Holding Both

Gu Chengyin leaned against the carriage wall, his left arm wrapped around Lin Qingyan's waist and his right arm around Shangguan Yunying's.

His posture was as relaxed as if he were merely resting his arms on two armrests.

But he knew that both women's bodies had just stiffened.

Lin Qingyan's waist was very slender; even through her spring dress, he could feel its softness.

Her body tensed for a moment, as if she hadn't expected Gu Chengyin to do this.

Or rather, she hadn't expected him to actually dare to do it.

Shangguan Yunying's reaction was even more obvious.

She almost jumped, her waist suddenly tightening, and her breathing grew a bit ragged.

Ultimately, however, neither of them broke free or moved away from Gu Chengyin's side.

After a brief moment of stiffness, their bodies slowly softened.

Lin Qingyan's breathing steadied, and her body relaxed.

She didn't look at Gu Chengyin. Instead, she turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on the swaying carriage curtains as if nothing had happened.

The waist he held was soft and docile, obediently pressing against the side of his palm without any sign of resistance.

Shangguan Yunying lowered her head, her face flushed a deep crimson.

Her hands clutched her sleeves, her knuckles turning slightly white, but she didn't pull away either.

Her breathing was still a bit hurried, her chest rising and falling slightly, but her body remained motionless, allowing him to hold her.

Gu Chengyin lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions in them.

What he wanted to test was whether these two women would set aside their bitter rivalry for his sake.

He wanted to see if, when faced with his presumptuous demands, they would resist due to each other's presence, or refuse out of pride.

This point was crucial. As long as Lin Qingyan and Shangguan Yunying didn't object or break free...

...it meant that everything was still under his control.

Judging by the current situation, both Lin Qingyan and Shangguan Yunying were being very submissive.

Despite a momentary hesitation, they had ultimately submitted.

Not only did they submit, but they also sat very close—close enough for him to feel their body heat.

Neither showed the slightest awkwardness or resistance because of the other's presence.

The faint, cool fragrance from Lin Qingyan lingered at his nose.

The fresh, elegant scent of Shangguan Yunying mingled in the air.

The two fragrances intertwined, swirling within the enclosed carriage, making one's mind wander with distracting thoughts.

Gu Chengyin steadied his mind. Just as he was pondering whether to continue the test...

...he paused his thoughts, suddenly realizing something was wrong.

Why were his hands becoming a bit disobedient?

His hands, which had originally just been resting on their waists, had unknowingly begun to gently squeeze.

With his palm pressed against the side of Lin Qingyan's waist, he could feel its slender softness.

Her waist was truly narrow, so narrow that it felt as if he could wrap a single hand around it, and once he did...

Gu Chengyin's Adam's apple bobbed.

At the same time, his other hand was doing the exact same thing.

Shangguan Yunying's waist was slightly plumper than Lin Qingyan's, but it was still easily grasped, feeling warm and soft to the touch.

Her body seemed more sensitive; as his hand tightened just a fraction, she gave a soft tremble.

Gu Chengyin took a deep breath, trying to use the deep breaths to calm his emotions.

This wasn't right.

He had originally just wanted to do an obedience test to confirm whether these two would put down their prejudices for him.

But now that he was actually embracing both of them, surrounded by two different fragrances...

...and feeling the warmth of the two women's waists through his palms...

...he found that his reason seemed unable to suppress his instinctual desires.

Even his hands were slowly caressing them, completely out of his control.

Both women noticed it as well.

Lin Qingyan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she neither turned her head nor spoke.

Her waist remained softly pressed against his palm, as if she hadn't noticed a thing.

Shangguan Yunying's reaction was much less reserved.

She lifted her head, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling, staring at Gu Chengyin's profile with a teasing smile.

Leaning forward slightly, she brought her face close to his ear, her breath smelling of orchids as she spoke:

"Master~ Is my waist softer, or is Lady Jingzhe's waist softer~"

Her warm breath brushed past his ear, carrying a faint, lingering fragrance.

Gu Chengyin's eyelid twitched.

This question was an absolute death trap.

Say Lin Qingyan's waist was softer? Shangguan Yunying would definitely not accept it and would continue to stir up trouble.

Say Shangguan Yunying's waist was softer? Even though Lin Qingyan wouldn't show it on her face, who knew what she would be thinking inside.

Furthermore, no matter who he chose, he would be the one to suffer.

He had finally managed to get these two women to settle down; he couldn't let it be ruined by a single sentence.

So Gu Chengyin didn't answer. Instead, he gave Shangguan Yunying's waist a light pinch.

"Ah!"

Shangguan Yunying let out a soft cry and grabbed Gu Chengyin's hand.

Her fingers were slender and soft, carrying a slight coolness. When she caught his hand, it was as if she had grabbed onto something amusing.

Gu Chengyin originally thought that Shangguan Yunying would pull his hand away, or coquettishly scold him.

But in the next second, his eyebrows shot up.

After grabbing his hand, Shangguan Yunying didn't pull it down. Instead, she began to guide it upward.

Holding his hand in hers, she moved it inch by inch up the side of her waist.

Gu Chengyin's pupils contracted slightly.

Shangguan Yunying was trying to kill him.

If it really moved any higher, his rationality truly wouldn't be able to suppress his instincts.

Gu Chengyin immediately tried to pull his hand back, but Shangguan Yunying held on tightly, refusing to let go.

She didn't use much strength, but her grip was firm, as if she had made up her mind to pull his hand higher.

"Master~"

Shangguan Yunying's voice was sickeningly sweet, laced with a hint of sly amusement:

"Just hugging us like this is so boring~ Why don't we do something a little more interesting~"

As she spoke, she looked over at Lin Qingyan sitting on the other side and said with a giggle,

"Wouldn't you agree, Lady Jingzhe?"

Lin Qingyan shot Shangguan Yunying a cool, indifferent glance.

That single glance was full of profound meaning.

Her gaze fell on the hand Shangguan Yunying was using to grip Gu Chengyin.

It then shifted to Gu Chengyin's hand being pulled upward.

Finally, it returned to Shangguan Yunying's smiling face.

The corners of her lips curled into a slight smile, and she spoke softly:

"You certainly have a lot of questions, little sister."

Lin Qingyan's voice was cool and clear, like a mountain spring, utterly devoid of worldly impurity.

But her subsequent actions caused the temperature inside the carriage to skyrocket.

She raised her hand and hooked her fingers under Gu Chengyin's chin, pulling it toward her.

Her movement was slow, yet it carried an undeniable, unhurried authority.

Her fingers were slender and pale, the pads slightly cool as they pressed against his chin, turning his face to meet hers.

Then, she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against Gu Chengyin's.

It was a fleeting touch.

So fast it felt like an illusion, so fast it left no time to react.

Only the lingering coolness on his lips proved that the scene had actually occurred.

Lin Qingyan pulled back slightly, her gaze looking past Gu Chengyin to the now-dumbfounded Shangguan Yunying.

Her eyes were as cold as frost, but her voice inexplicably carried a hint of tender affection:

"Unlike me."

"I only know how to dote on Chengcheng."