After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Xie Jinchen did not stop walking, not even pause, but let out a soft laugh.

He turned his head slightly, his warm breath brushing against her ear, his voice low and teasing:

"Jiang Dusheng, I've said it before, I want to wait until our wedding night."

He paused, feeling the person on his back stiffen instantly, before slowly continuing, his breath drawing closer. "But..."

"I'm not sure, I don't necessarily have to wait until that day."

"So..." Xie Jinchen's voice rose slightly at the end, carrying a seductive tone, "Are you sure you still want me to come along?"

Xie Jinchen's lowered question was like a pebble thrown into a lake, instantly stirring up some deep, sealed memories in Jiang Dusheng's mind.

That day in the room, the burning sensation and astonishing presence, still clearly discernible through the fabric, returned vividly, accompanied by Xie Jinchen's suppressed breathing and deep gaze.

Jiang Dusheng felt his cheeks and even his neck burning up rapidly. Fortunately, most of his face was hidden behind his neck, so it wasn't completely exposed.

She forced herself to calm down, trying to dispel the inappropriate images in her mind and ignore her rapid heartbeat and the annoying heat on her face.

She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound calm, and began:

"Just now, I don't know who it was that made such a solemn promise that they would stay with me from now on."

She mimicked Xie Jinchen's tone, then shook her head and let out a soft sigh:

"Indeed, as people often say, men are good at sweet-talking. Their words are always so beautiful, their vows so solemn and moving."

"But when it comes to the actual implementation and the need to deliver, they make excuses, their words don't match their actions, and they are hypocritical."

Just then, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed across the sky without warning.

Then came a rumble of thunder, and large raindrops pelted down, instantly weaving a dense curtain of rain that enveloped the sky and earth.

Xie Jinchen reacted extremely quickly. Almost the instant the raindrops fell, he used his lightness skill to rush towards the inn not far away.

The city of Changling had already been locked. The handling of the Wei family's affairs was to be done in secrecy. In order to avoid any complications, the Wei family had already sent someone to book rooms at this inn outside the city during the day, preparing to enter the city the next morning.

Even with Xie Jinchen's swift movements, by the time they reached the eaves of the inn, their clothes were already mostly soaked by the slanting raindrops.

Jiang Dusheng's hair was dripping with water, and wispy strands of hair clung to her smooth skin.

She looked at Xie Jinchen, whose shoulders were also wet, and said, "See, it must be because you didn't keep your word that you angered the heavens and got caught in the rain."

Xie Jinchen glanced at her, not responding to the conversation, but his gaze involuntarily swept over the fabric that vaguely outlined her figure after being soaked by the rain. His eyes darkened instantly, and his Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.

Without saying a word, he put his arm around Jiang Dusheng's shoulder, half-embracing her as they entered the inn's lobby and headed straight for the second-floor, innermost room that had been reserved in advance.

"Go and change your wet clothes quickly, or you'll catch a cold."

Jiang Dusheng was pulled off balance by him and stumbled. After regaining his footing, he also felt that his body was wet, cold, and sticky, which made him very uncomfortable.

She nodded, took out a clean change of clothes from her bag, and carried them behind the screen in the room, not forgetting to turn back and give them a few words of advice:

"Then hurry back to your room and change out of your wet clothes."

"Okay." Xie Jinchen agreed readily, but his gaze followed her figure. "I'll have the waiter prepare some hot soup and dinner first."

After saying that, he turned and left the room, carefully closing the door behind him.

Jiang Dusheng vaguely heard him whispering instructions to the waiter outside the door.

She walked behind the screen, where the bath tub prepared by the inn was already more than half full of steaming hot water. The steam carried a faint scent of soap and herbs, and the warm atmosphere dispelled some of the chill.

Jiang Dusheng took off her soaking wet and sticky outer garment and casually draped it over the edge of the screen. The chill made her shiver involuntarily.

She raised her hand to untie the thin strap on the side of her inner garment.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open and then quickly closed again.

Jiang Dusheng paused in his hand as he untied his belt, his fingertips resting on the knot.

"Xie Jinchen?" she called out in confusion, her hands stopping completely, her heart skipping a beat.

The visitor did not respond.

The tall figure had already circled the edge of the screen and appeared in front of her.

Xie Jinchen's black hair was slightly damp, with a few strands clinging to his forehead, adding to his unruly air.

His gaze fell directly on Jiang Dusheng.

She had taken off her outer garment, leaving only a thin inner garment, which, soaked by the rain, clung tightly to her body, outlining her undulating, rounded figure.

Wet hair clung to the side of her neck, and water droplets slid down her collarbone and into the deeper cleavage of her clothes.

Her eyes, slightly widened in astonishment, appeared misty in the rising steam.

Jiang Dusheng's mind went blank for a moment, his hands instinctively clutching his slightly open collar, his face flushing. "You... how did you get in?"

Xie Jinchen didn't speak, but just stared at her intently. Then he raised his hand and began to unbutton his outer robe. His movements were slow and deliberate, but they carried a strong sense of aggression.

He approached Jiang Dusheng step by step until the two were only breaths apart.

The moisture and coldness emanating from him, combined with a kind of intense heat, completely enveloped her.

"Didn't you say I was two-faced and didn't tell the truth?" Xie Jinchen spoke, his voice terribly hoarse, each word sounding like it was carrying sparks. "Now, I'll show you with my actions..."

He paused, took off his outer robe, and casually tossed it on the ground beside him.

Xie Jinchen reached out and suddenly grabbed Jiang Dusheng's waist, pulling her into his arms.

"I'll be with you." The moment he finished speaking, he led her into the large bathtub next to him.

"Splash!"

Water splashed everywhere, and the warm water instantly submerged the two of them, wetting their clothes and hair and blurring their vision.

The bathtub was spacious enough, but Xie Jinchen kept Jiang Dusheng firmly trapped in the small space between the tub wall and his chest.

The water rippled, and the soaked clothes, having lost all their concealing function, clung tightly to each other's bodies, outlining every undulation and heat.

Jiang Dusheng exclaimed in surprise and placed her hands on his burning chest.

The rising steam blurred the view but made the senses incredibly sharp.

Jiang Dusheng could feel his scalding heat seeping through his wet clothes.

You can feel the giant python poised to strike underwater with unparalleled clarity, even as it trembles slightly with the ripples.

Xie Jinchen braced himself against the side of the tub with one hand, raised the other hand, and stroked her burning cheek, his thumb gently caressing her soft lips.

He turned his head and slowly moved closer, their breaths mingling, their noses touching, his hot breath spraying onto her face.

"Jiang Dusheng," he whispered, his voice filled with undisguised longing and a hint of desperate restraint, "I want to kiss you."