The rain continued into the night without any sign of stopping.
In the bedroom, Qin Hanyue was sitting bare-chested on the side of the bed, with Qiao Ying standing in front of him, needling his head. There were also more than ten needles stuck on both sides of his chest and waist, making him look like a porcupine.
Qin Hanyue: "Feeling better?"
With her attention disrupted, Qiao Ying glanced down at him: "When did I say I was feeling bad?" She then realized his two big hands were somehow holding her waist without her noticing.
She was distracted? She couldn't help feeling a little annoyed that she didn't notice at all.
Qin Hanyue didn't dare move. He just looked up at her: "Although you didn't say it, I could feel it a little."
Although she didn't show it, and even had dinner with Lin Guli as if nothing had happened last night, Qin Hanyue could feel it. And the needles in his body now also verified his feeling.
Although she didn't say why she was needling him, he didn't think it was because of the minor injuries on his body.
It could only be that she was in a bad mood and looking for something to do, plus this wasn't the first time she had needled him when she was feeling down, so there was precedent.
Qiao Ying didn't reply and continued with what she was doing.
Qin Hanyue looked up at her and accurately described what was bothering her: "Is it because you're struggling with whether or not to acknowledge your father Lin Guli?"
Seeing Qiao Ying's lips move slightly, as if to say something, but didn't, Qin Hanyue continued speaking for her.
"You don't have any emotional connection with this biological father who suddenly appeared, and you are extremely unfamiliar with the concept of familial bonds deep down."
"Plus your mother has already passed away."
"You feel uncomfortable and don't know how to handle it, so you see him as a troublesome thing. But he is actually not bad."
"He has been looking for you for over twenty years. People are not grass or trees."
"And if you don't tell him that you are the child he has been looking for, he will keep fruitlessly searching like this for the rest of his life."
"You can't keep pretending to be blind to that and watch him really look for you for a whole lifetime. And he must have a lot of regrets regarding your mother that need closure from you."
"But if you acknowledge him, you will have to clearly explain everything to him in detail and make him believe in your soul's reincarnation."
"In the end, the tearful and cheesy recognition scene that you especially dislike but can't avoid will inevitably play out."
He listed out all the reasons Qiao Ying was struggling with internally, one by one. Qiao Ying had long stopped needling him and was looking at him speak.
"I think that's all the reasons—yeah, that should be it." He looked at her with laughter in his eyes: "Am I right?"
Qiao Ying amusedly looked at him: "You know, understanding a killer's mind too well can be lethal for both people involved."
The silver needle in her hand slid down along his cold, chiseled side profile, stopping at his throat.
Qiao Ying's red lips slightly parted as she looked at him with a trace of coldness and ambiguity: "Either the killer gets killed, or the killer kills."
Qin Hanyue played along: "It is quite scary, but why am I not afraid at all? Where did it go wrong?" His big hand held her slender waist, and his long, powerful five fingers spread open to caress her ambiguously.
His big hand pressed tightly against her waist, moving back to grip her lower back, the scorching palm pressing her back to bring her body towards him.
As soon as he made a move, Qiao Ying removed the silver needle from his throat and collected it into her palm.
Her upper body reflexively leaned back due to his actions, but her legs were being pushed forward by him. Losing her balance, she placed her hands against his chest. Her legs touched the bed so she couldn't move forward anymore. She had no choice but to bend her knees and lift one leg up to kneel between his legs.
Qiao Ying: "Still being so naughty when injured."
Qin Hanyue smiled without saying anything as he circled his arms around her slender waist.
Qiao Ying simply rested her arms on his shoulders to make it more comfortable. She also slightly adjusted her standing position. With her hands on his shoulders, her body naturally lowered a bit, moving closer to the sitting Qin Hanyue.
In this position, the two were exceptionally close to each other.
Qin Hanyue, who was always taller than her, rarely looked up at her like this. His heart couldn't help but race faster.
Qiao Ying: "This father is indeed not bad, but..."
Qiao Ying then asked him instead: "What do you think?"
Qin Hanyue: "My opinion?"
Qiao Ying: "Mm-hmm."
Qin Hanyue: "I think he's fine too."
Qiao Ying: "So you want me to acknowledge him?"
Qin Hanyue: "Having more people who love you is a good thing. They are also very exceptional people, not necessarily troublesome. You can try accepting them. If you really can't handle it, you can treat them as friends. They definitely won't be as tactless as the Sus." Qin Hanyue persuaded her.
Qiao Ying: "Then what?"
Qin Hanyue: "I'll tell them for you."
Qiao Ying raised her brow slightly at him.
Qin Hanyue: "You just find things like this troublesome and can't be bothered to explain so much to them and say so many things to them, right."
"I'll tell them, and by the time they finish being shocked and crying after I tell them, you come out and it won't be as awkward."
Qiao Ying pursed her lips, smiling.
Having someone else do the talking was pretty nice indeed.
Seeing that she tacitly agreed, Qin Hanyue asked: "Can I take out the needles now?"
