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

"She's really beautiful."

His heart trembled, and the tips of his ears quickly flushed crimson.

"What should I do if I really want to kiss her?"

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but swallow, tightening his grip on her back and the back of her legs.

The woman in his arms looked at the familiar heat in his eyes and instantly kissed him.

Cui Yutang was completely stunned.

Her lips were soft and warm, trembling slightly with urgency. He reacted instantly, seizing the initiative.

He changed his embrace from a horizontal one to a straddle one, supporting her rounded buttocks with one hand and holding the back of her head with the other, deepening the kiss.

And so, the two of them, under the tree, couldn't help but become entangled.

He naturally and spontaneously conquered territory, following his own bodily instincts.

Tossing and turning, sucking greedily, entwined.

Their lips met, emitting soft, blush-inducing sounds. His heart pounded like a drum, his blood surged through his veins, and he felt as if he were on fire.

It's unclear how much time passed before the two finally parted ways.

Cui Yutang, panting, stared blankly at her flushed cheeks and moist lips.

He stammered, "My lady, I...I'm sorry." His face was flushed red, and even his neck was tinged with pink.

Upon hearing his words, the woman in his arms burst into tears.

Those big eyes were filled with sadness and grievance, and also held many other emotions he couldn't understand.

He felt as if his heart had been crushed in an instant, and he felt waves of pain as it was torn apart.

He knew it was improper to hold a strange woman like this, but he couldn't bear to let her go. He was afraid she would run away. He tightened his grip on her, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

"Cui Yutang, carry me to the pavilion." The woman's voice was trembling with sobs, soft and weak, like a wounded little animal whimpering.

"Young lady, do you know me?" he asked cautiously.

After hearing those words, she seemed about to cry again. Her eyes quickly filled with tears, but she bit her lip and held them back.

Cui Yutang's heart began to panic, and he wanted to slap himself. He dared not ask any more questions, so he quickened his pace and carried her to the pavilion.

She pointed to the stone bench with a large cylindrical backrest: "Let's sit there."

Cui Yutang was just about to put her down.

"You sit there, I'll sit on your lap."

Upon hearing these words, Cui Yutang felt an instant surge of heat. A burning sensation rose from the tips of his ears to his lower body.

"Okay, sure." His voice also became hoarse and low.

He sat down, and she naturally sat on his lap, snuggling into his arms like a young animal that had found its den.

"Does your back still hurt?" she asked softly.

Cui Yutang was taken aback: "Huh? How did you know?"

But she seemed unwilling to answer his question and asked again, "Does your back still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore," he answered honestly.

"Mmm." She blinked her reddened eyes, which were still glistening with tears. "I haven't slept for days, I'm so sleepy~"

After saying that, she yawned, found a comfortable position in his arms, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

She slept like an innocent little rabbit, her breathing even and long, her eyelashes fluttering gently.

His heart melted and softened.

Why hasn't she slept for so many days?

He looked down at her, his eyes lingering on her face, unable to look away.

Her eyelashes were like two small fans, long and curled, with a faint shadow underneath, the mark left by staying up late.

Her lips were rosy and full, slightly parted with each breath, like a flower bud about to bloom.

Her hands were clutching his clothes in front of him. She was so cute, so tiny, so soft and cuddly.

He couldn't help but lower his head and take a gentle breath; her scent was sweet with a hint of floral and fruity fragrance.

He likes it very much.

How could someone in this world be so deeply etched in his heart?

When Baoyu found his master, he was shocked to see the two embracing in the pavilion.

One slept soundly, while the other watched with rapt attention.

He walked to Cui Yutang's side, leaned close to his ear, and lowered his voice considerably: "Master, you've remembered?"

Cui Yutang gently covered the woman's ears with his hand, as if protecting his most beloved treasure, lowering his voice even further, afraid of waking her: "What made you remember?"

Well, it's not that I remembered it, it's that I've fallen in love with it again.

Bao Yu shook his head speechlessly. His master had never been interested in women since childhood. Among the many beautiful noble ladies in the city, why was he so infatuated with this Miss Xie?

He quickly retreated to a distance, afraid of disturbing them, and tried to hide behind the big tree on the left.

When he arrived, he was surprised to see Zhixia sitting against a tree. Zhixia looked at him as he walked in with obvious disdain.

But he's thick-skinned; if he didn't see it or understand it, it's as if it doesn't exist.

So he stepped forward to strike up a conversation, asking with concern, "Zhixia, how has your young lady been lately?"

It's no wonder she's not getting better; she's practically gone mad. She doesn't cry, doesn't make a fuss, doesn't eat, and doesn't sleep; she's like she's lost her soul.

Thinking of this, Zhixia became even angrier. Taking advantage of Baoyu's momentary lapse in attention, she kicked him hard.

If his master can't be hit, then why can't he be hit?

Bao Yu was kicked and winced, but she dared not make a sound—afraid of disturbing the two people over there.

They are truly incompatible.

As the sun gradually set in the west, the golden afterglow spilled onto the temple buildings and trees, bathing the entire temple in a warm glow.

From the "place of refuge" not far away, whispers could be faintly heard.

"Xuanji, are you... alright...?" The woman's voice trembled. "I still need to go pick up Yige and take her back."

"Yuzhen, this is really the last time..." The man's voice was low and restrained.

Then came another series of soft moans that appeared and disappeared intermittently.

It was nearing dusk.

Princess Yuzhen, dressed in a magnificent silk dress and adorned with jewels, arrived late, her steps unsteady with the help of her maids. She reached the pavilion, glanced at the two embracing figures, and a knowing look flashed in her eyes.

Cui Yutang looked up, his eyes meeting Li Yuzhen's in mid-air.

They could see a hint of disdain in each other's eyes.

"Yige, let's go back." Li Yuzhen called softly.

Xie Yige slowly awoke from her deep sleep. She was dazed for a moment, blinked, and then realized that she had slept in his arms until dusk.

She stood up reluctantly, and was about to walk towards Li Yuzhen when her hand was pulled back.

"Are you leaving?" Cui Yutang looked at her cautiously, his eyes filled with a hint of reluctance and panic.