The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Jiu Fangzhi stared at him expressionlessly for two breaths.

Then he thought for a moment, took out a blanket from his storage bag, unfolded it, and casually covered Si Xingxuan with it.

The movements were hardly gentle; in fact, they could be described as perfunctory.

A corner of the blanket was still draped over Si Xingxuan's face, and Jiu Fangzhi didn't bother to straighten it for him.

"So that the little brat won't get cold later and steal his junior sister's blanket."

He said this to himself.

Across from the campfire, Bingyou sat coiled up, silently watching its master.

"When did Master start caring about his little apprentice?"

Jiu Fangzhi ignored its gaze.

He leaned back against the metal couch, clasped his hands in front of his abdomen, and closed his eyes.

His breathing was even and long.

But Bingyou knew that he was not asleep.

He's just resting.

This quiet vigilance was ingrained in his very being; he could sense no slightest movement.

Inside the tent, Si Xingxuan gradually awoke from her coma.

Consciousness was still hovering on the edge of blurring, but the body had already sensed the warmth around it.

The temperature was gentle and soft.

Like a cloud shimmering in the sunlight, it flowed continuously from my shoulders.

He instinctively reached out and groped around in the darkness.

My fingertips touched a soft, warm fabric, followed by an even warmer sensation.

Her arms were slender and warm; through the thin fabric, one could feel her steady pulse beating beneath.

It's the hand that weaves.

He thought vaguely.

He must still be dreaming.

Only in his dreams could Zhizhi be so close to him, and only then would he not worry that the poison in his body would harm her.

That's why he dared to do that.

So he gently reached out his arm and pulled her into his embrace.

He moved her slightly, and she turned her body to the side, her forehead touching his collarbone.

Her warm, soft breath brushed against his clothes, and through the thin fabric, he could almost feel the rhythm of her breathing.

Like the tide on a summer night, it gently laps against the beach, wave after wave.

His nose brushed against her hair, and the cool fragrance of crabapple blossoms wafted up from her.

It is light yet flavorful, sweet yet not cloying – the taste he cherishes most.

"Um……"

Tang Xixue murmured softly in her half-awake state.

Her consciousness sank heavily into the warm bedding, and she subconsciously moved a little closer to that warmth.

She pressed her face against his chest, finding the most comfortable position.

Her forehead brushed against his collarbone, her nose touched his undershirt, and her warm breath penetrated the thin fabric, landing on the skin of his chest.

Si Xingxuan lowered his head and gently pressed his lips against her hair.

The movement was extremely light, as if afraid of waking himself, and also as if afraid of waking her.

Her hair was so soft that it tickled slightly when it brushed against her lips.

He smiled silently, the corners of his lips curving upwards in a satisfied smile.

Then he hugged her a little tighter.

This was truly a wonderful dream.

He finally got to hug his favorite Zhizhi.

Until the sky became hazy and the first light of dawn appeared.

Si Xingxuan slowly opened his eyes, and there was still soft and fragrant jade in his arms.

She slept peacefully in his arms, her dark hair spread out on the pillow, a strand falling into his palm.

Si Xingxuan's breath caught in his throat for a moment.

She was like a begonia in the sun, so close yet so far, haunting his dreams.

He suddenly realized that this was not a dream.

As a result, her entire body began to turn pink at a visible speed.

Finally, even the fingers that were gripping her sleeve turned a pale pink, their fingertips trembling slightly, yet they dared not loosen their grip on any of them.

He actually held her like that and slept all night.

They hugged so tightly, almost inseparable.

Even now, her body has awakened at an inopportune moment.

"Zheyue... is too tight."

Tang Xixue gave a slightly dissatisfied snort.

The voice was soft and languid, as if just waking up, with a slight upward inflection at the end, like a kitten whose sweet dreams had been disturbed and was being affectionate.

Si Xingxuan froze.

It felt like I had been thrown into a raging furnace; I was scalding hot, stiff, and didn't even know how to breathe.

"Zhizhi, how did I get here?"

He spoke, his voice hoarse and hesitant.

A thin layer of pink, like crushed peach blossoms, rose at the corners of her eyes, contrasting with her azure eyes after the rain, like the last lingering sunshine after a sudden downpour.

He seemed to have fainted last night; I never expected him to end up in the tent.

He even slept with her.

This is so wonderful!

He almost wished he could meld her into his very bones and blood, and become one with her completely.

"Will Zhizhi like me?"

What surged within him was nothing but his mad love and possessiveness for her.

It's so full it's about to overflow.

"I love Zhizhi so much."

He was a madman to begin with.

Therefore, his love was also madness.

He wanted to leave his mark on her body, to possess her inch by inch.

Their breaths mingled, locking her deep within their hearts.

But he desperately suppressed those morbid and insane thoughts in his mind.

I'm afraid I'll scare her away.

He was so careful, yet he still couldn't help losing control for her.

"Your senior brother is still outside, you—you should restrain yourself."

Tang Xixue was awakened by the scalding heat, and when she opened her eyes, she was met with his wet gaze.

His eyes were red-rimmed, and his Adam's apple bobbed gently, giving him an air of barely suppressed emotion.

He was even breathing softly, incredibly alluring, yet he was completely unaware of it.

"Zhizhi, I can't calm down."

Si Xingxuan blushed and her nose turned red with grievance.

He didn't want to either.

But he couldn't do it.

"Then calm down and let go of me."

Tang Xixue turned her face away, her ears turning slightly red.

"All right."

Si Xingxuan responded in a hoarse voice, reluctantly withdrawing his hand.

The movements were so slow, it was as if he were peeling away his own bones and blood inch by inch, and his fingertips were still trembling slightly when they left her waist.

He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes concealing his azure eyes, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

He carefully examined her condition, from head to toe, from her pulse to her complexion, not even missing the temperature of her fingertips.

It appears there is no poisoning.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that ordinary skin-to-skin contact, rather than bodily fluids, would not have poisoned her.

Fortunately.

Fortunately.

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he suddenly remembered something else and froze on the spot.

A glint flashed in his eyes, and then his entire face flared up again at a visible speed.

"Weave, weave, weave..."

His voice was as soft as a thread about to break, and every word trembled slightly.

"I understand... Ordinary touch won't poison you, but you can't touch me..."

He couldn't continue.

Tang Xixue raised her eyes and looked at his flushed, handsome face, his awkward and helpless expression, and suddenly understood what he was worried about.

Her face turned red.

"What are you thinking?"

She turned her head away, her voice as soft as the flutter of a mosquito's wings.

"Who wants to be with you..."

She couldn't continue speaking.

The two of them stood facing each other, blushing.

The air inside the tent felt as if it had been baked by a campfire.

After a moment of silence, Si Xingxuan suddenly spoke.

His voice was deep.

But every word seemed to have been peeled from the very tip of his heart, stained with scalding blood and devotion.

"Zhizhi, I'll think of something."

He raised his head, his eyes fixed on her.

There was not a trace of a joke in it.

Only by being serious.

A light that shines with an almost obsessive seriousness.

"I will find a way to hold you, to hold your hand, to..."

He didn't finish speaking.

But Tang Xixue understood.

"I'm willing to do anything."

His tone was as if he were making the most solemn vow to the gods.

"As long as Zhizhi isn't afraid of me and doesn't dislike me."

He pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and a thin layer of mist rose in his eyes.

"As long as Zhizhi still lets me get close to you."

"I... I'll give you anything."