"Urgh..."
A grunt escaped Zhao Tianâs lips as he curled on the bed. Feeling the sunrays on his face, his eyelashes fluttered open.
A sharp pain crossed his head and he squeezed his eyes as he slowly woke up, sitting upright on the bed.
"Oh, you woke up?"
Hearing a familiar voice, Zhao Tian squinted his eyes and looked at the blurry figure of a woman moving around the room.
Huh? He blinked a few times, trying to bring her into focus.
He shook his head to gain some clarity, willing the fog in his brain to clear, and Ji Shuangâs face came into his view "Sect.. Master?"
Ji Shuang glanced at him and gave a nod "mhm, seems like you are sober now.. Good morning."
"Good morning...?" Zhao Tian muttered, his voice trailing off.
His mind was still trying to piece together the events of the previous night, though the memories were frustratingly fragmented.
A hazy image surfaced... the soft sensation of a warm embrace, the feeling of his lips on smooth skin.
Suddenly, an image of him groping Yao Jingâs chest and... sucking on her breasts flashed in his mind.
Huh? His gaze darted around the unfamiliar room, taking in the minimalist decor, the neatly arranged furniture, and the faint fragrance lingering in the air.
Ji Shuang, sensing his confusion, spoke without turning around. "Now youâre in my room. Last night, you stumbled in here instead of going to your own."
Oh.. So thatâs what happened?
His hand instinctively moved to brush the disheveled strands of hair from his forehead âThen, was that a dream.. sucking Jingâs nipple.. huh?â
His gaze flickered toward Ji Shuang, who now stood with her back to him, "Yesterday... when I came here, I didnât do anything weird, right?"
Ji Shuang paused for a moment, then tilted her head slightly to glance at him over her shoulder. "No," she replied indifferently. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire
"You just silently came in and fell asleep. I didnât bother to disturb you."
Relief washed over Zhao Tian, though it was accompanied by a pang of embarrassment "I see..."
Ji Shuang turned back to the desk, picked up a bottle of water, and casually tossed it to him. "Here. Drink some water."
Catching the bottle, Zhao Tian opened the lid and took some gulps
The cool liquid felt soothing against his parched throat, though it did little to ease his lingering headache.
Then Ji Shuang took a cup of hot tea and brought it to the lamp table near the bed "Here is ginger tea, drink this. Itâll help clear your head... and settle your stomach."
Zhao Tian blinked in surprise, glancing between the cup of tea and Ji Shuang. He hadnât expected such consideration from the usually aloof Sect Master.
A flicker of warmth touched his chest, and he nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Sect Master."
Ji Shuang gave a curt nod, her gaze briefly meeting his. "Youâre welcome."
After a moment of silence, she took a step back. "Iâll be leaving then," she said, her tone as composed as ever.
"...Yeah."
*thud*
As soon as Ji Shuang stepped out of the room and shut the door behind her, her carefully maintained composure began to crack.
A soft crimson blush bloomed on her cheeks, quickly spreading to the tips of her ears.
She pressed her back against the door, as fragments of last night flashed vividly through her mind.
She looked down at her chest which now looks normal, hiding her massive breasts, and the image of him sucking her breasts appeared in his mind.
The way his tongue rolled around her areola and the way he licked her nipple... she still remembers it.
Her hand instinctively brushed against her collarbone as if trying to dispel the phantom sensation of his touch.
Her fingers touched her lips, recalling the brief yet daring kiss she had planted on his cheek.
The memory of leaning over him, tugging the strands of hair away from his face, and seeing him so utterly vulnerable brought a new wave of heat to her face.
"Ah..." Ji Shuang let out a soft exhale, a mixture of frustration and embarrassment.
She couldnât believe her own audacity.
She, the Sect Master of the Jade Eclipse Sect, known for her poise and unshakable resolve, had not only allowed such an intimate moment to happen but had also... taken advantage of the situation herself.
Her steps faltered as she moved away from the door, her movements hurried and almost clumsy... something utterly uncharacteristic of her.
âI just did that in the heat of the moment.. waahhhhh.â
She wasnât oblivious to Zhao Tianâs charm...
But she had always prided herself on being above such distractions, on keeping her heart guarded and her emotions in check.
And yet, last night had been different.
As she reached the end of the corridor, Ji Shuang paused, leaning against the cool stone wall to steady herself.
Her hand moved to her chest once more, as if trying to suppress the erratic thumping of her heart.
âHe was drunk... it didnât mean anything.â
But even as she tried to rationalize it, her cheeks burned hotter.
The image of him lying there, so close and so unguarded, wouldnât leave her mind.
And the way he had looked at her earlier, with those slightly hazy eyes full of confusion and vulnerability...
