The higher they climbed up the mountain, the cooler the wind became, yet Lin Qiao’s face flushed with heat from Shen Qingzhou’s words, unable to be suppressed.
She gazed at his tall, upright back as he moved effortlessly through the forest, as if he hadn’t just said anything embarrassing. His hand, which held her wrist, was dry and warm, giving her a deep sense of satisfaction from the bottom of her heart.
Silently following him around a hill, Lin Qiao wiped the sweat from her forehead, a gesture that caught Shen Qingzhou’s eye as he turned to look at her.
Shen Qingzhou glanced at the sky and said, “It’s already the afternoon, and you’re still feeling hot?”
Lin Qiao covered her rosy cheeks with a fan and coughed lightly. “No, not hot at all.”
Shen Qingzhou released her wrist, touched her forehead, and chuckled, “Still not hot? Your forehead is sweaty, and your bangs are wet.”
Lin Qiao frowned. “Okay, maybe a little hot.”
“Then let’s go back.” Shen Qingzhou turned and walked back.
Lin Qiao followed him, saying, “You’re not going up anymore? We’ve only seen half!”
Without turning around, Shen Qingzhou replied, “I’ll take you back first. I’ll come another day.”
“…” Was he worried she’d get sunburned?
Lin Qiao felt warm inside at his thoughtfulness, but she didn’t want him to waste his time on her account. So she grabbed his hand and said, “No need. Since we’re already here, let’s go up.” She took his hand and started walking up the mountain, taking big steps. Shen Qingzhou, worried she might trip, followed quickly, wanting to tell her she was going the wrong way but not wanting to discourage her enthusiasm. Thus, the two of them continued climbing higher and higher in the completely wrong direction.
After walking for a long time, Lin Qiao noticed Shen Qingzhou hadn’t spoken again. She wondered why they hadn’t reached their destination yet and why he wasn’t reacting. When she turned around, she saw him watching her with a calm and indifferent expression, clearly letting her do as she pleased.
Only then did Lin Qiao belatedly ask, “Did I go the wrong way?”
Shen Qingzhou looked around and nodded, “A long time ago.”
“…Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were walking so focused, I couldn’t bear to interrupt you.”
“Nonsense.” Lin Qiao blushed and squatted down. “I can’t go on anymore. I’m exhausted. Wrong way or not, let’s just rest for a bit.”
Shen Qingzhou unbuttoned his coat and spread it directly on the ground. “Sit here.”
Lin Qiao looked at the expensive black coat on the ground and twitched her lips. “You’re such a rich guy.”
Shen Qingzhou glanced at her and stood beside her, looking into the distance. “I’m not a rich guy.”
“Hmph.” Lin Qiao rolled her eyes. “Pretend to be humble.”
Shen Qingzhou shook his head. “I’m not pretending. I’m stating the fact. The newly rich are the rich guys. You can call me a wealthy man.” Saying this, he took out an exquisite box from his pants pocket and handed it to her. “A belated birthday gift. I never had the chance to give it to you.”
Lin Qiao didn’t pretend to be shy. She accepted the box, sat cross-legged on his coat, and looked up at him. “What is it?”
“You’ll know when you open it.” He seemed a bit uneasy, his eyes constantly darting around without a fixed point.
Lin Qiao placed her folding fan beside her and carefully opened the box. Inside, on a black base, lay a translucent jade bracelet. Seeing her open it, Shen Qingzhou looked at her and explained, “It’s been blessed. It’s your zodiac year, so wear it for good luck.”
Lin Qiao was stunned. She took the bracelet and examined it carefully in her hand before looking up. “This quality must be really expensive.”
Shen Qingzhou squatted down to face her at eye level, his long eyes slightly narrowing. “How expensive do you think it is?”
The higher they climbed up the mountain, the cooler the breeze became. Yet, Lin Qiao’s face grew uncontrollably warm because of Shen Qingzhou’s words.
She watched his tall, straight figure as he moved effortlessly and naturally through the forest, as if he hadn’t just said something so embarrassing. His hand, holding her wrist, was dry and warm, stirring a profound sense of satisfaction deep within her.
Silently following him around a hillside, Lin Qiao raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead. This movement happened to catch Shen Qingzhou’s eye as he turned to look at her.
Shen Qingzhou glanced at the sky and said, “It’s already past noon, and it’s still this hot?”
Lin Qiao used her fan to cover her flushed cheeks, clearing her throat lightly. “No, it’s not hot. Not at all.”
Shen Qingzhou released her wrist and touched her forehead, chuckling softly. “You say it’s not hot, yet your forehead is sweaty, and your bangs are damp.”
Lin Qiao frowned. “Alright, it’s a little hot.”
“Then let’s head back,” Shen Qingzhou said, turning to descend.
Lin Qiao followed him. “Aren’t we going further up? We’ve only seen half of it.”
Without looking back, Shen Qingzhou replied, “I’ll take you back first. I’ll come another day by myself.”
“…” Was he worried she might get sunburned?
Lin Qiao felt deeply touched by his thoughtfulness but naturally didn’t want to inconvenience him. She grabbed his hand and said, “It’s fine. Since we’re already here, let’s keep going.” She tugged him upward, taking large strides. Shen Qingzhou, afraid she might stumble, quickened his pace to match hers. He wanted to tell her they were going the wrong way but didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm. So, the two continued ascending along a completely incorrect path.
After walking for a long time without hearing a word from Shen Qingzhou, Lin Qiao wondered why they hadn’t reached their destination yet and why he remained silent. When she finally turned to look, she saw him gazing at her with an expression of calm indulgence, his eyes clearly saying, “I’ll follow your lead.”
Belatedly, Lin Qiao asked, “Did I take the wrong path?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced around and nodded. “We’ve been off track for a while.”
“…Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were walking with such determination. I didn’t have the heart to interrupt.”
“Nonsense.” Lin Qiao blushed and crouched down. “I can’t go on. I’m exhausted. Wrong path or not, let’s rest for a bit.”
Shen Qingzhou unbuttoned his coat and spread it on the ground. “Sit.”
Lin Qiao stared in astonishment at the expensive black coat now lying on the mountain path, her lips twitching. “You rich show-off.”
Shen Qingzhou shot her a glance, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed into the distance. “I’m not a show-off.”
“Yeah, right.” Lin Qiao rolled her eyes. “False modesty.”
Shen Qingzhou shook his head. “I’m not being modest. It’s the truth. ‘Nouveau riche’ are show-offs. You can call me affluent.” As he spoke, he took an exquisite box from his pants pocket and handed it to her. “A belated birthday gift. I haven’t had a chance to give it to you until now.”
Without any pretense of refusal, Lin Qiao took the box, sat cross-legged on his coat, and looked up at him. “What is it?”
“Open it and see.” He seemed slightly uneasy, his eyes darting around restlessly.
Lin Qiao set her folding fan aside and carefully opened the box. Nestled on black velvet was a translucent jade bracelet. Seeing she had opened it, Shen Qingzhou explained, “It’s been blessed. Since it’s your zodiac year, wear it for protection and peace.”
Lin Qiao was taken aback. She took the bracelet and examined it closely before looking up. “Given its quality, this must’ve been expensive, right?”
Shen Qingzhou crouched down to meet her gaze, his narrow eyes slightly squinting. “How expensive do you think?”
Lin Qiao looked into his eyes. They were beautiful, especially when he focused on you with intense sincerity. If he was close to you, his gaze would also carry a deep earnestness. His long, thick eyelashes were delicately curled, almost too refined for a man.
“Judging by your income standards,” Lin Qiao said as she slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, then playfully pushed his face away. “I suppose it’s not that expensive.”
Shen Qingzhou stood up with her, picked up his coat, dusted it off, and draped it over his arm. “Shall we head back?”
“Mm.” Lin Qiao stretched lazily. “I’ve rested enough. Let’s go.” She glanced at the sky. “The sun is about to set. It’s my fault we wasted the trip today. You should come back another time by yourself.” She took a few steps forward, then turned to walk backward, facing him as she spoke. “I’m such a burden. I even told Mr. Du I’d come to assist you, but in the end—ah!”
Joy often precedes sorrow.
Lin Qiao was learning this lesson firsthand.
