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

It was fierce, carrying something that had been suppressed for too long, as if it wanted to knead her whole being into her bones and blood.

His lips pressed down, his teeth biting her lower lip hard, making her groan in pain. His tongue pried open her lips and teeth, swirling inside, making it hard for her to breathe.

Shen Nannan was dizzy from his kisses. She clutched his clothes, trying to push him away, but as soon as her hand touched his chest, he grabbed it.

He pressed her hand against his chest, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to explode.

"Can you feel it?" His voice was so low it seemed to be squeezed from his chest. "It's calling the lady's name."

Shen Nannan's ears turned red, so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

"It said," he lowered his head, his lips close to her ear, his voice seductive, "that it only has you, Miss."

Shen Nannan's tears fell again. Not from sadness, but from heartache. Heartache for this madman who had only her in this life and the next.

"Ah Chao," she called him, her voice hoarse.

"Um."

"You won't only have me," she said. "You'll have many more people in the future. Friends, family, and..."

"No," he interrupted her. "This servant only wants Miss."

Shen Nannan looked at him and suddenly smiled.

That smile was tinged with tears, glistening in her eyes.

"How could you be so silly?"

"Hmm," he said, "Silly. So, Miss, please don't reject your servant."

Shen Nannan reached out and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth... He had bitten his own lip when he bit her. Her fingertips touched his wound, and he hissed softly.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

"It doesn't hurt."

"That's a lie."

"It really doesn't hurt." He took her hand, kissed it, and said, "The places you touched, Miss, don't hurt at all."

Shen Nannan's face flushed again. She pulled her hand away and glared at him: "When did you learn to say things like that?"

"I learned it from Yun Jin," he said, without changing his expression.

"Did Yun Jin teach you that?"

"Yes. He said the young lady likes to hear it."

Shen Nannan took a deep breath and decided to settle accounts with Yun Jin tomorrow.

"Can't you learn something good?"

"He said it's good," Ah Chao said innocently. "He said the mistress likes to hear it."

"you……!"

"Miss doesn't like it?" He tilted his head to look at her. "Then this servant won't say it again."

Shen Nannan opened her mouth, wanting to say "I don't like it," but the words that came out were: "...It's not that I dislike it."

Ah Chao's lips curved slightly, a hint of triumph in his smile.

Shen Nannan knew she had been tricked, but she was too lazy to scold him anymore. She leaned back into his arms and closed her eyes.

"Ah Chao".

"Um."

"Don't learn those kinds of nonsense in the future."

"What should that servant learn?"

"Learn..." she thought for a moment, "Learn how to be kinder to yourself."

He didn't speak.

"Did you hear me?" She opened her eyes and poked his chest. "Be kind to yourself. Stop thinking about others."

"This servant wasn't thinking of anyone else," he paused, "only of Miss."

Shen Nannan was speechless, so she reached out and punched him.

"You...you really are..."

"Really?"

"I'm so angry!"

He smiled and pulled her closer into his arms.

"Miss."

"Um."

"Who did you dream about just now?"

Shen Nannan paused for a moment, then looked away: "Nobody."

"That's a lie."

"I'm not lying to you."

"Whenever the young lady lies, she doesn't dare to look at the servant."

Shen Nannan bit her lip and turned to look at him. His eyes were fixed on her, as if trying to see right through her.

"I dreamt about..." she paused, "I dreamt about someone."

"Who is it?"

"One..." she thought for a moment, "...a fool."

Ah Chao raised an eyebrow: "Idiot?"

"Hmm." She curved her lips into a smile. "A fool who can't laugh, can't cry, and can't be kind to others."

"and then?"

"And then he learned it," she said softly, "but by then it was too late."

Ah Chao looked at her without saying a word.

Shen Nannan reached out and poked his chest: "So from now on, do whatever you want, say whatever you want. Don't wait until it's too late."

Ah Chao grasped the finger that was poking his chest and kissed it.

"That servant wishes to kiss the young lady."

Shen Nannan's face flushed red instantly: "You...it's not this!"

"Which one is that?"

"It's just..." She couldn't finish her sentence. She pushed him away, "Let go of me. I need to go back and change my clothes. They're all wet."

Ah Chao glanced down at her; she was wearing a thin nightgown, soaked with sweat, clinging to her body, barely concealing her figure. His Adam's apple bobbed, he released his grip, and looked away.

"Miss, go change quickly," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "Don't catch a cold."

Shen Nannan looked down, her face turned even redder, she crossed her arms and turned to run. After running a couple of steps, she stopped and looked back at him.

"Ah Chao".

"Um."

"What should I do if I have another nightmare?"

"That servant will guard you."

"and you……"

Shen Nannan reached out and took his hand, their fingers intertwined, and they walked into the house.

"Come in," she said. "It's cold outside."

Ah Chao was pulled along by her, following behind her, and frowned as he watched her bare feet step on the cold floor.

"Miss isn't wearing shoes."

"I forgot."

He bent down, picked her up horizontally, and placed her on the bed.

Shen Nannan sat on the bed, wrapped in a quilt, with only her eyes showing, looking at him.

"You come up too," she said, her voice muffled.

Ah Chao paused for a moment, then didn't move.

"The floor is cold." She moved over a bit, patted the spot next to her, and said, "Sit here."

Ah Chao looked at the spot where she took the picture, then at her pale feet peeking out from under the blanket, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Miss, this is inappropriate," he said.

"What's inappropriate about it? It's not like you haven't been in my room before."

"That's a night watch."

"Whether you're keeping watch or sleeping, it's all the same, so what's the difference?"

Ah Chao paused for a moment, then said, "...The difference is huge."

Shen Nannan glared at him: "Are you coming up or not?"

"No."

"Okay." She threw back the covers and was about to get out of bed. "Then I'll get down."

Ah Chao quickly pressed the blanket down and wrapped her back in it.

He sighed, sat down on the edge of the bed, his back ramrod straight, but only sat on one-third of the bed, as if he were ready to stand up at any moment.

Shen Nannan glanced at him, dissatisfied.

"Why are you sitting so far away? I'm not going to eat you."

"If the young lady won't eat me, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist."

"Ah Chao," she called out in a muffled voice.

"Um."

"Lie down."

"This servant can remain seated."

"It's comfortable lying down."

"Servants are never tired."

"You're lying." She opened her eyes, looked up at him, and said, "You have dark circles under your eyes, aren't you tired?"

Ah Chao didn't say anything.

Shen Nannan reached out and pulled his shoulder down. He didn't dare to use force, afraid of hurting her. He was pulled to the side and his back slid off the bedpost, half-lying and half-leaning on the pillow.

Shen Nannan took the opportunity to lean closer, rest her head on his shoulder, and wrap her arms around his waist, curling up in his arms like a cat.

"Alright," she sighed contentedly. "Go to sleep."