After provoking the holy maiden of Miao territory, she was infected with a love curse.

My back pressed against the hard edge of the bathtub.

Sang Che heard Yin Huaixi's seductive words and took a deep breath...

The violent pounding of her heart betrayed Yin Huaixi's unspeakable yet equally turbulent emotions.

Looking down at Sang Che's still movements, and noticing the emerald green bathwater gradually becoming calm, Yin Huaixi chuckled and gripped Sang Che's shoulder tightly with her fingers.

Her once fair shoulders now bear the distinctive marks of her fingers.

"Ah Che, what's wrong... are you afraid to continue?"

"You weren't always this timid... Didn't you always want to do whatever you wanted?"

Despite being pressed so aggressively, Sang Che remained completely unperturbed; she simply chuckled.

His palm naturally rested on Yin Huaixi's waist, and the warm water droplets instantly soaked through Sang Che's fingers. The once calm pool water rippled again, and black hair floated in the water, rising and falling with the waves.

Looking up at Yin Huaixi, Sang Che's voice was hoarse: "Huaixi, if I really did what I wanted to do, wouldn't you be angry?"

With both hands firmly planted on Sang Che's shoulders, Yin Huaixi felt like a drowning person finding a piece of driftwood. She sneered, "Do I need you to do this once?"

"Ah Che, we did everything we should have done... and everything we shouldn't have done."

"If you're worried about your health and haven't recovered from all the running around, then... I'll wash up and get up so as not to disturb your rest."

After saying that, Yin Huaixi made a move to get up.

But Sang Che stopped her without saying a word. She slipped and fell on top of Sang Che's body.

Eyes facing each other.

A hand emerged from the water and pressed against Yin Huaixi's cheek; Sang Che brushed aside her wet hair.

She gently closed her moist eyes and kissed him, her eagerness as if she hadn't tasted such a delicacy in a long time.

After the initial impatience, it gradually calmed down and became gentle.

Slowly leading her... the other person also fell into this gentle embrace.

Yin Huaixi did not shy away from Sang Che's initiative, and her tense nerves, which had been strained for days, were relieved at this moment.

Love potion can suppress or temporarily make people forget the chaotic thoughts in their minds.

Yin Huaixi knew that indulging in the love potion for one night was a "foolish" act.

But she... really wanted a hug, really wanted a passionate touch, really wanted Sang Che's intrusive actions...

That way, she could temporarily forget the pain of not being able to go home.

...

Inside the elegant hall.

A maid came in to change the candles.

They moved with light steps, as if afraid that the slightest movement would disturb the master of the bedchamber.

Jiawan sat on the edge of the bed in a huff, deliberately turning her back to the already sleeping Zhao Huining, refusing to look at his eyes, eyebrows, nose, or mouth.

They argued for a while.

In the end, Zhao Huining did not get what he wanted, and Jiawan couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart.

She never imagined that her drunken ramblings would be so memorable to Zhao Huining, who still remembers them to this day.

That wasn't just Jia Wan jokingly saying; she genuinely cherished Zhao Huining, the "medicine person" she had rescued from Sang Che.

He was skilled in medicine making and incense making, knowledgeable and reasonable, and proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

It also helps keep her entertained by keeping her company with stories that the Han people love to talk about.

Even better, Zhao Huining never objected to her decisions and always kept his word.

He followed her lead without question.

This is something Jiawan has never enjoyed.

She respected Sang Che, but often her sudden, impulsive decisions would only elicit a helpless smile from him, and a response that he would never accept.

But in front of Zhao Huining, Jiawan could be unrestrained and do whatever she wanted. Zhao Huining's complete obedience truly made Jiawan want to possess her.

He never even considered using a curse on Zhao Huining.

The noises outside the bed curtains gradually subsided.

Jiawan knew that the maid who came to change the candles had left. She glanced at the maid's figure as she closed the door, and then took the opportunity to look at the sleeping Zhao Huining.

