The Wounded Blossom

"Then let's call it an early 'rehearsal.'"

Yan Lingji teased her, a mischievous smile in her voice.

"Ah—! Stop saying that..."

Bibi Dong lightly tapped Yan Lingji's palm. Her touch was so gentle it barely tickled, but the blush on her face deepened.

"Fine, I'll stop."

Yan Lingji answered warmly, drawing Bibi Dong into her arms and gently patting her back.

"It's already late. Get some rest."

"I'm not leaving tonight. I'll sleep here with you."

"Thank you, Sister Ling Ji, for staying with me so late..."

The scene shifted in a flash. It was already morning.

Yan Lingji had returned home.

"All done." She sat on the edge of the bed, talking as she took off her clothes. "Dong'er had too much to drink, got up in the middle of the night, and was still half-asleep. That's how all this happened."

She draped her outer robe over the back of a chair, then reached up to remove her hairpin. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, spilling over her shoulders and gleaming softly in the morning light.

"I explained everything to her and told her to stay by your side from now on and be your little wife."

"She agreed?" Zhao Linchuan leaned against the headboard, hands clasped behind his head. "Knowing her, would she really agree just like that?"

"She didn't agree outright."

Yan Lingji placed the last hairpin on the vanity, then let her hair down and ran her fingers through it, her movements lazy and casual.

"But she didn't say a single word in refusal, either. She was probably just embarrassed."

She turned to look at Zhao Linchuan. Morning light fell across her face, and her dark eyes held a hint of warmth and amusement.

"Just find a chance to lay it all out for her when you get back."

As she spoke, she rose and straddled Zhao Linchuan's waist, bracing her hands on either side of his chest. Her long hair fell between them like a soft black waterfall as she teased, "Let me inspect you and see what you've been up to while you were away."

Her fingertips traced little circles over his chest, her voice carrying a deliberately suspicious edge.

"Did you give everything away to other people? Did you think about the wife waiting for you at home?"

"I didn't do anything..."

Zhao Linchuan's voice held a hint of helpless amusement.

"Liar!"

Yan Lingji lowered her head and buried her face in the hollow of his shoulder, her lips almost brushing his ear.

"When you came back yesterday, I smelled more than one woman's fragrance on you!"

She gave his chest a light poke with her fingertip.

"Hand over your grain ration! Then I'll let this go!"

"Really, I didn't..."

"I don't believe you!"

Yan Lingji raised her head and looked down at him, the corners of her lips curling as she spoke seductively.

"Let me inspect you. I'll know once I see the quality..."

Over the next few days, Bibi Dong kept avoiding Zhao Linchuan.

She was like Haozi dodging a cat: the moment she spotted Zhao Linchuan from afar, she turned around and left.

If she heard his voice, she went out of her way to take another route.

When there was no way to avoid him, she lowered her head, blushed, mumbled a reply, then hurried off.

Zhao Linchuan went looking for her several times, but each time he came up empty.

And for some reason, Qian Xunji had become impossible to find, too.

The attendants at Pope Hall said His Holiness the Pope had been feeling unwell these past few days and wasn't receiving visitors.

He couldn't get any information from the Worship Hall, either. All he heard was that Qian Xunji had gone to have a drink with Golden Crocodile Douluo that day, and then somehow things had gotten out of hand.

It wasn't until the evening of the third day that Zhao Linchuan heard a bit of gossip from a young attendant.

Apparently, Qian Xunji had somehow drunk himself unconscious at the Worship Hall and had lain in bed for three days before recovering.

Now the sun was setting.

The clouds on the horizon had been dyed a deep orange-red, and the entire Spirit City was bathed in the warm glow of dusk.

The distant eaves and treetops shimmered with a golden halo, beautiful as an oil painting.

Zhao Linchuan strode toward Saintess Hall, a pair of wine jars in his left hand and a food box in his right.

When the two maids on duty outside Saintess Hall saw him, they exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads and pretended not to see him.

Zhao Linchuan stepped over the threshold, crossed the front hall, and headed straight for Bibi Dong's room.

At that moment, Bibi Dong was about to leave. She had changed into a pale purple dress, her hair gathered into a simple bun, and a light touch of makeup gave her a fresh, neat look.

There were faint dark circles beneath her eyes, though, as if she hadn't slept well for the past few days.

"Why are you here?"

The moment she saw Zhao Linchuan, her expression changed.

She dodged left, then right. She tried to go left, but he blocked her; she tried to go right, and he blocked her again.

Like a little deer trapped in a cage, she flusteredly searched for a way out, but Zhao Linchuan was like a wall that could move—there was no getting around him.

"What exactly do you want?!"

Bibi Dong's face was bright red. Her eyes darted everywhere, anywhere but at Zhao Linchuan.

"Why do you keep blocking my way?!"

Her voice was hurried and embarrassed, with a touch of exasperation.

"Move! I have official business to take care of!"

"I came to have a drink with my good friend."

Zhao Linchuan lifted both hands, making the wine jars sway in the air. The dishes in the food box clinked softly together.

"We haven't seen each other for days. I missed you, so I came to see you."

"I-I have things to do..."

Bibi Dong's gaze grew even more restless. She twisted her fingers at her sides, her voice growing quieter and quieter.

"How about next time?"

"No! It has to be today."

Zhao Linchuan's smile faded, and his tone turned serious.

"If you walk away today, I won't take another step in here again."

"You—!"

Bibi Dong gritted her teeth, her expression shifting several times before she finally let out an indistinct mutter.

"Hmph! Scoundrel!"

She turned around and sat down at the table, folding her arms across her chest and lifting her chin slightly as she put on an "I'm very angry" look.

"Let's get this straight: we're only drinking. You're not allowed to say those embarrassing things."

"What things?"

Zhao Linchuan followed her over and set the wine jars and food box on the table. As he arranged the dishes, he asked innocently.

"You're doing it again!"

Bibi Dong nearly jumped to her feet. She slapped both hands on the table, her voice rising another notch.

"Don't bring that up again!"

"Fine, fine. I won't."

Zhao Linchuan hurriedly agreed, finished setting out the dishes, and poured her a cup of wine.

The wine rippled gently in the cup, clear and bright, giving off a rich aroma.

"Here, try this. I 'picked' it up from my teacher this morning."

"You're very good at picking things up, then." Bibi Dong lifted her cup, clearly unconvinced. "You even managed to pick something up at the Worship Hall."

With that, she downed it in one go.

"Hm?" Bibi Dong savored the taste and licked her lips, surprised. "Tsk, tsk... This wine I picked up at the Worship Hall really is something. It tastes even better than the special wine my teacher keeps."

"Then have some more." Zhao Linchuan filled her cup again. "Tonight, we drink until neither of us can stand..."