The next day.
The morning in the Frostbound Sanctuary carried a hint of icy chill, yet it was also infused with a refreshing crispness.
Inside the bedchamber of the sanctuary’s main palace, faint light seeped through the massive crystalline windows, casting a soft glow across the ice-carved and jade-adorned room.
Su Muwan’s long hair cascaded like a waterfall over the pillow, her fair cheeks still tinged with a faint blush. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze still hazy with the drowsiness of sleep.
"Mmm…"
She let out a soft murmur, instinctively nuzzling closer to the warmth beside her. Her cheek pressed against a firm chest, and the steady rhythm of breathing reached her ears.
"Ah… haa!"
She took a deep breath of the morning air, her nose filled with a familiar scent—a delicate fragrance mingled with Qin Luo’s distinct presence, wrapping her in an indescribable sense of comfort.
"Huh? Why does it smell so good?"
Su Muwan blinked, still half-asleep, and inhaled deeply a few more times, as if trying to devour the scent whole.
"Ahh! Haa! Haa!! Qin Luo’s scent!! Haa haa haa!! I’ll inhale it all!!"
She trembled slightly as she breathed in greedily, only to suddenly realize she was curled up in Qin Luo’s arms.
"Eh…?"
She lifted her head slightly, her gaze settling on Qin Luo’s sleeping profile. His expression was peaceful, his breathing even, and a faint smile lingered at the corners of his lips.
Su Muwan’s cheeks flushed a deeper pink, an inexplicable warmth rising in her chest. She reached out, poking his cheek with her fingertip.
Blinking once, she muttered under her breath,
"Serves you right for causing so much trouble. Tired now, aren’t you?"
"Just a measly Qin Luo…"
A smug grin tugged at her lips, though she tried to suppress it.
Just then, Qin Luo’s lashes fluttered, and his eyes slowly opened. His gaze was still clouded with sleep, but the moment it landed on Su Muwan, it softened instantly.
"Good morning, my lady."
His voice was husky from sleep, yet so tender it could melt hearts.
Su Muwan’s face burned even hotter. She quickly withdrew her hand and turned away with a haughty huff.
"Hmph! Who told you to hold me like this?"
In response, Qin Luo chuckled and pulled her even closer, murmuring by her ear,
"But wasn’t it you who crawled into my arms last night, whining about how cold it was and refusing to sleep unless I held you?"
"Y-You’re lying!"
Su Muwan’s face turned scarlet, and she glared at him indignantly.
"Am I?" Qin Luo feigned innocence, his smirk widening. "Should I remind you, my lady?"
"D-Don’t you dare!"
She thumped his chest in protest, though her fists carried no real force—more like kittenish pats.
Qin Luo laughed and caught her hand, holding it gently in his.
His lips curled uncontrollably.
Ah, yes.
A flustered Su Muwan was simply too adorable!
Under his gaze, Su Muwan’s blush deepened, her expression a mix of embarrassment and irritation. She tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened, the warmth of his fingers sending her pulse racing.
Suddenly, an idea struck her.
Gritting her teeth, she put on her most imperious tone.
"Y-You! Release this lady at once!"
She glared at him, her voice laced with feigned anger, though the mirth in her eyes betrayed her. Her gaze darted away, unable to meet his teasing stare, as if afraid he’d see right through her flustered heart.
Oh? Playing this game so early in the morning?
Qin Luo smirked, his voice dripping with playful mischief.
"How could I ever dare to bully the Frostbound Sanctuary’s lady? I merely wish to serve you properly, Your Grace."
His low, velvety tone sent shivers down her spine, her heartbeat growing even more erratic.
"Here, feel for yourself…"
Still holding her hand, he pressed her palm against his warm chest, his eyes wide with faux sincerity.
"Your Grace, I swear—my intentions are pure."
Thump. Thump.
Su Muwan’s fingertips tingled at the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, each pulse resonating deep within her. Her fingers trembled slightly, the heat radiating from him making her skin prickle.