Since this path wasn’t part of Shen Qingzhou’s plan, he hadn’t researched the terrain. Lin Qiao, walking backward while talking, couldn’t see what was ahead. Her body blocked his view, so he could only confirm that the sides were flat, without slopes. But who could have known that the grassy area hid a trap?
A pit—a very large, deep pit. As Lin Qiao fell in, she swallowed a mouthful of dirt. The grass covering the opening collapsed on her, covering her entirely. Sitting on the ground, she spat out the grass, clutched her waist, and groaned in pain.
“Lin Qiao!”
Shen Qingzhou had already reached the edge of the pit. Backlit by the sunlight from above, the depth of the pit became clear to Lin Qiao—it was about three or four meters deep.
“Shen Qingzhou,” Lin Qiao looked up with a pained expression. “My butt hurts so much!”
Shen Qingzhou couldn’t help but frown at her words. He coughed lightly into his fist and asked, “Are you injured anywhere?”
“I don’t know.” Lin Qiao tried to stand but winced in pain when she moved. “I can’t get up. What should we do?”
There was no response from Shen Qingzhou. Just as Lin Qiao wondered what he was doing, she heard him say, “Move to the side a little.”
“What are you going to do?” Lin Qiao asked, confused but complying despite the pain. “I moved.”
Almost instantly, Shen Qingzhou jumped down into the pit. Unlike her, he didn’t land clumsily. His stance was steady, his hands lightly touching the ground, showcasing his agility.
Lin Qiao stared at him in shock. “Why did you jump down?!”
“You were in pain,” Shen Qingzhou stated matter-of-factly. He lifted her into his arms, carried her to a sunlit area near the wall of the pit—which was about two to three square meters—and sat down, placing her on his lap. He then carefully examined her slender waist.
Being so close, Lin Qiao felt his breath tickle her ear, making her instinctively shift away. This movement displeased Shen Qingzhou, who firmly held her arm and pulled her back. “Don’t move,” he said coolly.
Lin Qiao quickly complied, turning to watch Shen Qingzhou’s serious expression. After a while, she couldn’t help but ask, “Any conclusions?”
Shen Qingzhou massaged her waist as he replied, “I had one earlier.”
“…Then why did you keep examining for so long?”
“Nothing else to do.”
“…” This man is hopeless. “So, what did you find?”
“Nothing serious.” Shen Qingzhou pulled her into his embrace, took out his phone, and turned on the screen to make a call.
Lin Qiao asked curiously, “Do you have signal?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced at her. “Why do you ask?”
“Isn’t that how it always is in dramas? When the main characters fall into a pit in the mountains, their phones never have signal.”
Shen Qingzhou gave her a cold look. “Lin Qiao, stop daydreaming. Do you think I’d put myself in such a troublesome situation? There’s a China Mobile signal tower nearby.”
“…” So, TV dramas really are full of lies >_
Shen Qingzhou’s call connected quickly. Unlike the ever-capable Du Xinling, who was far away in Beijing and unable to help, who had Shen Qingzhou called?
Lin Qiao pretended to eavesdrop as Shen Qingzhou spoke deliberately into the phone: “Hello, is this the fire department command center?”
Embarrassed, Lin Qiao buried her face in Shen Qingzhou’s chest, listening as he calmly and logically explained the situation to the emergency operator, providing an estimated location before hanging up. He then gently pulled her head out from his chest.
“Lin Qiao, you got鼻涕 on my shirt.”
“Lies.” Lin Qiao frowned and inspected his collar. “Where? I don’t even have a runny nose. How could there be鼻涕?”
Shen Qingzhou looked down at the crown of her head, a clear smile in his voice. “Just teasing you.”
“…Shen Qingzhou!”
Lin Qiao glared at him, but he didn’t give her a chance to continue. He spread his already dirtied coat on the ground again, pinned her beneath him, and said, “Lin Qiao, rescue will take a while. How should we pass the time?”
Lin Qiao stared at him blankly. “Huh?”
Shen Qingzhou pinched her nose and sighed. “Does your waist still hurt?”
Lin Qiao thought for a moment. “It’s okay.”
“What about your butt?”
Blushing slightly but earnest, she replied, “It feels a bit better.”
“Good. I won’t be too rough. Tell me if it hurts.”
After saying something so suggestive, Shen Qingzhou began unbuttoning his shirt, startling Lin Qiao.
“Shen Qingzhou, wait. Is my mind in the gutter, or are you thinking of… you know?” Lin Qiao grabbed his hand, alarmed.
Shen Qingzhou freed his hand and continued unbuttoning his shirt casually. In a low, husky voice, he said, “What if I said yes?”
Lin Qiao was speechless for a moment, stammering until Shen Qingzhou had fully unbuttoned his shirt. Softly, she said, “Isn’t this… a bit inappropriate?”
She glanced around the dark, eerie cave, where the only light didn’t reach them.
Shen Qingzhou followed her gaze and smirked. “The timing, location, and mood are perfect. It couldn’t be more suitable.”
“I…” Lin Qiao struggled to find words, her flustered expression amusing Shen Qingzhou, who chuckled. His laughter flowed past her ears, making her feel weak and tingly.
“I’ll stay on the outside. I won’t go in.” He leaned close, whispering seductively into her ear while firmly pushing her skirt up to her waist. He gently pulled down her white lace panties, sliding them down to her ankles.
Lin Qiao knew she was half-resisting, half-yielding, but his unpredictable actions had left her bewildered. Her reflexes were hopelessly slow. By the time she thought to resist, her panties were already dangling from her left ankle.
…Such resistance was futile. At this point, they were already off, just not discarded.
“If you want to keep them hooked there, fine.”
Shen Qingzhou had achieved his goal. He glanced playfully at her left ankle before leaning over her, guiding her hand to unbuckle his belt.
Her small hand trembled in his larger one. His smile widened, and he mercifully took over, undoing his belt himself, lowering his pants halfway, and freeing his already eager “weapon.”
“You lied…” Lin Qiao protested as she was forced to wrap her legs around his waist, looking up at him mournfully. “All men say that, but I’ve never seen any actually follow through.”
Shen Qingzhou pressed his hardened length against her intimate area, rubbing up and down without entering, just as he’d said.
Ignoring her comment, he silenced her with a deep kiss, his tongue parting her lips and plunging inside, muddling her thoughts. Not content with that, his hand slipped into her bra, his long fingers enveloping her soft, full breasts. The sensation was enough to drive any man wild with desire.
“Lin Qiao, I did lie to you.” He kissed along her jawline to her neck, leaving a trail of marks. His voice was hoarse and low, like a snake shedding its skin. “But it’s basic courtesy.”
…Bad guy. Lying and calling it courtesy? This man is too wicked.
Lin Qiao held his head as he buried his face in her chest, diligently working. His hardness rubbed against her moist petals, his tongue teasing her erect peaks. Every sensitive spot was under his control, each action pushing her closer to losing reason, lost with him in this absurd intimacy.
“Mmm… ah…” Lin Qiao arched her back involuntarily, tightening her legs around his waist. Their intimate areas pressed together without a gap. “Qingzhou…”
She unconsciously called his name. Shen Qingzhou lifted his head from her chest, gazing into her dazed, half-lidded eyes. “Lin Qiao, shall we do it?” He moved upward, nibbling her delicate earlobe, eliciting another seductive moan from her.
Despite being painfully hard, he patiently continued foreplay. Even after finishing, he didn’t enter immediately but politely asked for permission. Shen Qingzhou’s behavior reflected his underlying worry—he was still haunted by Lin Qiao’s previous anger. He feared a repeat and never wanted to experience that again.
“Don’t ask me.” Lin Qiao shyly lowered her head, nuzzling his shoulder—a tacit consent. “You decide.”
Shen Qingzhou’s breath hitched. He understood instantly. Guiding himself with his hand, he thrust into her without hesitation. The forceful movement made Lin Qiao cry out. He frowned, pausing to let her adjust to his size.
“Couldn’t you be gentler?” Lin Qiao complained, pounding his shoulders, biting her red lip, her face full of pain.
Shen Qingzhou recalled their first night together when she had the same expression. He must have been too rough back then.
“Sorry,” Shen Qingzhou apologized softly, whether for now or then, it was unclear.