Qiao Ying collected the needles from his body into the acupuncture kit to sterilize later. As soon as she was done, Qin Hanyue hugged her and toppled onto the bed in one swift movement, flipping their positions over.
Qin Hanyue: "For a huge favor like this, is there a reward?"
Qiao Ying: "Weren't you doing this voluntarily?"
Qin Hanyue: "It was pro bono, so I'm asking about a reward."
Qiao Ying leisurely looked at him: "What do you want? Skin contact with kisses and hugs, or up close and intimate interactions?"
As direct as always.
Qin Hanyue's sexy Adam's apple soundlessly slid up and down: "Are you...still sore anywhere on your body? Is your waist and legs still aching?"
Looking at the anticipation and heat in his eyes, Qiao Ying especially wanted to rain on his parade, but her heart was not so cooperatively in sync.
It seemed like ever since getting to know him, she would always tease him this way, saying one thing but meaning another.
Qiao Ying: "Just pay attention to your own injuries."
She had barely finished speaking when Qin Hanyue's lips were already covering hers...
The next day, the weather was clear and sunny.
Qin Hanyue walked out of the room looking refreshed and energized. He bumped into Lin Cheng who had just returned from the royal palace, looking completely worn out with a sickly pallor, already injured and now seemingly about to collapse.
Lin Cheng barely managed a smile in greeting: "Morning Qin, you look spirited. Slept very well last night it seems."
Qin Hanyue: "You don't seem to be faring too well as king."
Lin Cheng: "It's fine, just a few days. Once I tidy up the mess, whoever wants to be king can have the role."
Qin Hanyue: "If there is anywhere I can help, I'm happy to be of service."
Lin Cheng's eyes instantly became guarded. Rather than feeling happy about Qin Hanyue's good intentions, he felt like a sheep being eyed by the big bad wolf.
Lin Cheng: "I appreciate your kindness Qin, but I'm already in such bad shape. Maybe look for someone else to fleece—I mean, help."
Don't keep targeting me! I'm just an innocent sheep!
Qin Hanyue: Hmm...seems like the impression I'm giving is not very good. Oh well, he's just a cousin-in-law, no big deal.
Qin Hanyue: "Are you going to rest now, Duke Lin?"
Lin Cheng: "Yeah, breakfast was great today Qin. Take your time." He then prepared to return to his room.
Qin Hanyue: "I plan to talk to Mr. Lin about his daughter's matters. Should we go together after you've rested, or..."
Qin Hanyue hadn't even finished speaking.
Lin Cheng had already turned back around: "You mean...my uncle's daughter?"
The rain continued into the night without any sign of stopping.
In the bedroom, Qin Hanyue was sitting bare-chested on the side of the bed, with Qiao Ying standing in front of him, needling his head. There were also more than ten needles stuck on both sides of his chest and waist, making him look like a porcupine.
Qin Hanyue: "Feeling better?"
With her attention disrupted, Qiao Ying glanced down at him: "When did I say I was feeling bad?" She then realized his two big hands were somehow holding her waist without her noticing.
She was distracted? She couldn't help feeling a little annoyed that she didn't notice at all.
Qin Hanyue didn't dare move. He just looked up at her: "Although you didn't say it, I could feel it a little."
Although she didn't show it, and even had dinner with Lin Guli as if nothing had happened last night, Qin Hanyue could feel it. And the needles in his body now also verified his feeling.
Although she didn't say why she was needling him, he didn't think it was because of the minor injuries on his body.
It could only be that she was in a bad mood and looking for something to do, plus this wasn't the first time she had needled him when she was feeling down, so there was precedent.
Qiao Ying didn't reply and continued with what she was doing.
Qin Hanyue looked up at her and accurately described what was bothering her: "Is it because you're struggling with whether or not to acknowledge your father Lin Guli?"
Seeing Qiao Ying's lips move slightly, as if to say something, but didn't, Qin Hanyue continued speaking for her.
"You don't have any emotional connection with this biological father who suddenly appeared, and you are extremely unfamiliar with the concept of familial bonds deep down."
"Plus your mother has already passed away."
"You feel uncomfortable and don't know how to handle it, so you see him as a troublesome thing. But he is actually not bad."
"He has been looking for you for over twenty years. People are not grass or trees."
"And if you don't tell him that you are the child he has been looking for, he will keep fruitlessly searching like this for the rest of his life."
"You can't keep pretending to be blind to that and watch him really look for you for a whole lifetime. And he must have a lot of regrets regarding your mother that need closure from you."
"But if you acknowledge him, you will have to clearly explain everything to him in detail and make him believe in your soul's reincarnation."
"In the end, the tearful and cheesy recognition scene that you especially dislike but can't avoid will inevitably play out."
He listed out all the reasons Qiao Ying was struggling with internally, one by one. Qiao Ying had long stopped needling him and was looking at him speak.
"I think that's all the reasons—yeah, that should be it." He looked at her with laughter in his eyes: "Am I right?"
Qiao Ying amusedly looked at him: "You know, understanding a killer's mind too well can be lethal for both people involved."