Pure intentions?
That won’t do at all.
She bit her lip.
(Let it be known—Su Muwan was not some shameless girl!)
But!
This… this was all for the sake of cultivation!
So!
Hehe!
If you have no impure thoughts…
Then I’ll just have to supply them myself.
Her breath hitched, her lips parting slightly as she tried to steady herself. Yet Qin Luo’s smoldering gaze made it impossible to stay composed.
"Hmph! Smooth-talker! You’re clearly up to no good!"
She shot him a reproachful look, her voice laced with exaggerated haughtiness.
"This lady sentences you to punishment!"
"Let go—now!"
Qin Luo obediently released her hand, his expression the picture of feigned remorse—though his eyes still sparkled with mischief.
"Y-Your Grace… what do you intend to do?"
The more submissive he acted, the more excited Su Muwan became.
A sly grin curled her lips as she leaned in, her voice dripping with triumph.
"Hehe! What do I intend?"
She paused dramatically, then—
In one swift motion, she seized the front of Qin Luo’s robes and yanked him toward her.
Her movements were rough, almost domineering.
Qin Luo barely had time to react before her lips crashed against his.
"Mmmph!"
Slurp—!
Her lips were soft, warm, and sweet, as if determined to steal his very breath.
For a split second, Qin Luo froze—then his eyes crinkled with amusement, his arms encircling her waist as he kissed her back.
His touch was gentle, coaxing her to relax into the embrace.
At first, Su Muwan’s kiss was clumsy, but under his guidance, she gradually melted into it, her fingers tightening around his collar as if afraid he might vanish.
She was drowning in the heat of the moment, utterly lost.
Only after what felt like an eternity did she finally pull away, her face flushed crimson.
Her eyes were glazed, her lips slightly parted, her entire demeanor softened by the kiss.
"Th-This… is your punishment!"
She tried to sound stern, but her voice trembled, betraying her flustered state.
Qin Luo chuckled, brushing his thumb along her cheek, his gaze unbearably fond.
"If this is my punishment, Your Grace… then I’ll gladly accept it every time."
Su Muwan's face flushed even redder. She bit her lip and feigned anger as she glared at him, "Hmph, smooth talker! This lady won’t fall for your tricks!"
Qin Luo chuckled, gently pinching her cheek with a voice soft and deep, "Your Highness, are you... blushing?"
"W-who’s blushing?!"
"Well then, my lady, shall we get up now?"
"Get up?! We haven’t taken care of business in ages! Let’s settle it first!"
"Oh??"
Mwah mwah mwah mwah!!!
And then Su Muwan kissed him to her heart’s content.
For the sake of his unrequited love, his ex-girlfriend abandoned him at the altar, indirectly causing the death of his parents. Just when he thought his life was plunged into darkness, a clueless yet beautiful girl unexpectedly took him in. Looking back, he realized how many hidden gems had always been by his side. A childhood friend who had secretly loved him for over a decade, a stunning but socially clueless school beauty, a mischievous and playful girl who lived for chaos... His ex, filled with regret, pleaded: "I was wrong—can we go back to how things were?" Before he could respond, the girl stepped in front of Ye Shuang and coldly declared, "If you didn’t cherish him, then he’s mine now." Also known as: "After Losing My Job, I Was Picked Up by a Hidden Gem," "The School Beauty I Raised," and "Oh No, I’m Surrounded by Rich Girls."
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
m back to his original world. In the end, he realized he had overthought things. [Hey, why is Shen Manni, the female lead, acting strange? Shouldn't she be fawning over the male lead at this point?] [Zhou Qiaoqiao, are you sick? Weren't you supposed to break off your engagement today?] [Damn it! An Youyi, please do your job as an undercover agent and sell my information to the protagonist, you idiot!] ... At this moment, Xu Mo himself didn't know that these female leads had already heard his inner thoughts. Then they decided not to play by the rules. Xu Mo: Please respect my profession as the big villain!
