This woman was incredibly mysterious, and he could not fathom her true identity at all. If he wanted to find out who she really was, he would probably have to return to Qingmi Mountain and ask there. Ye Chu pushed those swirling emotions aside and dragged his weary, injured body towards Bai Xuan’s residence.
Although the woman had not used much force, that single palm strike had landed squarely on him. Without several days of rest and recovery, it would be impossible for him to heal!
By the time Ye Chu returned to Bai Xuan’s residence, it was already very late. As he pushed open the door to his room, he spotted a figure standing inside. His heart jumped in alarm, thinking a thief had broken in. But as he stepped closer and the moonlight illuminated the room, he realised it was Bai Xuan standing there!
Bai Xuan was wearing a loose nightgown. In the dim night light, her eyes sparkled brightly, her red lips looked vividly alluring, and her tall, graceful figure was utterly captivating.
“Sister Bai Xuan, you are still awake?” Ye Chu asked in surprise, addressing the stunningly beautiful woman before him. He had deliberately moved quietly when entering, precisely to avoid waking Bai Xuan and the others. Moreover, why was Bai Xuan in his room?
“I saw you had not come back so late and thought you might not return tonight, so I came to close your window for you!” Bai Xuan explained. She was worried that Xu Feng might get the wrong idea. Of course, she would never reveal her true reason!
These past few days, Ye Chu had returned to the residence every night without fail. But today, when he did not appear, Bai Xuan had begun to fear that he had slipped back into his old debauched ways, perhaps tangled up in some woman’s bed just like Pang Shao. She truly did not want to see Ye Chu fall back into that rotten lifestyle. Now that he had finally returned, a flicker of genuine joy rose in her heart!
“Since you are back, go to bed early then!” A delicate peach blush coloured Bai Xuan’s cheeks, making her look exceptionally charming. She was just about to leave when she noticed how unnaturally pale Ye Chu’s face was, and there were even traces of blood at the corner of his mouth.
This startled her badly. “What happened to you? Why do you look so awful, and why are you bleeding from the mouth?”
Seeing Bai Xuan’s panic, Ye Chu waved his hand dismissively, not wanting her to worry. “It is nothing! Just a minor injury, nothing serious! A few days of rest and I will be fine!”
Bai Xuan stepped forward to support him, grumbling with a hint of reproach. “You are not a child anymore. Why do you still love showing off and picking fights? Did you go sticking your neck out for Pang Shao again?”
Bai Xuan had heard about Pang Shao asking Ye Chu to intervene on his behalf. Seeing Ye Chu in this state, she naturally assumed it was because of Pang Shao’s troubles.
Ye Chu gave a faint smile but did not reply. Paired with his pallid face, the smile looked rather bleak.
“Pang Shao fighting over a maidservant with someone else, and you actually went to help him?” Bai Xuan shot him a glare. She dipped a towel in water and gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Her movements were tender, and her soft, delicate hand occasionally brushed against Ye Chu’s face, carrying a silky smoothness. She stood very close to him, and he could smell the faint, sweet fragrance emanating from her body.
As he enjoyed Bai Xuan tending to his face, Ye Chu’s gaze drifted over her body. What he could not help noticing was that beneath her loose nightgown, two distinct protrusions were clearly visible. Evidently, Bai Xuan was wearing absolutely nothing underneath.
Bai Xuan did not notice his stare and continued lecturing him. “In the future, stay away from Pang Shao. He will only drag you down!”
If Pang Shao had heard those words right then, he would have had nowhere to cry. Did Ye Chu really need dragging down? And who exactly was corrupting whom?
“Oh! Yes, I really should keep my distance from him. Otherwise, I might actually get corrupted!” Seeing Bai Xuan lift her head to look at him, Ye Chu subtly shifted his gaze away and nodded earnestly.
“All the medicinal herbs at home have been used up by Father. Tell me what you need, and I will ask him to get some from his friend!” Bai Xuan stood up, preparing to go and fetch her father.
