Do You Want To

Shangguan Yunying's expression was very much like that of a wife discovering her husband returning home late at night.

And smelling of another woman's perfume—not ordinary rouge or powder, but a much more intimate and ambiguous scent.

If it were an ordinary person, they would probably have started panicking by now.

They might even instinctively step back, avoid eye contact, and stammer while trying to think of an excuse.

But Gu Chengyin was clearly no ordinary person.

Not only did he show no trace of panic, but he actually stood a little straighter.

Then, meeting Shangguan Yunying's gaze, he said as a matter of course:

"That is exactly what I wanted to ask you about."

His voice was neither high nor low, his tone neither rushed nor slow.

Shangguan Yunying was taken aback.

She hadn't expected Gu Chengyin to react this way.

According to her expectations, he should have either flatly denied it, mumbled vaguely, or changed the subject.

In short, he should have seemed somewhat guilty and evasive.

But Gu Chengyin did not.

His absolute self-assurance actually caused Shangguan Yunying's anger to involuntarily dissipate for the most part.

She even started to blame herself.

What was she thinking?

Who was Gu Chengyin?

How could he possibly seek out some wild woman?

Even if there really was a scent...

It must have been that wild woman deliberately trying to seduce him!

Yes, that had to be it.

Gu Chengyin was innocent, forced, and acting against his will.

Shangguan Yunying quickly completed her mental gymnastics, and her eyes softened.

Gu Chengyin then continued to ask in a solemn tone,

"Yunying, do you know about Lin Qingyan's inner demon?"

This question accurately pierced through Shangguan Yunying's mental defenses.

So Gu Chengyin had encountered Lin Qingyan's inner demon again?

No wonder he smelled of perfume.

The self-blame in Shangguan Yunying's heart grew even stronger.

Thinking about it now, that scent was so unique, carrying a certain spiritual resonance—wasn't that the characteristic aura of a Golden Core cultivator?

Gu Chengyin must have been trying to figure out a way to escape, dealing with that dangerous situation.

And what about her?

Not only did she fail to be understanding, but she had immediately questioned and doubted him, acting like an unreasonable, jealous woman.

It was simply too much!

Shangguan Yunying's chest heaved slightly. She did not answer the question.

Instead, she took a step forward, opened her arms, and hugged Gu Chengyin.

"I'm sorry."

Shangguan Yunying's muffled voice came through.

"I wronged you."

Gu Chengyin: "?"

Wasn't this development a bit too sudden?

He hadn't even finished his prepared speech, and his pre-planned countermeasures hadn't even been deployed, yet Shangguan Yunying had already convinced herself?

And voluntarily apologized?

But this wasn't bad either; in fact, it saved him a lot of effort.

Gu Chengyin took the opportunity to raise his hand and gently pat Shangguan Yunying's back.

"It's fine, you were just worried about me."

This sentence made Shangguan Yunying hug him even tighter.

It was a good while before she let go and took a half-step back.

The moonlight shone on her face, and the guilt that had not yet fully dissipated could be clearly seen in her eyes.

"I know a little about Lord Jingzhe's inner demon. It seems to be because of Her Highness's mother, the Empress, but I don't know the exact details."

She spoke vaguely, but it confirmed a key piece of information for Gu Chengyin.

Lin Qingyan's inner demon was indeed related to Empress Lin.

"Mhm."

Gu Chengyin followed this topic and continued, "Her condition is quite unstable right now. Last time it suddenly flared up and almost got me killed. Fortunately, it was controlled in the end."

"So I am helping her now, seeing if we can weaken the inner demon."

Of course, Gu Chengyin did not tell Shangguan Yunying the method of weakening the inner demon, to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Hearing this, Shangguan Yunying showed a look of sudden realization on her face.

Previously, when she and Luo Zhao reviewed the situation, they had guessed that the reason Gu Chengyin released her hypnosis was to go and control Lin Qingyan's inner demon.

Now that Gu Chengyin admitted it himself, it verified their conjecture.

"Then be careful yourself,"

Shangguan Yunying urged. "Inner demons are very dangerous things, especially those of Golden Core cultivators. If not handled well, it might cause a backlash."

"I know," Gu Chengyin nodded in agreement.

A brief silence fell between the two.

The moonlight moved slowly across the floor of the bedchamber, and time slipped away in silence.

Gu Chengyin glanced at Luo Zhao, who was still 'sound asleep' on the bed.

He had originally planned to test Luo Zhao again tonight, but now that Shangguan Yunying was here, it was obviously not very appropriate.

Moreover, looking at Shangguan Yunying's state, she completely believed the fact that Luo Zhao was hypnotized.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be guarding Luo Zhao so naturally, nor would she be so casually intimate with him.

This was actually a kind of indirect confirmation.

Gu Chengyin thought for a moment and finally decided to give up for the time being.

He would look for another opportunity later.

"It's getting late. I'll head back first."

After saying that, Gu Chengyin prepared to leave.

But right at that moment.

Shangguan Yunying suddenly grabbed him.

Gu Chengyin paused his steps and looked over in confusion.

Then, he saw a pair of sparkling eyes.

Burning affection surged within them, crashing undisguised into his line of sight.

"I missed you~"

Her voice was full of coquettish charm.

Gu Chengyin blinked. The meaning behind these words was self-evident.

Direct, open, and carrying a certain naked desire.

But...

Why now?

Why right beside Luo Zhao?

Did Shangguan Yunying have some kind of fetish he didn't know about?

Countless thoughts flashed through Gu Chengyin's mind in an instant.

He looked at Luo Zhao, who was still 'sound asleep' on the bed, and then at Shangguan Yunying with her burning gaze, and for a moment, he was a bit unsure.

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Gu Chengyin finally spoke, a trace of hesitation in his tone.

He wasn't actually refusing.

He was probing.

Probing Shangguan Yunying's true intentions, testing what exactly she wanted to do.

Under the moonlight, Shangguan Yunying smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

Her smile was very sly and playful, even holding a hint of mischief.

If she let Gu Chengyin just leave like this, how could she execute her plan?

Moreover, to prevent these two from truly becoming mortal enemies and leaving her caught in the middle in a dilemma,

Shangguan Yunying had even made some slight, delicate adjustments.

But she believed that Luo Zhao would definitely thank her in the future.

"What's inappropriate about it~"

As Shangguan Yunying spoke, the hand pulling Gu Chengyin's sleeve not only didn't let go, but she also stepped half a pace forward.

The distance between the two instantly closed.

So close that they could feel each other's breath, so close that they could clearly see their own reflections in each other's pupils.

Shangguan Yunying raised her hands and wrapped them around Gu Chengyin's neck.

This action was very natural and incredibly intimate.

She stood on her tiptoes and leaned close to Gu Chengyin's ear. Her warm breath brushed over his earlobe, bringing a tingling itch.

Then she called softly, "Gu Chengyin~"

Her voice was soft and charming, like a feather gently sweeping across the tip of his heart.

Gu Chengyin didn't speak, quietly waiting for what would come next.

Shangguan Yunying's next sentence caused his pupils to suddenly contract.

"Do you want to bully Her Highness?"