C3 A Night of Pleasure

Changshun, who was never good with words, found it especially difficult to see women cry in front of him. Whenever a woman shed tears, no matter how well he had prepared his thoughts, his mind would turn into a tangled mess.

Moreover, he hadn't figured out how to respond to Xiuxiu, so when the moment came, he was at a loss for words and could only maintain his silence.

To Xiuxiu, Changshun's silence seemed to confirm her fears. To someone in distress, his lack of response was like thrusting a steel blade into an already fragile heart.

With a grit of her teeth and a stomp of her foot, Xiuxiu dropped what she was holding and took off running.

Xiuxiu sprinted away, driven by her sorrow, both fast and frantic. Changshun didn't even have the chance to reach out and stop her, and right before them was a swiftly flowing river.

The wooden bridge over the river was narrow, barely wide enough for one person. Even on a normal day, villagers would cross with great caution, fearing a fall into the waters below. But Xiuxiu, in her state of distress, was heedless of the danger. How could she possibly watch her step?

As Changshun watched, just as Xiuxiu reached the bridge, her foot twisted, and she lost her balance, plummeting straight into the river below.

During the rainy season, the river's current was fierce. Xiuxiu was swept away in an instant, vanishing from sight.

Changshun, heart pounding with urgency, threw aside his belongings and plunged into the cold river waters, but Xiuxiu was nowhere to be found.

As Changshun struggled to keep himself afloat, feeling bewildered and helpless, a sudden gust of wind whipped across the surface of the river.

Once the wind subsided and Changshun could once again see clearly, he was astonished to find Xiuxiu, soaked to the skin, collapsed on the riverbank.

Standing beside her was a familiar, graceful figure in a red Tang suit, her bare feet as pristine as white jade—it was the very woman Changshun had encountered the night before.

Indeed, the events of the previous night were not a dream.

In the stark light of day, her features were not as bewitching as they had been under the veil of darkness, but her clear, striking beauty was even more breathtaking.

Standing by the shore, she was straightening out her damp clothes, a hint of impatience on her face. With each step, the bells on her ankles chimed crisply.

She glanced up to see Changshun still struggling in the water, trying to stay afloat. Pausing, she called out with a hint of irritation, "What are you doing lingering in the river? Are you trying to become fish food, or do you expect me to dive in and rescue you again?"

Her sharp tone jolted Changshun to action. He frantically paddled toward the bank.

Despite his strong swimming skills, the swift current made the journey to shore last over ten minutes.

The girl, who had waited patiently by the river, watched Changshun finally emerge. She rolled up her sleeves, turned, and was about to walk away when he called out, "Wait! Are you just going to leave?"

Changshun, soaked to the bone, urgently beckoned her to stay.

She turned back, a raised eyebrow questioning his intent. "You don't want me to go, do you?"

At her question, Changshun froze, the memory of their intimate encounter the night before causing his cheeks to flush.

Noticing his sudden blush, she looked on with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Why are you blushing?"

Changshun, embarrassed and avoiding her gaze, muttered, "I thought last night was only a dream..."

"You thought meeting me last night was just a dream?" she asked, her tone betraying her surprise.

Her calm inquiry felt like an interrogation to Changshun, leaving him even more unsure of what to say.

As she saw Changshun's hesitation, she turned away, bored, the tinkling of her ankle bells marking her departure.

Realizing she might vanish as suddenly as she had appeared the night before, Changshun rushed in front of her, his voice firm despite his nerves, "Please, don't go. I'm ready to take responsibility! Since my grandfather arranged our betrothal, I am willing to marry you!"

"Responsible?" Her voice rose, laced with a heavy dose of skepticism.

"Yes, responsible!" Changshun replied, his expression unwavering, his tone cutting through the air with certainty, without a moment's hesitation.

The girl eyed Changshun, his face etched with earnestness, and couldn't help but laugh. Crossing her arms, she scrutinized him and said, "You say you want to take responsibility for me, yet didn't you just tell that other girl you had someone else?"

Her exquisite face was inches away, her subtle scent enveloping him, almost enough to make one's head spin. Her gaze remained locked on Changshun.

Changshun, feeling awkward, averted his eyes from her piercing gaze and stammered nervously, "No, how could I have someone else? That was a misunderstanding. I was at a loss for words with Xiuxiu. I mean, I have no money, no house—I'm just a poor man. I couldn't possibly provide for her; she's the village chief's daughter, after all."

"Oh, now I get it," the girl said, her smile enchanting, as she looked at Changshun and queried, "So how can you take care of me? How will you be responsible for me?"

Changshun paused, pondering, then lifted his head with solemn intent. "Even though I have nothing at the moment, I will give it my all to keep my promise to you. Because my grandfather arranged our betrothal, I must take responsibility for you!"

"Is that the only reason?" She continued to gaze at him, still curious.

"And, and because last night, I—I held you. You're the first," Changshun confessed, his face flushing with heat as he stumbled over his words.

For years, no woman had ever initiated an embrace with him in the night.

Silence fell after his admission, and just as Changshun's heart brimmed with anxiety, fearing she would find him naive, a soft chuckle broke the quiet, followed by the gentle tease, "Fool?"

"Fool?" Changshun looked up, mulling over the simple yet loaded word, as the girl stepped back, her expression once again serene and detached.

"We've never had anything happen between us. It was just an arranged engagement by your grandfather. You're going to embrace many women in the future. Are you saying you need to take responsibility for each one?" The girl's words weighed heavily on Changshun, like a stone pressing on his chest. She was the first woman to stir his heart in all these years. He quickly tried to defend himself, "No, that's not..."

But before he could finish, she cut him off, pointing to Xiuxiu lying on the ground. "You might want to pay attention to the person at your feet. If you don't look after this girl, she might not make it much longer." Her words jolted Changshun, who had nearly forgotten Xiuxiu, who had fallen into the river.

As Changshun looked down, Xiuxiu coughed, expelling a considerable amount of water. While he knelt to attend to her, the girl vanished with the sound of a bell, leaving Changshun with a pang of loss. He wanted to follow her, but with Xiuxiu unconscious behind him, he had no choice but to carry her on his back.

He resolved then and there to avoid other women from now on, trusting that over time, she would recognize his true feelings. Without a hospital in the village, Changshun had no option but to take Xiuxiu home.

Little did he expect that shortly after setting out, as he reached the edge of the village, a chilling presence swept over him. The tall wild grass rustled ominously, and a sense of foreboding crept over him. With mountains surrounding the village, home to numerous venomous snakes and wild beasts, it wasn't unheard of for someone to be fatally bitten.

Considering the danger, Changshun gently laid Xiuxiu down and decided to look for something to defend themselves. Should a wild beast appear, he was determined to protect them both.

Having just set Xiuxiu down, the chilling sensation that had gripped his heart vanished. As he silently breathed a sigh of relief, a figure suddenly leapt out from the tall grass.

But it wasn't a venomous snake or a wild beast; it was a living, breathing human being.