Lin Qiao slowly opened her eyes to look at him. He was restraining himself, veins bulging on his forehead. The hardness inside her grew, pulsating occasionally. The initial pain gradually subsided, though it still felt tight. She kissed his cheek, silently allowing him to continue.
That kiss was like a key, unlocking the softest parts of their hearts. In this secluded place, they intimately connected, their emotions deepening along with their physical union. Nothing could separate them now.
For them, falling into this pit didn’t seem as bad as they had imagined.
“Judging by your income.” Lin Qiao put the bracelet on her wrist, smiled, and pushed his face away. “It’s not that expensive.”
Shen Qingzhou stood up with her, picked up his coat, patted it, and draped it over his arm. “Go back?”
“Mm.” Lin Qiao stretched. “I’ve rested enough. Let’s go.” She looked up at the sky. “The sun is about to set. It’s all my fault. We came for nothing today. You should come by yourself another day.” She walked a few steps forward, then turned around and walked backward, talking as she went, “I’m such a burden. I even told Mr. Du I’d come to help you, but in the end—ah!”
Misfortune follows happiness.
What does it mean to say that misfortune follows happiness? Lin Qiao had a very real experience of it.
Because this path wasn’t part of Shen Qingzhou’s plan, he hadn’t studied it and didn’t know the terrain. Lin Qiao had been talking while walking backward, a way of walking that made it impossible to see what was ahead. Her body blocked her view from behind, and Shen Qingzhou couldn’t see the terrain either, only certain that the area beside them was flat without any slopes. But who would have known that under that patch of grass was a trap.
A pit, a very big one, and very deep. When Lin Qiao fell in, she swallowed a mouthful of dirt. All the grass covering the pit fell down on her, and she sat on the ground spitting out the grass, holding her waist in pain.
“Lin Qiao!”
Shen Qingzhou had already reached the edge of the pit. Looking down from the rim, the light from above made it clear to Lin Qiao just how deep the pit was. It must be about three or four meters deep.
“Shen Qingzhou.” Lin Qiao looked up with a pained expression. “My butt hurts so much!”
Hearing this, Shen Qingzhou couldn’t help but furrow his brow, clench his hand into a loose fist, and cough before asking, “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I don’t know.” Lin Qiao tried to stand up, but the moment she moved, she felt pain in her lower body, so she called for help from above, “I can’t stand up. What should I do?”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t answer. As Lin Qiao was wondering what he was doing, she heard him say, “Move a bit to the side.”
The higher up the mountain, the cooler the breeze became, yet Lin Qiao’s face grew uncontrollably warm because of Shen Qingzhou’s words.
She watched his tall, straight figure moving naturally and effortlessly through the forest, as if he hadn’t just said something so embarrassing. His hand, holding her wrist, was dry and warm, stirring a deep sense of satisfaction within her.
Silently following him around a hillside, Lin Qiao raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead. This movement happened to catch Shen Qingzhou’s eye as he turned to look at her.
Glancing at the sky, Shen Qingzhou remarked, “It’s already past noon, but it’s still this hot?”
Lin Qiao used her fan to cover her flushed cheeks, clearing her throat lightly. “No, it’s not hot. Not at all.”
Shen Qingzhou released her wrist and touched her forehead, chuckling softly. “You say it’s not hot, but your forehead is sweaty, and your bangs are damp.”
Lin Qiao frowned. “Alright, it’s a little hot.”
“Then let’s head back,” Shen Qingzhou said, turning to walk downhill.
Lin Qiao followed him. “Aren’t we going further up? We’ve only seen half of it.”
Without looking back, Shen Qingzhou replied, “I’ll take you back first. I’ll come another day by myself.”
“…” Was he worried she’d get sunburned?
Lin Qiao felt deeply touched by his thoughtfulness but naturally didn’t want to inconvenience him. She grabbed his hand and said, “It’s fine. Since we’re already here, let’s keep going.” She tugged him uphill, taking large strides. Shen Qingzhou, afraid she might trip, quickened his pace to match hers. He wanted to tell her they were going the wrong way but didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm. So, the two continued climbing higher and higher in entirely the wrong direction.
After walking for a long time without hearing a word from Shen Qingzhou, Lin Qiao wondered why they hadn’t reached their destination yet and why he remained silent. When she finally turned around, she saw him looking at her with an expression of calm indulgence, his eyes clearly saying, “I’ll follow your lead.”
Belatedly, Lin Qiao asked, “Did I take the wrong path?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced around and nodded. “We’ve been off track for a while.”
“…Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were walking so earnestly. I didn’t have the heart to interrupt.”
“Nonsense.” Lin Qiao blushed and crouched down. “I can’t go on. I’m exhausted. Wrong path or not, let’s rest for a bit.”
Shen Qingzhou unbuttoned his coat and spread it on the ground. “Sit.”
Lin Qiao stared in surprise at the expensive black coat now lying on the mountain path, her lips twitching. “You rich show-off.”
Shen Qingzhou glanced at her, hands behind his back as he gazed into the distance. “I’m not a show-off.”
“Yeah, right.” Lin Qiao rolled her eyes. “False modesty.”
Shen Qingzhou shook his head. “I’m not being modest. It’s the truth. ‘Nouveau riche’ are show-offs. You can call me a wealthy man.” As he spoke, he took an exquisite box from his pants pocket and handed it to her. “A belated birthday gift. I haven’t had a chance to give it to you until now.”
Without any pretence, Lin Qiao took the box, sat cross-legged on his coat, and looked up at him. “What is it?”
“Open it and see.” He seemed slightly uneasy, his eyes darting around restlessly.
Lin Qiao set her folding fan aside and carefully opened the box. Inside, against a black lining, lay a translucent jade bracelet. Seeing she had opened it, Shen Qingzhou looked at her and explained, “It’s been blessed. It’s your birth year—wear it for protection and peace.”
Lin Qiao paused, taking the bracelet into her hand for a closer look. She looked up and asked, “Given its quality, it must be expensive, right?”
Shen Qingzhou crouched down to meet her eyes, his narrow eyes slightly squinting. “How expensive do you think?”
Lin Qiao gazed into his eyes. They were beautiful, especially when he looked at someone with such intensity. If he was close to you, his gaze would also be sincere, with long, thick eyelashes that curled delicately, almost too refined for a man.
“Judging by your income standards,” Lin Qiao said as she slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, smiling as she pushed his face away. “It’s not that expensive.”
Shen Qingzhou stood up with her, picked up his coat, dusted it off, and draped it over his arm. “Shall we head back?”
“Mm.” Lin Qiao stretched lazily. “I’ve rested enough. Let’s go.” She glanced up at the sky. “The sun is setting. It’s my fault we wasted the day. You should come back another time by yourself.” She took a few steps forward, then turned to walk backward, facing him as she spoke. “I’m such a burden. I even told Mr. Du I’d come to help you, but in the end—ah!”
Pride goes before a fall.
Lin Qiao was learning this lesson firsthand.
Since this path wasn’t part of Shen Qingzhou’s plan, he hadn’t studied the terrain and didn’t know what to expect. Lin Qiao, walking backward while talking, couldn’t see what was ahead. Her body blocked Shen Qingzhou’s view, so he could only confirm that the sides were flat, without any slopes. But who could have known that beneath the grass lay a trap?
A hole—a very large, very deep hole. As Lin Qiao fell in, she swallowed a mouthful of dirt, and the grass covering the entrance collapsed on top of her. Sitting on the ground, she spat out the grass, clutched her waist, and groaned in pain.
“Lin Qiao!”
Shen Qingzhou had already reached the edge of the hole. Backlit by the sunlight from outside, the depth of the hole made Lin Qiao realize just how deep it was—about three or four meters.
“Shen Qingzhou,” Lin Qiao said, looking up with a pained expression. “My butt hurts so much!”
Shen Qingzhou couldn’t help but frown at her words, coughing lightly into his fist. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I don’t know.” Lin Qiao tried to stand but winced in pain as she moved. “I can’t get up. What should I do?”
There was no response from Shen Qingzhou. Just as Lin Qiao wondered what he was doing, she heard him say, “Move to the side a little.”
“What are you going to do?” Lin Qiao asked, confused but complying despite the pain. “I’ve moved.”