Gone is the lively spirit she had on Fengming Mountain. A deep worry lingers between Zhao Huining's brows. Even in her sleep, she appears lifeless and gloomy.

Jiawan's stay here is no different from Zhao Huining's stay at Fengming Mountain; she has food and drink, but she has no freedom.

Reaching out, before Zhao Huining woke up, Jia Wan couldn't help but touch the face she used to love rubbing the most.

Applying a little pressure with your fingertips still gives you the same feeling, but... it's never the same again.

Seemingly feeling an itch on her face, Zhao Huining turned over in her sleep, startling Jia Wan like a mouse seeing a cat, causing her to immediately let go of Jia Wan's hand.

There was a long silence.

Jiawan stared at her palm in disbelief, unwilling to believe that she had really been unable to resist touching Zhao Huining's cheek.

They even reminisced about their time together at Phoenix Mountain!

He cursed himself in his heart.

To stop her from overthinking, Jiawan lifted the covers and curled up in a corner of the bed, intending to fall asleep.

In the candlelight, a colorful butterfly fluttered and landed on the edge of the sheer bed curtains. Its wings were fluttering, and Jiawan's eyes lit up instantly!

This is…

These are butterflies that A-Che raised himself!

Ah Che has finally found us!

...

Outside the courtyard, it rained heavily again during the night.

The blue tiles were smashed with a crackling sound, and the lush trees, their leaves laden with dew, kept falling down.

It seeped into the gravel along with the raindrops.

A stove was burning inside.

The charcoal fire sparked, filling the room with warmth.

Yin Huaixi broke out in a light sweat from the heat. Her fingers unconsciously brushed against Sang Che's back. Only when she was in a daze would Yin Huaixi unconsciously grab the soft flesh of Sang Che's waist.

"Huaixi, you're burning up..."

"It feels so comfortable to hold you like this."

Sang Che craved warmth from Yin Huaixi, but her closeness did not offend Yin Huaixi.

Yin Huaixi, who was burning up, also needed the cool warmth of Sang Che's body to dispel the heat from the fire.

"Now that it's like this, can you tell me... what's different about that butterfly?"

"It's not blue...it's not red..."

Sang Che seemed to have anticipated that Yin Huaixi would ask this question. She placed a wet kiss on Yin Huaixi's nose, her voice already hoarse.

"That butterfly is my most prized child. I only have one of it. It was raised with my blood. It has a spirit and can hide in the world."

"No one noticed."

Upon hearing those last four words, Yin Huaixi snorted coldly, not believing that Sang Che was telling her the truth.

Yin Huaixi: "If that colorful butterfly is really as powerful as you say, why did I see it fluttering around you as soon as I entered the bathtub?"

"Ah Che, when did you learn that self-praising, 'selling your own melons' rhetoric?"

Sang Che buried his head completely in Yin Huaixi's chest, his whole body shaking with laughter.

She simply lay down next to Yin Huaixi.

Sang Che: "Huai Xi, do you really want to know?"

Yin Huaixi: "Of course, if I knew, why would I ask you?"

With her cheek resting on the back of her hand, Sang Che leaned completely against Yin Huaixi. This time, she didn't change the subject but answered Yin Huaixi honestly.

"Because...it considers both you and me to be its masters."

"Huai Xi, we share the same aura. If you want... you can make those little guys listen to you."

"I don't mind."

Sang Che's eyes were too deceptive, too innocent. Every time Yin Huaixi met his gaze, she didn't know whether to believe what Sang Che said to her.

"You're lying to me again. I don't believe you're telling the truth..."

Clutching the blanket, Yin Huaixi was about to turn around when Sang Che reached out and pressed down on her shoulder.

She coiled around me like a snake.

With his other hand, Sang Che held Yin Huaixi's palm tightly, and whispered in Yin Huaixi's ear.

In a soft, whispered voice, like a lover's whisper, "I'm so happy with you... how could I lie to you?"

"It's true."