Pitiful Widower (17)

Xue Ci could sense the dissatisfaction in Lucius's tone.

He glanced down at his clothes, which were so loose they were almost falling down, especially when he bent over.

Whether it's "wearing other men's clothes" or "forgetting her recently deceased husband," it's clear in Lucius's eyes that he's a womanizer.

The other party was her husband's younger brother, so naturally she disapproved of his behavior.

However, judging from the familiarity in their tone, even if Lucius didn't particularly like him, the two must have met quite a few times.

Xue Ci seized this only opportunity, not even bothering to look for her shorts, and walked straight over.

The steam and sweet scent of his bath mingled together and hit Lucius's face directly.

He stiffened and backed away.

He didn't meet Song Xueci very often; most of the time, he saw her when he went to persuade his brother to get a divorce.

After all, no one in the family wanted a human heir to marry a lowly succubus.

From a young age, Lucius was taught that succubi were terrifying creatures capable of easily destroying a person's will and hollowing out their body.

They have no heart; they don't appreciate what others have given them. They are only interested in men's bodies. Once they get what they want and are tired of it, they will discard it like trash and move on to the next one.

In short, she's very good at seducing men.

His sister-in-law must be incredibly capable, otherwise how could she have made his brother, a rigid believer, break his vows?

Lucius arrived at the newlyweds' home with this stereotype in mind.

He was stunned the moment he saw Song Xueci.

Song Xueci was exactly like any other succubus—bright-looking, yet her innocent expression softened her menacing aura. She was small and fair-skinned, like a soft, sweet cream cake.

Upon seeing him, she would smile shyly, her lips curving upwards.

She seems very shy, definitely not the type to seduce.

Lucius swallowed his words of advice to break up, but Xue Ci warmly invited him to stay for dinner.

Song Xueci can't cook; it's always her brother who does the cooking.

But that pretty sister-in-law was exceptionally clingy; even if she didn't do any work, she would still stick close to her brother, their shoulders pressed tightly together.

His brother, on the other hand, had absolutely no self-control in front of Song Xueci, bending down every few seconds to kiss her on the lips.

Lucius suspected that if he hadn't been there, those few tentative kisses would have almost turned into a deep, wet kiss, and after things got a little heated, they would have gone straight to the kitchen counter.

With other people around, there will be some reservations.

Perhaps there are exceptions among succubi.

That's what he thought.

However, that very night he realized that Song Xueci was not only a succubus, but also the most seductive of all succubi.

At first, he thought it was a cat in heat, but then he peeked through the crack in the door that wasn't closed properly.

Song Xueci was riding on her brother's back, wearing a loose white shirt with the buttons undone, revealing her round, rosy breasts.

That one glance left him frozen in place.

When I came to my senses, my beautiful sister-in-law was tilting her delicate neck back, her back trembling violently.

... She's really wild.

She actually sat on the man's lap and even tried to feed him her private parts.

Very wild.

After his brother's body is completely drained, he'll probably be looking for his next target.

Sure enough, less than a few months after her husband's death, she started having an affair with another man.

Wearing this kind of shirt, and with only one bed at home—such a small single bed—how am I supposed to sleep?

Yeah, I probably won't sleep a wink all night.

Succubi have very strong desires.

Especially at night, they desperately need men to strengthen their bodies.

"Did you come to see me for something, Lucius?"

The clear, melodious voice brought Lucius back to his senses. He hadn't heard his own name from Song Xueci's lips in a long time, and a mix of emotions welled up within him.

And this rather indecent little succubus was walking towards him, her snow-white thighs trembling slightly, creating a wave-like effect.

What's going on?

The young man looked away and said coldly with a mocking tone, "You want me to leave so soon? Afraid I'll get in your way?"

"..."

Xue Ci stopped when she was about a meter away from Lucius.

He noticed that the other person was very tall, leaning against the door frame, with the top of their head almost touching the door.

Perhaps because he was too young, even when he said harsh things, he didn't have an overly intimidating aura.

Lucius gave a mocking look. "Even if my brother's gone, you don't need to find someone else so quickly."

Xue Ci explained, "I didn't hire anyone else. This is my friend's house; I've lived here since before I got married."

His tone was calm, as if he were comforting a large, depressed dog whose owner hadn't been home for a long time.

It's no wonder he mistook Lucius for a large dog... the dog's upturned fur, light blue eyes, and the occasional glances from the corner of his eye all reminded him of the dog he had as a child.

What kind of expression is that?

Lucius couldn't understand Xue Ci's thoughts. He was about to get in Xue Ci's way of doing that, so why did Xue Ci look like she... liked him?

Those eyes were bright and sparkling, shimmering with tiny lights under the lamp, their pupils filled with pure goodwill.

Lucius felt numb and hot all over from being stared at.