Almost instantly, Shen Qingzhou jumped down into the hole. Unlike her, he didn’t land clumsily. Instead, he stabilized himself with his hands lightly touching the ground, showing impressive agility.
Lin Qiao stared at him in shock. “Why did you jump down?!”
“You were in pain,” Shen Qingzhou said firmly, scooping her into his arms. He carried her to a spot where sunlight streamed in through the walls of the roughly two-to-three-square-meter hole, sat down, and placed her on his lap. He then carefully examined her slender waist.
Being so close, Lin Qiao felt his breath tickle her ear, making her instinctively shift away. This movement displeased Shen Qingzhou, who firmly held her arm and pulled her back. “Don’t move,” he said coolly.
Lin Qiao quickly muttered an “okay” and turned to gaze at Shen Qingzhou’s serious expression. After waiting for what felt like a long time, she couldn’t help but ask, “Any conclusions?”
Shen Qingzhou massaged her waist as he replied, “I had them a while ago.”
“…Then why did you keep looking?”
“Nothing else to do.”
“…” This man was truly hopeless. “So, what did you find?”
“Nothing serious,” Shen Qingzhou said, pulling her into his embrace. He took out his phone, turned on the screen, and prepared to make a call.
Lin Qiao asked curiously, “Is there a signal?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced at her. “Why do you ask?”
“Isn’t that how it always is in dramas? When the main characters fall into a deep mountain hole, their phones never have signal.”
Shen Qingzhou gave her a cold look. “Lin Qiao, stop dreaming. Do you think I’d put myself in such a troublesome situation? There’s a China Mobile signal tower nearby.”
“…” So, TV dramas really were full of lies! >_<
Shen Qingzhou’s call went through quickly. Unlike the ever-capable Du Xinling, who was far away in Beijing and unable to help, who had Shen Qingzhou called?
Lin Qiao pretended to eavesdrop as Shen Qingzhou spoke deliberately into the phone: “Hello, is this the fire department?”
Embarrassed, Lin Qiao buried her face in Shen Qingzhou’s chest, listening as he calmly and logically explained the situation to the emergency operator, providing an estimated location before hanging up. He then pulled her head out from his chest.
“Lin Qiao, you got snot on my shirt.”
“Lies.” Lin Qiao frowned, inspecting his collar. “Where? I’m not even sniffling. How could there be snot?”
Shen Qingzhou looked down at the crown of her head, a clear smile in his voice. “Just teasing you.”
“…Shen Qingzhou!”
Lin Qiao glared at him, but he didn’t give her a chance to continue. He spread his already dirtied coat on the ground again, pinned her beneath him, and said, “Lin Qiao, it’ll take a while for help to arrive. How should we pass the time?”
Lin Qiao stared at him blankly. “Huh?”
Shen Qingzhou pinched her nose and sighed. “Does your waist still hurt?”
Lin Qiao thought for a moment. “It’s alright.”
“What about your butt?”
Blushing slightly but answering earnestly, she said, “It feels a bit better.”
“Good. I won’t use too much force. Tell me if it hurts.”
After saying something so suggestive, Shen Qingzhou began unbuttoning his shirt, startling Lin Qiao.
“Shen Qingzhou, wait. Is it just my mind in the gutter, or are you thinking about… that?” Lin Qiao grabbed his hand, horrified.
Shen Qingzhou freed his hand and continued unbuttoning his shirt nonchalantly. In a low, husky voice, he said, “What if I said yes?”
Lin Qiao was speechless, stammering for a moment. By the time Shen Qingzhou had fully unbuttoned his shirt, she whispered, “Isn’t this… a bit inappropriate?”
She glanced around the dark, eerie cave, where the only light source didn’t reach them.
Shen Qingzhou followed her gaze, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “The timing, location, and mood are perfect. It couldn’t be more suitable.”
“I…” Lin Qiao began haltingly, unable to find a good reason. Her flustered expression amused Shen Qingzhou, who chuckled softly. The sound flowed past her ears, making her feel weak all over.
“I’ll stay on the outside. I won’t go in,” he whispered seductively in her ear, his hands decisively pushing her skirt up to her waist and gently pulling down her white lace panties, all the way to her ankles.
Lin Qiao knew she was half-resisting, half-yielding, but his unpredictable actions had left her thoroughly confused. Her reflexes were hopelessly slow, and by the time she thought to resist, her panties were already dangling from her left ankle.
…At this point, resistance was futile. They were already off, just not discarded.
“If you want to hook them there, go ahead.”
Shen Qingzhou had achieved his goal. With a teasing glance at her left ankle, he leaned over her, guiding her hand to unbuckle his belt.
Her small hand trembled uncontrollably in his larger one. The corners of his lips curled into a deeper smile as he mercifully released her and undid his belt himself, pulling his pants down halfway and freeing his already eager “weapon.”
“You lied…” Lin Qiao protested, forced to wrap her legs around his waist as she looked up at him mournfully. “All men say that, but I’ve never seen any actually follow through.”
Shen Qingzhou pressed his hardened length against her intimate area, rubbing up and down slowly, true to his word—not entering.
Ignoring her comment, he silenced her with a deep kiss, his tongue parting her lips and plunging inside, muddling her thoughts thoroughly. Not content with that, his hand slipped into her bra, his long fingers gently cupping her soft, full breasts. The sensation was enough to drive any man wild with desire.
“Lin Qiao, I did lie to you,” he murmured against her neck, leaving a trail of kisses. His voice was hoarse and low, like a snake shedding its skin. “But it’s basic courtesy.”
…Bad guy. Lying and calling it courtesy—this man was too wicked.
Lin Qiao held his head as he buried his face in her chest, diligently tending to her. His hardness continued to rub against the moist bud between her petals, his tongue teasing the peaks of her breasts. Every sensitive spot was under his control, each action enough to make her lose all reason and sink into this absurd intimacy with him.
“Mmm… ah…” Lin Qiao couldn’t help but arch her back, her legs tightening around his waist. Their intimate areas pressed together without a gap. “Qingzhou…”
She unconsciously called his name. Shen Qingzhou lifted his head from her chest, gazing into her half-lidded, dazed eyes. “Lin Qiao, shall we?” he asked hoarsely, moving upward to nibble on her delicate earlobe, eliciting another seductive moan from her.
Despite being painfully hard, he patiently continued foreplay. Even after foreplay, he didn’t enter immediately but politely asked for permission. Shen Qingzhou’s behaviour reflected his underlying worry—he was still haunted by Lin Qiao’s anger from last time, afraid that entering without consent would lead to a repeat. He never wanted to experience that again.
“Don’t ask me,” Lin Qiao whispered shyly, nuzzling his shoulder—a tacit permission. “You decide.”
Shen Qingzhou’s breath hitched. He understood her meaning instantly. Guiding himself with his hand, he thrust into her without hesitation. The forceful movement made Lin Qiao cry out. He clenched his jaw, pausing to allow her to adjust to his size.
“Couldn’t you be gentler?” Lin Qiao complained, pounding his shoulder. She bit her red lip, eyes shut, her face full of pain.
Shen Qingzhou recalled their first night together when she had worn the same expression. It seemed he had been too rough back then.
“Sorry,” Shen Qingzhou apologized softly, though it was unclear whether he meant for just now or for last time.
Lin Qiao slowly opened her eyes to look at him. He was restraining himself so much that veins bulged on his forehead. The hardened part inside her grew larger, pulsating occasionally. The pain of intrusion gradually faded, though it still felt tight. She kissed his cheek, silently permitting him to continue.
That kiss was like a key, unlocking the softest parts of their hearts. In this remote, deserted place, they intimately connected, their emotions deepening along with their physical union. Nothing could separate them now.
For them, falling into this hole didn’t seem as bad as they had imagined.
As soon as she said this, in the blink of an eye, Shen Qingzhou jumped down from the pit’s edge. He didn’t fall on his butt like she did. He landed very steadily, his hands lightly touching the ground, showing off his good skills.
Lin Qiao was stunned and looked at him stupidly. “How did you jump down?!”
“You were crying out in pain.” Shen Qingzhou unhesitatingly picked her up in his arms, walked to a spot on the pit wall that was about two or three square meters and where sunlight could come in, sat down on the ground, and placed her on his lap, then bent down to check her slender waist.
