Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Lu Zhan: Don’t Be Nervous, Relax a Little

Zhi Wan pulled her cousin’s lapels apart slightly, revealing the pale, firm muscle beneath. Only then did she sit down at the table, satisfied, pick up a brush, and begin to paint a portrait of her cousin reclining.

At his cousin’s request, Lu Zhan lay on his side on the bed, propping his head up with one hand.

He was a little uncomfortable at first, but after a short while, drowsiness washed over him, and he actually fell asleep just like that.

Only after Zhi Wan finished painting did she realize her cousin had fallen asleep.

Looking at the sight of her sleeping cousin, she paused. A bold idea formed in her mind.

So, she tiptoed over and untied the sash of his inner robe.

Just as she successfully slipped off her cousin’s inner robe and was about to reach for his pants, a man’s hand suddenly caught hers.

She looked up, stunned, only to meet her cousin’s eyes, which held a look that was not quite a smile.

"What are you doing, cousin?"

The embarrassment of being caught red-handed washed over her. Zhi Wan forced herself to remain calm and said, "It’s so hot. Aren’t you warm, sleeping in long pants, cousin?"

"I’m not hot. Thank you for your concern, cousin." A hint of a smile hid in Lu Zhan’s dark eyes.

"In that case, you should rest well, cousin. I-I’ll be going now." After she spoke, Zhi Wan tried to pull her hand free from her cousin’s grasp, but just then, his grip suddenly tightened. The next moment, the world spun, and the man had pulled her onto the bed, pinning her beneath him.

Zhi Wan: "..."

"Now that you’re here, why be in such a hurry to leave, cousin?" Lu Zhan said, that same teasing smile on his face. He reached up to smooth her disheveled hair, then lowered his head and kissed the corner of her lips.

Zhi Wan had just raised her hands to push him away when the man pinned them to the bedding first.

Zhi Wan: "..."

A subtle fragrance wafted through the bed curtains, and Zhi Wan felt unaccountably nervous.

Although she had met her cousin in secret countless times before and they had done even more intimate things, her state of mind now that she knew he was her cousin was different from when she hadn’t known his identity.

When she didn’t know who he was, she could be completely unrestrained and do all sorts of outrageous things with him. Now that she knew he was her cousin, she found herself holding back.

Fortunately, Lu Zhan only kissed her and did nothing more excessive.

After the man got off her, he gently patted her back and said in a husky voice, "It’s still a long time until dawn. Sleep for a while."

"Mm." Zhi Wan secretly sighed in relief and lay down with her back to him.

Just as she let down her guard, closed her eyes, and prepared to sleep, the man’s scorching chest suddenly pressed against her, and his hands came around from behind to hold her waist.

Zhi Wan froze. The next moment, a ticklish, damp, and warm sensation bloomed on the nape of her neck.

Zhi Wan’s eyelashes fluttered. She knew it was her cousin kissing her neck.

The tingling, unfamiliar sensation made her body tremble slightly.

She curled her fingers tightly, staring at the carvings on the bed frame.

As she felt her clothes slip from her shoulders and heard the man’s breathing grow heavier by her ear, Zhi Wan’s body suddenly tensed. Her heart felt as if it were about to leap out of her chest.

’What is my cousin doing?’

"Don’t be nervous. Relax..." the man cooed, holding her and coaxing her in a husky voice.

"...Cousin." Zhi Wan whimpered. When she opened her eyes, she realized she had been dreaming again.

Thinking of the embarrassing scene from her dream, Zhi Wan was so mortified it felt like even the strands of her hair were about to catch fire.

She lay in bed in a daze for a while, but eventually, feeling rather uncomfortable, she got up to wash herself before lying down again.

The sky was already turning a fish-belly white. It would still be a while until daybreak, but Zhi Wan felt exhausted and decided to sleep a little longer.

When she woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky.

She was startled and looked at Shuang’er, who had come in to help her wash up. "Why didn’t you wake me?"

"The Madam told me not to wake you," Shuang’er replied with a smile. "She said you had a long day of travel yesterday and were too tired. Since there was nothing urgent, she said to let you sleep in."

Zhi Wan felt a little bad for making her aunt wait for so long.

