Hush Money (Part 1)

After a moment, Shui Bing'er gently slipped off the gauzy garment as thin as cicada wings.

Hidden in the bushes not far away, Jia Youcai's eyes widened with excitement at the sight.

What... what was going on?

Where the hell had this Paladin come from?

This was such a rip-off. It was bad enough for a Paladin to pop up while watching videos—why was there one here causing trouble too?

"Bullshit!" Jia Youcai cursed.

"Get lost... get the hell out of here!"

"Whoever invented this crap deserves to be dragged out and shot!"

Yet no matter how he cursed, that Paladin stubbornly remained, making Jia Youcai so furious smoke practically poured from his seven orifices.

Then, his feet moved forward beyond his control. With that eyesore of a Paladin blocking the view, he could not see anything from a distance.

Before he knew it, Jia Youcai had stepped into the range where Shui Bing'er could sense and see him.

The moment Shui Bing'er heard the sound, she became alert. She spun around swiftly, gathering a faint blue glow in her hands as she stared warily toward its source.

But when she saw that it was Jia Youcai, she paused slightly. The vigilance on her face eased somewhat, though a shy flush also crept onto her cheeks.

"Jia Youcai? Why are you here?" Shui Bing'er asked softly.

Jia Youcai was horrified. He hurriedly glanced around. How had he unknowingly gotten so close? More importantly, he had been caught red-handed.

He awkwardly stood up from the ground and dusted himself off. Stammering, he said, "Do I get a chance to explain?"

Shui Bing'er lowered her head slightly, unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes between her fingers. "Of course."

Jia Youcai scratched his head. His gaze inadvertently fell on Shui Bing'er again, and he quickly looked away. "The scenery here is really beautiful, and the water element is especially dense."

Smiling, Shui Bing'er slowly walked toward Jia Youcai.

As she drew closer, the Paladin covering Shui Bing'er gradually faded away. By the time she came within two meters of Jia Youcai, it had completely vanished.

The sight before him was an absolute feast for Jia Youcai's eyes. Even if she beat him up afterward, it would still be worth it.

In Jia Youcai's eyes, the only parts of Shui Bing'er hidden from view were a few places that should not be seen, covered by the scant scraps of fabric she wore. Everything else was laid bare before him.

Moonlight spilled over her, tracing her figure with a silvery-white outline. Her skin, smooth as congealed cream, carried a soft sheen, like a meticulously sculpted work of art.

This is... way, way, way... too thrilling. Jia Youcai was ecstatic.

Shui Bing'er tilted her head up slightly. Her long lashes trembled gently, casting fragmented shadows over her cheeks. Her red lips parted as she said in a mildly coquettish tone, "Jia Youcai, you still haven't answered me. Why did you appear here?"

Jia Youcai's head buzzed, and his thoughts instantly became a mess. He stuttered, "I... I was just out for a walk, and somehow I ended up here. This... this place was too alluring, so I accidentally... got lost." As he spoke, he unconsciously swallowed, though his eyes still could not help darting toward Shui Bing'er.

The blush on Shui Bing'er's cheeks deepened. She gave a soft spit and chided him, "Quit talking nonsense. Who gets lost all the way out here?" Still, she understood that Jia Youcai's excuse was flimsy. Seeing how flustered he was, she found him somewhat cute instead.

Seeing that Shui Bing'er was not truly angry, Jia Youcai grew bolder. Scratching his head, he chuckled. "Shui Bing'er, the way you're dressed... it's just... so beautiful. I was completely mesmerized." The instant the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Why did I say that so bluntly? Am I asking for trouble?

Shui Bing'er froze slightly, then a shy smile appeared on her face. She lightly covered her cheeks with both hands and said, "You really know how to make me happy." Yet she could not hide the smile in her eyes.

Just then, a breeze drifted past, making the fabric on Shui Bing'er flutter gently. Jia Youcai's vision blurred, as though he had entered a dream. Unable to help himself, he stepped forward, wanting to feel that beauty from closer up.

Shui Bing'er was startled by Jia Youcai's action. She instinctively took a step back, wariness returning to her eyes. "Jia Youcai, what are you trying to do?"

Only then did Jia Youcai snap back to his senses and realize his impropriety. He hurriedly waved his hands. "I... I didn't mean to. I just lost control for a moment." His face was full of regret, and he wanted nothing more than to crawl into a crack in the ground.

Seeing Jia Youcai's remorseful expression, Shui Bing'er's guard lowered somewhat. She let out a soft sigh. "Forget it. Since you didn't mean it, I won't hold it against you."

Jia Youcai nodded repeatedly. "Absolutely, absolutely. I promise I won't do this again." As he spoke, he raised his right hand as if taking an oath.

"So cute!" Shui Bing'er instead took a few steps toward him.

Tenderness and shyness flickered in Shui Bing'er's clear, waterlike eyes. She rose slightly onto her toes, gently placing both hands on Jia Youcai's shoulders. Her cheeks glowed with an alluring blush as she softly said, "Jia Youcai, actually... I've liked you for a long time."

Jia Youcai felt his mind explode, as though happiness had struck him head-on. He stood frozen in place, eyes wide with disbelief. Looking at the bashful and captivating Shui Bing'er before him, his heart pounded wildly out of control, as if it might leap out of his throat.

Seeing Jia Youcai standing there blankly, Shui Bing'er's lips curved into a playful smile. She reached out and brushed his cheek, then slowly closed her eyes and gently pressed her lips to his.

Jia Youcai felt an electric current surge through his entire body. Only then did he awaken as if from a dream. His arms instinctively wrapped around Shui Bing'er's slender waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace as he deepened the kiss.

Moonlight flowed like water over them, draping them in a layer of silvery gauze. Everything around them seemed to grow quiet, leaving only the sounds of their heartbeats and soft breaths.

In the midst of their passionate kiss, whether intentionally or not, the little fabric remaining on Shui Bing'er's upper body fell away at some point.

After that, their entanglement grew increasingly intense.

(The following content was far too exciting, so let's omit the next ten thousand words or so. There were plenty of bodily movements between the two—please use your imagination.)

Two hours later, the two finally separated with great reluctance.

Shui Bing'er's upper body had been completely conquered. Fortunately, the important parts of her lower body had not yet engaged in deeper "communication," and the fabric there remained in place, still "sealed."

After their passionate encounter, Shui Bing'er sat on the ground, breathing lightly.

When Jia Youcai came over and sat beside her, she directly held out her hand toward him.

"What, what?" Jia Youcai asked in confusion.

"Hush money!" Shui Bing'er said.