Sui Huan heard Yan Xuan’s words and noticed Ruan Ning’s eye roll, which made his heart race. He realized her previous dependence on him had shifted entirely to Yan Xuan.
When night fell, Ruan Ning was still walking. Yan Xuan had invited her to join him in the hot spring, but she always felt suffocated while soaking, so she stayed behind to enjoy the scenery.
The palace was built on a mountain, and as Ruan Ning walked, she noticed the palace servants following her had disappeared. Suddenly, someone pulled her into a mountain cave.
“It’s me,” Sui Huan’s voice rang in her ear, followed by his breath hitting her face as he pressed her against the stone wall, attempting to kiss her.
Just as his lips were about to touch hers, Ruan Ning instinctively blocked him and pushed him away. However, he quickly pressed her back, voice filled with anger and bitterness: “I can’t stand it. He’s holding you right in front of me. I wish I could kill him right now!”
His lips pressed down again, his hands holding her face, preventing her from escaping. Ruan Ning suddenly felt nauseous and began to retch.
Sui Huan was furious, feeling out of control. A month ago in the forest, she had been attached to him. But now, she kept rejecting him.
“Has he kissed you?” Sui Huan ground out.
Ruan Ning stubbornly looked away and didn’t answer, confirming his suspicion.
He felt both hate and regret, disregarding her disgust as he tried to kiss her more violently, breathing heavily and asking, “Is this how he kisses you?”
His body pressed her immovably. Sensing his desire, she attempted to retaliate but was taken by surprise when he bent in pain. Ruan Ning escaped while he was distracted.
The palace servants were searching nearby. Just as she caught her breath, Yan Xuan arrived, still wet from the hot spring, his hair damp. He grabbed her and carried her into the inner chamber.
Under the soft light of the night pearl, her shaken face and awkward expression spoke volumes, but she remained silent. Yan Xuan’s brow furrowed as he carried her to the pool’s edge and jumped in with her.
