Chapter 31 ☆ Absorbing Yang Qi (Part 1)

Cheng Yaoyao’s cheeks flushed as she fell limply into Xie San’s arms, like a drunk person. Her mind was hazy, and the heat in her chest seemed to be roasting her from the inside out, making her whole body feel weak and soft.

In a daze, she saw the little lotus leaf again. The small leaf trembled anxiously, its edges slightly curled from lack of water. The leaf’s desperate thirst was transmitted to Cheng Yaoyao, making her groan as she muttered, “Thirsty…”

A cold voice, uncharacteristically hoarse and tinged with panic, came from beside her: “What’s wrong with you?”

“Thirsty… so thirsty…” Cheng Yaoyao curled up in anxiety, instinctively leaning closer to the arms holding her. The broad chest she rested against had a soothing warmth and scent, easing the heat within her for a moment.

Xie San carefully leaned her against a tree by the roadside, then half-knelt in front of her, his eyes deeply concerned as he asked, “If you’re not feeling well, I’ll take you back.”

“No…” Cheng Yaoyao, her thoughts muddled, shook her head instinctively. “I don’t want to go back…”

She subconsciously touched her waist, still feeling the lingering warmth of Xie San’s hands there.

Noticing her action, Xie San felt his ears grow hot. He wanted to explain that he hadn’t touched her on purpose, but the words wouldn’t come out.

The waves of heat and anxiety continued to wash over her. Cheng Yaoyao bit her lip, unable to suppress a groan. Her pale skin was now covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and she had already forgotten the bold words she had spoken earlier. In a soft, kitten-like voice, she cried out, “Brother Xie San, I feel so uncomfortable…”

Hearing her call him so softly, Xie San took a deep breath to steady himself, asking gently, “Where do you feel uncomfortable? Do you have a fever?”

Cheng Yaoyao’s cheeks were an unnatural shade of red, and her misty peach blossom eyes stared at him blankly.

Xie San muttered an apology and gently pressed his hand to her forehead. The moment their skin touched, the anxiety in Cheng Yaoyao seemed to briefly vanish, but before she could fully register the relief, Xie San had pulled his hand away.

Her temperature was normal, and the wound on her cheek had healed with no signs of infection. But…

Cheng Yaoyao’s eyes were glazed, and her cheeks flushed with a redness that made Xie San uneasy. She leaned softly against the tree, looking like she needed care. Xie San quickly turned his gaze away, realizing that they couldn’t stay here like this.

He also didn’t want anyone else to see Cheng Yaoyao in this state.

Sometimes people passed by the small road, and Cheng Yaoyao couldn’t afford for anyone to see her like this. Xie San himself didn’t care, but her reputation couldn’t be compromised.

Looking at her curled up form, he lowered his head and said, “Get up. I’ll take you to the spring to wash your face.”

Cheng Yaoyao’s vision and hearing seemed to be separated by a layer of water, everything appearing blurry. She vaguely heard Xie San say something, mumbling a response, but she wasn’t sure what he said.

Suddenly, she felt her body lighten as she was lifted into the air. Xie San’s chest was broad, his arms strong, and he walked quickly yet steadily. But the thunderous heartbeat she heard in her ear was loud and clear.

Cheng Yaoyao leaned her head against Xie San’s shoulder, feeling his slight sweat. His unique scent, a mix of herbs and something vigorous and refreshing, intensified the heat burning in her heart.

The little lotus leaf appeared again in her mind. It had been drooping before but now seemed to perk up as if it had found something, trembling slightly.

Cheng Yaoyao shuddered, her nostrils flaring, as she took a deep breath.

The scent of Xie San suddenly became irresistibly appealing to her. She stared at his slender neck, glistening with sweat, and instinctively licked her dry lips.

The heat in her heart surged even more, and a voice in the back of her mind urged her: Thirsty…

Cheng Yaoyao leaned in, pressing her lips against his.

Just as she was about to make contact, Xie San suddenly stepped back.

They had arrived at Fengyu Bridge, where cool spring water gurgled, and the mountain breeze brushed against them. Yet, it did nothing to extinguish the burning heat in Xie San’s ears. He half-knelt with forced calm and gently placed Cheng Yaoyao on the bridge pier. “I’ll go get you some water…”

Cheng Yaoyao blinked in a daze, watching Xie San kneel by the spring to fetch water, his coat soaked with sweat. It really was hot today…

After a while, Xie San returned with water collected in a large leaf. His voice was hoarse as he said, “Drink some water… Drink it, and you’ll feel better.”

