Yu Yi threw the quilt with Sun You wrapped inside onto the ground and asked, “Is there a way to prevent these two from bullying female prisoners in the future?” Beating them up might feel satisfying, but after they recover, they would continue their misdeeds, which would not fundamentally solve the problem.
Meng Qing thought for a moment and said, “Castrate them?”
“
Yu Yi’s face turned red at the suggestion, and she averted her gaze, feeling embarrassed to continue the discussion.
Meng Qing muttered, “That seems a bit extreme.”
Yu Yi said, “Preventing them from being prison guards would work.”
After pondering for a while, Meng Qing said, “I have an idea.” He opened his terminal and bought a tattoo device, about the size of a palm, with a screen for selecting tattoo designs. Meng Qing chose the characters “Heaven’s Wrath Punishes” in an ancient seal script, in a dark blue-black color. After selecting the design, he placed the tattoo device on Sun You’s forehead for several minutes before removing it, completing the tattoo. He did the same to Peng Lao Qi.
Although prison guards were low-ranking officials, they still received government wages and had certain appearance requirements. With a forehead tattoo, they would look more like criminals than the prisoners themselves, making it impossible for them to continue as low-ranking officials.
After finishing the tattoos, Meng Qing packed up his tools and began to undress Peng Lao Qi.
Yu Yi couldn’t help but laugh and turned away.
“
She heard the rustling sounds of clothes being removed, and after a while, heard Meng Qing say, “Okay, let’s go.” She walked straight ahead without looking back.
After walking a few steps, Meng Qing caught up and walked beside her. She looked back and saw he was carrying a bundle of clothes under his arm, with a pair of underwear hanging out.
Seeing her look, Meng Qing laughed. Freezing and humiliated would be enough for these two ruffians.
Yu Yi chuckled, then felt embarrassed and turned away.
It was just past four o’clock, with almost no one on the streets. Meng Qing threw Peng Lao Qi and Sun You’s clothes at a street corner, except for their prison guard uniforms, which he burned in a deserted place. By morning, beggars would pick up these clothes, but they would not dare to wear the guard uniforms.
They returned to the Longyun Guild Hall before five o’clock.
Yu Yi changed back into her dress in her room, washed her face and hands with cold water, and combed her hair loose.
At this hour, asking for hot water would likely be misunderstood, so despite the icy coldness, she chose to quickly wash with cold water.
She then lay on the bed for a while, actually very tired but unable to sleep.
After tossing and turning, she opened her terminal and noticed a message from Meng Qing sent thirty minutes earlier. He had not included a vibration, probably to avoid waking her, so she hadn’t noticed the message: Should I go back early or sleep a bit more?
Yu Yi looked at the sky, which was already slightly white, and wondered if he had fallen asleep waiting for her reply. She sent a message without vibration: If you’re awake, let’s go back early.
She quickly received a reply: Let me know when you’re ready.
Yu Yi got up to comb her hair and change. Then she lightly swiped her finger on the terminal, opening an icon named “Qing”, which Meng Qing had given her. It contained various strange yet practical small apps, some of which he had coded himself. She clicked on a mirror icon and took a selfie, noticing the dark circles under her eyes, making her look haggard.
Although she usually wore light makeup, she never used foundation. Now, she didn’t want Meng Qing to see her in this state. She found some concealer and lightly applied it under her eyes, but applying it only there looked unnatural, so she began to apply foundation…
After more than a quarter of an hour, Yu Yi finished preparing herself and messaged Meng Qing: I’m ready.
When Meng Qing saw Yu Yi, he raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly, “Looking in good spirits!” He held up two cans of coffee, “I was going to help you wake up.”
Yu Yi reached out to take the warm can, finding it comforting. She gestured for him to come in and sit for a while so they could finish the coffee before leaving, as it wouldn’t be appropriate to drink coffee while walking through the Longyun Guild Hall.
Looking up, she saw Meng Qing watching her while drinking. Suddenly remembering the moment they hugged in the prison to avoid guards, she felt his gaze seemed fixed on her earlobe and said, “What are you looking at?”
Meng Qing replied, “A beauty.” He finished his coffee and added, “And my exclusive beauty.”
His directness made her feel both sweet and shy, and she couldn’t help but playfully scold, “Who said I’m… your exclusive.”
Meng Qing said, “Even if not, you can’t deny that I’m currently the most promising candidate.”
Yu Yi felt embarrassed and couldn’t respond, so she quickened her pace of drinking coffee. Meng Qing took the empty can, crushed it, and wrapped it in cloth.
Meng Qing said, “You should know that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, nor free coffee to drink.”
Yu Yi was stunned, and then heard him say, “This can of coffee is to remind you of something you promised.”
She remembered his earlier “blackmail” about the lip language bracelet, but pretended not to understand.
Meng Qing sighed and said, “Such a smart person, yet making me spell things out so directly, clearly trying to renege.” He walked closer to Yu Yi sitting at the table, hands propped on the table edge, staring at her intently: “I’ve already delivered myself to your doorstep, so shouldn’t you take the final step?”
Yu Yi heard him say he’d delivered himself and couldn’t help but laugh, quickly kissing him briefly on the lips and said bashfully, “Is this okay?”
Meng Qing remained motionless, narrowing his eyes dissatisfied: “No, didn’t touch properly.”
Yu Yi shyly said, “What do you mean didn’t touch… I clearly kissed you.”
Meng Qing whispered, “Kissing… means tongue must touch tongue.”
Yu Yi’s face turned completely red. After hesitating and seeing Meng Qing’s unrelenting expression, she leaned forward to kiss him. The moment their lips touched, she closed her eyes, awkwardly holding his lips and stopping, unable to take the initiative for a French kiss.
Meng Qing remained still, letting her kiss his lips for a while, then softly reminded: “Tongue.”
Yu Yi bashfully extended her tongue tip, which was immediately sucked in as soon as it reached between his lips. After sucking for a while, he became more aggressive, pressing her body back against the rosewood table edge, crushing his lips against hers and twisting his tongue into her mouth.
Yu Songshi was in the courtyard and heard the sound of a horse-drawn carriage stopping outside. She came out to meet them and saw that Yu Yi had gotten off the carriage without making eye contact with Meng Qing, though her expression did not seem shy.
Yu Songshi noticed something and said to Meng Qing, “Young Master Meng, please come in and sit for a while.”
Meng Qing shook his head and said, “I would like to return to the annex and rest for a bit, so I won’t trouble Madam Yu.”
After seeing Meng Qing off, Yu Songshi returned and found that Yu Yi had disappeared. She walked into the hall but couldn’t find her, which made her somewhat worried.
Yu Yi returned to her room, lay on the bed, and thought for a while before feeling drowsy. After all, she hadn’t slept for a day and a night, and sitting in the carriage for most of a time had left her exhausted. She closed her eyes and unknowingly fell asleep.
When she woke up, it was already afternoon, and the sunlight coming through the window was slightly yellow.
