With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

"Young Master."

A low voice came from outside the door, "The clothes are back."

Shen Nannan sat up with a start.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and A-Chao walked in, carrying a bundle in his hand.

He handed the bundle to Shen Nannan and poured her a cup of hot water.

"Miss, please have some water and change your clothes. This servant will escort you back to your residence."

Shen Nannan reached out and opened the bundle.

Inside was a set of women's clothing.

Neat and tidy from the inside out and from top to bottom.

Ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), Zhongyi (another type of traditional Chinese dress), and even—

She picked up the little garment, and her face flushed instantly.

This size...

She looked up at him.

Ah Chao stood three steps away, his eyes lowered.

"How...how did you know my size?"

She has always been plump, with a slim waist and large breasts, so her underwear always has to be custom-made.

But this...

Ah Chao didn't say anything.

Shen Nannan stared at him.

Staring at his face, which revealed no emotion whatsoever.

Although the two had done plenty of intimate things in their past life,

But right now! Nothing has happened yet...

That was... when she was unconscious.

He must have seen it!

I saw everything!

Shen Nannan clutched the little garment tightly, her fingers trembling.

"Ah Chao".

"exist."

"Look at me."

Ah Chao looked up.

Those eyes were unfathomable, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"You just said I kowtowed,"

She pointed to her lips.

"Where did you bump it? Did it hit your mouth?"

Ah Chao's eyes flickered slightly.

Shen Nannan leaned forward a little closer to him.

"Ah Chao," she said softly, "I'm asking you a question."

Ah Chao stood there, looking at her pouting lips.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"Young Master," he began, his voice a little lower than before.

"The water is getting cold."

Shen Nannan didn't care.

She leaned forward, kneeling on the bed, and reached out her hand.

Pinch his chin and lift his face up.

Ah Chao didn't dodge.

Let her hold it like that.

Those eyes were staring straight at her.

Shen Nannan smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"Ah Chao, did you take advantage of me while I was unconscious—"

She mimicked his tone and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Did you kiss me?"

Ah Chao looked at her and suddenly chuckled softly.

The laughter, muffled in his throat, made Shen Nannan's heart skip a beat.

He raised his hand and gently grasped the hand that was holding his chin.

"Young Master," he said, his voice low.

"Young master asked me where I bumped myself?"

He looked at her, his gaze slowly moving from her eyes to her lips.

Stop.

"If this servant were to say—"

He paused, then lowered his voice even further, "The servant has already licked his lips, what does the young master intend to do about it?"

Shen Nannan was stunned.

This person...

Before she could react, he leaned forward again.

The distance suddenly closed, so close that her eyelashes almost brushed against his face.

His refreshing aura wafted over me, mixed with a faint scent of soap.

"Or perhaps—" He stared into her eyes, enunciating each word clearly,

"Young master, would you like to ask about the details?"

Shen Nannan's mind went blank.

My face instantly burned.

She tried to pull her hand away, but his hand was firmly in her grasp, and she couldn't pull it off.

"Ah Chao!"

"exist."

He responded quickly, his voice still low, but his eyes were fixed on her, locking her completely inside.

"Your servant is here."

Shen Nannan opened her mouth, wanting to curse him, but when she met his eyes, all the words of cursing stuck in her throat.

"You...you let go."

Ah Chao tilted his head slightly.

Then he released his grip and took a step back.

"This servant... has overstepped his bounds."

But there wasn't a trace of apology in those wolf-like eyes.

Shen Nannan's heart was pounding.

This person... what's wrong with this person...?

She took a deep breath, trying to appear calm:

"Alright, you can go now. I'm going to change my clothes."

Ah Chao didn't move.

Shen Nannan looked up at him: "Is there anything else?"

Ah Chao looked at her and suddenly spoke: "Young Master."

Shen Nannan subconsciously responded with a "Hmm?"

He was kneeling on the edge of the bed with one leg, his arms supporting him on either side.

