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"Huff, huff, huff…"
After a long while, the kiss that had nearly suffocated Liu Erlong finally ended.
Dai Chengfeng also breathed heavily, releasing Liu Erlong but keeping his forehead pressed against hers. Their breaths mingled, carrying the rich aroma of wine and an indescribable sense of intimacy.
Liu Erlong gasped for fresh air, her cheeks already flushed from the alcohol now glowing like peach blossoms.
Her usually sharp and bright phoenix eyes now shimmered with moisture, gazing at Dai Chengfeng with a mix of lingering passion, frustration, and deep confusion as she murmured:
"Dai Chengfeng, you bastard…"
Her voice wavered, her gaze flickering with unspoken emotions—arousal yet to fade, regret, and profound bewilderment.
Hearing this, Dai Chengfeng simply smiled gently, silently observing Liu Erlong and the "masterpiece" he had created.
At this moment, Liu Erlong's lips were slightly swollen from his kiss, glistening with an alluring sheen, parting unconsciously as she panted softly.
A few strands of her jet-black hair clung to her damp temples and cheeks, not looking disheveled but instead adding a languid charm as if she had been thoroughly cherished.
Her body remained warm and soft, boneless, and if not for Dai Chengfeng's arm still wrapped around her waist, she might have collapsed to the floor.
The sight was completely different from her usual fiery and fierce self, replaced by a breathtaking softness and allure born of surrender.
"Sister Erlong…"
After a long pause, Dai Chengfeng gazed at this unfamiliar side of Liu Erlong. His Adam's apple bobbed as his fingers gently brushed her burning cheek, wiping away a faint trace of sweat while whispering her name.
His voice was low and husky. "You look… intoxicating like this."
At his touch and words, Liu Erlong trembled slightly, her eyes flickering as she tried to muster some of her usual sharpness.
But it was futile.
The alcohol and the wild kiss had almost completely shattered her defenses.
In the end, she only turned her head, avoiding Dai Chengfeng's scorching gaze, attempting to change the subject to cover up this loss of control.
"…Wine… didn't you say… let's drink…"
Her voice carried a faint, barely noticeable quiver and softness.
"Hmm!"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled softly, his laughter laced with amusement.
However, he chose not to expose Liu Erlong's little attempt to deflect. Instead, he loosened his grip slightly but kept her close to his side, then picked up the wine jug and glass.
"Alright, let's drink."
As he spoke, Dai Chengfeng poured another small half-glass for Liu Erlong.
The crystal goblet swayed in her hazy vision, shimmering with an enticing crimson glow.
Liu Erlong eagerly grabbed it, tilting her head back to drink, trying to suppress the dryness in her throat and the inexplicable restlessness in her heart with the cool liquid.
But as the wine slid down her throat, the warmth it brought seemed to intensify that restlessness.
Meanwhile, Dai Chengfeng poured himself a glass, sipping it leisurely, but his gaze never left Liu Erlong, making her increasingly uneasy.
Still, there was one thing that gave Liu Erlong a slight sense of relief.
Dai Chengfeng no longer urged her to drink as frequently as before. He occasionally clinked glasses with her lightly, making idle chatter about the taste of the wine or the night scenery in the courtyard.
Yet somehow, his mere presence felt like a strong disturbance.
He sat close to her, his body heat seeping through the thin fabric of their clothes. His crisp scent, mingled with the aroma of wine, was everywhere.
This made Liu Erlong's heartbeat, which had just begun to calm, fall out of rhythm again.
In the end, Liu Erlong could only drink glass after glass, trying to distract herself while numbing her mind with alcohol to mask her overwhelming confusion and panic.
Later, as her drunkenness grew stronger and her thoughts became increasingly blurred, she drank faster and more urgently.
It was as if this fragrant wine were a potion that could temporarily erase her troubles.
Dai Chengfeng didn't stop her. He simply refilled her glass at the right moments, quietly watching as she gradually relaxed completely—and even indulged herself.
Eventually, the alcohol fully took hold.
Liu Erlong began to feel the scene before her eyes spin slightly. Dai Chengfeng's profile, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight and lamplight, appeared somewhat blurry but extraordinarily handsome.
"Mmm…"
Liu Erlong sighed softly, her body growing softer, her head heavier.
The pain and humiliation inflicted by Yu Xiaogang, amplified by the alcohol, surged uncontrollably within her.
At some point, she had leaned halfway, eventually sliding down limply to rest her head on Dai Chengfeng's lap.
The position was overly intimate, but she was too far gone to think, finding this "pillow" surprisingly solid and warm, offering a comforting temperature.
Dai Chengfeng looked down at the woman lying on his lap. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her collar had loosened from her earlier movements, revealing a small expanse of delicate, flushed skin…
He reached out, gently tucking a rebellious strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips lightly brushing against her sensitive earlobe.
Feeling his touch, Liu Erlong shivered slightly, her hazy gaze meeting his briefly before she didn't pull away.
She gazed up at the night sky, her eyes misty, with a glimmer of crystalline light at the corners—whether from the wine or tears, it was unclear.
Staring at the faint crescent moon on the horizon, Liu Erlong suddenly murmured, her voice heavy with nasal tones and intoxication: "That… that bastard… he pursued me at first… then fled our engagement… now he insults me…"
Dai Chengfeng listened silently, his fingers idly combing through her thick, dark hair.
"I, Liu Erlong… what's wrong with me?"
Her voice suddenly rose, filled with resentment and anger, but quickly fell into despair, laden with self-doubt. "I did so much for him… waited for him for so long… he just left… just abandoned me…"
She suddenly reached out, fumbling to grab Dai Chengfeng's hand still holding the wine glass, bringing it to her lips.
Dai Chengfeng obligingly tilted the rim of the glass toward her mouth, letting her sip.
Some of the wine spilled, wetting her chin and neck.
Dai Chengfeng's fingertips gently wiped her jaw, removing the wine stains with care.
Liu Erlong continued to mutter, her eyes growing more unfocused. "I must have been crazy to ever fall for that cowardly, indecisive, escape-prone hypocrite!"
Her voice grew more agitated, tinged with a sob, though she stubbornly held back her tears, making her fragile defiance all the more pitiable.
"What nonsense about being invincible in theory… he can't even face his own feelings… such a waste…"
"It's over… it should have ended long ago… today… today it's truly over!"
She seemed to be speaking to Dai Chengfeng, or perhaps vowing to herself, waving her hand forcefully—but weakly, without any real strength.
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