Their eyes met for several seconds, and he began to guess what the other person was thinking.

A few years ago, he had just come of age, Song Xueci couldn't have any romantic feelings for him. Now he has fully matured, with strong bones and a tall stature.

Succubi prefer those who are willing to do physical labor.

Of course, part of the reason is that after his eyebrows and eyes grew out, he looked somewhat similar to his brother.

Xue Ci had no idea that the way she looked at the dog would trigger so many strange thoughts in the other person.

He saw Lucius as his only clue. "Are you thirsty? Would you like to come in and have some water?"

Lucius's eyelids twitched heavily.

A few seconds later, he frowned and reluctantly went into the house.

*

While pouring water, Xue Ci put on a pair of trousers and casually glanced at Lucius's file.

The other party is twenty years old this year, rebellious in nature, and recently became the heir of the family.

That's all the information they provided, and it's completely unrelated to any clues.

To increase the progress bar, you must hold onto the person in front of you tightly.

Xue Ci closed the panel, pushed the water over, and sat on the stool opposite.

He told Lucius that he had amnesia and had completely forgotten everything about his husband.

Lucius was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained his composure.

What trick are they up to now?

That was what he thought, but after seeing Xue Ci's pure and innocent eyes, he was captivated.

He swallowed back his cold words and asked instead, "How did you get this illness? Is it serious?"

Xue Ci hadn't expected Lucius to ask these questions.

It looks more like a big dog now...

He rested his chin on his hand, squeezing out some of his cheek fat, making it look fair and soft. His tone was gentle. "It's not serious, it's just that I don't remember my husband, I've even forgotten his name."

Xue Ci put on a pitiful look.

He could vaguely sense that as long as he made this expression, even the worst attitude from the other party would soften.

Xue Ci didn't know was that softening does happen; it just means that certain parts will soften.

Sure enough, Lucius's expression was much more relaxed than when he entered; his brow furrowed slightly, and his mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

"What about the others? Do you remember them?"

Xue Ci nodded. "Yes, everyone else remembers. Your name is Lucius. We used to be good friends, didn't we?"

... It wasn't that great either.

They barely exchanged a few words.

Lucius felt a surge of heat in his chest at the phrase "we're very close": "No wonder I haven't been able to find you lately."

He looked around. "Still living in a place like this? What kind of good person would let you live in such a run-down place?"

The implication is—why didn't you come looking for me?

Xue Ci didn't understand; she was focused on completing the task and eagerly asked the other party for news about her husband.

Finally, he learned from her that her husband's name was Erland, a devout and conservative Christian who was originally the youngest heir of their family, but gave up his status to marry her.

Xue Ci: "Then how did he die?"

Lucius: "Something went wrong."

Xue Ci: "What accident?"

Lucius paused for a moment, then said, "I don't know either."

Xue Ci could sense that Lucius was hiding something, so he didn't press him further. "Then do you know where we live?"

Going straight to their house will definitely yield clues.

"Go now?" Lucius stood up. "Aren't you going to wait for your friend to return?"

The progress bar, which hadn't moved for a long time, suddenly increased by 10%. Xue Ci wanted to strike while the iron was hot. "I'll leave him a note."

He didn't have time to find Bill; he opened a drawer, left a note for him, and left with Lucius.

*

Bill returned carrying dinner.

The lights were on inside; Xue Ci's well-behaved behavior these past two days had lowered his guard.

However--

"You fucking tricked me again!"

Bill searched high and low, turning the wardrobe upside down, but there was no sign of Xue Ci anywhere.

He fell twice in the same spot. A bitter taste Bill slumped into his chair, feeling dejected and frustrated. He gripped the note on the table so tightly that his fingers turned white.

Several people came and knocked on his window.

"Your wife just left with a man!"

"That man was tall and young; judging from his clothes and shoes, he was rich."

"Your wife loves money and is promiscuous; you can't control her!"

Bill vented his anger on the group of gossipy, poor bachelors.

He knew that he was the only one in the area with a beautiful wife; countless people in the slums stared at his window at night.

"You fucking talk bad about him again and see what happens?"

After Bill defeated the group, he picked up the note Xue Ci had left from the ground, panting heavily.

He stared for a long time, until his eyes became sore and dry, and he could no longer see clearly, before he looked away.

He then let out a cold laugh.

I won't believe you this time.

If I find you again, I'll definitely fill your belly to the brim.

*

Xue Ci felt a chill run down her spine for no apparent reason.

It was summer, and the temperature in the town wasn't low at night, especially since he was wearing a jacket when he went out.

"Cold?"

A sound came from above.

Xue Ci was about to say she wasn't cold when her coat was handed to her.

