Tang Ning's eyes widened slightly, a faint mist seeming to coalesce in his clear gaze, ready to transform into cascading vapor at any moment. He attempted to evade the unexpected kiss, but the man in wedding attire reached out, firmly holding the back of his head.
The brisk scent of wine spilled onto Tang Ning's face as he extended his other hand, lowering the red curtains, shielding them from prying eyes.
The sheer fabric descended like rosy clouds, casting vague shadows behind.
"An evening's worth a fortune~" someone exclaimed. "We won't disturb you." Those voices laughed and faded into the distance, leaving the entire bridal chamber eerily quiet, with only the sounds of Tang Ning and the person before him breathing.
Tang Ning tightly pursed his lips, nervously staring at Ji Lianyan.
Initially aware of his impending marriage to Ji Lianyan, Tang Ning never anticipated becoming intimate with Fang. The information he heard about Fang was that of a frail, sickly person who struggled even to walk.
When they first met, Fang did indeed match the rumors of being weak and sickly. Tang Ning had respected him, thinking that if anything were to happen on their wedding night, all he needed to do was refuse, and Fang wouldn't force him.
But now...
The red glow reflected in Ji Lianyan's profound eyes, like a drop of fervent heart's blood, an indescribable undercurrent surging within.
A warm tongue licked Tang Ning's tightly closed lips. The sensation brought an inexplicable familiarity, as if...
As if it was the same feeling when he secretly observed Ji Lianyan through a keyhole for the first time, being licked.
This unexpected move left Tang Ning limp on the bed, like a puddle of water. His eyes were liquid, sweat beads glistened on his nose, and his exhaled breath filled the air with misty dampness.
"Lady is truly intolerant of alcohol," Ji Lianyan remarked, his gaze deepening. His hand ventured towards Tang Ning's belt, tightly secured, outlining the delicate intertwining of fragility and allure in this seemingly feeble yet seductive body, tempting anyone who beheld it.
Tang Ning resisted Ji Lianyan's touch, yet he genuinely unfastened the belt. In that moment, he found himself torn between voicing refusal or allowing Ji Lianyan's actions, the internal struggle evident on his face. His eyes oscillated, seemingly torn between resistance and acceptance.
"You, you..." Tang Ning hadn't decided what to say when those fingers squeezed into the inner edge of the belt, snaking into the flesh. The already tight belt became even tighter, and Tang Ning winced in pain, pleading, "Hurry, untie it."
Ji Lianyan chuckled, "As you wish."
Fingers hooked, finding the knotted spot. It was a knot that required some effort to unravel, yet Ji Lianyan showed no haste. He methodically undid the belt, the fingertips' rhythm transmitting through this stretch of red fabric to Tang Ning's waist.
The waist, bound until now, had become fragile, unable to withstand even a droplet of pressure, let alone Ji Lianyan's tofu-like touch.
Tang Ning's eyelashes trembled a couple of times. He lay helpless on the bed, fingertips constantly shaking, like a flower bud gently swaying on a branch, pressed down by dewdrops.
"Ji... Ji Lianyan."
The man's voice was deep, "Call me husband."
Why did this person speak so formally? Husband, lady, and earlier, reciting poetry. His way of speaking matched his actions, dragging everything out – so annoying!
Tang Ning, with a tearful voice, implored, "Husband, please, faster."
Ji Lianyan, looking down at him, said, "Faster? How so?"
Tang Ning was almost driven to tears by this man's deliberate questioning. If he hadn't drunk that glass of wine and if Lin Yun hadn't tied the belt so tightly, he would have untied it himself.
Regretfully, there were no ifs now. Tang Ning could only urge in a trembling voice, "Hurry, untie it."
Ji Lianyan gently said, "Lady, why so impatient?"
While his mouth spoke of Tang Ning's impatience, his deep black eyes stared fixedly at the beauty on the bed. Black hair, red attire, snow-white skin – vibrant colors that pierced straight into one's heart. Tang Ning's face was contorted in pain, eyebrows furrowed, eyes filled with mist, as if any harsher touch would make him cry.
A slight tug on the belt, and indeed, Tang Ning emitted a whimper akin to a kitten.
Ji Lianyan's affection and warmth welled up in his heart. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, "Lady, why tie it so tightly?" The words seemed to blame Tang Ning for creating his own constraints.
Tang Ning was truly in pain, his waist subtly shifting with the direction of Ji Lianyan's fingers, hoping for a bit of comfort amid the tugging. As intoxication set in, Tang Ning sobbed while saying, "You and Lin Yun, both so annoying."
Ji Lianyan's movements halted.
The smile on his face gradually faded away.
"What's wrong with Lin Yun?" His voice remained gentle, even more so than before, soothing enough to make one relax their guard.
"He tied the belt too tight," Tang Ning said with a hint of grievance. "He tied it too tightly."
Ji Lianyan responded with a faint hum.
Tang Ning's vision blurred with tears, unable to discern Ji Lianyan's expression. A strange sense of coldness crept in.
"And how am I annoying?" The voice remained gentle, irresistibly pleasant, making it difficult for Tang Ning to voice any reproachful words.
