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

He gripped her waist and lifted her up, making her fit him better.

She was forced to tilt her head back, enduring his increasingly intense assault. Her body was as limp as a pool of spring water, and she could only rely on the strength of his arm to avoid slipping into the water.

She felt the change in his body; his erection, pressed against her through the soaked fabric, was so hot it couldn't be ignored. Her heart was pounding as if it would explode, her cheeks burning, yet she was powerless to push him away.

His lips finally left hers, gently nibbling along her earlobe. His deep voice whispered in her ear, hoarse beyond words: "Yige..."

She was panting and didn't respond.

He called out again, as if confirming something, or as if praying for something.

"...Mmm." She finally responded, her voice as soft as a cat's meow.

He received a response, as if granted some kind of permission, and the kiss fell again, more passionate and lingering than before. Through the thin fabric, water splashed with their movements, ripples spreading outwards and scattering the petals on the water's surface.

"Yi Ge? Xie Yi Ge? Where is she?"

Li Zhiwei's voice grew closer, tinged with anxiety.

The two people entangled in the warm spring seemed to awaken from a dream. Cui Yutang stopped first, his forehead pressed against hers, both of them breathing heavily. The water mist swirled, and their two beautiful profiles, nestled together, appeared and disappeared in the steam, like immortals stepping out of a painting, yet carrying the most primal desires and restraint of humankind.

"I'll go up first." Cui Yutang's voice was terribly hoarse, as if he was trying his best to suppress something.

Xie Yige grabbed his hand: "But you're still wet, you'll get cold."

She gently brushed her delicate nose against his high, straight nose, again and again, like a kitten rubbing against someone, the air thick with unspoken tenderness.

Cui Yutang's barely suppressed lust quickly surged up again, and he felt that he would die at her hands one day.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them to look at her. The dark emotions in his eyes had not completely subsided, but they had already softened.

"Don't worry, I have a plan." He gently stroked her face with his hand. "You wait here for her to come over, and I'll have someone bring you some dry clothes. Be good."

After saying that, he waded away and his figure quickly disappeared into the shadows of the trees near the warm spring.

Xie Yige stood there, watching his figure disappear before calming herself down and calling out, "Zhiwei, I'm here."

Li Zhiwei followed the sound and, after parting a few drooping pear branches, finally saw the hidden mountain stream and warm spring.

"Yige, why are you in the water all by yourself?" Li Zhiwei stood on the shore, looking at her with some confusion.

Xie Yige smiled guiltily: "When I saw this warm spring, I couldn't resist coming down for a soak."

Li Zhiwei's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then fell on her slightly swollen red lips, and further down, she saw the faint marks on her neck. Although Xie Yige had tried her best to hide her body in the water, the marks could not be completely concealed by the rising steam.

Li Zhiwei instantly understood and said nothing more.

Soon after, a maidservant hurried over carrying a clean dress and a thick cloak. Several maidservants spread out a curtain on the shore, and Xie Yige quickly changed into the dry clothes under the cover.

Li Zhiwei took the cloak and draped it over her shoulders, carefully adjusting the collar to cleverly conceal the marks.

"You should drink some ginger soup when we get back." Li Zhiwei held her arm, her tone filled with genuine concern.

"Mmm," Xie Yige obediently replied, her voice still a little weak.

On the way down the mountain, her steps were a little unsteady, so Li Zhiwei held her arm the whole time and steadily led her forward.

Not far along, they saw Cui Yutang, who had changed into a sky-blue robe, walking towards them. He had obviously dressed up as well, his long hair half-dry and draped over his shoulders, making him look elegant and refined.

His gaze was fixed on Xie Yige, and he naturally noticed her discomfort.

Seeing this, Li Zhiwei immediately and tactfully released her hand: "I need to go find my brother. Young Master Cui, please escort Yige down the mountain."

"Thank you, Madam Li." Cui Yutang nodded solemnly.

Li Zhiwei waved her hand, turned around and walked in another direction with light and quick steps.

Cui Yutang walked up to Xie Yige, reached out and pulled the cloak over her shoulders, and asked in a low voice, "Are you cold?"

"It's not cold."

He paused for a moment, then suddenly squatted down: "Shall I carry you down the mountain?"

Xie Yige looked at his back as he squatted down in front of her, her cheeks flushed, and she murmured an "Mmm".

She climbed onto his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her cheek against his ear, sending a whiff of erotic electricity through him. He could feel the warmth of her cheek, even hotter than when she had just soaked in the warm spring.

Cui Yutang turned around and gently kissed the corner of her mouth.

The two bodies pressed tightly together like that.

Neither of them spoke along the way; the only sounds were their heartbeats and the rustling of the wind through the pear orchard. Their hair, fluttering in the air, intertwined with each other.

As the sun set, it cast long, elongated shadows of two intertwined figures, which were reflected on the flower-strewn mountain path, like a moving painting.

Xie Yige was carried by Cui Yutang to the door of her private bedroom.

As soon as she steadied herself, she saw Zhixia leaning against a pillar in front of the door with her arms crossed, looking at her with a dissatisfied expression.

Xie Yige suddenly felt a little guilty, but she couldn't care less. She turned around and grabbed Cui Yutang, who was about to leave.

"I saw you hurt your leg when you fell," she said. "Let me put some medicine on it for you."

Cui Yutang was taken aback and looked down at his legs—he hadn't even noticed them himself.

"It's alright," he said.

"I said I have something to say, so I have something to say." Xie Yige ignored his excuses and turned to look at the man in blue standing at the door. "Baoyu, go and get some wound medicine."

Bao Yu glanced at her master, and without waiting for his instructions, immediately took the order and went to work.

Cui Yutang lowered her head, but couldn't help secretly raising the corners of her mouth; she looked incredibly cute when she was being fierce towards him.

A short while later, Baoyu brought the medicine. As he came out, he couldn't help but lean close to Zhixia and whisper a compliment: "Your young lady is truly beautiful inside and out."

Zhi Xia glanced at him and said expressionlessly, "Yeah, she gave me an extra month's pay today."

Bao Yu's smile froze instantly.

He instantly felt as if his soul had been dealt a severe blow.

When will it be my turn to have such good days?!

He glanced at the closed door again, and his eyes lit up instantly.