Hearing Song Qingshu's words, Cheng Ying was instantly humiliated and furious, while an inexplicable sense of loss rose in her heart. She had actually had a fairly good impression of Song Qingshu before. He was famous throughout the land, highly skilled in martial arts, possessed an outstanding bearing, and had even patiently treated Lu Wushuang's leg injury. But now, in her eyes, he was nothing more than a despicable, lecherous scoundrel.
"Sl... sleep?" Cheng Yaojia was also startled. She thought that it would be one thing if she accompanied him herself, but her cousin was an innocent young woman—how could she possibly sleep with him?
Seeing the expressions on the two women's faces, Song Qingshu knew they had misunderstood. He said helplessly, "What are you thinking? I'm merely having her sleep here for one night. I won't do anything to her. That way, even if she goes to inform on us, people will surely ask her for the details. The fact that she shared a bed with us naturally won't stay hidden. When that happens, who would believe she is still a virgin?"
"You're utterly vicious!" Cheng Ying's hands and feet turned cold. As clever as she was, she immediately understood the implications. Even if Song Qingshu truly did nothing to her tonight, under the social customs of the day, others would certainly suspect otherwise. Amid all the gossip and rumors, even if she were innocent, her reputation would be utterly ruined.
Song Qingshu said calmly, "This isn't viciousness. It's merely an understanding of human nature. If I were truly vicious, wouldn't it be simpler to strip off your clothes and take your body directly?"
Cheng Ying fell silent. She knew he was right. Putting herself in his position, she likely would not have easily trusted someone based on a