The morning light was like fine golden sand, falling through the window on the two people in the room.
Lin Ciyan was awakened by the faint sound of the market outside the window.
The moment Lin Ciyan opened his eyes, memories came flooding back - the auction, Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife, drinking and chatting with Xu Jiujiu, and... those blood-curdling scenes.
He turned his head sharply.
Then, he saw Xu Jiujiu lying next to him.
She was lying on her side on the other side of the low couch, about an arm's length away from him.
The long golden hair is scattered on the snow-white animal skin, as if it is spread out on the ground.
A few strands of hair stuck to her slightly red cheeks.
The jet black cheongsam was wrinkled after a night's sleep, and the collar was still open, revealing a large area of fair skin and delicate collarbones.
What is even more eye-catching is that the high slit of the cheongsam is completely opened in sleep, and a slender jade leg stretches out from the skirt, exposed to the morning light without any cover.
From the middle of the thighs to the slender ankles, every inch of skin is glowing with an ivory-like warmth, making it look particularly alluring in the early morning light.
She was sleeping deeply, breathing evenly, and her eyelashes cast light shadows on her eyelids.
Lin Ciyan took a deep breath and forced himself to look away.
last night...
They all drank too much last night. The "Golden Wind Jade Dew" tasted sweet and soft when first tasted. Who would have thought it would have such great stamina.
After drinking, Xu Jiujiu became more and more relaxed, and his speech and behavior became less reserved and more charming and bold.
And he himself... gradually lost his usual restraint.
But luckily.
Lin Ciyan rubbed his still swollen temples and remembered a piece of physiological common sense.
If a man is really drunk, even if he wants to do something, he will be powerless.
Is this wave... a false alarm?
Just as he was thinking about it, Xu Jiujiu beside him suddenly moved.
The long eyelashes trembled a few times, and then, the blue eyes slowly opened.
The haze when I first woke up only lasted a few seconds.
The next moment, when she saw Lin Ciyan close at hand, saw the two of them sleeping on the same bed, and saw her disheveled appearance -
Xu Jiujiu's face turned red.
It was so red that it looked like it was about to bleed.
She subconsciously pulled the brocade next to her to cover her open neckline, but stopped midway through the movement.
The morning light shone on her face, and you could clearly see the complex emotions flashing through her eyes: shock, shame, panic...
Finally, these emotions receded like the tide, replaced by the calmness and calmness that belonged to the royal princess.
She sat up slowly, combed her long messy hair gracefully, and buttoned the cheongsam buttons one by one.
From the neck to the chest, the attractive white skin was covered again.
She did the whole process calmly and leisurely, as if she was just sorting out an ordinary piece of clothing.
If it weren't for the blush on her ears that hadn't faded yet, Lin Ciyan would almost have thought that the shyness just now was just her own illusion.
"Morning." Xu Jiujiu finally spoke, his voice still slightly hoarse when he first woke up, but his tone had returned to his usual elegance, "How long have you been awake?"
"I just woke up." Lin Ciyan also sat up and said in a natural tone, "Your royal family's wine is really strong. I still have a headache now."
"Everyone who drinks 'Golden Wind Jade Dew' for the first time will do this." Xu Jiujiu adjusted the hem of her skirt and covered her exposed legs again.
"This wine is brewed using ancient methods. When you drink it, it only feels sweet, but the strength of the wine gradually increases."
"When I was fourteen, I secretly drank once and slept until the evening of the next day."
As she spoke, she had already tidied up her appearance.
Except for the fact that her hair was still a little scattered, except for the wrinkles on her cheongsam that were difficult to smooth out for a while, and except for the blush on her face that had not completely faded away - at this moment, she had basically returned to her Star Luo Princess appearance.
"Ci Yan." Xu Jiujiu suddenly raised his head and looked at him.
Her eyes were serious, and her blue eyes were crystal clear in the morning light.
"Last night... thank you."
Lin Ciyan was stunned. "Thank me for what?"
"Thank you for not..." she paused, as if she was considering her words, "For not doing anything I shouldn't do while I'm drunk."
After she said this, her cheeks turned red again, but her eyes were still magnanimous.
"Although if we really did something,..." Her voice became softer and softer, and the last few words were almost inaudible.
"... It's not impossible."
Lin Ciyan was stunned by these words.
He looked at Xu Jiujiu, looking at her blushing but still looking directly at him, and suddenly understood something.
Holy Radiance Qilin Martial Soul's affinity aura.
When the other person is relaxed and emotionally sensitive, the effect will be amplified.
Last night, Xu Jiujiu took off all guard, drank wine, and was in the most relaxed and vulnerable state.
And he was sitting next to her.
That invisible attraction, in that environment, probably had an impact on her that was several times stronger than usual.
Coupled with the catalysis of alcohol...
This buff stack is really quite a lot.
"This is how it should be between friends." Lin Ciyan calmed down and spoke in a gentle tone, "It's not my style to take advantage of others' danger."
"I know." Xu Jiujiu nodded, a hint of warmth flashed in his eyes, "So I thank you even more."
She stood up and walked to the window.
The warm light of the morning splashed on her body, coating her with a soft golden edge.
The light blue long skirt fluttered gently in the morning breeze, outlining her slim figure.
"Sometimes I wonder." She turned her back to Lin Ciyan and said softly, "If there was a different person last night, would the ending be different?"
"Maybe, maybe not." Lin Ciyan also stood up and walked to her side, "But those 'ifs' are meaningless."
Xu Jiujiu turned to look at him, with a complicated light shining in his eyes.
There's appreciation, there's gratitude, and there's... something deeper.
"You know, Ci Yan." She said softly, "I have seen too many people in the palace."
"Children of nobles, young talents, Titled Douluo... the way they look at me is either with calculation, desire, or awe."
"But you are different."
"The way you look at me is very clean. It's like... looking at an ordinary person."
Lin Ciyan smiled, "You are just an ordinary person. It's just that your reincarnation skills are better and you were born into the royal family."
"Reincarnation technology..." Xu Jiujiu repeated the word and suddenly laughed out loud, "What you said is quite new."
"Internet hot memes." Lin Ciyan explained casually, "You haven't heard of normal."
The two of them stood by the window, watching Star Luo City outside the window gradually wake up.
Pedestrians began to appear on the street, shops opened one after another, and the sound of horse-drawn carriages came from a distance.
Smoke curls up from the chimneys of the houses and blends into the morning sky.
This city is about to usher in a new day.
And they will also face the time of separation.