Because they were so close, Lin Qiao felt her earlobes tickled by his breath and instinctively moved to the side. This movement displeased Shen Qingzhou, who firmly grabbed her arm and pressed her back, saying coldly, “Don’t move.”
Lin Qiao quickly said, “Okay,” then turned her head to look at Shen Qingzhou’s serious face. After he had checked for a while, she couldn’t help but ask, “Any results?”
Shen Qingzhou was rubbing her waist as he spoke. “I had them a long time ago.”
“…Then why did you look for so long?”
“I had nothing else to do.”
“…” This person was truly hopeless. “Then what did you find out?”
“Nothing serious.” Shen Qingzhou pressed her into his arms, took out his phone from his pocket, turned on the screen, and prepared to make a call.
Lin Qiao curiously asked, “You have a signal?”
Shen Qingzhou looked at her and asked, “Why do you ask?”
“In TV dramas, when the male and female leads fall into a cave in the mountains, their phones definitely can’t get a signal.”
Shen Qingzhou gave her a cold look and bluntly said, “Lin Qiao, stop dreaming. Do you think I would cause myself trouble? There’s a China Mobile signal tower nearby.”
“…” Sure enough, TV dramas were all lies >_
Shen Qingzhou’s call was quickly connected. Du Xinling, as capable as Doraemon, was in Beijing and couldn’t help from afar, so who did he call?
Lin Qiao tried to eavesdrop, but Shen Qingzhou looked at her and slowly said into the phone, “Hello, Fire Department Command Center.”
Lin Qiao shamefacedly buried her face in Shen Qingzhou’s chest, listening to him calmly and methodically explain the situation to 119, clearly stating the estimated geographical location. After hanging up, he pulled her head out from his chest.
“Lin Qiao, you’ve smeared snot all over my shirt.”
“Liar.” Lin Qiao frowned and checked his shirt collar. “Where? I didn’t have a runny nose, so how could I have smeared it?”
Shen Qingzhou looked down at the top of her head, speaking with a very obvious smile. “I’m teasing you.”
“…Shen Qingzhou!”
Lin Qiao glared at him, but he didn’t give her a chance to speak. He spread the already dirty coat he had been carrying on his arm back on the ground and directly pinned her underneath him. “Lin Qiao, it’ll take some time for the rescuers to arrive. How should we pass the time?”
Lin Qiao stared at him blankly. “Huh?”
Shen Qingzhou pinched her nose and sighed, “Does your waist still hurt?”
Lin Qiao checked herself and said, “It’s okay.”
“What about your butt?”
Her face was a bit red, but she still spoke earnestly, “It feels a bit better.”
“Good. I won’t be too rough. If it hurts, tell me.”
Shen Qingzhou said this very suggestive sentence and then lifted his hand to unbutton his shirt. This action startled Lin Qiao.
“Shen Qingzhou, wait. Am I being too perverted? Are you thinking of doing that?” Lin Qiao grabbed his hand in shock.
Shen Qingzhou freed his hand, nonchalantly continuing to unbutton his shirt, his deep voice slowly saying, “What if I am?”
Lin Qiao was a bit taken aback, stuttering for a while, until Shen Qingzhou had unbuttoned all his shirt buttons before softly saying, “Isn’t this… a bit inappropriate?”
She looked around. The dark, gloomy cave had only one light source that didn’t reach where they were.
Shen Qingzhou followed her gaze, slightly lifting the corner of his mouth. “Perfect timing and setting. It couldn’t be more appropriate.”
“I…” Lin Qiao opened her mouth dryly. She hesitated for a while but couldn’t come up with a good reason. Her embarrassed appearance caught Shen Qingzhou’s eye, making him chuckle softly. The pleasant laughter flowed past her ears, making her feel tingly all over.
“I’ll be outside, not going in.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear, seductively. Without hesitation, he lifted her skirt to her waist and gently pulled her white lace underwear down past her hips, all the way to her ankles.
Lin Qiao knew her reaction was somewhat half-hearted, but she was really thrown off by Shen Qingzhou’s unpredictable moves. Her reflexes were too slow, and by the time she wanted to stop him, her underwear was already hanging on her left ankle.
…This resistance was simply too ineffective. At this point, it was already off, just not thrown away yet.
“You like it, so just keep it hooked.”
Shen Qingzhou had already achieved his goal. He teasingly looked at her left ankle and leaned down to kiss her, taking her hand to undo his belt.
Her small hand was held by his large hand and couldn’t help but tremble. His smile deepened, and out of mercy, he let go of her hand and personally undid the belt, half-lowering his pants to reveal his already erect “weapon.”
“You’re lying…” Lin Qiao was forced to spread her legs around his waist and looked up in distress, “You guys always say that, but I’ve never seen anyone actually do it.”
Shen Qingzhou pressed his hardness against her private area, slowly rubbing up and down, truly not entering as he had said.
He ignored her words, directly using actions to silence her mouth. His tongue parted her lips, kissing her deeply, confusing her senses. At the same time, his hand took the opportunity to slip into her bra, his long fingers slowly covering the soft and full mounds on her chest. The sensation in his hands was enough to make any normal man burn with desire.
“Lin Qiao, I really did lie to you.” He kissed along her jawline to her neck, leaving a trail of kisses. His voice was hoarse and low when he spoke, like a snake shedding its skin, “This is the most basic courtesy.”
…What a bad guy, lying and calling it courtesy. This man was too bad.
Lin Qiao held his head, which was currently buried in her chest, diligently working. His hardness continuously rubbed against her wet and swollen clitoris, his tongue constantly teasing the erect peaks on her chest. Every sensitive point of hers was under his control, each of his actions enough to make her lose her mind, following him into this absurd intimate moment.
“Ah… ah…” Lin Qiao couldn’t help but lift her head, tightening her legs around his waist, their private parts pressed tightly together without any gap, “Qingzhou…”
She unconsciously called his name. Shen Qingzhou lifted his head from her chest, looking into her half-closed, dazed eyes, his voice hoarse, “Lin Qiao, shall we do it?”
He moved upward, lovingly sucking on her delicate earlobe, causing her to let out another seductive moan.
Even though he was already rock hard below, he still patiently did the foreplay. After finishing the foreplay, he didn’t enter, still very politely asking the owner if he could go in. Shen Qingzhou’s actions confirmed his inner worries. He was still scared by her anger last time, worried that entering without permission would cause the event to happen again. Such an experience, he never wanted to go through a second time in his life.
“Don’t ask me.” Lin Qiao shyly lowered her head, nuzzling his shoulder, almost equivalent to giving permission, “You decide for yourself.”
The higher up the mountain, the cooler the breeze became, yet Lin Qiao’s face grew uncontrollably warm from Shen Qingzhou’s words.
She watched his tall, straight figure moving effortlessly through the forest, as if he hadn’t just said something so embarrassing. His hand, holding her wrist, was dry and warm, stirring a deep sense of contentment within her.
Silently following him around a hillside, Lin Qiao wiped the sweat from her forehead. Just then, Shen Qingzhou turned and caught the gesture.
Glancing at the sky, he remarked, “It’s already past noon, and it’s still this hot?”
Lin Qiao used her fan to cover her flushed cheeks, clearing her throat lightly. “No, not hot at all.”
Shen Qingzhou released her wrist and touched her forehead, chuckling softly. “You say it’s not hot, yet your forehead is sweaty, and your bangs are damp.”
Lin Qiao frowned. “Alright, maybe a little hot.”
“Then let’s head back,” Shen Qingzhou said, turning to descend.
Lin Qiao followed. “Aren’t we going further? We’ve only seen half of it.”
Without looking back, he replied, “I’ll take you back first. I’ll come another day by myself.”
“…” Was he worried she might get sunburned?
Touched by his thoughtfulness, Lin Qiao didn’t want to inconvenience him. She grabbed his hand and said, “It’s fine. Since we’re already here, let’s keep going.” She led him uphill with determined steps. Shen Qingzhou, afraid she might stumble, quickened his pace to match hers. He wanted to tell her they were going the wrong way but didn’t want to discourage her. So, they continued further up the mountain in entirely the wrong direction.
After a long while without hearing a word from Shen Qingzhou, Lin Qiao wondered why they hadn’t reached their destination and why he remained silent. When she finally turned around, she found him gazing at her calmly, his expression one of complete indulgence.