After hurriedly washing up, changing her clothes, and doing her hair, she went to Lady Wei’s room to find her.

"Wan’er, did you sleep well last night?" Lady Wei asked with concern.

An image of her cousin "bullying" her flashed through Zhi Wan’s mind. Her face flushed red. "It was... fine."

Lady Wei just thought she was blushing because she had woken up late and comforted her with a smile, "It’s not like there was anything to do, anyway. It’s good that you could get some more sleep."

Zhi Wan quickly reined in her wandering thoughts and asked, "Are we going straight back to the Capital City today?"

Lady Wei shook her head. "We’ll go to the villa in Yangzhou to stay for the night first. We’ll head back to the Capital City tomorrow morning."

Zhi Wan nodded, having no objections.

After the group packed up, they took a carriage back to Yangzhou.

Seeing Zhi Wan again, Elder Tian was a little surprised. "You’re here as well, Miss?"

"Yes, we’ll be troubling you again, Elder Tian," Zhi Wan said politely.

"You’re too polite, Miss," Elder Tian said with a cheerful laugh.

He was actually quite fond of this Miss.

The Miss was easy to serve and wasn’t picky, unlike Miss Jinglan and the Fourth Miss. When they came to Yangzhou, they not only tormented all the servants in the villa but were also full of complaints and criticisms.

Zhi Wan stayed in the same courtyard she had stayed in before, while Lady Wei stayed in the one Lu Zhan had previously occupied.

After resting for a short while, the two went out for a stroll. When it was time to eat, they went to Hongyun Restaurant.

Stepping into the restaurant again, Zhi Wan felt a wave of wistfulness.

All those corrupt officials who had feasted with Lu Zhan here last time had been convicted.

Those sentenced to beheading were beheaded, those sentenced to exile were exiled; not a single one met a good end.

But they all deserved it!

Zhi Wan followed Lady Wei upstairs, not noticing a man in black robes sitting at a table by the window in the main hall.

From the moment Zhi Wan stepped through the door, the man had been staring at her, his gaze never wavering.

Zhi Wan didn’t notice him, but Jiang Shi spotted the black-robed man the instant he entered.

Seeing the man staring intently at Zhi Wan, he immediately grew vigilant, his hand quietly moving to the hilt of his sword.

The man quickly noticed Jiang Shi staring at him and immediately withdrew his gaze from Zhi Wan.

After they entered their private room, Jiang Shi said to Zhi Wan, "Miss, the man in black we encountered at your parents’ graves yesterday is also in this restaurant."

Zhi Wan froze for a moment before remembering the strange man in black robes. "Where is he?" she asked.

"He’s dining in the main hall downstairs," Jiang Shi replied.

Hearing this, Zhi Wan didn’t ask any more questions, but she felt it was extremely strange.

’How can it be such a coincidence?’

’I ran into him at my parents’ graves yesterday, and now I’m seeing him in this restaurant today?’

After a moment of thought, Zhi Wan added, "Keep an eye on him."

’He must be an old acquaintance of my parents, but when I tried to speak to him yesterday, he just ignored me.’

’I wonder what his identity and background are?’

’My parents’ graves were so tidy. Could he be the one taking care of them?’

Meeting him again so coincidentally today... she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this man than met the eye.

"Yes," Jiang Shi acknowledged.

After finishing their meal, Zhi Wan and Lady Wei prepared to leave.

But unexpectedly, just as they stepped out of the restaurant’s main entrance, a figure suddenly rushed at them from the side, shouting, "Witch, go die!"

When Zhi Wan turned to look, she saw a gaunt middle-aged woman holding an earthenware basin, in the process of throwing its contents in her direction.

"Miss, look out!"

"Wan’er!"

"Miss!"

Zhi Wan saw a scalding liquid splash from the earthenware basin, flying quickly toward her.

If that boiling water were to splash on her face, she would surely be disfigured.

Panic seized Zhi Wan’s heart. In her desperation, she immediately raised her sleeve to shield her face.

However, the searing heat she expected never came.

There was only the loud thud of something heavy hitting the ground, followed by the sound of the earthenware basin shattering.

BANG!

CRASH!

Zhi Wan froze. She lowered her sleeve and looked up to see a tall man in black robes standing in front of her.