Chapter 169: Chapter 169

What a vengeful little girl!

"So if you don’t take me, who are you planning to take?"

That expression - a mix of accusation, grievance, and a bit of innocence - looked at Yun Ran with a face so handsome it could rival the gods, making Yun Ran feel momentarily like the villain.

[Oh, this man sure has the potential to be a femme fatale that could bring down a country and compete for favor in a harem! Too bad he’s not a woman!]

[Come to think of it, can’t men also do that? Didn’t a past dynasty have a male empress?]

[It’s said that the current Linze Country Lord is fond of men too and keeps several male consorts in his harem...]

[With such beauty, if this man went, he would definitely outshine all and be the sole favorite! The ruler wouldn’t attend morning court, spending nights in revelry, unable to extricate himself...]

Nangong Mo’s handsome face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot, eyes narrowing at Yun Ran with a brewing storm.

Yet Yun Ran was too absorbed in her thoughts to notice him.

After holding back again and again, he finally couldn’t take it anymore and spoke, "Lin, Wan, Yue."

That voice sounded like it was squeezed through clenched teeth, each word dripping with resentment, turning into a wisp of a ghost as it landed.

Yun Ran shivered, snapped back to reality by the cold tone.

She glared at him angrily, "What do you want? What does it matter to you who I take? Can’t I go by myself?"

[Dog man! Just because I don’t want to take him, does he have to look at her with those eyes and that expression? Like a ghostly wraith from hell, how scary!]

The man narrowed his eyes: This girl has all sorts of wild thoughts in her head about him, yet she acts innocent?

"Aren’t you planning to take Shen Weixi with you? If she can go, why can’t I?"

Yun Ran rolled her eyes, "And you say you weren’t eavesdropping?"

He replied without changing his expression, "I just happened to pass by and heard that one sentence."

Yun Ran: [I don’t believe you! You must have been hiding in some corner listening from beginning to end!]

Nangong Mo: This girl really knows him! This must be what people mean when they say a couple’s hearts are connected!

For a moment, the man’s mood improved greatly, and he couldn’t help but smile.

"As your husband, naturally I should go meet your mother-in-law. Lin Wanyue, you are not allowed to refuse."

Yun Ran blinked, her smile bright and friendly, "Sure!"

This took Nangong Mo by surprise, with a mix of delight and uncertainty, "You... agreed?"

"Mm-hmm~ I’ve decided to give you a stab so you can personally meet my mother. Maybe she’ll even prepare a meeting gift for you."

"From your expression... are you impatient for me to take you to meet her now?"

"That’s doable~ I’ll go find a butcher’s knife right away."

The man’s handsome face stiffened, black as the bottom of a pot: A knife is one thing, but a butcher’s knife... this girl!

Hmph! Don’t want to take me? I didn’t want to go anyway!

I’ll just sneak off by myself!

Suddenly, something hit the top of his head.

"Hey, is that expression an indication you’re mentally cursing this girl?"

This girl thinks everyone likes to curse people in their hearts just like her?

"I wasn’t. Just counting dates."

"Counting what? When you can pay your respects? There’s no place for you, so counting is pointless."

The man looked at her, a slight smirk on his lips, "I’m counting when you’ll be convenient enough for me to fulfill my promise to serve you at night."

For a moment, flustered in the wind, Yun Ran slapped him, "Promise your head! Who asked you for that? Keep talking nonsense, and I’ll poison you silent!"

"I know you’re shy, I’ll stop talking then."

"Hmph! At least you know when to quit!"

Yun Ran glared at him, picked up the sweetened soup on the low table, and had just taken two sips when a devilish voice drifted to her ears.

"I’ve been diligently studying these past days, so when the time comes, I’ll surely do well and make my consort satisfied."

Shocked by these words, Yun Ran got so agitated that she choked on the soup, coughing violently.

The man immediately leaned over, gently patting her back to help her catch her breath, "Consort, are you alright? How did you choke?" New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on ɴovelfire.net

Yun Ran was coughing too much to respond to him, but couldn’t help cursing him in her heart.

[Bastard! How dare he talk ?! Doesn’t he know why I choked?!]

"You can even choke on water, fine, I’ll feed you instead."

Just as she heard him say this, he lifted the bowl to her lips, voice gentle, "Lin Wanyue, open your mouth."

"Before I pick up a brick, you’d better put down that bowl."

The tone was icy, landing with an air of menace!

"Alright, I’ll put it down."

The man followed her lead and set the bowl down, but not before taking a sip.

Then, seriously commented, "Not bad, it’s really sweet."

[Which nerve of his has been blown out of proportion now? Isn’t he the one who doesn’t even like sweets?]

Just as she was left speechless, the man raised an eyebrow and smiled at her, "Lin Wanyue, would you like to try?"

Before Yun Ran could react, he quickly leaned in, wrapping an arm around her waist, locking her in his embrace with one arm while pressing the back of her head with the other, his thin lips covering her soft ones.

Yun Ran, belatedly aware, pounded his chest with a fist, only for her efforts to be exchanged with a more domineering and tangled kiss.

Leaving her breathless, her cheeks flushed, her body softened, at his whim and fancy.

A long while later, the man gently caressed the girl’s blushing cheek with his slender fingers, smiling lightly, his voice low and slightly hoarse, "Lin Wanyue, the sweet soup was sweet, but you are sweeter."

Yun Ran held her breath, blushing, she uttered, "Shameless!"

The man let out a low laugh, suddenly biting her lip lightly, his laughter seductive as the girl’s scream filled the room.

"Lin Wanyue, did you feel it? Clearly, I have teeth, don’t I?"

[Did I disturb someone’s ancestral grave in my past life? How did I end up with this menace?!]

The man chuckled softly, pinched her cheek, his tone gentle and doting, "Alright, it’s late, time for me to take care of you for the night, my princess."

Yun Ran glared at him, "Who needs you to do that? Go cool off somewhere else."

"That won’t do! You’re so cold; I need to warm the bed for you!"

[Should I thank him for being so considerate and tender-hearted?!]

Nangong Mo: No need to thank me, just marry me!

Since his injury, Shen Mubai had been bedridden for quite some time.

All these days, he had been following the doctor’s orders, staying in bed to recuperate unless absolutely necessary.

This morning, however, he got up early, rummaged through the wardrobe to find his formal wear, seemingly preparing to go out.

When Yu Qingyan pushed the door open, she saw him out of bed, slightly surprised, quickly stepping forward to support him.

"Mr. Shen, why are you up? The doctor said your wound needs to heal properly with rest, you mustn’t move around carelessly."

The woman’s eyes were full of tenderness and concern.

Shen Mubai glanced at her, speaking slowly, "Qing’er, I have an important matter today and need to go out for a bit."

Upon hearing this, Yu Qingyan couldn’t help but exclaim, "Go out?"

"How can you? No, you can’t! Your wound hasn’t healed yet; you can’t go out!"

Looking into her eyes, his voice gentle yet firm, "Today is the memorial of a very important old friend, and I must attend."

Yu Qingyan, perceptive as ever, knew that while he appeared gentle, once he made a decision, it was hard to change.

She frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, then personally dressed him and tied his hair.

Speaking gently, "Mr. Shen, since that old friend is very important to you, I shouldn’t stop you from going."

"But I am really worried about you; may I accompany you on this trip?"