Belatedly, Lin Qiao asked, “Did I take the wrong path?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced around and nodded. “We’ve been off track for quite a while.”
“…Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were walking with such determination. I didn’t have the heart to interrupt.”
“Nonsense.” Blushing, Lin Qiao crouched down. “I can’t go on. I’m exhausted. Wrong path or not, let’s rest for a bit.”
Shen Qingzhou unbuttoned his coat and spread it on the ground. “Sit.”
Lin Qiao stared in surprise at the expensive black coat now lying on the dirt. “You rich show-off.”
Shen Qingzhou shot her a glance, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed into the distance. “I’m not a show-off.”
“Yeah, right,” Lin Qiao rolled her eyes. “False modesty.”
Shen Qingzhou shook his head. “I’m not being modest. It’s the truth. ‘Nouveau riche’ are show-offs. You can call me affluent.” As he spoke, he pulled an exquisite box from his pants pocket and handed it to her. “A belated birthday gift. I haven’t had the chance to give it to you until now.”
Without any pretense, Lin Qiao took the box, sat cross-legged on his coat, and looked up at him. “What is it?”
“Open it and see.” He seemed slightly uneasy, his eyes darting around restlessly.
Lin Qiao set her folding fan aside and carefully opened the box. Inside, against a black lining, lay a translucent jade bracelet. Seeing her open it, Shen Qingzhou explained, “It’s been blessed. It’s your birth year—wear it for protection and peace.”
Lin Qiao paused, taking the bracelet into her hand for a closer look. She looked up and asked, “Given its quality, this must’ve been expensive, right?”
Shen Qingzhou crouched down to meet her gaze, his narrow eyes slightly squinting. “How expensive do you think?”
Lin Qiao looked into his eyes. They were beautiful, especially when he looked at her with such intensity. If he felt close to you, his gaze would also carry sincerity. His long, thick eyelashes were almost unfairly delicate for a man.
“Judging by your income standards,” Lin Qiao said as she slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, smiling as she pushed his face away. “It’s not that expensive.”
Shen Qingzhou stood up with her, picked up his coat, dusted it off, and draped it over his arm. “Shall we head back?”
“Yeah.” Lin Qiao stretched lazily. “I’ve rested enough. Let’s go.” She glanced at the sky. “The sun’s about to set. It’s my fault—today was a waste. You should come back another day by yourself.” She took a few steps forward, then turned to walk backward, adding, “I’m such a burden. I even told Mr. Du I’d come to assist you, but in the end—ah!”
Pride comes before a fall.
Lin Qiao was learning this lesson firsthand.
Since this path wasn’t part of Shen Qingzhou’s plan, he hadn’t studied the terrain. Walking backward while talking, Lin Qiao couldn’t see what was ahead. Her body blocked his view, so he could only confirm that the sides were flat, without slopes. But who could have known that the grassy patch hid a trap?
A pit—a very large, deep pit. Lin Qiao fell in, swallowing a mouthful of dirt. The grass covering the opening collapsed on her, covering her entirely. Sitting up, she spat out the grass and groaned, clutching her waist in pain.
“Lin Qiao!”
Shen Qingzhou was already at the edge of the pit, looking down at her from against the light. The height made Lin Qiao realize just how deep it was—three or four meters, perhaps.
“Shen Qingzhou,” she said, looking up with a pained expression. “My butt hurts so much!”
Shen Qingzhou couldn’t help but frown at her words. He coughed lightly into his fist and asked, “Are you injured anywhere?”
“I don’t know.” Lin Qiao tried to stand but winced in pain. “I can’t get up. What should we do?”
There was no immediate response from Shen Qingzhou. Just as Lin Qiao wondered what he was doing, she heard him say, “Move to the side a little.”
“What are you going to do?” Lin Qiao asked, confused but complying despite the pain. “I’ve moved.”
Almost instantly, Shen Qingzhou jumped down into the pit. Unlike her, he didn’t land clumsily. His stance was steady, his hands lightly touching the ground, showcasing his agility.
Lin Qiao stared at him in disbelief. “Why did you jump down?!”
“You were in pain,” Shen Qingzhou stated firmly, scooping her into his arms. He carried her to a sunlit area near the wall of the pit, which was about two to three square meters wide. Sitting down, he placed her on his lap and began examining her slender waist.
Being so close, Lin Qiao felt his breath tickle her ear, making her instinctively shift away. Annoyed by her movement, Shen Qingzhou firmly pulled her back. “Don’t move,” he said coolly.
Lin Qiao quickly complied, turning to gaze at his serious expression. After a moment of examination, she couldn’t help but ask, “Any conclusions?”
Shen Qingzhou massaged her waist as he replied, “I had them already.”
“…Then why did you take so long?”
“Nothing else to do.”
“…” This man was truly hopeless. “So, what did you find?”
“Nothing serious.” Shen Qingzhou pulled her closer, took out his phone, and turned on the screen to make a call.
Lin Qiao asked curiously, “Do you have signal?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced at her. “Why do you ask?”
“Isn’t that how it always is in dramas? When the main characters fall into a pit in the mountains, their phones never have signal.”
Shen Qingzhou gave her a cold look. “Lin Qiao, stop dreaming. Do you think I’d put myself in such a situation? There’s a China Mobile signal tower nearby.”
“…” So, TV dramas really were full of lies! >_<
Shen Qingzhou’s call went through quickly. Though Du Xinling, ever the versatile problem-solver, was far away in Beijing and unable to help, who had Shen Qingzhou called?
Lin Qiao pretended to eavesdrop as Shen Qingzhou spoke deliberately into the phone: “Hello, is this the fire department command center?”
Embarrassed, Lin Qiao buried her face in Shen Qingzhou’s chest, listening as he calmly and logically explained the situation to the emergency operator, providing an estimated location before hanging up. He then pulled her head out from his chest.
“Lin Qiao, you got snot on my shirt.”
“Lies.” Lin Qiao frowned, inspecting his collar. “Where? I’m not even sniffling. How could there be snot?”
Shen Qingzhou looked down at the crown of her head, a clear smile in his voice. “Just teasing you.”
“…Shen Qingzhou!”
Lin Qiao glared at him, but he didn’t give her a chance to continue. He spread his already dirtied coat on the ground again, pinned her beneath him, and said, “Lin Qiao, rescue will take a while. How should we pass the time?”
Lin Qiao stared at him blankly. “Huh?”
Shen Qingzhou pinched her nose and sighed. “Does your waist still hurt?”
Lin Qiao thought for a moment. “It’s okay.”
“What about your butt?”
Blushing slightly but earnest, she replied, “Seems better.”
“Good. I won’t be too rough. Tell me if it hurts.”
After saying something so suggestive, Shen Qingzhou began unbuttoning his shirt, startling Lin Qiao.
“Shen Qingzhou, wait. Is my mind in the gutter, or are you thinking of… you know?” Lin Qiao grabbed his hand, alarmed.
Shen Qingzhou freed his hand, continuing to unbutton his shirt casually. In a low, calm voice, he said, “What if I said yes?”
Lin Qiao was speechless, stammering for a moment. By the time Shen Qingzhou had fully unbuttoned his shirt, she whispered, “Isn’t this… a bit inappropriate?”
She glanced around the dark, eerie cave, the only light source not reaching them.
Shen Qingzhou followed her gaze, a slight smirk forming on his lips. “The timing, location, and mood are perfect. It couldn’t be more suitable.”
“I…” Lin Qiao began haltingly, unable to find a good reason. Her flustered expression amused Shen Qingzhou, who chuckled softly. The sound flowed past her ears, making her entire body tingle.
“I’ll stay on the outside. I won’t go in,” he whispered seductively into her ear, his hands decisively pushing her skirt up to her waist and gently pulling down her white lace panties to her ankles.
Lin Qiao knew her reaction was somewhat compliant, but his unpredictable actions had left her bewildered. Her reflexes were hopelessly slow, and by the time she thought to resist, her panties were already dangling from her left ankle.
…Such resistance was futile. At this point, they were already off, just not discarded.
“If you want to hook them there, go ahead.”
Shen Qingzhou had achieved his goal. With a teasing glance at her left ankle, he leaned over her, guiding her hand to unbuckle his belt.
