Chapter 56: Kiss

The Duke had never felt any desire for her.

Those other times...

It had been a one-sided affair, with him merely teasing her.

’Come to think of it,’ Yu Zhizhi thought, ’I wouldn’t have any improper thoughts about my own cats or dogs, would I?’

Even if you liked them, the affection for a pet was different from the affection for a person.

The Duke had always been raising her as if she were a pet.

When Yu Zhizhi realized what she had just said, her face flushed faintly. She lowered her head, looking at the steaming pool, and was just about to get in and hide in the water when she realized—

A hand pressed down on her shoulder.

"Thinking of you..."

The little female’s voice was soft and sweet, a sound he could never get enough of.

"Thinking of me?" The Duke wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace. With his other hand, he tipped her chin up, his golden, vertical pupils staring straight into her eyes. "What were you thinking about me? Hmm?"

Steam filled the air.

In the rising heat, the little female’s glistening eyes shimmered with light. A blush stained her snow-white cheeks, spreading bit by bit until even the tips of her rabbit ears turned red.

But...

’What was she supposed to say?’

She had tried all her wiles before, yet the Duke had remained unmoved.

He would just watch, a faint smile on his lips, his cool fingertips teasing her wantonly as he observed her passion rise and fall.

Yu Zhizhi felt a pang of sadness.

The Duke watched as the Light flickering in the little female’s eyes slowly died out.

She lowered her gaze, as if to hide her inner emotions.

’...What’s wrong?’

’Why is she unhappy now?’

The Duke realized that he cared. A lot.

’Was his little pet frightened by what happened tonight, or was she still worried about that dying Wild Dog?’

’Why does she look so sad?’

Her eyelashes grew damp with tears. Yu Zhizhi pressed her lips together. She hadn’t wanted to cry, but when she thought about how her "third objective" for the Snake Clan had also failed, and how her mission time was about to run out, the tears just wouldn’t stop.

’Obliteration...’

’What would that be like?’

’Would it hurt?’

’Would my memories disappear?’

’Would I leave any trace of my existence in this world?’

’She hadn’t been able to go home, hadn’t seen the person she wanted to see...’

The Duke watched the crystalline teardrop at the corner of her eye, and something stirred in his heart.

He gently brushed the tear from the corner of her eye with his finger.

Then, he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"What’s wrong, little one?"

The man’s magnetic voice was low and slightly hoarse. Whatever the reason, at this moment, he wanted his little female to be a little happier.

Yu Zhizhi’s tears only flowed faster.

She felt a kiss land on her lips.

Light and ticklish.

The Duke gave the young woman’s lips a light peck, but as if mesmerized, he did it again, and again.

Noticing the little female’s tears gradually stop, the corner of his mouth twitched. ’So...’

’...she likes being kissed.’

The Duke applied a bit of force with his hands, lifting her from his side and settling her onto his lap to face him.

Yu Zhizhi instinctively wrapped her arms around him, afraid of falling into the water.

Before she could react, she felt the Duke’s arm tighten around her waist. His other hand cradled the back of her head as he leaned down and kissed her.

This time, it wasn’t a light peck or a test of the waters, but a deep, lingering kiss.

The little female’s unique jasmine scent was delicately sweet. He savored it meticulously, as tenderly as a lover in the throes of passion.

He was trying to soothe her.

To make her forget the night’s unpleasantness.

He hoped she could be a little happier.

Yu Zhizhi was stunned at first. She never expected the Duke to take the initiative...

His cool fingers gently stroked her smooth, delicate back.

She sat on the Duke’s lap, her toes brushing against the hot water below, and couldn’t stop trembling.

Yu Zhizhi felt her entire body go weak.

Her rabbit ears drooped shyly...

Her face flushed and her heart pounded.

The Duke ended the long kiss. His voice was husky, and desire lurked in his golden, vertical pupils. "Do you want it?"

Like a Demon holding out a poisoned apple to a lost maiden.

His words were laced with temptation.