Dai Chengfeng fell silent for so long that Liu Erlong began to think he would refuse again—until, at last, he spoke, his voice thick with restrained desire:
"What if… I still want to use that thing from this morning?"
Liu Erlong shuddered violently, her fingers clutching his tunic tightening instantly.
That pale violet… shamefully intimate object…
Images flooded her mind—his whispered explanations of its "uses" against her ear—and the heat that had just begun to fade from her cheeks roared back full force.
"You…" Her voice trembled, unsure whether from shame or frustration. "Can't you… just not use it?"
"But I really want to try~"
Dai Chengfeng lowered his head until their foreheads touched, gazing into her eyes in the darkness, mere inches apart.
"Erlong… just try it once?"
"Please?"
With every coaxing word, her face grew hotter, her body trembling beyond her control.
"That… that thing is too…" She couldn't finish. Just recalling his descriptions made her curl her toes in mortification.
"I promise—just once."
His lips brushed her eyelids, feather-light. "Trust me this one time, alright? If you truly dislike it, I'll stop immediately. Never bring it up again."
His voice was too gentle. Too persuasive.
Liu Erlong's resolve had already been wavering—but now, wrapped in his tender cajoling, the last thread of her resistance frayed dangerously close to snapping.
She bit her lip, torn between deep-rooted modesty and the undeniable yearning he'd stoked within her… and beneath it all, a flicker of curiosity she refused to acknowledge.
Could that thing really do what he claimed?
"Erlong…"
He called her name again, his kisses drifting from her eyes to the tip of her nose, then lingering at the corner of her lips—slow, seductive, irresistible.
Her final defense crumbled.
She buried her face in the crook of his neck and gave the faintest, almost imperceptible nod—so soft only someone holding her this closely could sense it.
Dai Chengfeng went utterly still for a heartbeat—then a surge of exhilaration rushed through him, hot and electric.
"Erlong," he murmured, his voice now even deeper, rougher than before.
She kept her eyes shut tight, answering only with a tiny, trembling "Mm" from her throat.
"Open your eyes. Look at me."
His fingertips traced her cheekbone gently.
That request finally coaxed her eyes open.
In the moonlight, they shimmered like black obsidian dipped in clear spring water.
"Dai Chengfeng… I feel ashamed."
"Ashamed of what?" he asked knowingly, his thumb stroking her flushed cheek.
Liu Erlong bit her lower lip, gaze darting away. "You know… that thing…"
"What about it?"
Dai Chengfeng lifted the pale violet object between them, letting the moonlight outline its smooth, enigmatic shape.
Liu Erlong glanced at it once—and immediately turned her head away, her ears burning crimson, nearly translucent.
"D-don't wave it in front of me like that…"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled lowly, closing his hand around it again. His other hand slid to the back of her neck, massaging the tense muscles there with soothing pressure.
"Alright, I won't wave it. But Erlong—if you've already agreed, you'll need to learn to face it."
"I…" She opened her mouth but found no words to protest.
She had nodded. Faint as it was, she'd given her consent.
Seeing her hesitation, Dai Chengfeng pulled her even closer, their bodies fitting together seamlessly.
She could feel the rapid, powerful thud of his heart against her chest. Her face flamed hotter; she instinctively tried to pull back—but his arm held her fast.
"Erlong," he whispered against her ear, his warm breath ghosting over her sensitive skin, "you're so beautiful…"
"You're just saying that to sweet-talk me…" she murmured, though her voice lacked real reproach.
"It's not sweet-talking." Dai Chengfeng pulled back slightly, meeting her eyes with solemn sincerity. "It's the truth."
Looking into his earnest expression, Liu Erlong finally softened. She pressed her lips together, then asked in a small voice:
"You promise… just once?"
"I swear. If you don't like it, I'll stop right away—and never mention it again."
She bit her lip again, her eyes flickering toward his closed hand—then quickly away.
"Then… just this once! Absolutely no more after tonight!"
"Mm. Just once," he confirmed, leaning down to kiss the corner of her lips. "I'll go very slowly, very gently. I'll check with you at every step. Is that alright?"
That promise dissolved her last sliver of doubt.
Her body relaxed, tension melting away. She gave a soft, breathy "Mm~" and nodded.
Dai Chengfeng drew a slow, steadying breath—as if calming the storm of anticipation inside him.
He held her tightly with one arm, the pale violet object still cradled in his palm, while his other hand began tracing slow, soothing paths along her spine.
"Erlong," he said suddenly, "help me with something."
She looked up at him. "What?"
"Help me undress." His eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.
Liu Erlong's face exploded with heat again. "Can't you… untie it yourself…?"
"But I want you to do it."
He leaned closer, his nose brushing hers. "Just like this morning, when you helped me change."
Lips pressed tight, she finally raised trembling hands to the sash at his chest.
Her fingers fumbled—the simple knot took several tries to loosen.
When the tie finally came undone, his bare, sculpted chest was revealed, glowing softly in the moonlight.
Liu Erlong jerked her gaze away as if burned—but he caught her hand and pressed it flat against his heartbeat.
"Now it's your turn."
As he spoke, his fingers found the first frog button at her collar.
Liu Erlong shivered, instinctively lifting a hand to stop him—
—but halfway up, she froze.
She looked into his eyes, her own brimming with unshed tears of vulnerability…
That silent permission sent Dai Chengfeng's gaze darkening instantly with hunger.
He bent his head, focused intently on unfastening her buttons—
One.
Two.
Three…
The robe parted.
In one fluid motion, he pulled her flush against him and captured her lips in a searing, possessive kiss.
After a long moment, he finally drew back—just enough to reach beneath the pillow and retrieve the pale violet object once more.
By the silvery light from the window, Liu Erlong saw it clearly again.
Crafted from neither metal nor jade, it gleamed with a soft, warm violet luster. Delicate cloud-like patterns seemed to swirl beneath its surface, smooth and seamless…
Resting innocently in Dai Chengfeng's palm—no larger than his hand—yet it sent her blood rushing straight to her face.
She instinctively curled inward, unable to bear looking at it.
Dai Chengfeng let out a low, tender laugh and pulled her tighter against him. His lips hovered at her ear as he breathed, voice barely above a whisper:
"Don't be afraid…"
A full-body shiver ran through her at the feel of his warm breath on her ear, the sensation radiating through every nerve.
She closed her eyes, long lashes fluttering like frightened wings.
She knew—there was no escape tonight.
Fine. Since she'd already agreed… she might as well surrender to him completely.
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