Xiao Bao felt a tingling sensation on his scalp and quickly pushed him away to lower the curtains of the carriage, signaling to continue on their journey. He pulled Huai En inside, saying, "Come closer; your foot is still sticking out."
The recent moment had been unmistakably ambiguous, and he noticed the odd looks from people outside, especially the envious glares from Zhao Cai and Jin Bao, whose eyes were nearly bulging out. He had always openly declared his affection for Huai En, but he wasn't ready for others to know that he was the one being pinned underneath.
He was the famously charming and sought-after Jin Da Shao of Suzhou, known across the four provinces of Jiangnan. Every well-known beauty had shared a fleeting romance with him. Such tales were the delightful gossip of idlers in the martial world. Now, the thought of being known to be overpowered by someone smaller and more delicate than him... the very thought made it difficult for him to save face. He felt he owed it to others, especially his servants, to have time to adjust, ideally flipping the script in the process.
Huai En, unaware of his turmoil, looked at him with a slight frown for pushing him away.
Xiao Bao gave him a warm smile, hurriedly helped him off with his shoes, and arranged the already smooth bedding for him as the carriage started moving. He lay down next to Huai En, adjusting his position.
With one arm around Huai En's waist, he softly asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Huai En shook his head, "Such minor injuries are nothing to me."
Xiao Bao, remembering the encounter with Zhao Cai, hesitated before finally asking, "Who were those people? Why did they want something from you?"
Huai En looked at Xiao Bao, his eyes still shimmering but as if veiled, becoming more indifferently serene.
Seeing into Huai En's eyes, Xiao Bao continued, "Huai En, I know nothing about your affairs, and I'm not trying to pry. But since we have already... already..." Xiao Bao couldn't continue, and Huai En covered his eyes with his hand.
Huai En felt Xiao Bao's eyelashes brushing against the palm of his hand, tickling him. If Xiao Bao could see, he would realize how uneasy Huai En was. Sooner or later, Xiao Bao would ask these questions. Xiao Bao was not one to keep secrets, and in his trusting eyes, Huai En saw suspicion.
Huai En was not good at lying, especially to Xiao Bao, whose trust he fully had.
He felt a hint of panic as the carriage carried them towards their destination, unable to slow the pace of unfolding events. He could take on Xiao Bao as an unforeseen factor, but what right did he have to bear more for him? Yet, he hesitated now because he didn't want to see Xiao Bao hurt.
Before he could think of a good solution, he couldn't tell Xiao Bao anything, so all he could do was cover his eyes, saying, "Don't look at me like that."
He saw Xiao Bao bite his lip, then release it, raising his hand to slowly move Huai En's away, his eyes clear with love and understanding, "If you don't want to speak, that's okay. I'll wait until you're ready. But everything you've told me, it's all true, isn't it?"
Huai En hugged him tighter, "It's all true, not a single lie."
Xiao Bao nodded in his embrace, his warm breath fanning over his chest and neck.
"Xiao Bao."
"Hm?"
"I know you were scared just now."
"I actually…" "But you still wanted to save me."
Xiao Bao smiled, looking proud, "Was I very brave just then?"
Huai En kissed his eyes, now crinkled with laughter, and the corners of his mouth, then looked into his eyes with a serious tone, "My father and mother were the same."
"Ah?"
"My mother was weak, but she died trying to save my father."
"Huai En…"
"My father had only her, even after she died. And I have only you, and it will be the same in the future. I don't want you to die trying to save me. I will protect you for the rest of my life."
Xiao Bao felt a twinge in his nose, his lips moved, but he couldn't speak.
All he could do was hold Huai En tightly.
This vow-like speech left him so moved he was speechless. The sweet nothings and promises he was usually good at now failed him. This was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard in his life, too precious and profound. The usual flattery seemed trivial and insincere by comparison. He had been too casual with his words before, but now he couldn't speak them.
All he could do was embrace Huai En tightly, hoping this tender moment would last forever.
"Huai En…" "Hm."
"Your hand…" "Hm."
"Hm what?"
"With the carriage moving this slow, it'll take us four or five days to get back to the Jin residence. What else could we possibly do?"
"Your injuries…" "They're not a problem."
"Uh… wait a second, we just…" "Stop the nonsense; you like it too. You were screaming so loudly, the whole cave was echoing with your voice."
"...I do like it, but this matter requires a sense of joy and the right atmosphere, and it's not good to overdo it. I'm thinking, I have to keep up in terms of physical strength."
"I don't need you to move; just lie there honestly."
Damn, are these words even human? Xiao Bao was not pleased. The atmosphere was so good before, and now it's all ruined. That's why this matter can't be brought to the surface. Once it's mentioned, seriousness flies out the window. He had wanted to take this excellent opportunity to ask Huai En if she would be willing to directly marry into his family.
Xiao Bao pouted, wanting to curl up. Huai En promptly spotted his intention, and with an iron claw, she pinned him down like a cat does a mouse, quickly settling the matter.
Xiao Bao vividly remembered, during the most glorious two or three years of his life, around the age of sixteen to eighteen, when he had just started indulging in sensual pleasures, his energy was incredibly vibrant, and his mind was filled with lewd thoughts. Gathering with a bunch of swine friends and dog pals, their conversations always revolved around women ten out of ten times. He once spent an entire night battling with the then-famed and rare Three Sisters Flowers of Suzhou. After that night, he could hardly walk straight for over a month. Yet, this made him incredibly proud among the rich young masters of Suzhou, a story he could boast about even today.
But compared to Huai En, that was child's play. In his lifetime, he might only afford such reckless expenditure once, and Huai En seemed to perform like this every time.
The carriage rocked and swayed for nearly five days. Xiao Bao was tossed and turned inside the carriage by Huai En for five days, during which, aside from eating, sleeping, and relieving themselves, the two indulged in their physical desires inside the carriage.
Of course, the pleasure was all Huai En's. Xiao Bao experienced a mix of pleasure and pain. Although the act itself was exhilarating, discovering new techniques and exploring each other without a care in the world was the pinnacle of what he, as a spoiled young master, sought after. However, such debauchery indeed came with a price.
Now, stepping off the carriage, he walked like a frog, his lower body feeling incredibly weak. If not for Huai En's support, he might have collapsed in embarrassment.
Moreover, during these days, the carriage shook as if possessed, their cries of passion unfiltered, saying whatever came to mind. He couldn't imagine how many of their intimate and indecent sounds were overheard by others outside. He couldn't even face his own servants now.
Now, looking at him, Huai En's eyes were like a wolf's, ready to pounce and devour him at any moment. Her stamina was beyond normal, attacking him with the force of a storm until he nearly passed out, feeling numb down below. Xiao Bao was both in love and terrified of her. He couldn't understand how Huai En had suddenly become so uncontrollable. She used to be more restrained, at least. Now, it seemed like she wanted to drain him completely, as if this was their last time together.
In summary, when they all returned to Suzhou, Xiao Bao felt like he was waking from a long dream. The drunken stupor of those five days left him with mixed feelings, but mostly, he savored the sweet aftertaste. How many times in life could one indulge in such folly, especially with someone he deeply cherished? Truly, it was blissful as if he were in heaven.
As the grand gates of the Jin mansion came into view, Xiao Bao suddenly felt a surge of pride. The Jin family was wealthy and reputable, with a harmonious and happy family life. He was successful from a young age, strong and healthy, and now he had a celestial-like lover by his side. He felt incredibly blessed by the heavens; truly, he could ask for nothing more in life.