quickly!"
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