NCCnovel Chapter 500 Young Master, could you stay in this room tonight? Wanqing is scared…
Chapter 500 Young Master, could you stay in this room tonight? Wanqing is scared…
The door to the room closed slowly behind the two of them with a soft "bang".
The corridor returned to silence.
The two maids stood at the doorway, exchanged a glance, and both saw the tension and curiosity in each other's eyes.
They lowered their eyes and stepped back to either side of the door, like two lifeless statues.
In Qin Mu's room, the candlelight burned quietly inside the lampshade, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.
Jiang Zhaoyue leaned against the bedpost, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, carrying an indescribable and meaningful smile.
"I didn't expect that I couldn't even wait one night."
Yunluan stood by the window, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her back ramrod straight, her face cold and stern.
Her gaze fell on the deep night outside the window, and her voice was soft.
"Of course. His Majesty and she will be parting ways tomorrow, so she naturally needs to seize the opportunity tonight. Otherwise, where will she find His Majesty when they're scattered all over the world?"
Jiang Zhaoyue smiled, with a hint of composure that suggested she had seen through people's hearts.
She turned to look at Yunluan, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Guess how long it will take before the sound rings out?"
Yunluan remained silent for a moment, then turned her gaze from the window to the wall shared with the neighbor, her voice cold and clear.
"At most... one hour."
Jiang Zhaoyue's smile deepened. "I guess half an hour."
Xu Fenghua sat on the edge of the bed, her hands folded on her knees, her head down, her expression unreadable.
Her heart felt like it was churning with boiling oil, making her internal organs tremble.
She didn't know why she was like this, or what she was feeling sad about.
She just felt a tightness in her chest, like a wad of wet cotton stuffed inside, both suffocating and heavy.
Yun Suxin leaned against the corner of the wall, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the ground, her face expressionless.
Her heart was completely calm, as calm as a stagnant pool.
She was way past the age of getting upset over such things, and besides, she didn't like Qin Mu.
She just found it somewhat laughable that woman thought she could get what she wanted by offering herself up; how naive she was.
Han Xin'er sat on the other side of the bed, her hands supporting her on the bed board, her head down, and the tips of her ears were red.
She dared not look at anyone, nor dared to speak.
Her mind was blank, with only Chen Wanqing's flushed face and Qin Mu's casual "okay" echoing repeatedly.
She had no idea what was happening next door, or what that "sound" was.
But she had a vague feeling that it wasn't a good thing.
Her heart was pounding, her palms were sweaty, and her breathing became rapid.
Five people, five different thoughts, in the same room, waiting for the light in the next room to go out, waiting for that sound they shouldn't hear to start.
........
The night breeze seeped in through the cracks in the window, causing the candlelight to flicker gently.
The moonlight peeked out from behind the clouds, illuminating the corridor in a silvery white.
Two maids stood at the door, heads bowed, like two lifeless statues.
Inside the door, the candlelight burned quietly.
Several delicate side dishes and a pot of warm Shaoxing wine were laid out on the table.
The aroma of wine and food mingled together, filling the air.
The candlelight burned quietly inside the lampshade, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.
Chen Wanqing sat opposite Qin Mu, holding the wine pot in both hands. The amber wine poured out from the spout, drawing a long, thin arc in the air before falling precisely into the celadon wine cup in front of Qin Mu.
The wine swirled in the cup without spilling a single drop.
She put down the wine jug, lowered her eyes, and spoke softly.
"Young master, please."
Qin Mu picked up the wine cup, took a small sip, and put it down.
His gaze lingered on her face, the smile still playing on his lips. "You're too kind, Miss Chen."
Chen Wanqing shook her head, her voice carrying just the right amount of gratitude and admiration.
"Young master saved Wanqing's life, and Wanqing has no way to repay him. What is a mere meal and wine?"
She picked up her wine cup, raised it to Qin Mu, and drank it all in one gulp.
The liquor enters the throat, its spicy and bitter taste spreading from the tip of the tongue to the throat.
She choked, coughed twice, and her face turned even redder, as if it were about to bleed.
Qin Mu looked at her without saying a word.
He picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.
Chen Wanqing poured him another cup, and then poured herself one.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Her face grew increasingly red, and her eyes became more and more unfocused, as if seen through a thin veil, hazy and indistinct.
Her hand rested on Qin Mu's arm, her fingertips trembling slightly, her voice very soft, as if she were talking to herself.
"Young master... Wanqing has a favor to ask of you."
Qin Mu looked down at her hands, then looked up at her face.
"What is it?"
Chen Wanqing spoke softly, her voice barely audible, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and she dared not look Qin Mu in the eye.
"Young master, could you stay in this room tonight? I'm a little scared... If you were here with me, I wouldn't be afraid."
Her fingers curled slightly on Qin Mu's arm, then quickly released.
Qin Mu smiled faintly, his gaze falling on her flushed face, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
"Are you sure? We're a man and a woman alone in a room. Spending the whole night in one room wouldn't be good for your reputation."
Chen Wanqing bit her lip, raised her head, and met his gaze.
Her eyes were full of determination, and a hint of desperate resolve.
"I'm sure. Young master, I'm not afraid."
Qin Mu looked at her for a few moments, then smiled.
"Alright, then I'll stay here tonight."
Chen Wanqing's eyes suddenly lit up.
Her lips couldn't help but curl upwards, and she couldn't suppress it no matter what she did.
"That's wonderful, young master! Then Wanqing will toast you again."
