Chapter 133 -
Yueqing sat on the bed, her chest rising and falling fast as she breathed in and out to calm her racing heart. She looked over at Wenzhe, her lips slightly parted and her face still burning hot.
Wenzhe raised his hands and covered his face completely, letting out a heavy, frustrated sigh that shook his broad chest.
Yueqing looked at him quietly. Part of her wanted to nag him, to yell at him, and to shout at the top of her lungs for touching her like that and throwing her whole body into chaos. The sharp, mean words were right on the tip of her tongue.
But as she stared at him, she kept her mouth shut. The room was deathly quiet.
Even sitting a small distance away from him, she could feel the intense heat radiating off his body. It felt like sitting next to a hot furnace in the middle of winter. His golden skin was slick with sweat, his muscles still tight with restraint.
And then, as she looked at him, her eyes widened.
Through his thin, open robe, she saw something else starting to rise even more—a clear, thick, and heavy outline growing hard and full against the fabric.
Yueqing’s breath hitched in her throat.
[Oh my god...] her mind shrieked, her inner persona backing away in total shock. [It’s... it’s getting even bigger?! He covers his face, but THAT isn’t hiding at all! System Nine, help!]
[System 009: Alert: Target Wenzhe’s physical arousal is peaking. Self-control status: Hanging by a thread. Recommend Host remain very still and avoid sudden movements.]
Yueqing swallowed hard, clutching the sheet over her chest, completely unable to take her eyes off him.
Wenzhe suddenly swung his legs off the bed and stood up.
Without looking back at her, he pulled his thin robe closed and tied the belt tight around his waist with a swift, harsh pull. His face was cold, stiff, and completely unreadable as he turned toward the tent door.
Yueqing blinked in shock, clutching the sheet over her chest. "Where are you going?" she asked, her voice sounding small and confused in the quiet room.
Wenzhe stopped near the heavy exit flap. He didn’t turn around.
"To the secondary tent," Wenzhe replied coldly, his tone flat and icy. "Sleep."
Before she could say another word, he pushed the thick canvas aside and stepped out into the freezing night air, letting the tent flap drop shut with a heavy, final thud.
The tent fell dead silent.
Yueqing sat alone on the bed in the dim, warm light of the single lamp.
[Wait... what?!] her inner voice screeched in total, unhinged disbelief, her internal persona throwing its arms up in the air. [HE’S LEAVING?! He turns me into a hot melted mess, almost dies of self-control, gives me a cold response, AND THEN WALKS OUT INTO THE SNOW?!]
She stared at the empty doorway, her cheeks still burning, completely bewildered by his sudden departure.
Yueqing slammed a pillow down onto the bed, crossing her arms and glaring furiously at the closed tent flap.
[He thinks he can just walk out on me like that?! After everything?!] her mind fumed, her inner persona practically pacing a hole through the floor. [I am going to strangle that man with my bare hands!]
[System 009: Analysis: Target Wenzhe’s exit was likely a desperate attempt to avoid total loss of self-control. However, Host’s emotional damage appears to be at an all-time high.]
[Emotional damage?!] Yueqing snapped back internally, rolling her eyes so hard it hurt. [I’m not hurt, Nine, I’m ANGRY! He touched me everywhere, made me melt like hot wax, looked at me like he was going to eat me alive, and then used his icy ’General voice’ and marched into the snow! Who does that?!]
[System 009: A gentleman? Or perhaps a block of wood. Host has used the term ’block of wood’ forty-two times today. Would you like me to log a formal complaint?]
[Shut up, Nine! I don’t need a formal complaint, I need revenge!] Yueqing huffed, flopping back onto the soft furs and staring up at the dark ceiling canvas. Her face was still burning, and her pulse was still racing from his touch, which only made her even more irritated.
[Tomorrow is the day we trap the traitor,] she declared, her eyes narrowing into dangerous, sharp slits as a sly, evil smirk slowly spread across her lips. [And while he’s busy playing the sick, bedridden General, I’m going to make his life absolute hell. He wants a punishment? I’ll show him what a REAL punishment looks like.]
[System 009: Warning: Host’s revenge schemes usually backfire into General Wenzhe liking you more. Proceed with caution.]
[Not this time,] Yueqing scoffed, pulling the thick blanket up to her chin with a huff. [I’m going to teach that stubborn block of wood a lesson he’ll never forget.]
The freezing night air hit Wenzhe like a slap to the face, but it barely cooled the fire burning in his blood. He pulled his thin robe tighter around his shoulders, taking long strides through the snow toward his secondary tent. His jaw was clenched tight with frustration.
He had to get away. If he had stayed in that warm bed for even one more second, feeling Yueqing’s soft body beneath his, his self-control would have completely broken.
Wenzhe pushed aside the heavy door flap of his secondary tent and stepped inside.
He froze.
Inside, sitting by the table, was Li Mei.
She was dressed in her maid outfit, carrying a tray with a warm teapot and clean bandages. Her eyes looked delicate and sad as she stood up quickly, bowing her head.
"General Wenzhe..." Li Mei said softly, her voice sweet and full of pity. "You returned so late. I brought warm tea and fresh wraps to check on your wound."
Wenzhe didn’t step closer. His dark eyes turned cold and hard.
"Li Mei," Wenzhe said, his voice flat and icy. "It is late. Why are you in my tent?"
Li Mei took a small step forward, looking up at him with teary eyes. "I... I was only worried about you, General. I know Young Madam has a bad temper. I was afraid she wouldn’t take care of your injury properly. I used to be the one who cleaned your scars... I just wanted to help like I used to."
Wenzhe’s expression grew even darker.
"My wife took care of my wound just fine," Wenzhe said coldly, stepping away from her. "You are a maid in this camp now. Know your place."
Li Mei’s face went pale. "General... please don’t be so cold to me. After everything we—"
"I brought you to the border so you wouldn’t do something stupid to yourself," Wenzhe interrupted, his voice dropping into a harsh, stern tone. "Not so you could act out of line. Stop trying to cause trouble with Yueqing. Leave this tent now."
Li Mei bit her lip, tears of embarrassment and anger filling her eyes. Seeing that her old tricks no longer worked on him, she bowed her head, set the tea tray down, and quickly hurried out into the cold night.
Wenzhe stood alone in the quiet tent, letting out a long, tired sigh.
[Tomorrow morning,] he thought, remembering Yueqing’s smart trap. [We catch the traitor... and then I can deal with my stubborn wife.]