Downpour, Lake Full

As the power of the Five Elements circulated, it cut off all light, sound, and scents. Within this tiny space, everything outside was temporarily shut away.

Zhang Lexuan watched the familiar five-colored membrane spread across the ceiling again, and her heartbeat suddenly skipped.

She had seen this move far too many times...

Lin Ciyan tightened his arms and pulled her fully into his embrace.

Zhang Lexuan's body stiffened slightly, then slowly, little by little, softened against him.

The collar of the palace dress she wore today was not particularly low, but when he hugged her like this, the fabric was tugged back slightly, revealing a small stretch of delicate collarbone.

Lin Ciyan's fingers slowly slid down through the hair at the back of her head, brushing past the loose strands at her nape. His fingertips touched that fair patch of skin at the back of her neck, then stopped there, his fingertips pressing down gently...

The skin at her nape was especially thin, and warmer than elsewhere. He could almost feel the faint pulse of the tiny blood vessels beneath it.

Zhang Lexuan let out an extremely soft whimper, her fingers instinctively clutching the fabric at his waist.

"I still have a meeting later."

Lin Ciyan moved his lips away from her forehead and lowered his gaze to her trembling lashes. "Is it almost time for the meeting?"

Zhang Lexuan looked up at him. A thin haze clouded her bright eyes, softening and blurring the gentle lines of her expression.

After a while, a fine white rain began to fall from the sky, landing on Zhang Lexuan.

She pressed her lips together. Her tone suggested she was trying to organize her thoughts, but her voice had already gone completely soft. "How am I supposed to attend a meeting in this