Chapter 264: After Makeup, She Whispered to Her Husband

In the end, Ye Tinglan said nothing, only turned her head away in a huff, pretending to sleep.

Lu Xingzhou embraced her from behind, pressing tightly against her.

The hand that had been stroking her never let go, and Ye Tinglan made no effort to pull away, as if granting silent consent.

As long as he doesn't go grabbing or pinching, I'll give him a little sweetness—better than letting him bite again.

Lu Xingzhou gripped her even more comfortably, the sensation of holding the soft, fragrant body of this mature woman behind him filled him with immense pleasure; the sleepiness that had been disturbed crept back, and he drifted off again, drowsy and half-unconscious.

Ye Tinglan could tell from his breathing that he had fallen asleep, and her heart eased slightly—but she kept her eyes wide open for a long time, unsure of what she was even thinking.

She knew that if she didn't want it, not even a single fold of her robe would he dare touch, let alone be bitten.

Even now, she was held in his arms like a pillow while he slept—if she didn't want it, she could simply walk away.

Yet she lay there quietly, letting him hold her.

Not long ago, she thought Shen Tang was such a mess, why even bother taking over the position? The empire should just be destroyed.

And now look at herself—what's the difference between her and Shen Tang…? If the Imperial Preceptor is this pathetic, shouldn't the empire be destroyed too?

Why think so much? After all, I'm not the Imperial Preceptor anymore. Before him, I'm Ye Zhuoyu; before Miss Qingli, I'm Yuan Muyu.

I, Ye Tinglan, have never hugged and bitten a man!

Ye Tinglan shut her eyes in a huff and decided to sleep too.

Who knows how a cultivator who never needed sleep and could meditate for years ended up sleeping twice in just a few days.

Probably because his embrace was so perfectly fitted, so reassuring.

When she woke, Ye Tinglan realized her position had changed.

She didn't know when she'd turned over, now curled snugly into the hollow of his shoulder, sleeping sweetly like a little bird clinging to its perch—such a pitifully affectionate sight.

Slightly embarrassed, Ye Tinglan quietly lifted her eyes to look at him—and found Lu Xingzhou already awake, gazing down at her.

His eyes held amusement, his features gentle, with a touch of indulgence.

He looked at a dog with that much devotion.

All her embarrassment melted away under that gaze, replaced instead by a faint shyness: "What are you staring at?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "Nothing… I just feel happy seeing you sleep so peacefully."

Of course—anyone who has the First Person in the World curled up in their arms would feel happy.

Ye Tinglan wasn't some little girl; she understood men's psychology all too well, and snapped, "Are you satisfied now?"

"Not even close," Lu Xingzhou leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

Feeling that damned tenderness, Ye Tinglan suppressed the small, greedy emotion stirring in her heart—she knew she couldn't let him take another step forward, or she had no idea how far this fool might climb.

She finally rose from the bed, making small talk: "You've been sleeping and waking, sleeping and waking like a pig these past few days—I've lost track of the time."

Lu Xingzhou got up too, glancing out the window.

He really had slept a long time—when Bai Mao came, it was evening, just after porridge; now the sun was rising in the east, morning again.

The nights in Tian Shuang Country were already long; to sleep from evening straight through to dawn was truly a deep, dark slumber.

She checked her internal Qi and magic power, delighted to find she could now channel much more—her injuries were healing even further.

Ye Tinglan also realized how long she'd slept, and frowned slightly, turning to grasp Lu Xingzhou's wrist and feel his pulse. After a moment, her delicate eyebrows relaxed: "Good—faster than I expected. Strange, there shouldn't be any special change… Could yesterday's porridge have been unusually effective?"

But Lu Xingzhou ignored that, instead gripping her wrist and guiding her toward the window.

Ye Tinglan was puzzled: "What are you doing?"

Lu Xingzhou pressed her shoulders gently, seating her before the bronze mirror by the window, then picked up the comb from the dressing table and began brushing her hair: "You're always thinking of taking care of others. But, Master, my intention was to share your burdens…"

Ye Tinglan stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror—her complexion was flushed, her brows and eyes relaxed and at ease.

Was this really her…? No wonder Miss Qingli had once wavered, wondering if this might truly not be her own master.

What did the real Ye Tinglan usually look like? Images flashed through her mind—she almost forgot herself.

His hand brushed softly through her long hair, the comb gliding down in slow, rhythmic strokes.

Her thoughts grew empty again, as if no thought could coalesce.

Nor did they need to.

She'd always thought of him as a weak little puppy needing care, satisfying her own protective instincts—but in his "strategy," "I hope you can be at ease" had already been perfectly achieved.

Translated plainly, this "strategy" meant Lu Xingzhou wanted to take care of her.

It turned heaven and earth upside down, yet accomplished it silently, like spring rain nourishing all things.

"Still wet behind the ears, and you want to take care of others?" Ye Tinglan heard herself say—the voice was airy, soft, almost coquettish.

Lu Xingzhou laughed from behind: "Then, Lady… let's care for each other."

"Master" had become "Lady" again.