Chapter 143 Ice and Fire
Chapter 143 Ice and Fire
The moment their eyes met.
Jingye felt a "buzz" in her brain, as if all her thoughts had been cleared in that instant, and she instantly crashed.
As a butler who had always upheld etiquette, he never imagined that he would one day be so disheveled as to be "pressed" onto a hospital bed by his employer.
At this moment, their faces were pressed together, so close that it seemed as if everything else in the world had disappeared, leaving only each other.
The soft, sweet scent of white pears surrounded him, making his heart inexplicably uneasy.
She gently sat on his waist and abdomen. That weight might not have been a big deal under normal circumstances, but at this moment, at the point where the two of them were touching, it felt as if an invisible electric current was surging through him, spreading rapidly from the point of contact to his whole body, causing his body to tingle uncontrollably and every inch of his skin to become unusually sensitive.
Actually, Bai Li didn't really crush him; Jing Ye still had wounds on his body.
So, she simply placed her hands on either side of Jingye's body and "slammed" him onto the bed.
Bai Li did this partly to make herself more intimidating during the interrogation, and to make Jing Ye realize the seriousness of his previous risky behavior;
Secondly, of course, I still wanted to "punish" him...
In another way.
When Bai Li questioned him in such an intimate yet forceful manner, Jing Ye felt a surge of heat rush from his neck to his cheeks. Instantly, his face turned bright red, and even the tips of his ears were tinged with an alluring blush.
His eyes began to dart around, his usually calm, deep, and unperturbed gaze now wandering frantically, unsure of where to settle.
His hands unconsciously gripped the sheets beside him, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, as if only in this way could he barely support his faltering sanity.
Such physical contact had long exceeded the boundaries of etiquette he had always adhered to, breaking the threshold he could accept.
Moreover, his love for Bai Li had long since penetrated to the bone and reached the depths of his soul.
He felt his blood boiling, and his rational defenses were crumbling at that moment. Who could remain composed in such a situation?
He couldn't hide it anymore, and he couldn't hold back any longer. He completely forgot what Bai Li was asking. At this moment, all his senses were occupied by Bai Li. He could only truly feel her seemingly light yet incredibly heavy weight, as well as the fragrance on her body.
“Miss…” Jingye murmured, his voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, carrying a hint of shyness and unease he had never felt before, along with a suppressed sob. It was a sound he could only manage to squeeze out after trying his best to suppress it.
Bai Li was somewhat surprised to see Jing Ye in such a state.
what happened?
Is it that sensitive?
I don't think I did anything...
Seeing his expression, Bai Li's feigned "fierceness" softened slightly, but she hardened her heart, narrowed her eyes slightly, and deliberately emphasized her tone: "Didn't you say you could punish me however you wanted? Why can't you take it now? What if something even worse happens later? Hmm?"
The smell of disinfectant was mixed with the sweet pear scent from Bai Li's hair, filling the small ward space.
Jingye's Adam's apple bobbed rapidly, and all she could hear was herself breaking out in a sob: "No... that's not how it is."
He tried to turn his head away from the intense gaze, his eyelashes casting dappled shadows under his eyes, but Bai Li gently pinched his chin with her fingertips.
"Oh? What kind is that?" Bai Li lowered her voice.
Her fingertips touched Jingye's burning skin, the delicate touch making Bai Li unable to resist rubbing it a couple of times. She continued:
"You wrote Article 3 of the 'Deacon Code' in your letter. I'm curious about the other articles. Since you like to follow them so much, do the rules say how to punish a deacon who has been swayed by personal feelings and then leaves without permission?"
Bai Li already knew the entire "Butler's Code," but she just wanted to ask, wanted Jing Ye to tell her himself.
Jingye's pupils contracted slightly; he had long since memorized the entire "Deacon's Code of Conduct."
But in this situation, how can one... recite the "Rules of Conduct" that represent order in a proper and dignified manner?
Bai Li's knees were pressed against his waist, and he could feel the temperature gradually spiraling out of control beneath the thin blanket.
He almost had to bite his tongue to find his voice and barely managed to recite the words.
"...The master has the right to supervise the deacon who neglects his post for life."