“Sister Bai Xuan!” Ye Chu reached out and caught her small hand. It felt tender and smooth to the touch. “No need to disturb Uncle Bai! It is just a small injury, really. Nothing to worry about. A few days of rest will do!”
Being held by Ye Chu, Bai Xuan felt a surge of shy embarrassment, but seeing the clear sincerity in his eyes and the natural way he held her hand, she found it hard to pull away.
“Are you really alright?” Bai Xuan asked, her bright eyes fixed on him, even more luminous in the darkness!
“Really, I am fine!” Ye Chu replied. “After a good sleep, I will be full of energy again tomorrow!”
“Very well then! Get some rest early!” Bai Xuan gently pushed Ye Chu down onto the bed, pulled the blanket from the headboard, and helped tuck him in.
As she bent over to cover him, the loose neckline of her nightgown gaped open. Ye Chu happened to glance straight down it and caught sight of a pair of snowy-white, tender peaks swaying gently inside the fabric. His heart lurched, and his gaze involuntarily lingered there!
Noticing Ye Chu’s strange expression, Bai Xuan instantly realised she had exposed herself in front of him. She hurriedly pressed down on the neckline, her cheeks burning as a flush of crimson spread across her face!
Ye Chu naturally averted his eyes and said casually, as if nothing had happened, “Sister Bai Xuan, do not worry about me anymore! Go back to bed early!”
Bai Xuan was so flustered she barely knew how to respond. She hurriedly finished tucking him in and fled the room as if escaping.
Once outside, her heart was still pounding fiercely, her pretty face still flushed with red. Thinking about how Ye Chu had seen her just now, an indescribable shyness welled up inside her.
But then she realised that after seeing her, Ye Chu had managed to act completely nonchalant, while she herself had panicked and lost composure. She could not help giving a wry smile. This fellow really was a seasoned playboy. In comparison, she felt like the inexperienced little girl.
Letting out a soft breath, Bai Xuan tried hard to calm the emotions in her heart. She glanced once more in the direction of Ye Chu’s room before finally heading back to her own.
…
Ye Chu was equally unsettled inside. Although it had been only a fleeting glimpse, the jade-like fairness and the full, proud curves kept replaying in his mind. Involuntarily, images of Bai Xuan’s utterly enchanting and seductive beauty flashed through his thoughts.
He had to admit that Bai Xuan was devastatingly attractive to men. No man could resist such mature, alluring temptation!
…
The next morning, when Bai Bao saw both Ye Chu and Bai Xuan looking exhausted with dark circles under their eyes, he asked in confusion, “What happened to you two?”
“Ah…” Ye Chu and Bai Xuan exchanged a glance, then spoke in unison, “Nothing!”
“Hm?” Bai Bao looked puzzled. Turning to Ye Chu, he said, “Your complexion does not look good either. Is something wrong?”
“Oh! Just a minor injury! Nothing serious!” Ye Chu smiled, not wanting to explain too much. His gaze, however, could not help drifting towards Bai Xuan.
Bai Xuan looked radiant and charming, her long lashes fluttering delicately with every blink, revealing a captivating allure. Her black form-fitting leather dress hugged her soft waist tightly. Below the hem, pure black fabric clung to her slender, long legs. A glimpse of snowy white skin peeked from beneath the skirt, stirring the heart. The tight outfit further accentuated the proud swell of her chest, making Ye Chu involuntarily recall the unrestrained, perfectly rounded peaks he had glimpsed last night beneath her nightgown!
Feeling Ye Chu’s scorching gaze fixed on her, Bai Xuan turned away somewhat unnaturally. Sometimes she truly found it hard to believe that Ye Chu was still just a young man. That mature, intense look made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Though Bai Xuan tried hard to forget the scene from last night, that startling glimpse had left an indelible mark in her heart. She felt a flutter of panic under Ye Chu’s eyes.
“I will go and buy some medicinal stones for Ye Chu!” With that, Bai Xuan almost fled in embarrassment.