Her small hand trembled in his larger one. Smiling, he mercifully took over, undid his belt, lowered his pants halfway, and revealed his already eager “weapon.”
“You lied…” Lin Qiao protested, forced to wrap her legs around his waist as she looked up pleadingly. “All men say that, but I’ve never seen any actually follow through.”
Shen Qingzhou pressed his hardened length against her intimate area, rubbing up and down gently, true to his word about not entering.
Ignoring her remark, he silenced her with a deep kiss, his tongue parting her lips and clouding her thoughts. Not content with that, his hand slipped into her bra, his long fingers enveloping the soft fullness of her breasts. The sensation was enough to drive any man wild with desire.
“Lin Qiao, I did lie to you,” he murmured against her neck, leaving a trail of kisses. His voice was husky, like a snake shedding its skin. “But it’s basic courtesy.”
…Bad guy. Lying and calling it courtesy—this man was too wicked.
Lin Qiao held his head as he buried his face in her chest, his hardness rubbing against her moist petals, his tongue teasing the peaks of her breasts. Every sensitive point was under his control, each action pushing her further into delirium, lost with him in this absurd intimacy.
“Mmm… ah…” Lin Qiao arched her back involuntarily, her legs tightening around his waist. Their bodies pressed together without a gap. “Qingzhou…”
She unconsciously called his name. Shen Qingzhou lifted his head from her chest, gazing into her dazed, half-lidded eyes. “Lin Qiao, shall we?” he asked hoarsely, moving upward to nibble her delicate earlobe, eliciting another soft moan from her.
Despite being painfully hard, he patiently continued foreplay, and even after, he didn’t enter immediately. Instead, he politely asked for permission. Shen Qingzhou’s behavior reflected his underlying worry—he was still haunted by Lin Qiao’s previous anger, afraid that acting without consent would lead to a repeat. He never wanted to experience that again.
“Don’t ask me,” Lin Qiao whispered shyly, nuzzling his shoulder—a tacit permission. “You decide.”
Shen Qingzhou’s breath hitched. Understanding her meaning instantly, he guided himself into her with a firm thrust, making Lin Qiao gasp. He paused, frowning忍耐ly, waiting for her to adjust to his size.
“Couldn’t you be gentler?” Lin Qiao complained, pounding his shoulders, her red lips bitten tight, eyes shut in pain.
Shen Qingzhou recalled their first night together when she had worn the same pained expression. He realized he had been too rough back then.
“Sorry,” Shen Qingzhou apologized softly, though it was unclear whether for now or then.
Lin Qiao slowly opened her eyes to look at him. He was忍耐ing with visible effort, veins bulging on his forehead. The hardened length inside her grew larger, occasionally twitching. The initial pain of intrusion gradually faded, though it still felt tight. She kissed his cheek, silently allowing him to continue.
That kiss was like a key, unlocking the softest parts of their hearts. In that secluded place, they became intimately connected, their emotions deepening along with their physical union. Nothing could ever pull them apart again.
For them, falling into this pit didn’t seem as bad as they had imagined.
“Can’t you be a bit gentler!” Lin Qiao complained, hitting his shoulders, biting her red lips tightly, her face full of pain.
Shen Qingzhou recalled their first night, when her expression was the same. It seemed he had been really terrible back then.
“Sorry.” Shen Qingzhou whispered an apology, not knowing whether it was for his previous actions or this one.
The higher up the mountain, the cooler the breeze became, yet Lin Qiao’s face grew uncontrollably warm because of Shen Qingzhou’s words.
She watched his tall, straight figure as he moved naturally and effortlessly through the forest, as if he hadn’t just said something so embarrassing. His hand, holding her wrist, was dry and warm, stirring a profound sense of satisfaction deep within her.
Silently following him around a hillside, Lin Qiao raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead. This movement happened to catch Shen Qingzhou’s eye as he turned to look at her.
Shen Qingzhou glanced at the sky and said, “It’s already past noon, and it’s still this hot?”
Lin Qiao used her fan to cover her flushed cheeks, clearing her throat lightly. “No, it’s not hot. Not at all.”
Shen Qingzhou released her wrist and touched her forehead, chuckling softly. “You say it’s not hot, but your forehead is sweaty, and your bangs are damp.”
Lin Qiao frowned. “Alright, it’s a little hot.”
“Then let’s head back,” Shen Qingzhou said, turning to descend.
Lin Qiao followed him. “Aren’t we going up? We’ve only seen half of it.”
Without looking back, Shen Qingzhou replied, “I’ll take you back first. I’ll come another day by myself.”
“…” Was he worried she might get sunburned?
Lin Qiao felt deeply touched by his consideration but naturally didn’t want to inconvenience him. She grabbed his hand and said, “It’s fine. Since we’re already here, let’s continue.” She led him up the mountain, taking large strides. Shen Qingzhou, afraid she might stumble, quickened his pace to match hers. He wanted to tell her they were going the wrong way but didn’t want to discourage her. So, the two continued ascending further in the completely wrong direction.
After walking for a long time without hearing a word from Shen Qingzhou, Lin Qiao wondered why they hadn’t arrived yet and why he remained silent. When she finally turned around, she saw him gazing at her with an expression of calm indulgence, his eyes clearly saying, “I’ll follow wherever you lead.”
Belatedly, Lin Qiao asked, “Did I take the wrong path?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced around and nodded. “We’ve been off track for a while.”
“…Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were walking so earnestly; I didn’t have the heart to interrupt.”
“Nonsense.” Lin Qiao blushed and squatted down. “I can’t go on; I’m exhausted. Wrong path or not, let’s rest for a bit.”
Shen Qingzhou unbuttoned his coat and spread it on the ground. “Sit.”
Lin Qiao stared in surprise at the expensive black coat now lying on the mountain path, her lips twitching. “You rich show-off.”
Shen Qingzhou glanced at her, hands behind his back as he gazed into the distance, and corrected her, “I’m not a show-off.”
“Pfft.” Lin Qiao rolled her eyes. “False modesty.”
Shen Qingzhou shook his head. “I’m not being modest; it’s the truth. ‘New money’ is showy. You can call me affluent.” As he spoke, he took an exquisite box from his pants pocket and handed it to her. “A belated birthday gift. I haven’t had the chance to give it to you until now.”
Without any pretense, Lin Qiao took the box, sat cross-legged on his coat, and looked up at him. “What is it?”
“Open it and see.” He seemed slightly uneasy, his eyes darting around restlessly.
Lin Qiao set her folding fan aside and carefully opened the box. Inside, on a black velvet lining, lay a translucent jade bracelet. Seeing she had opened it, Shen Qingzhou looked at her and explained, “It’s been blessed. Since it’s your zodiac year, wear it for protection and peace.”
Lin Qiao was taken aback. She picked up the bracelet and examined it closely before looking up. “Given its quality, it must be expensive, right?”
Shen Qingzhou crouched down to meet her gaze, his narrow eyes slightly squinting. “How expensive do you think?”
Lin Qiao looked into his eyes. They were beautiful, especially when he looked at someone with such intensity. If he was close to you, his gaze would also carry sincerity. His long, thick eyelashes were almost too delicate for a man.
“Judging by your income standards,” Lin Qiao said as she slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, smiling as she pushed his face away. “This isn’t too expensive.”
Shen Qingzhou stood up with her, picked up his coat, dusted it off, and draped it over his arm. “Shall we head back?”
“Mm.” Lin Qiao stretched lazily. “I’ve rested enough. Let’s go.” She glanced at the sky. “The sun is setting. It’s my fault we wasted the day. You should come back another time by yourself.” She took a few steps forward, then turned to walk backward, saying, “I’m such a burden. I even told Mr. Du I’d come to help you, but in the end—ah!”
Joy often ends in sorrow.
Lin Qiao was now experiencing this firsthand.
Since this path wasn’t part of Shen Qingzhou’s plan, he hadn’t studied the terrain. Walking backward while talking, Lin Qiao couldn’t see what was ahead. Her body blocked Shen Qingzhou’s view, so he could only confirm that the sides were flat, without slopes. But who knew that under the grass lay a trap?
A pit—a very large, deep pit. As Lin Qiao fell in, she swallowed a mouthful of dirt, and the grass covering the opening collapsed on top of her. Sitting on the ground, she spat out the grass and groaned, clutching her waist in pain.