She picked up the wine pot, filled Qin Mu's cup, and then filled her own.
The wine poured from the spout, swirling in the cup. Her hand trembled slightly, and a few drops spilled onto the table.
She picked up her wine cup, raised it to Qin Mu, and drank it all in one gulp.
The liquor went down her throat, spicy and bitter. She choked, coughed twice, her eyes reddened, but she smiled.
Qin Mu picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.
Chen Wanqing poured him another cup, and then poured herself one.
One cup after another, the wine cups emptied and filled again, filled and then emptied once more.
Her face grew redder and redder, as if it had been dyed with rouge, burning from her cheeks to her ears, from her ears to her neck, and even into the depths of her collar.
Her gaze grew increasingly unfocused, as if seen through a thin veil, hazy and indistinct, everything appearing hazy and shrouded in a halo.
She downed another glass of wine, the liquid spilling from the corner of her mouth, sliding down her chin, and dripping onto her clothes.
Then Chen Wanqing knew that it was time.
So she put down her wine cup, shook her head, and the things in front of her began to spin.
She reached out to grab the edge of the table, but grasped nothing. Her body swayed, and she fell into Qin Mu's arms.
Her face was pressed against his chest, feeling the warmth of his body and listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, like two feathers shivering in the wind.
She slowly raised her head, looking at Qin Mu with teary eyes, her lips slightly parted, uttering a hoarse word tinged with alcohol.
"Young master..."
That "Young Master" contained a touch of acting, a touch of genuine emotion, and a touch of unbridled indulgence under the influence of alcohol.
She herself couldn't tell the difference anymore, and didn't want to anymore.
All she knew was that she was in his arms at that moment, and that was all she wanted.
Her fingers climbed onto his shoulder, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Her face drew closer and closer to his, so close that she could see the curve of his eyelashes, so close that she could see her own reflection deep in his pupils.
Her face was as red as if it were on fire, and her eyes were as bright as if they held the entire Milky Way.
She closed her eyes.
Qin Mu looked down at her, at her flushed face, at her trembling eyelashes, at her slightly parted lips that smelled of alcohol.
He didn't push her away, nor did he respond; he just sat there quietly.
Chen Wanqing waited a few moments, but what she wanted did not come.
She opened her eyes, which were filled with disappointment and grievance, like a kitten neglected by its owner.
She bit her lip, mustered her courage, stood on tiptoe, and took the initiative to kiss him.
Her lips touched his; they were soft and warm, carrying a faint scent of wine and the delicate fragrance of a young girl.
Chen Wanqing's heart pounded and her hands trembled, but she did not back away.
She kissed him awkwardly and cautiously, like a fledgling bird that had just learned to fly, fluttering its wings and stumbling as it flew towards the sky it had longed for.
Qin Mu did not move.
He stood there like a mountain, silent and unmoved by wind and rain.
Chen Wanqing's tears flowed down her cheeks and dripped onto his clothes.
She released him, lowered her head, and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Young Master...is Wanqing not good enough?"
Qin Mu reached out and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to raise her head and meet his gaze.
A faint, ambiguous smile played on his lips, and his voice was very soft.
"You're fine. But are you sure you want this?"
Chen Wanqing nodded frantically, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sure. Wanqing is sure."
Qin Mu looked at her for a long time.
Then he smiled, leaned down, and kissed her.
This time it's not a superficial attempt, nor is it just a half-hearted effort.
His kiss was deep and intense, with an unyielding domineering quality.
Chen Wanqing's hand climbed up his neck, her fingers sinking into his hair, responding to him like a flower that had finally bloomed after being thoroughly soaked by spring rain.
The candlelight on the table flickered gently, casting the two people's shadows onto the wall, where they intertwined.
The wine cup tipped over, spilling wine onto the table and dripping onto the floor along the edge, making a soft "drip-drip" sound.
The night breeze seeped in through the cracks in the window, causing the curtains to sway gently.
Outside the room, two maids stood at the doorway, their heads bowed.
They exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat strange, their ear tips turning red, and then quickly lowered their heads without saying a word.
In Qin Mu's room next door.
Jiang Zhaoyue leaned against the bedpost, listening intently.
Her fingers tapped lightly on her knees, as if she were counting something.
Suddenly, her fingers stopped abruptly, she froze for a moment, then exclaimed "Ah!" and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
"It hasn't even been an hour."
Her voice carried a hint of surprise, and a touch of something indescribable, bittersweet.
She turned her head and glanced at Yun Luan. "You lost."
Yunluan stood by the window, her face cold and expressionless.
Her gaze fell on the wall shared with the neighbor, her voice cold and clear.
"Indeed, it's only half an hour."
Her tone was flat, as if she were stating a fact.
Jiang Zhaoyue turned her head and looked at Xu Fenghua.
Xu Fenghua kept her head down, so her expression was not visible, but her hands, hanging at her sides, were trembling slightly.
Yun Suxin leaned against the corner of the wall, arms crossed, her face calm, like a stagnant pool.
The corners of her mouth even turned up slightly, with a hint of schadenfreude and a detached, amused air.
Her gaze swept over Xu Fenghua, then landed on Han Xin'er, pausing for a moment.
Han Xin'er sat on the other side of the bed, her hands supporting her on the bed board, her head down, her ear tips bright red, as if they were about to bleed.
The night breeze seeped in through the cracks in the window, causing the candlelight to flicker gently.
The moonlight peeked out from behind the clouds, illuminating the corridor in a silvery white.
Length of night.