Like a God

"You can use a little more force, you can go a little longer, you can..."

Luo Zhao's voice grew softer and softer, until the last few words were barely audible.

But her eyes remained fixed on Gu Chengyin, the longing within them so dense it nearly spilled over.

"You can leave more extreme marks on my body."

Luo Zhao finished speaking.

She had spoken aloud, word by word, the desires she normally crushed deep in her heart, desires she herself dared not face.

With each word uttered, she felt a fraction of the weight upon her lessen.

By the time she finished, her entire being felt light, as if she had cast off a shackle she had carried for far too long.

Gu Chengyin looked at the almost devout expectation in her eyes and fell silent once more.

Then he reached out and took hold of Luo Zhao's neck.

This time, his hand did not let go.

Gu Chengyin did not answer Luo Zhao's words.

But the action of gripping her neck was answer enough.

Luo Zhao closed her eyes, pressing her neck deeper into his palm, and took a long, deep breath.

Gu Chengyin's presence flooded her senses, carrying that crisp yet warm scent she found so intoxicating.

The corners of her mouth curved upward, forming an arc of utter satisfaction.

The hall fell quiet.

Only the sound of their breathing interwove, one deep, one shallow, one urgent, one slow.

Like two instruments playing a melody only they could understand.

And sitting nearby, Gu Xiaoli had watched the entire scene without blinking.

Her big eyes never wavered, taking in every moment of Luo Zhao's journey from struggle to submission, from submission to longing, from longing to fulfillment.

There was no surprise on Gu Xiaoli's face, no confusion, only a sudden understanding.

So her Highness was just like her.

She liked her brother, and her Highness liked her brother too.

She longed to be cared about by her brother, and her Highness longed to be cared about by her brother too.

In front of her brother, she became unlike herself, and her Highness also became unlike herself in front of her brother.

It was just that she did it through being well-behaved and obedient, while her Highness did it through...

Well, that kind of way.

A little twisted, and a little scary way.

Gu Xiaoli tilted her head, thought about it seriously, and then came to a conclusion.

Her Highness also wanted to be her brother's cat, but not in the same way she did.

She wanted to be her brother's cat because she was already a cat.

But her Highness wasn't a cat, she was a human, and a very, very beautiful one at that.

So it wasn't so much that her Highness wanted to be her brother's cat, but rather that her Highness wanted her brother to be her master.

Although Gu Xiaoli wasn't sure if she would like having her neck held by her brother the way her Highness did.

It looked a little painful, but if her brother liked it, then it was probably okay.

Gu Xiaoli quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at Gu Chengyin and Luo Zhao anymore.

But she just couldn't suppress the smile on her lips, which curved even higher than Luo Zhao's had just moments ago.

Her hand unconsciously rose to touch her own neck, her fingertips brushing against the soft skin, and her heartbeat suddenly quickened.

As for Gu Chengyin, one hand firmly controlled Luo Zhao while the other lightly tapped the imperial decree on the desk.

His gaze fell on the dignified, forceful brushstrokes of the emperor's writing on the bright yellow silk brocade, and he sighed inwardly.

He had merely been looking for a counter-leverage against Emperor Luo.

Now he had found the leverage, but its weight far exceeded his expectations.

Not only beyond expectations, it had also come with a completely unforeseen feature, opening a door that should never have been opened.

Behind that door was a Luo Zhao he had never seen before.

Gu Chengyin didn't know exactly how he had opened that door.

But he could understand why Luo Zhao had become like this.

People with an M-type personality usually suffer from an extreme lack of security, a deficiency often rooted in various influences from their upbringing.

And with Luo Zhao's mother having passed away early, and her father being the unfathomable Emperor Luo, her upbringing was inherently dysfunctional from the start. Adding to that her position in the imperial family, her special status and identity meant she never encountered genuinely good people.

That was why she had no choice but to create a cold and aloof exterior to protect herself.

But in truth, Luo Zhao enjoyed the unique sensation of having her mind and body controlled.

Because for her, being controlled wasn't a form of restraint, but a special source of security.

She yearned for a powerful person to dominate her life, to make decisions for her, to give her a stable sense of order.

And Gu Chengyin's explosive, take-over-by-force appearance perfectly satisfied every one of Luo Zhao's desires.

Like a god, he had saved her from the quagmire she was stuck in.

Storms, Gu Chengyin would shield her from. Decisions, Gu Chengyin would make. Enemies, Gu Chengyin would kill.

Since everything she had belonged to Gu Chengyin, then naturally, she herself should also belong to Gu Chengyin.

Gu Chengyin released his hand again. Although Luo Zhao was somewhat reluctant, she didn't show it.

Instead, like the most obedient dog, she clung tightly to Gu Chengyin's chest.

Gu Chengyin turned to look at Gu Xiaoli beside him and said, "Xiaoli."

Hearing that name, Luo Zhao's whole body trembled.

She only then remembered that Gu Xiaoli had been watching the entire time from the sidelines.

Didn't that mean that her most authentic side had also been seen by Gu Xiaoli?

"Hmm? What is it, brother?"

Gu Xiaoli looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Gu Chengyin gently patted Luo Zhao to reassure her, then asked:

"Her Highness's throat is a bit dry. I was helping her with a massage to soothe it."

Gu Xiaoli blinked, glanced at Luo Zhao who didn't dare raise her head, then looked at the deadpan Gu Chengyin.

Finally, she nodded in confirmation and said, "So that's what it was. No wonder her Highness looks so unwell."

Gu Chengyin continued without changing his expression: "Yes, so Xiaoli, go find a physician and get some medicine for her throat."

Gu Xiaoli didn't refuse. She obediently agreed, stood up, and headed outside.

After Gu Xiaoli's figure left the hall, Luo Zhao finally raised her head and whispered:

"Will Xiaoli buy that?"

Gu Chengyin shook his head. "Xiaoli certainly won't believe it. But at least she won't go around spreading it."

Hearing this, Luo Zhao felt reassured. Although Gu Xiaoli loved to play innocent, when it came to keeping secrets, she truly was reliable.

As long as Lin Qingyan and Shangguan Yunying didn't know, she could still be that incomparably elegant and extraordinary Highness.

So even if Gu Xiaoli had seen it, it probably didn't matter much.

"I should get up now. Otherwise, it'll be bad if my aunt sees us like this."

Just as Luo Zhao was about to rise, Gu Chengyin suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered in her ear:

"What did you just call me?"

Luo Zhao blinked, hesitating: "Junior Preceptor?"

Gu Chengyin asked again: "Call me what?"

Now Luo Zhao understood what Gu Chengyin meant. Her face flushed once more.

Her lips moved, and finally, two words came out:

"...Master."