Chapter 234: Chapter 101: Are You Avoiding Me?

At this realization, Chen Wanqing’s hand began to tremble uncontrollably.

She remained silent for a long while, until someone took her hand in their palm and gave it a gentle shake.

"So, will you promise me?"

Chen Wanqing struggled to calm her chaotic thoughts. "Of course, I promise," she said. "This was my fault to begin with. I shouldn’t have made wild assumptions and spoken so recklessly about someone when I didn’t know their character. I can also promise you that I won’t gossip about other people anymore."

Zhao Jing asked cautiously, "Are you angry?"

"Why would I be angry? I was the one in the wrong. To know your mistake and correct it is a great virtue. I just hope that in the future, Jing won’t bring this up again to make fun of me."

"Then smile for me."

Chen Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh. "You’re so exasperating."

When Zhao Jing saw that she truly wasn’t upset, he couldn’t help but break into a smile.

But in truth, he still felt a little uneasy.

It was because she had mentioned Li Cun, and Li Cun still coveted her, not having given up his designs on her to this day.

This feeling of someone else coveting her while he could do absolutely nothing about it was agonizing.

Zhao Jing was sullen, but he refused to let it show.

But his actions betrayed him. He was gripping Chen Wanqing’s hand, his hold even tighter than before.

Chen Wanqing gently tried to pull her hand away. "Jing, let go. I need to prepare the vegetables. If a hot meal isn’t ready by lunchtime, Mother is going to be furious."

"If she’s going to be mad, let her be mad at me."

As he spoke, not only did he refuse to let go, but he grew even bolder, pressing his handsome face against her.

Then, she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt Jing kissing her hand.

The hot, moist sensation made Chen Wanqing’s heart skip a beat, sending a tingling numbness through her.

But she didn’t dare expose him, just as she had never dared to break the unspoken understanding between her and Zhao Jing.

She wasn’t yet mentally prepared to accept him.

’He’s still a younger brother to me.’

"Alright, stop bothering me and go play with De’an. You just took first place in the examinations today. Mother is too thrilled with you to scold you, so how could she? She’ll just end up scolding me. I already upset her earlier. If I don’t act properly now, she’ll be furious."

The moist sensation on her hand grew more pronounced.

At the same time, his hot breath washed over the back of her hand, so scalding that Chen Wanqing’s own breathing hitched.

She couldn’t help but peek out of the corner of her eye. With just one look, it was as if her eyes had been scalded, and she quickly looked away.

Jing was like a pious devotee. He clutched her hand, raised it to his lips, and pressed it firmly against them.

’This is broad daylight! We’re in the kitchen, where someone could walk in at any moment!’

’He’s too reckless!’

’And far too forward!’

Flustered and anxious, Chen Wanqing tried to wrench her hand away, but to no avail. Annoyed, she lightly kicked Zhao Jing in the shin. "Jing, don’t go too far!"

"How am I going too far? You are my lawfully wedded wife. No one could say a thing even if I were more intimate with you."

"But... but it’s the middle of the day!"

As if spotting a loophole in her words, Zhao Jing immediately looked up at her. "Does that mean nighttime is acceptable?"

Before she could answer, Zhao Jing pressed on. "You are an educated woman, so you must understand the meaning of ’a cart cannot move without its linchpin, and a person cannot stand without integrity.’ I will let you go, but tonight, you must allow me to be intimate." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Chen Wanqing’s face was burning, and even swallowing felt difficult.

’How could anyone say such things so openly?’

’And he calls himself a scholar!’

’Where is his sense of decorum?’

’His elegance?’

’What happened to the self-restraint and adherence to etiquette he prided himself on?’

’Has it all gone to hell?!’

Before Chen Wanqing could dwell on it, Zhao Jing unhurriedly released her hand.

He stood up and moved even closer to Chen Wanqing.

Though he was three years her junior, he was already more than half a head taller.

At that moment, his eyes, usually so gentle and smiling, were as dark as a bottomless abyss.

His throat bobbed, and he lowered his voice even more, as if suppressing a blazing fire of desire.

"You must keep your word, or else I’ll be disappointed. So, will you promise me?"

His hot breath fanned across Chen Wanqing’s cheek, so close it seemed it might brush against her lips.

Chen Wanqing felt as if an invisible hand had seized her heart.

She wanted to flee, but there was nowhere to run.