Chapter 499: Why are you suddenly shy tonight?

She turned her head in surprise and joy at the sound.

When she saw Duan Rongshi's face, which she had already looked at enough times to become quite familiar with, her heart instantly filled with joy.

"Ashi!"

"How come you're back so early today?"

"I thought I wouldn't see you again."

Li Qingluo reached out to touch his face, but as she lifted her arm she remembered she was still in the bathtub.

Still feeling a bit shy, she immediately tried to pull her arm back into the water.

But how could Duan Rongshi, whose eyes were full of springtime scenery at the moment, allow that?

He quickly reached out and grabbed her, then narrowed his long eyes slightly: "What are you hiding from?"

"Where haven't I seen you before?"

Li Qingluo blushed all over her face from embarrassment.

"That, that's different."

"Oh, you go out first."

She struggled to sink her body into the water.

Duan Rongshi let her do as she wished.

But then he actually reached out and stripped himself completely naked!

He was left with only his underpants, then stepped into the bathtub intending to bathe together with her.

When had Li Qingluo ever experienced something like this?

Panicked, she didn't even know where to hide.

All she could do was turn and press herself hard against the edge of the tub, speechless.

"You—you hurry up and get out!"

"Wait until I get up, let Granny Zhang change the water, then you can come wash again, okay?"

Duan Rongshi: "No."

Li Qingluo: "Oh, you've always loved cleanliness—how can you share a tub of used bathwater with me?"

"I, ah—"

She let out a startled cry, for Duan Rongshi suddenly hugged her tightly from behind.

His hot chest pressed against her back, making Li Qingluo instantly startled like a little deer.

She didn't dare move a muscle.

Seeing her like that, Duan Rongshi couldn't help but laugh.

"Why are you scared?"

"Wasn't it you who stripped me naked in the mountain cave before?"

"You should be more familiar with my body."

"But why are you suddenly shy again tonight?"

"Can it, can it be the same!!?"

Back then, Li Qingluo's heart toward him was truly free of distracting thoughts, having nothing to do with romance!

Even if he stripped her naked, she was only thinking about whether he could survive and her own future prospects!

One could say that, aside from admiring his looks, her heart toward him was as still as water, daring not to let any romantic thoughts wander.

However, Li Qingluo thought he was petty, so she dared not say such things out loud.

Moreover, she felt he was becoming more and more shameless lately.

Li Qingluo gave a dry laugh, never daring to leave the edge of the tub.

And she pressed her entire front tightly against the tub wall.

"Are you really unwilling?"

Duan Rongshi's voice was full of disappointment.

Li Qingluo: ……

Is this a matter of willingness or not?

It's because he acts too recklessly, so she can't cope.

Duan Rongshi: "Forget it. Since Luo'er doesn't like it, I'll go out."

"Everything will be as Luo'er wishes."

Saying that, he truly withdrew from behind her, and the water made a "splosh" sound.

Li Qingluo recalled that since New Year's Eve night, they had not engaged in intimacy.

He felt sorry for her first painful experience.

So he waited for her to recover for several days.

Afterward, he himself was nowhere to be seen all day.

Thus, since the night of their consummation, they have not been intimate again.

He actually came back early today.

Moreover, just now she sensed his interest… was strong.

Li Qingluo was not trying to escape.

It was just too sudden, so she wasn't used to it yet.

Seeing him lose interest and about to leave, a strong surge of guilt welled up in her heart.

Thus she turned and grabbed him: "Don't, Ashi—"

However, what she bumped into when she turned her head was his smiling brows and eyes, and his chest that had not risen.

Only then did she realize she had been tricked!

He had long known she would soften her heart and turn back.

So just now he was merely teasing her on purpose!

Li Qingluo raised her hand in anger, about to punch him.

Her hand was tightly grasped by his big hand.

"Don't be angry."

"I miss you so much, Luo'er."

Saying that, he gently lowered his head and lightly kissed her.

This kiss was filled with the passion of longing, tender affection, and his desire to entwine with her.

I don't know how long they kissed.

She had already gone limp, as if she had no bones.

Duan Rongshi held her face and kissed her repeatedly, softly coaxing her: "I've heard that bathing won't hurt too much."

"Shall we give it a try?"

Li Qingluo no longer cared at all what place it was.

Anyway, the first time, she only felt pain at the start.

Later, after he coaxed her, she felt dazed, as if lost in a fog.

Therefore, deep down she truly had no fear of this at all.

Even because it was her first try, she even felt a bit of anticipation…

But due to lack of experience, she was extremely shy.

Hearing him say that, she lightly bit her teeth, mustered her courage, and nodded: "Okay."

"Then let's try?"

Zheng Mama heard the splashing water inside the room, and her old face also flushed red.

She had originally intended to come and change the water for the young lady.

Who would have thought she would actually hear Your Highness's voice.

Unexpectedly, the two of them were already… in the bathroom.

Moreover, from the sound of it, they were likely to continue for quite a while.

Your Highness is indeed a young and vigorous person.

I heard that previously the inner quarters were spotless, with not even a personal maid serving.

So now that they've indulged in meat and wine, they're likely to become quite fierce over the next couple of years.

Fortunately, the young lady is also strong and healthy.

To put it bluntly, she's like a little calf, full of energy all day, with inexhaustible vigor.

Generally, other young ladies truly don't have such a sturdy little frame as this young lady's.

Thus, she need not fear being tormented by Your Highness in those ways.

Thinking of this, Zheng Mama's eyes crinkled into slits with laughter.

"Perhaps we'll soon have a young master and young miss."

"Hehe, I hope the Old Lady can receive this happy news soon."

"They're so devoted; I doubt it will be long!"

Indeed, Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi made a ruckus for most of the night.

First in the bathing room, then they returned to the bedroom bed.

This time, when Duan Rongshi personally came out to draw water, he saw the small kitchen continuously adding and heating water.

He then knew Zheng Mama had been waiting for them all along.

Yet he dared not speak up first to say she was attending to them.

Later, he simply called out for water directly.

Anyway, he's thick-skinned and has always been used to being served.

Li Qingluo, however, shyly hid in the bed curtains, waiting for Zheng Mama to leave before she would allow Duan Rongshi to hold her and go to the bathing room again.

Although they had been at it for a long time, this time they both truly felt the beauty of it.

The two cooperated seamlessly.

Li Qingluo's attitude toward studying this matter was also as full of enthusiasm and curiosity as Duan Rongshi's.

Therefore, every time they climbed to the mountain peak, Duan Rongshi would hold her fingers tightly and gently kiss each of her sweaty fingertips.

When he became deeply moved, he would say to her that phrase of endearment.

"Luo'er, I love you."

If Li Qingluo did not respond,

he would persistently follow her and ask: "And you?"

"You still haven't answered me, Luo'er."

"Quickly say you love me too."

"Say it, say it?"