Lin Qingdai stared at the empty quilt for three breaths.
Gu Moran leaned against the cabin wall, looking very relaxed.
One hand rests on the knee, the other behind the head.
The blanket was wrapped tightly from his chest down, making him look like a lazy man who was in a bad mood after being woken up.
His back was pressed against the person in the blanket.
Xie Wanqing curled up into the smallest ball, her forehead pressed against his spine, her hands covering her mouth, afraid to even breathe.
" Wanqing went to the stern alone?" Lin Qingdai asked.
"Yeah, they said they wanted to see the moon." Gu Moran yawned. "I was seasick and too lazy to move, so I didn't go with them."
Murong Xue held up the lantern and shone it into the cabin, then sniffed. "This smell... why does it smell warm?"
"I have a fever." Gu Moran without changing his expression.
"You have a fever and you haven't called Shen Ling'er?"
"If I call her, she'll force-feed me more medicine."
Murong Xue thought about it and felt it made sense.
Gu Moran was known for her fear of taking medicine.
Lin Qingdai's gaze lingered on him. The lantern light shone on him from the side, revealing that the collar of his undergarment below his collarbone was open, and inside—there was a faint tooth mark.
The location is neither too high nor too low, it's crescent-shaped, and very new.
Lin Qingdai's expression changed.
What's that on your neck?
Gu Moran looked down and touched the mark.
"From a mosquito bite."
"Where did these mosquitoes come from in this weather?"
"Southern mosquitoes have long lifespans," Gu Moran said sincerely. "Or maybe they're just insects. We haven't even reached Yi Prefecture yet, and the insects on the road are already this formidable."
Lin Qingdai's lips twitched.
Murong Xue leaned closer for a look. "This doesn't look like a mosquito bite, it looks like it was caused by someone..."
"Alright." Lin Qingdai grabbed Murong Xue's arm and pulled her outside. "If he says it's a mosquito, then it's a mosquito."
"But."
"Go back."
Lin Qingdai's voice was harsh, and her pulling force was even stronger.
Murong Xue was dragged towards the door, and the lantern light followed her outwards.
As she retreated to the doorway, Lin Qingdai glanced back at Gu Moran.
"Explain this to me clearly when the ship docks for supplies tomorrow."
Gu Moran smiled at her, "Okay, okay."
The door closed.
The lantern light disappeared, and the cabin was plunged into darkness once more.
The warmth pressing against Gu Moran's back suddenly stirred.
Xie Wanqing poked her head out from under the covers, panting heavily.
Her face was so hot it could fry an egg, half her hair was disheveled, and her forehead was covered in sweat.
"Almost..."
"What's there to be afraid of? Shouldn't a wife sleep next to her husband?"
"The main problem is that you were at the hot springs... I don't want them to know."
"It's okay, I'll just say you were sleepwalking and crawled into the wrong bed."
"How... how can you be so calm!"
Gu Moran turned over to face her. He couldn't see anything in the darkness, but he could tell her location by her scent. The tip of her nose was only a finger's width away from his.
"I'm calm?" He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest. "Feel it."
Xie Wanqing placed her palm on his chest.
Heartbeat.
soon.
Even faster than hers.
"You... you're nervous too?"
"Nonsense." Gu Moran's voice was muffled. "I was just thinking that if we get caught, I'll be exhausted tonight."
Xie Wanqing's hand shrank slightly from his chest. "Then what are you going to do?"
"Because of you, you don't want others to know, because you deserve it."
Xie Wanqing curled her fingers and clutched the fabric of his shirt.
There was silence for a few moments.
Then her voice came through very softly, with a trembling mix of fear and excitement from doing something wrong. "They... really left?"
Gu Moran listened intently. The footsteps of Murong Xue and Lin Qingdai could be heard coming from the deck, growing fainter and fainter.
"They're gone."
"Sure?"
"Sure."
Xie Wanqing loosened her grip on his collar, then tightened it again.
Gu Moran lowered his head and pressed his lips to her earlobe.
They're gone.
His voice was low and husky, his breath brushing against her ear.
"Let's continue."
Xie Wanqing's body trembled.
Her hand moved up from her clothes, climbed onto his shoulder, and her fingertips dug into his shoulder blade.
This time, she didn't bite him.
She tilted her head back and, in the darkness, found his lips.
The moment their lips touched, Gu Moran.
The talented woman took the initiative.
He smiled, the smile melting into the kiss, and then pulled her completely into his arms.
It was so hot in the bed it felt like it was on fire.
The white, openwork gauze was invisible in the darkness, but it could be felt; the texture was clearly imprinted on his palm.
Xie Wanqing's breath mingled between his lips and teeth.
Very close by, the water lapped against the wooden planks beneath the boat.
Closer still, their heartbeats were almost synchronized.
In the corner, Liu Ruyan carried a hot water bottle, a very faint smile curving her lips.
early morning.
Gu Moran was woken up by a bucket of cold water.
To be precise, it was a damp, cool cloth patted on my face.
He opened his eyes.
Shen Ling'er squatted in front of him, wringing a handkerchief in her hand, her face clearly saying "I knew it."
"Pulse."
"What?"
"Hands out."
Gu Moran obediently extended his left hand.
Shen Ling'er placed three fingers on it, and remained silent for five breaths.
Then she stood up and threw the handkerchief in his face.
"The pulse is weak and floating, indicating deficiency of qi and blood, and insufficiency of kidney yin."
"I just didn't sleep well."
"You seemed to have plenty of energy last night." Shen Ling'er picked up her medicine box and walked out without looking back.
"Try taking three bowls of medicine today, an increased dosage. Try taking one less bowl."
Gu Moran lay on the cot in the cabin, her face covered with a handkerchief, looking utterly hopeless.
Murong Xue's voice came from the distant deck.
"Who was he with last night...?"
Lin Qingdai's voice cut her off. "Who cares?"
"But that tooth mark?"
"He said insects." Lin Qingdai's tone was icy cold. "Insects."
Gu Moran removed the handkerchief from her face and stared blankly at the deck.
There's likely to be a major problem with future accommodation arrangements.