Slowly approaching,

Shen Nannan was so stiff she couldn't speak.

I watched helplessly as his handsome face grew ever closer to Leap Forward.

She was so frightened that she closed her eyes.

The man pressed his ear against hers, his warm breath brushing against her neck.

"Young Master, that one just now wasn't a relative."

He chuckled softly.

"That's called 'passing on air'."

"My dear—"

"Longer than that."

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him: "Get out!"

Ah Chao caught the pillow and gently placed it beside the bed.

Then he looked at her, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

But Shen Nannan saw it.

"You servant, get out!"

He stood up. "Young master, once you've changed your clothes, just call out to me."

After saying that, he turned and walked out.

As I reached the door, I suddenly stopped.

Look back.

Shen Nannan was glaring at him while hugging her blanket, her face still red.

He looked at her and suddenly spoke:

"Young Master."

"What is it now?!"

"This servant," he paused, "has also closed his eyes."

"Um?"

"When giving the young master... 'breath transfer'..."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out.

Wear it gently.

Shen Nannan stood there, stunned.

This person...

What does that mean?!

She covered her face and shrank further under the covers.

My face was so hot I could fry an egg on it.

Xiao Yunzhao.

You bastard.

-

Outside.

Ah Chao leaned against the wall, looking at the window at the end of the corridor.

The setting sun shone through the window, casting large patches of light on the floor.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, his eyes were dark and dull.

He recalled the moment earlier at Futailong—when she saw that person, her pupils suddenly constricted.

Who is that person?

He lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting darkness within them.

interesting.

-

On the way back home, Shen Nannan remained silent.

Ah Chao followed half a step behind her without saying a word.

But she always felt that his gaze was fixed on the back of her head.

It's very hot.

She suddenly stopped when she reached the entrance of the Wutong Courtyard.

Look back.

Ah Chao also stopped, lowered his eyes, and waited for her instructions.

Shen Nannan looked at him and suddenly spoke, "Ah Chao."

"exist."

"What happened today," she paused, "you mustn't tell anyone."

Ah Chao looked up and glanced at her.

That glance was brief, but Shen Nannan managed to glean something else from it.

"I understand," he said.

Shen Nannan nodded and turned to leave.

His voice came from behind:

"Young Master."

She turned around.

Ah Chao stood in the sunset, his face bathed in warm gold light.

He looked at her and slowly began to speak:

"Don't wear that corset anymore."

Shen Nannan was taken aback.

He continued, "The doctor said that if I tighten it again, it will have a negative effect—"

He paused, his gaze shifted downwards, then looked away.

"What impact will it have?"

Ah Chao looked at her without saying a word.

He just slightly curved the corners of his mouth.

Shen Nannan was stunned for three seconds, then suddenly understood.

"you--!"

Ah Chao lowered his eyes and resumed his respectful demeanor: "This servant has spoken out of turn."

After saying that, he turned around and walked down the corridor.

Shen Nannan stood there, watching his back.

The setting sun stretched his shadow long, all the way to her feet.

She bit her lower lip and muttered a curse under her breath:

"lecher."

The next morning, when Shen Nannan woke up, she found something extra next to her pillow.

A peach blossom.

Fresh, with dew on it.

A drop of red clung to the petal—

It's not dew.

is blood.

She paused for a moment, then picked up the peach blossom.

A thin red string was tied to the flower branch in a knot.

She stared at the knot for a long time.

Suddenly I remembered my past life—

He also tied a similar red string around her neck at the Regent's Palace.

That day he had been drinking, and unusually, instead of tormenting her, he sat on the edge of the bed and tied a red string around her ankle.

"Sweetie, tie this on, and you won't be able to run away."

She couldn't untie that red rope no matter what she did; it was probably still tied to her body after she died.

She froze, then abruptly looked up at the window.

There was no one outside the window.

Only the morning breeze gently blows, and peach petals fall to the ground under the eaves.