The words in the "Code of Conduct" are perfectly normal, but when spoken now, each word takes on a different color, sounding ambiguous and strange.
Bai Li met Jing Ye's gaze. Her usually calm blue eyes were now glistening with tears, like the sea before a storm, unfathomable.
In the quiet ward, time seemed to stand still, with only the sound of their intertwined breathing and their rapid heartbeats remaining.
"Lifetime supervision?" Bai Li leaned down slightly, her nose almost touching his, her warm breath brushing against his trembling lips, sending a jolt of electricity through him. "That sounds like a good suggestion."
Jingye felt as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest, and the violent heaving of her chest pulled on the bandage on her right shoulder.
Pain, which should have been an anchor for clarity, has instead become a spark that fuels further escalation.
"Shall we brand you?" Bai Li leaned closer to Jing Ye and asked softly in a breathy voice. As she spoke, her warm breath brushed against Jing Ye's cheek, and a sly glint flashed in her eyes.
This incident served as a mirror, allowing Bai Li to clearly see her own heart and truly realize her feelings for Jing Ye.
Unbeknownst to her, her feelings for Jingye had long since transcended the simple master-servant boundary and evolved into deep love.
Jingye's departure completely disrupted her heart. Every minute and every second was agonizing. She was constantly worried about Jingye's safety. Every time she thought that Jingye might be in danger, her heart felt like it was being crushed by a heavy stone, and she couldn't breathe from the pain.
Jingye had long become the most important person in her life; she was family, a close friend, and, most importantly, the lover she cherished dearly.
Previously, in order to upgrade Xiao Hao, she was obsessed with finding those who consistently had a favorability rating of 80+, easily ignoring Jing Ye's deep affection for her and excluding Jing Ye from the list.
Jingye always quietly gives his all, arranging everything in an orderly manner. Whether it's the tedious details of daily life or the complexities of work, he handles everything flawlessly.
But she missed too many precious moments with Jingye and overlooked the occasional loneliness in Jingye's eyes.
Now that I think about it, if I had continued to follow the original plan and kept meeting new people of the opposite sex, what would have become of Jingye?
He grew up in an environment lacking love and longed for love deep down.
He had always given her all his loyalty and love, but she almost broke his heart because of the upgrade mission.
How painful must it be for Jingye to watch himself interact with other people?
At this moment, Bai Li's heart is firm, and the confusion and entanglement of the past have vanished.
Having realized her own feelings, she no longer hesitated.
She wasn't joking when she said she wanted to "brand" Jingye; she really meant it.
Jingye was still wondering what kind of mark Baili was referring to.
In his past understanding, the word "brand" was always associated with pain and shame.
In the past, those who dared to betray the family's will were subjected to the cruel punishment of being branded with irons.
He wondered if Bai Li was referring to a similar punishment.
Recalling his previous act of leaving without permission, he felt guilty, thinking that his behavior must have broken Bai Li's heart, which was why she wanted to punish him in such an extreme way.
His mind was in complete chaos, a jumble of thoughts that made it impossible for him to think clearly. He never imagined that Bai Li would be so cruel to him.
In his chaotic thoughts, only one strong idea remained: as long as he could stay by Bai Li's side and gain even a sliver of her favor, he would not care about the pain.
He had already made up his mind to spend his whole life by Bai Li's side, unwavering and never to leave easily again.
However, deep down he couldn't help but silently pray that the brand wouldn't be imprinted on his face, otherwise Bai Li wouldn't like his face anymore, and he would be disgusted with her...
His mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts, so when Bai Li pressed her lips to his, Jing Ye didn't react immediately.
The soft, warm touch felt like an electric current, instantly freezing Jingye in place.
"Bai Li...she kissed herself?"
Jingye's mind was blank, with only this one thought echoing in her mind.
The fragrance emanating from Bai Li lingered around him, seeping into his body in subtle ways. His previously blank thoughts gradually began to return under the influence of this fragrance.
Finally realizing what was happening, Jingye's pupils contracted slightly, and she gripped the bedsheet tightly, her bones creaking under the strain.
Bai Li deeply imprinted her burning "mark" on Jing Ye's body.