Annoyed by his own hoarse voice, he pursed his lips and brought the cool spring water to Cheng Yaoyao’s lips.

Cheng Yaoyao smelled that cool, pure scent again. Just one drop seemed enough to quench her thirst. She pressed her lips to the leaf but found it wasn’t enough, so she rubbed her cheek against his hand. His wrist was slender and firm, wrapped in smooth skin that eased the burning sensation in her chest.

The large leaf slipped from her grasp, spilling the cool spring water and soaking half of Xie San’s clothes.

The little lotus leaf in her mind began to tremble violently.

The water that had just reached her lips was taken away again. Cheng Yaoyao made a sound that was almost a whimper and struggled to move closer to Xie San’s arms. His hands were strong and powerful, his knuckles like iron, gripping her wrists so tightly that it felt like they might break. But Cheng Yaoyao didn’t care; all she wanted was to escape the burning heat consuming her.

Xie San’s narrow eyes were filled with complex and unreadable emotions. He grabbed Cheng Yaoyao by the shoulders, pushing her away slightly, and stared intensely into her misty eyes. “Wake up and look at me,” he demanded.

Cheng Yaoyao’s mind was like boiling magma. The hands that held her in place kept her from getting closer, making her anxious. She murmured incoherently, tears rolling down the corners of her eyes, her curled eyelashes wet, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

The strength of Xie San’s grip gradually loosened, and Cheng Yaoyao took the opportunity to move closer, wrapping her arms tightly around his strong, slender waist, pressing her face against his broad chest. It wasn’t enough; she wrapped her whole body around him, rubbing against him like a kitten.

The moment their skin touched, it was as if cool water vapor spread through her, dispelling the heat and burning in her chest. Cheng Yaoyao couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh. The waist she clung to suddenly tensed, becoming as rigid as iron.

Tick, tick. The ethereal sound of water droplets echoed, and the wilted little lotus leaf stretched out like a plant finally receiving rain after a long drought. The coin-sized round leaves were green and fresh, trembling slightly as if they were very comfortable.

Cheng Yaoyao felt a strong desire in her heart. She slowly raised her head and saw Xie San’s slender neck, his Adam’s apple distinct. The wheat-colored skin was covered in sweat beads, which gradually gathered into a drop and hung on the Adam’s apple, ready to fall.

The little lotus leaf began to shake wildly.

Cheng Yaoyao’s mouth was dry, her chest was burning, and her only focus was on that drop of sweat about to fall.

Meanwhile, Xie San was enduring sweet torture. The person in his arms was light and soft, warm like fragile glass or a delicate flower. A little pressure, and he could crush her delicate petals, tasting the sweetness within.

Cheng Yaoyao suddenly raised her head, revealing a heart-stoppingly beautiful face. Her cheeks were flushed, and she looked at him with infatuation. Her rosy lips were even redder now, slightly parted to reveal white teeth and a small, red tongue.

Cheng Yaoyao’s hair was damp, with a few strands sticking to her face, and some falling onto Xie San’s collar, tangled with the cloth buttons. She was utterly captivating. Xie San could hear the sound of his blood boiling. Cheng Yaoyao’s alluring appearance strangely overlapped with the one in his dreams, causing his self-control to crumble bit by bit.

Cheng Yaoyao had lost her usual arrogant and spoiled demeanor, which she used as a protective shield. Now, she was like a budding flower, gradually blossoming, revealing her softest heart to him. All he had to do was lower his head to enjoy it to his heart’s content.

Xie San’s throat was dry, and it took all his self-control not to taste those rosy lips. His Adam’s apple moved up and down, and with a click, a bead of sweat fell onto Cheng Yaoyao’s lips.

Cheng Yaoyao’s cherry lips were beautifully shaped, with an overly cute bead of sweat resting on them. At that moment, the sweat fell onto her lips.

Xie San’s eyes darkened. Cheng Yaoyao always liked to stay clean. If she knew a bit of sweat had fallen on her lips, she would probably make a fuss. He subconsciously raised his hand to wipe it off for her.

But then her rosy little tongue suddenly flicked out and licked away the sweat.

Xie San’s mind exploded, and his rationality completely collapsed.

…