"... Thank you." Xue Ci wasn't good at refusing, so he put on the coat. The other person's clothes were too big for him, dragging up to his thighs, and had a cool, minty scent.

Lucius felt Xue Ci smelling his clothes.

The two hurried along, speaking little, and after passing through several alleys, they stopped in front of a three-story villa.

Xue Ci: "Is this... my and Erland's home?"

"Your marriage was rushed. Erland found this house quickly after leaving the family," Lucius said with some disdain. "It's so small that only you can fit in."

"..."

Xue Ci understood; this meant he wasn't tall enough.

He raised his face.

The dim yellow light from the streetlights outside reflected on the walls of the house, making it not look frightening at night.

To be honest, this little house suited his taste better than the castle.

Lucius felt his clothes being tugged, and when he looked down, he saw a fluffy head.

"Let's go inside quickly."

Xue Ci him on.

Lucius was somewhat dazed, as if he were the husband being led home by his young wife.

Distracted, Lucius opened the door and handed the key to Xue Ci: "Don't lose it."

The villa is decorated in a warm and inviting style, not just in simple gray, black, and white. The cushions and pillows on the sofa and the paintings on the walls add a richness to the colors that meet the eye.

The floor was spotless. Xue Ci in surprise, "Do you come back often to clean?"

"How could I possibly clean it myself?" Lucius grabbed a pair of slippers from the entryway; they had a rabbit pattern on them and were the ones Xue Ci used to wear often.

He pointed to the second floor. "You and Erland will live in that room."

The bedroom had the most clues, so Xue Ci went upstairs without hesitation.

The interior is simply furnished; apart from the wardrobe and drawers, there's almost nowhere to rummage through.

Xue Ci opened the wardrobe and was stunned by a row of neat and gorgeous clothes.

"My brother likes you a lot. He always brings you gifts when he goes out—clothes, jewelry... He buys these things all the time."

Lucius seemed to know these things very well.

Xue Ci was starting to suspect that the three of them were living together.

His gaze drifted downwards, and when he saw the pile of things placed in the corner, his face flushed instantly.

Beside him, Lucius said slowly, "Of course, he also likes it when you wear these things."

Xue Ci bit his lip, trying to pretend he didn't care about what they said, but his eyelashes still trembled uncontrollably, and his skin flushed a delicious pink, like a ripe peach.

Take a light bite, and your mouth will be filled with sweet juice.

Lucius had seen that kind of powder before.

When Song Xueci's brother licks her tongue and makes her skin turn this color.

He awkwardly looked away.

Xue Ci still carefully checked the wardrobe, turning over every pocket of every piece of clothing.

They only found a necklace.

The pendant is a Xiao Xue, probably a gift from Erland.

He put the necklace away and turned to check the desk.

There was an iron cross in the drawer, which is probably what all believers have. A notebook was placed under the cross.

Xue Ci randomly flipped to a page.

He nearly fainted from embarrassment after seeing what was written on it.

The handwriting inside was vigorous and powerful, likely the work of Erland. But who would have guessed that this man, who seemed to live in a traditional castle, secretly wrote about their... experiences in his diary?

The overly explicit content made Xue Ci's brain feel dizzy.

Fragment else used to write about this...

He was filled with shame and indignation, his earlobes and neck turning a peach-pink, and he was about to close his mouth when Lucius's deep voice sounded in his ear—

Aren't you going to watch it anymore?

"Maybe it will help me remember something."

If Lucius's tone was even slightly irreverent, Xue Ci would feel that he was deliberately teasing her.

But the man's expression remained calm and composed.

Perhaps there really is a clue.

The fool never imagined some men could be so good at pretending. He obediently took the advice, pursed his lips, and flipped through the pages with trembling fingers, wanting to see how many pages he had written.

I've actually written more than half of it.

Xue Ci's eyes flushed with embarrassment.

He was incredulous, muttering under his breath, "So much..."

"Not much." Lucius crossed his arms, shifting his gaze from the diary to Xue Ci's face. Her round, dull eyes were quite captivating, and her lips were bitten until they were almost raw, emitting a faint fragrance.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"After all, when I was home, you all stayed in your rooms every night."

Wh-what...

"You guys often stay up until the wee hours of the morning."

Xue Ci looked up and met Lucius's gaze.

The other person's gaze was different from before; it held a hint of pressure and contained emotions he couldn't decipher.

"You... you... how did you know?" Xue Ci's voice was muffled and damp, and she immediately felt annoyed after asking the question.

This question will obviously lead us to explore this topic in greater depth.

really.

"I heard it."

Lucius spoke slowly and deliberately, glancing at him. "You're crying pitifully."

Sometimes you'll even see Erland carrying you out to take a bath.

"You'll be spending a lot of time in the bathroom too."

Author's Note:

So, the husband's true identity is... (nobleman + cross)