In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

Walk to the carriage.

Cui Yutang carefully placed Xie Yige into the carriage, gently placed a soft pillow under her head, and then covered her with a thin blanket.

Just as he was about to get up and leave, he found that his sleeve was being tugged by something.

Looking down, she saw the jade pendant hanging from his waist, a symbol of his status as the eldest son of the clan. She clutched the lustrous white jade tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the force.

She seemed to be sleeping restlessly, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her cheeks flushed an unnatural red from the alcohol, her breathing was slightly rapid, and her lips were slightly parted, revealing glimpses of her pearly white teeth.

"Young Master Cui, this..." Bichun stood by the carriage, somewhat at a loss.

Cui Yutang's throat tightened, his gaze falling on her hand tightly clutching the jade pendant. Her fingers were slender, her nails a healthy pale pink, yet she was gripping his possession so tightly, as if afraid he would leave.

"You go down first, I'll try to comfort her." His voice was a little hoarse.

Bichun hesitated for a moment, then stepped back a few paces.

Only the two of them remained in the carriage.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the carriage curtain, casting flickering shadows on her face. She seemed to feel hot, unconsciously turning her head to the side, a few stray hairs clinging to her sweaty cheeks.

"Yige..." Cui Yutang called her softly, his fingertips involuntarily tracing her burning cheeks. The touch was soft and smooth, still warm from the alcohol. His fingertips slid down the contours of her cheeks, past her delicate chin, and finally rested on her slightly parted, glistening lips.

Her lips were soft and warm, and a few shades redder than usual from the alcohol, like ripe cherries.

His eyes suddenly darkened.

All reason, restraint, and family rules crumbled at that moment. He leaned down and kissed her forcefully.

"Well……"

Xie Yige let out a soft moan in her sleep as her lips were pried open without warning. The cool sandalwood scent mixed with a faint hint of alcohol instantly overwhelmed all her senses. The kiss was fierce and urgent, filled with a long-suppressed desire finally breaking free. The burning lips and tongue ravaged her mouth, conquering and plundering without leaving a single gap.

Cui Yutang braced himself against her side with one hand, while his other hand tightly gripped her hand clutching the jade pendant, forcing him into a bent-over position. But this position didn't prevent him from deepening the kiss. He sucked and licked, as if trying to devour her whole, or as if drawing nourishment from something essential for survival.

He watched himself sink into depravity with a clear mind.

He was fully aware that he shouldn't have done this while she was unconscious.

Soberly, I fell into the abyss.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally pulled away, panting. Xie Yige, breathless from his kisses, frowned uncomfortably in her sleep, unconsciously licking her swollen, ravaged lips.

This subtle movement almost caused him to lose control again.

He closed his eyes, forced himself to straighten up, and used all his strength to let go of her hand—the jade pendant was still in her palm, which she was still clutching tightly.

"Drive slowly," he instructed the driver waiting outside the carriage, his voice a suppressed calm, "Don't jostle her."

"Yes, my lord."

Bichun climbed onto the carriage, glanced back at him, hesitated, and ultimately just bowed without saying anything.

The carriage curtain fell, blocking the view.

The carriage moved slowly, its wheels rolling over the cobblestones, the sound particularly clear in the quiet night. Cui Yutang stood there, watching the carriage disappear into the night of Chang'an, further and further away, until it finally vanished at the end of the long street.

Just like the insurmountable distance between them.

The night breeze carried the dampness of Qujiang Pool and the faint, sweet scent of pear blossoms lingering in her hair.

He opened his palm, and there lay quietly a light green silk ribbon—it had been torn from his sleeve during her struggle. Tiny pearls adorned the end of the ribbon, a common hair ornament for women.

But the jade pendant engraved with his name was still in her hands; she had taken it with her.

He lowered his eyes, a faint, almost self-deprecating smile curving his lips.

If only he could become that jade pendant.

What's so good about being human?

Then he turned and walked into the endless darkness in the opposite direction.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the quilt.

Xie Yige woke up with a headache. She kicked the blanket in discomfort, stuck out one of her round, delicate little feet, dangled it outside for a moment, and then pulled it back. She frowned in discomfort, wanting to rub her temples, but as soon as she moved her arm, she felt something cold and hard in her hand.

She dazedly opened her palm.

A lustrous mutton-fat jade pendant lay quietly in the palm of the hand. The jade was of exceptional quality, warm to the touch. A simple, ancient character, "崔," was engraved in the center of the front, in bronze script, flanked by continuous mountain ranges and a soaring black bird totem. The entire piece of jade possessed a rustic and weighty feel, exuding an aura of nobility.

Cui.

She instantly regained her senses.

This is... Cui Yutang's jade pendant?

Her cheeks flushed instantly. She clutched the jade pendant tightly, the cool jade pressed against her burning palm, yet she couldn't suppress the surging emotions in her heart. The jade's essence resonated so perfectly with him—cool, noble, reserved, and profound.

But how come she has this in her hand?

Memories of last night flooded back in fragments: the wine at Wangjiang Tower, the wind by the river, almost falling into the water… and then, his warm embrace and that beautiful, husky voice…

It's him.

It's really him.

"Miss, you're awake?" Bichun brought in a bowl of hangover soup. Seeing that she was awake, she quickly lifted the curtain. "Drink the hangover soup quickly, or you'll have a headache."

Xie Yige hurriedly stuffed the jade pendant under her pillow, guiltily looked away, and took the soup bowl. A strong herbal smell wafted up, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust, but still drank it down in small sips from Bichun's hand.

"It tastes awful..." she said, sticking out her tongue.

"Miss, you mustn't get so drunk next time." Bichun took the empty bowl, still shaken. "Last night was so dangerous! If it weren't for Mr. Cui passing by, you would have almost fallen into the water!"

"Who?" Xie Yige's heart skipped a beat, though she knew the answer already.

"Young Master Cui Yutang," Bichun said earnestly, "last night after you got into the carriage, you kept holding onto someone's jade pendant and wouldn't let go. Young Master Cui coaxed you for half an incense stick's time before you finally let go and let them get off the carriage."

She paused, then earnestly suggested, "Miss, you should find a chance to properly thank them. After all, they saved your life."

Xie Yige's cheeks burned even hotter.

What did she do last night?

She wouldn't let go of his jade pendant? And he even had to coax her for half an incense stick's time?