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes to center herself. âYouâre overthinking this, Shuang. He doesnât even remember. To him, itâs nothing but a blur.â
But the truth was, it wasnât nothing to her.
âTake care of my darling for me...â
Qian Shiâs parting words echoed in her mind, and for a fleeting moment, Ji Shuangâs resolve wavered.
Taking care of him?
A tiny part of her found the idea oddly... comforting
...
"Hm.."
Standing in front of the shop, Zhao Tian hummed softly, as his gaze swept over the array of flowers displayed outside.
The colorful blooms swayed gently in the breeze, their scents mingling to create an intoxicating fragrance.
Li Jia, stood beside him, her eyes darting between the various flowers as she carefully evaluated each one.
"Tian, look at these Frostblooms," she said, pointing to a cluster of delicate blue flowers resting in a frosted vase.
Each petal shimmered faintly as if dusted with a thin layer of ice.
Zhao Tianâs eyes followed her gesture, and he tilted his head slightly, intrigued.
"Oh, theyâre not bad," he murmured as he walked closer, his fingers brushing against the edge of a petal.
"I could buy these for you."
Li Jia rolled her eyes and lightly swatted his chest. "Idiot. I donât need flowers," she said, though her tone was affectionate.
"Weâre here to pick out something for your new wife, remember?"
Zhao Tian chuckled "Ah, right. That."
Nearby, the shopkeeper, a spry old man with a warm smile who had been listening to their conversation leaned over the counter, "Young man, if youâre still unsure of what to choose, why not let me make a recommendation?"
Zhao Tian turned to the old man, his lips curving into a smile. "Iâll take you up on that offer. Please, show me what you think would be best."
The shopkeeper chuckled knowingly, "A fine choice, lad. But fair warning... it wonât come cheap."
Zhao Tian waved his hand dismissively, "Money isnât an issue. Show me the best flowers you have."
The old manâs grin widened. "Very well, then. Wait here."
He shuffled toward the back of the shop, his steps quick and eager.
Zhao Tian and Li Jia watched as he disappeared into the inner storeroom, the faint sound of rustling and muttering drifting back toward them.
After several moments, the shopkeeper returned, carrying an intricately bound bouquet in his hands.
The flowers were velvety violet that seemed to drink in the light around them.
At the center of each bloom rested a crystalline dewdrop-like formation that glinted in the sunlight, casting tiny rainbows.
Li Jiaâs eyes widened in surprise, "Is that... Starlace Violets?" she asked, her voice tinged with awe.
The old manâs laughed heartedly "Youâve got a keen eye, young lady. Yes, these are Starlace Violets."
He held the bouquet up for them to look "These beauties donât wilt for an entire year, so long as you water them properly. And their scent... well, one whiff and youâll understand why theyâre so prized."
Li Jia leaned in slightly, and she inhaled softly, her expression immediately softening. "It smells like... starlight."
The shopkeeper chuckled. "These flowers are special. They only bloom in very specific conditions within the Great Tianhe Forest, and even then, theyâre difficult to find."
"No oneâs been able to cultivate them outside their natural habitat, so theyâre as scarce as they are beautiful."
Zhao Tian nodded thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on the flowers "Iâll take them."
The old man blinked, momentarily startled. "You mean... this bouquet?"
"Yeah, I mean all of them. The entire bunch."
The shopkeeper glanced at him, momentarily speechless. "Young man, these flowers are... expensive. One bloom alone costs 100 High-Grade Astral Stones. There are twenty in this bouquet."
Li Jiaâs eyes widened slightly, and she glanced at Zhao Tian. "Tian, are you sure? Thatâs a lot of Astral Stones."
Zhao Tian simply smiled "Itâs fine. I said money isnât an issue."
The old man hesitated, his hands tightening slightly around the bouquet. "Thatâs... two thousand High-Grade Astral Stones. Are you certain?"
Zhao Tian gave a small nod. "Yes. Please wrap them up for me."
The shopkeeper stared at him for a moment longer before breaking into a wide grin. "Youâve got good taste, lad. And clearly, you know how to treat a woman right. Give me a moment... Iâll prepare them for you."
As the old man moved to package the flowers carefully, Li Jia crossed her arms "Youâre going all out, huh?"
Zhao Tian shrugged. "Itâs only right to give something special. She is my wife after all."
Li Jia smirked. "Sheâd better appreciate it, or Iâll come back there and take one of these for myself."
He chuckled. "Iâll make sure she does."
A short while later, the shopkeeper returned with the Starlace Violets carefully wrapped in silk paper, and tied with a silver ribbon.
Zhao Tian handed over a small pouch with Astral Stones, the weight of which made the old manâs hands tremble slightly.
"Thank you for your business," the shopkeeper said, bowing deeply. "These flowers are in good hands, Iâm sure of it."
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!