The silver needle in her hand slid down along his cold, chiseled side profile, stopping at his throat.
Qiao Ying's red lips slightly parted as she looked at him with a trace of coldness and ambiguity: "Either the killer gets killed, or the killer kills."
Qin Hanyue played along: "It is quite scary, but why am I not afraid at all? Where did it go wrong?" His big hand held her slender waist, and his long, powerful five fingers spread open to caress her ambiguously.
His big hand pressed tightly against her waist, moving back to grip her lower back, the scorching palm pressing her back to bring her body towards him.
As soon as he made a move, Qiao Ying removed the silver needle from his throat and collected it into her palm.
Her upper body reflexively leaned back due to his actions, but her legs were being pushed forward by him. Losing her balance, she placed her hands against his chest. Her legs touched the bed so she couldn't move forward anymore. She had no choice but to bend her knees and lift one leg up to kneel between his legs.
Qiao Ying: "Still being so naughty when injured."
Qin Hanyue smiled without saying anything as he circled his arms around her slender waist.
Qiao Ying simply rested her arms on his shoulders to make it more comfortable. She also slightly adjusted her standing position. With her hands on his shoulders, her body naturally lowered a bit, moving closer to the sitting Qin Hanyue.
In this position, the two were exceptionally close to each other.
Qin Hanyue, who was always taller than her, rarely looked up at her like this. His heart couldn't help but race faster.
Qiao Ying: "This father is indeed not bad, but..."
Qiao Ying then asked him instead: "What do you think?"
Qin Hanyue: "My opinion?"
Qiao Ying: "Mm-hmm."
Qin Hanyue: "I think he's fine too."
Qiao Ying: "So you want me to acknowledge him?"
Qin Hanyue: "Having more people who love you is a good thing. They are also very exceptional people, not necessarily troublesome. You can try accepting them. If you really can't handle it, you can treat them as friends. They definitely won't be as tactless as the Sus." Qin Hanyue persuaded her.
Qiao Ying: "Then what?"
Qin Hanyue: "I'll tell them for you."
Qiao Ying raised her brow slightly at him.
Qin Hanyue: "You just find things like this troublesome and can't be bothered to explain so much to them and say so many things to them, right."
"I'll tell them, and by the time they finish being shocked and crying after I tell them, you come out and it won't be as awkward."
Qiao Ying pursed her lips, smiling.
Having someone else do the talking was pretty nice indeed.
Seeing that she tacitly agreed, Qin Hanyue asked: "Can I take out the needles now?"
Qiao Ying collected the needles from his body into the acupuncture kit to sterilize later. As soon as she was done, Qin Hanyue hugged her and toppled onto the bed in one swift movement, flipping their positions over.
Qin Hanyue: "For a huge favor like this, is there a reward?"
Qiao Ying: "Weren't you doing this voluntarily?"
Qin Hanyue: "It was pro bono, so I'm asking about a reward."
Qiao Ying leisurely looked at him: "What do you want? Skin contact with kisses and hugs, or up close and intimate interactions?"
As direct as always.
Qin Hanyue's sexy Adam's apple soundlessly slid up and down: "Are you...still sore anywhere on your body? Is your waist and legs still aching?"
Looking at the anticipation and heat in his eyes, Qiao Ying especially wanted to rain on his parade, but her heart was not so cooperatively in sync.
It seemed like ever since getting to know him, she would always tease him this way, saying one thing but meaning another.
Qiao Ying: "Just pay attention to your own injuries."
She had barely finished speaking when Qin Hanyue's lips were already covering hers...
The next day, the weather was clear and sunny.
Qin Hanyue walked out of the room looking refreshed and energized. He bumped into Lin Cheng who had just returned from the royal palace, looking completely worn out with a sickly pallor, already injured and now seemingly about to collapse.
Lin Cheng barely managed a smile in greeting: "Morning Qin, you look spirited. Slept very well last night it seems."
Qin Hanyue: "You don't seem to be faring too well as king."
Lin Cheng: "It's fine, just a few days. Once I tidy up the mess, whoever wants to be king can have the role."
Qin Hanyue: "If there is anywhere I can help, I'm happy to be of service."
Lin Cheng's eyes instantly became guarded. Rather than feeling happy about Qin Hanyue's good intentions, he felt like a sheep being eyed by the big bad wolf.
Lin Cheng: "I appreciate your kindness Qin, but I'm already in such bad shape. Maybe look for someone else to fleece—I mean, help."
Don't keep targeting me! I'm just an innocent sheep!
Qin Hanyue: Hmm...seems like the impression I'm giving is not very good. Oh well, he's just a cousin-in-law, no big deal.
Qin Hanyue: "Are you going to rest now, Duke Lin?"
Lin Cheng: "Yeah, breakfast was great today Qin. Take your time." He then prepared to return to his room.
Qin Hanyue: "I plan to talk to Mr. Lin about his daughter's matters. Should we go together after you've rested, or..."
Qin Hanyue hadn't even finished speaking.
Lin Cheng had already turned back around: "You mean...my uncle's daughter?"
