He had no token of love to give her. She had given him a ring, so he could only offer her a hairpin. He had no idea whose feminine ornaments Xia Fuli had left in the Heaven-and-Earth Bracelet, but they were just sitting there anyway. This was as good a use for them as any.
His lips told a different story, however. "I happened to see this hairpin earlier and thought it suited you, so I bought it. I never expected you to give me a token of love too. Our hearts truly beat as one. We're a match made in heaven."
He let go, then tried to slip naturally into another embrace.
The Red-Clad Woman pretended she wanted to look in the mirror. With a subtle twist, she pushed him away, then leaned toward the mirror to examine herself from both sides. Her verdict was immediate and scathing. Are your damned eyes blind? This hairpin is meant for a little girl. How does it suit me? It doesn't suit me at all!
Yet she smiled and said, "It's lovely."
The room was only so large, and Shi Chun followed her over, pressing against her back and wrapping his arms around her. With warm, fragrant softness in his embrace and the two of them alone together, his desires inevitably stirred again. He kissed her ear and neck, his breathing growing heavy.
His advances made the Red-Clad Woman deeply uncomfortable. With an agile twist, she pushed him away and kept her distance as she warned him, "Once Situ Gu arrives, once you've done what you promised me, I'll give myself to you. Until then, no improper thoughts and no taking liberties. You must respect me. Can you do that?"
Sweet words rolled straight off Shi Chun's tongue. "I've simply never seen