Suddenly, Tang Ning felt like he was being unreasonable. After all, the belt was genuinely difficult to untie. He had struggled with it for a while before Ji Lianyan started untangling it. How could he suspect that Ji Lianyan intentionally refused to untie the belt?
Ji Lianyan was his next protector; he couldn't afford Ji Lianyan's whims. This belt truly threatened to strangle his reason.
What should he do in this situation?
Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol, but images of Mo Yunchu and Qi Yun inexplicably surfaced in Tang Ning's mind.
Strange, at this moment, he suddenly felt that Ji Lianyan and they were somehow alike—a group of people who yielded to softness but resisted force.
"Husband, this belt is squeezing me so painfully," Tang Ning softly pleaded. "Can you ease my pain by loosening it?"
The hand that was holding the belt seemed to twitch at this request. Subsequently, it obediently untied the knot, and the red belt suddenly fell onto the bed. The slender waist, constrained for too long, resisted the departure from the skin and flesh. When the pain turned into invisible bonds, it bound Tang Ning.
Collapsing onto the bed, Tang Ning's shoulder blades trembled like butterfly wings, and tears flowed incessantly.
"Is it really that painful?" With Ji Lianyan's inquiry, his hand, now separated by the bridal attire, landed on Tang Ning's waist. The scalding warmth of his palm made Tang Ning unable to bear it, and he cried out, "Don't touch!"
"Let me see your waist injury," Ji Lianyan said with concern.
Tang Ning shook his head continuously, but this time, the usually gentle Ji Lianyan didn't heed Tang Ning's words. He forcefully removed the red bridal attire.
As the garments slid down, a ring of reddish-purple marks adorned Tang Ning's slender waist, a captivating beauty that tempted one to trace along the red lines.
Although Tang Ning couldn't see how the marks looked himself, he sensed a dangerous aura in Ji Lianyan's eyes. Fearful, he pleaded, "I'm in pain, please don't touch me."
"I won't touch you," Ji Lianyan spoke softly, his voice gentle. "How can I help with the medicine then?"
Tang Ning hastily replied, "I don't need medicine."
He knew that inhaling the fragrance of the Suqi Pill once a day could heal scars, and since it was already late evening, another dose could be taken after a few hours.
"You're not hurting anymore?" Ji Lianyan frowned, his gaze seemingly scolding a naughty child who refused to take medicine.
Tang Ning, with teary eyes, whispered, "I'm not in pain anymore."
Ji Lianyan's slender palm gripped Tang Ning's waist, and he gently explored the delicate skin's scars. "Are you in pain now, or not?"
Tang Ning felt lost. He suddenly realized that no matter how he answered, Fang would find a reason to touch him. The hand on his waist felt too rough, causing intense pain even without any action.
"Husband," Tang Ning murmured, "blow a breath, and I won't feel pain anymore."
Then he added, "Just one breath. If you touch again, I'll hurt."
After giving this response, Tang Ning felt surprisingly clever for the first time.
A low chuckle echoed in his ears.
The groom, dressed in wedding attire, bent down, lightly blowing on Tang Ning's trembling waist. He touched the quivering waist, his handsome face seemingly enchanted. He couldn't resist licking the red mark.
A shiver ran through Tang Ning's entire body. He felt an unprecedented sense of danger and hastily recoiled, but Ji Lianyan caught his ankle.
The foot was still adorned with red wedding shoes, beautifully crafted with a pointed tip holding a round pearl. The shoes made Tang Ning's feet look delicate and exquisite, even though his feet were of a man's size.
"Shoes must come off on the bed," Ji Lianyan asserted.
The shoes and socks were effortlessly removed, yet Ji Lianyan's hand still firmly held onto Tang Ning's foot.
A tremendous sense of crisis made Tang Ning unable to suppress a scream. He felt like he was about to be taken advantage of by a licentious stranger.
What made it even more absurd was that the man in front of him had just become his husband after their wedding ceremony.
Tang Ning hastily draped the bridal attire over himself, attempting to shield himself from Ji Lianyan's gaze, a gaze that was deep, scalding, and seemed intent on licking him all over like a tongue.
"Ji Lianyan!" He dared not use the title "husband"; he feared it would embolden Fang even more. "Ji Lianyan! Don't."
Apparently, the use of "Ji Lianyan" displeased Fang. His newly-wedded husband still clutched his ankle, not only holding onto one foot but also reaching for the other.
"Did you just call me 'Ji Lianyan'?" Ji Lianyan asked softly.
Tang Ning helplessly shook his head, his voice trembling. The shivering sound unknowingly stimulated the nerves of the man before him. "Don't touch me."
His deep eyes stared directly at him, a hint of red gleaming within. When Ji Lianyan's face showed no expression, the intense pressure spread unrestrained. It was challenging to believe that a person could emanate such a powerful aura, casting shadows like a small candle projecting a large area of darkness.
"Why?" Ji Lianyan asked casually.
"I'm afraid of pain." Tang Ning's momentum was completely suppressed. He feared pain, but even more, he feared the current Ji Lianyan.
As their eyes locked, Ji Lianyan, expressionless until now, suddenly smiled. He gently said, "Then I'll be more gentle."