For many years, he lingered in loneliness and depression, his inner emotions shrouded in layers.
This kiss, like the warm spring sun, melted away all those cold shackles.
It's like some wild beast that has been dormant for many years is breaking free of its chains.
The emotions that had been suppressed for so long surged forth like a flood bursting its banks, completely out of control.
He had always carefully protected this relationship, and now, Bai Li's initiative had given him an outlet for all his emotions.
At this moment, he no longer hid his emotions and revealed all his true feelings without reservation.
Jingye slowly closed her eyes, and hot tears rolled uncontrollably down her cheeks.
So this is what is called "branding," what is called punishment.
He thought he was going to drown in this punishment.
His hands unconsciously wrapped around Bai Li's waist, wanting to hold her tightly in his arms and completely integrate himself into her life.
Bai Li noticed his movement, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and she gently pulled her lips away.
She gazed at Jingye's exquisite expression at that moment—her flushed cheeks, her dreamy eyes, and the hidden doubt and grievance in them—all of which captivated her.
She smiled mischievously, her voice carrying a hint of seduction, and commanded in an irresistible tone, "You haven't been allowed to touch me yet. Don't move now, or I'll stop."
The real punishment has not yet begun...
The butler thought that leaving the Green Vine family would bring him a new life and freedom, but little did he know that he was now facing a constraint a hundred times more "terrifying" than that of the Green Vine family.
Bai Li wants to personally break the "spiritual slave mark" that the Qing Teng family has placed on Jing Ye, and then cover it with her own unique mark.
She let herself fall into this boiling blue sea, where the fangs of punishment transformed into tender temptations.
In the stillness of the night, amidst the shimmering water, she gently bit his Adam's apple, and as she wished, she heard a suppressed groan.
The ambiguous atmosphere in the air grew stronger.
Bai Li left more "marks" on Jing Ye's body, the kind that were far more irresistible than kisses.
Jingye bit her lower lip tightly, trying to suppress the surging emotions in her heart, but the slight tremor spread from the corner of her lips to her whole body.
Bai Li's movements both thrilled and captivated him.
His chest heaved violently, each breath rapid and hot.
Bai Li wouldn't allow him to move.
So he could only grip the bed sheet tightly, his knuckles turning white and the veins on the back of his hands bulging.
His eyes were slightly open, and his brows were tightly furrowed, as if he were enduring immense pain.
Her eyes, which were originally as deep as the vast starry sky, were now half-hidden by her eyelids, but the emotions overflowing within them were so intense and passionate that they could not be concealed.
Tears still clung to his eyelashes, trembling slightly with his body's movements, the glistening teardrops sparkling in the light.
He tried his best to maintain his voice, but he couldn't help but let out a few suppressed, broken gasps, like the low growls of a wounded beast.
His hair was also a bit messy from his struggle, with a few strands sticking to his sweaty forehead, adding to his disheveled yet sexy appearance.
The scent of white pears lingered around him, its unique fragrance like invisible threads that tightly bound him.
He subconsciously tensed his waist and abdomen, which caused Bai Li's knees to sink even deeper into the soft bedding. The warm, moist skin beneath her silk nightgown was burning his nerves through the fabric.
He felt as if he were in a blazing fire, his body burning hot, and his reason gradually turning to ashes in the flames.
In the gentle trap, Jingye's voice was terribly hoarse, and a vortex of forbidden desire churned in his eyes. With the last shred of his sanity, he said with difficulty, "I will defile you."
Without the slightest hesitation, Bai Li tilted her head back and forcefully kissed his trembling, disordered breath: "Then I'll punish you by making you spend the rest of your life washing yourself clean."
Just then, Jingye felt the silver chain that had slipped off Bai Li's collar fall onto her body. The cold metal pressed against her burning skin, and her reason finally crumbled into countless stardust fragments.
This punishment, a blend of "ice and fire," completely engulfed the quiet night.
From that moment on, Jingye belonged entirely to Baili; he could no longer escape her.
[Quiet Night's Affection +21]
[Quiet Night's Affection Level: 100]
Outside the window, the cherry blossoms have bloomed early this year.
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