Chapter 278: Good Student
As a healthy adult male, being so intensely provoked by the female he adored, Ye Ming’s restraint finally gave out. He climbed onto the bed.
He captured the hand Shi Lan had just used to grab him, pinning it above her head. His gaze was dark and deep. "Lanlan, I was going to let you rest. I know you’re tired today."
"But you... you’ve gone too far."
"I’m a male. A male who is filled with desire for you..."
He uttered the words slowly, his voice hoarse. His crimson lips parted and closed, his tone holding a hint of complaint and grievance. But his dewy peach-blossom eyes, which had looked so innocent a moment ago, suddenly turned impossibly deep. An intense, predatory aura emanated from him, completely shedding the image of the flustered, pitiful boy from before.
Shi Lan raised an eyebrow. She felt a flicker of intimidation, but it wasn’t much. ’After all, I know Ye Ming would never hurt me. Besides, I woke up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep. What’s wrong with a little exercise to pass the time?’
But she loved teasing Ye Ming. Feigning fear, she blinked. "Then... what do you have in mind?"
Ye Ming’s Adam’s apple bobbed. With his free hand, he reached down and simply pulled the tie on his pajama top undone.
’I bet he made these pajamas himself,’ Shi Lan mused. They were different from the pajamas for men you usually saw on the market, looking more like the inner shirt of an ancient robe, fastened with a single tie.
’Easy to put on, even easier to take off.’
She flushed, her eyes uncontrollably drifting over his body.
’I thought he was going to make a move on me, but instead, he’s undressing himself out of nowhere??’
’But I have to admit, Ye Ming has an incredible physique,’ she thought. ’It’s a bit like He Hanshi’s. Mu Tangfeng is more leanly muscled, but these two have more prominent, sculpted muscles. They clearly work out a lot.’
The hand Ye Ming was using to pin Shi Lan’s trembled slightly. His peach-blossom eyes were locked on her, his rosy lips pressed into a thin line, not missing a single one of her reactions.
Only when he was sure he saw admiration and desire in her eyes did the corners of his mouth relax slightly.
Ye Ming was still wearing pants. He placed his hand on his waistband, but when he saw Shi Lan secretly peeking at his every move, he paused.
Copying her move from earlier, he took her hand and placed it on himself. "Lanlan, you said it yourself. We’re married. So it’s the same if you do it."
Shi Lan’s hand was pressed against his taut V-line. She felt his scorching body heat and was so startled she almost recoiled, but Ye Ming’s hand held hers in place.
A slight smile touched his lips, his dark green eyes fixed on her. His voice was gentle, with a magnetic quality. "No rush. I’ll wait for you, Lanlan."
Shi Lan had to admit she was all talk sometimes. But things had already gotten to this point; there was no backing out now.
Besides, she glanced at his neck. He might be speaking calmly and acting composed, but his body’s reaction was far more honest.
He was shy, too. His neck and the tips of his ears were flushed bright red.
The crimson flush formed a distinct line above and below his collarbones, a color that was mirrored by another red somewhere on his fair-skinned body.
’It looked so sexy... so beautiful.’
Shi Lan swallowed hard and couldn’t stop herself from muttering, "Do you have to copy everything I do?"
A soft chuckle rumbled in Ye Ming’s chest. He was laughing. After a moment, he slowly replied, "I don’t copy everything. But when it comes to you, Lanlan, I want to learn as much as I can."
Shi Lan’s face grew hot again. ’How did Ye Ming suddenly get so good at this? When did he become so talkative, and so smooth?’
But this wasn’t the time to be asking about that. She looked at her hand and finally summoned the courage to move it downward.
But she had barely moved it an inch before Ye Ming stopped her. His breathing became ragged again, and in the space between his heavy breaths, she noticed a certain... ’restlessness’ of his growing.
Shi Lan was certain she hadn’t even touched it. She hadn’t even been close.
She guiltily snatched her hand back. This time, Ye Ming didn’t have the energy to stop her.
After a long moment, he finally caught his breath. The corners of his eyes were flushed red, and the beauty mark beneath his eye seemed to glow with heat. His exquisitely handsome face, like that of a god descended to the mortal realm, looked down at her with gentle focus. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Lanlan... may I?"
Even though he could feel she wasn’t resisting, and even though they were legally married, he still wanted her consent.
This way, he could feel more of his wife’s love and acceptance.
Blushing furiously, Shi Lan nodded. ’I have to take responsibility for the fire I started, right? I can’t just send him off for another cold shower. Besides... I’m ready.’
At her response, delight flashed in Ye Ming’s eyes. He held back no longer.
He chose to remove the final barrier on his own. ’If Lanlan does it,’ he thought, ’I might not last very long. That would be too embarrassing.’
He lowered himself, finally getting to truly experience the softness that had been pressed against him earlier.
In fact, the taste was even better than the texture. A rich, sweet fragrance lingered between his lips and nose.
He didn’t linger there for long. His eyes, misty and clouded with desire, gazed at her with deep affection. He asked softly, "Lanlan, is this okay?"
Shi Lan was in no state to think. She just nodded vaguely.
’But,’ she realized, ’Ye Ming has gotten really talkative. If you’re going to do it, then just do it. Why does he keep asking me so many embarrassing questions?’
At a time like this, he was like an eager student. Every time he entered a new domain, he would diligently study and explore it with a hands-on approach, then consult her, his teacher, for her opinion.
"Lanlan, is this pressure okay?"
"Lanlan, should I go faster?"
"Lanlan, does this feel good? Is there anything I’m doing wrong?"
Every question was mortifying. And yet, Ye Ming’s attitude was so earnest. He was truly, considerately trying to gauge her reaction. But in this state, Shi Lan’s mind was a complete blank. She couldn’t process a thing, nor did she want to hear any more questions.
But Ye Ming was too considerate, too attentive. He would always wait for her response before continuing, terrified she might feel the slightest discomfort. Several times, Shi Lan was left feeling completely stuck, hanging in limbo.
So when they finally closed the last of the distance between them, she couldn’t help but let out a sigh that was equal parts embarrassing and satisfied. Her arms wrapped tightly around Ye Ming’s neck as their body heat and breath merged into one.
Now, her entire body was warm. She wouldn’t feel cold anymore.
’Exercise really is the best cure for the cold,’ she thought hazily. In her daze, Shi Lan even turned the air conditioner down a little. She was too hot—so hot her toes curled.
She wanted to get away from the scorching heat source on top of her, but she was held fast by an irresistible force that, instead, closed the distance between them again and again, deeper each time.
For a fleeting moment, Shi Lan furrowed her brow in a huff. ’How come he’s not asking if he should continue *now*?’
But Ye Ming had truly mastered his subject. He had always been a top student, quick to synthesize and master new knowledge. In the blink of an eye, Shi Lan was caught in a storm, but it was a storm tailor-made for her. She was tossed on the waves, yet never allowed to fall from their crest.