“Lin Qiao!”
Shen Qingzhou had already reached the edge of the pit. Backlit by the opening, the depth made Lin Qiao realize just how deep it was—about three or four meters.
“Shen Qingzhou,” Lin Qiao said pitifully, looking up. “My butt hurts so much!”
Hearing this, Shen Qingzhou couldn’t help but frown. He coughed lightly into his fist and asked, “Are you injured anywhere?”
“I don’t know.” Lin Qiao tried to stand but winced in pain. “I can’t get up. What should we do?”
There was no response from Shen Qingzhou. Just as Lin Qiao wondered what he was doing, she heard him say, “Move to the side a little.”
“What are you going to do?” Lin Qiao asked, confused but complying despite the pain. “I moved.”
Almost instantly, Shen Qingzhou jumped down into the pit. Unlike her, he didn’t land clumsily. His stance was steady, hands lightly touching the ground, showcasing his agility.
Lin Qiao stared at him in shock. “Why did you jump down?!”
“You were in pain,” Shen Qingzhou said resolutely, scooping her into his arms. He carried her to the sunlit part of the wall, sat down, and placed her on his lap to examine her slender waist.
Being so close, Lin Qiao felt his breath tickle her ear, making her instinctively shift away. This movement displeased Shen Qingzhou, who firmly pulled her back. “Don’t move,” he said coolly.
Lin Qiao quickly complied, turning to watch his serious expression. After a while, she couldn’t help asking, “Any conclusions?”
Shen Qingzhou massaged her waist as he spoke. “I had them already.”
“…Then why were you looking for so long?”
“Nothing else to do.”
“…You’re hopeless.” “So, what did you find?”
“Nothing serious.” Shen Qingzhou pulled her into his embrace, took out his phone, and turned on the screen to make a call.
Lin Qiao asked curiously, “Do you have signal?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced at her. “Why do you ask?”
“Isn’t that how it always is in dramas? When the main characters fall into a pit in the mountains, there’s never any signal.”
Shen Qingzhou gave her a cold look. “Lin Qiao, stop dreaming. Do you think I’d put myself in such a situation? There’s a China Mobile signal tower nearby.”
“…Of course. TV dramas are all lies >_
Shen Qingzhou’s call went through quickly. Unlike the ever-capable Du Xinling, who was far away in Beijing and unable to help, who had he called?
Lin Qiao pretended to eavesdrop as Shen Qingzhou spoke deliberately, “Hello, is this the fire department command center?”
Embarrassed, Lin Qiao buried her face in Shen Qingzhou’s chest, listening as he calmly and logically explained the situation to the emergency operator, giving an estimated location before hanging up and pulling her head out.
“Lin Qiao, you got鼻涕 on my shirt.”
“Nonsense.” Lin Qiao frowned, inspecting his collar. “Where? I don’t even have a runny nose. How could there be anything?”
Shen Qingzhou looked down at the crown of her head, a clear smile in his voice. “Just teasing you.”
“…Shen Qingzhou!”
Lin Qiao glared at him, but he didn’t give her a chance to speak further. He spread his already dirtied coat on the ground and pinned her beneath him. “Lin Qiao, rescue will take a while. How should we pass the time?”
Lin Qiao stared blankly. “Huh?”
Shen Qingzhou pinched her nose and sighed. “Does your waist still hurt?”
Lin Qiao thought for a moment. “It’s okay.”
“Your butt?”
Blushing slightly, she answered earnestly, “It feels a bit better.”
“Good. I won’t be too rough. Tell me if it hurts.”
After saying something so suggestive, Shen Qingzhou began unbuttoning his shirt, startling Lin Qiao.
“Shen Qingzhou, wait. Is it that my mind is in the gutter, or are you thinking of… that?” Lin Qiao grabbed his hand, horrified.
Shen Qingzhou freed his hand and continued unbuttoning his shirt casually, his voice low and calm. “What if I said yes?”
Lin Qiao was speechless, stammering for a long time. By the time Shen Qingzhou had fully unbuttoned his shirt, she whispered, “Isn’t this… a bit inappropriate?”
She glanced around the dark, eerie cave, the only light source not reaching them.
Shen Qingzhou followed her gaze, a slight smile curling his lips. “The timing, location, and mood are perfect. It couldn’t be more suitable.”
“I…” Lin Qiao began haltingly, unable to find a good reason. Her flustered expression amused Shen Qingzhou, who chuckled softly, the sound washing over her and making her feel weak.
“I’ll stay outside; I won’t go in.” He leaned close, whispering seductively into her ear while decisively pushing her skirt up to her waist and gently pulling her white lace panties down to her ankles.
Lin Qiao knew her reaction was somewhat compliant, but his unpredictable actions had left her bewildered. Her reflexes were hopelessly slow, and by the time she thought to resist, her panties were already around her left ankle.
…Such resistance was futile. At this point, they were practically off, just not discarded.
“If you want to hook them there, go ahead.”
Shen Qingzhou had achieved his goal. With a teasing glance at her left ankle, he leaned over her, guiding her hand to unbuckle his belt.
Her small hand trembled in his larger one. His smile deepened as he mercifully released her and undid his belt himself, lowering his pants halfway and revealing his already eager “weapon.”
“You lied…” Lin Qiao protested, forced to wrap her legs around his waist as she looked up mournfully. “All men say that, but I’ve never seen any actually follow through.”
Shen Qingzhou pressed his hardened length against her intimate area, rubbing up and down without entering, just as he’d said.
Ignoring her words, he silenced her with a deep kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth until her thoughts were muddled. Not content with that, his hand slipped into her bra, his long fingers enveloping her soft, full breasts. The sensation was enough to drive any man wild with desire.
“Lin Qiao, I did lie to you.” He kissed along her jawline to her neck, leaving a trail of marks. His voice was hoarse and low, like a snake shedding its skin. “It’s basic courtesy.”
…Bad guy. Lying and calling it courtesy—this man was too wicked.
Lin Qiao held his head as he buried his face in her chest, his hardness continuously rubbing against her moist petals, his tongue teasing her erect peaks. Every sensitive point was under his control, each action enough to make her lose reason and sink into this absurd intimacy with him.
“Mmm… ah…” Lin Qiao couldn’t help but arch her back, her legs tightening around his waist. Their lower bodies pressed together without a gap. “Qingzhou…”
She unconsciously called his name. Shen Qingzhou lifted his head from her chest, gazing into her dazed, half-lidded eyes. “Lin Qiao, shall we do it?” He moved upward, nibbling her delicate earlobe, eliciting another seductive moan from her.
Despite being painfully hard, he patiently continued foreplay. Even after foreplay, he didn’t enter immediately but politely asked for permission. Shen Qingzhou’s behavior reflected his underlying worry—he was still haunted by Lin Qiao’s previous anger and feared a repeat. He never wanted to experience that again.
“Don’t ask me.” Lin Qiao shyly lowered her head, nuzzling his shoulder—a tacit consent. “You decide.”
Shen Qingzhou’s breath hitched. Understanding her meaning instantly, he guided himself to her entrance and thrust in without hesitation. The forceful movement made Lin Qiao cry out. He gritted his teeth, pausing to allow her to adjust to his size.
“Can’t you be gentler?” Lin Qiao complained, pounding his shoulders, her red lips bitten tight, eyes shut in pain.
Shen Qingzhou recalled their first night together when she had worn the same expression. He realized he had been too rough back then.
“Sorry,” Shen Qingzhou apologized softly, though it was unclear whether for now or then.
Lin Qiao slowly opened her eyes to look at him. He was straining, veins bulging on his forehead, his hardness growing inside her, occasionally twitching. The initial pain gradually faded, though it still felt tight. She kissed his cheek, silently permitting him to continue.
That kiss was like a key, unlocking the softest parts of their hearts. In this deserted place, they intimately connected, their emotions deepening along with their physical union, inseparable from then on.
For them, falling into this pit didn’t seem as bad as they had imagined.
This kiss was like a key, opening the softest hearts of the two people. They were intimately united in this uninhabited place, their feelings becoming increasingly close, just like their bodies. No one could separate them anymore.
For them, falling into this pit didn’t seem as bad as they had imagined.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage