"When have I ever gone around flirting with other women?" Yang Kai said, his conscience gnawing at him, his voice lacking its usual conviction. Wait, that wasn't right — he *had* been fooling around, and he'd even confessed to Dong Suzhu and Su Yan. But how could Shan Qingluo know about any of it? She was definitely just bluffing! No matter what she said, he'd deny everything to the death!
Shan Qingluo let out a cold laugh, her gaze dropping to stare at Liu Yan. "You've even got a child, and you still dare say you haven't been fooling around?" Her expression suddenly softened as she crouched down. "Little girl, what's your mother's name?"
Yang Kai burst into laughter, reaching out to pat Liu Yan's head. "You can ask her yourself!"
He finally understood why Shan Qingluo had been acting so sarcastic the moment she saw them — she thought he'd brought back a daughter. Her jealousy was quite something. Then again, if he hadn't been there when Liu Yan hatched and formed her body all those years ago, he wouldn't have recognized her either, let alone Shan Qingluo, who hadn't seen Liu Yan in decades. The misunderstanding was only natural; the transformation really was too dramatic.
"Tell her yourself — who are you?" Yang Kai said cheerfully, looking at Liu Yan.
Liu Yan's eyelashes fluttered, her face wearing a timid expression. She clutched at Yang Kai's clothing and slowly sidled behind him, whispering, "Dad, I don't want to stay here. This lady is really weird."
The smile on Yang Kai's face immediately froze. He stared wide-eyed at Liu Yan, struck by the feeling of being stabbed in the back by his own people.
"Heh heh heh heh…" Shan Qingluo let out a series of cold laughs and slowly rose to her feet, her beautiful eyes boring into Yang Kai. "Anything else you'd like to say?"
"Say my ass!" Yang Kai exploded in fury, reaching out to straighten Liu Yan's body. He fixed her with a stern look. "How could you do this to me? I've treated you well all these years — why would you… stab me in the back like this?!"
Liu Yan's eyes glistened with tears. "Dad, you're hurting me!"
"Enough!" Shan Qingluo snapped, pulling Liu Yan behind her. She glared at Yang Kai. "Bullying a child — is this how you act as a father?"
Yang Kai felt completely helpless to explain. He stepped forward and tried to embrace her. "A Luo, this is all a misunderstanding. Listen to me, let me explain."
"What's there to explain?" Shan Qingluo kept her face cold and pushed him away. "I truly misjudged you. From this day forward, the bond between us as husband and wife is severed. Don't ever come looking for me again."
Yang Kai staggered as though struck by lightning, his face draining of all color. Liu Yan stood beside Shan Qingluo and stuck out her tongue — oh no, it seemed she'd pushed things too far. Meanwhile, Biluo looked positively elated. If this was really happening, she might actually have a chance. Taking advantage of the situation was a bit immoral, but it was all for the sake of getting her Queen out of her suffering. If she wouldn't descend into hell, who would?
"A Luo? Do you truly mean it?" Yang Kai asked, his face grave.
A hint of mischief flickered through Shan Qingluo's eyes, but she nodded firmly. "My mind is made up."
Yang Kai turned away, his expression weathered and weary. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed. "Very well. Once, drunk, I lashed a noble steed, fearing my passion would doom a beauty. A Luo, take care of yourself."
Shan Qingluo's heart lurched. "Where are you going?" she blurted.
Yang Kai hopped onto the windowsill, gave a casual wave, and in a flash his figure darted into the night, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
"Hey, come back!" Shan Qingluo cried in alarm. She had never expected Yang Kai to actually leave. Why had he gone? She'd only been upset about him disappearing for years and wanted to crack a joke! That wretched man had actually been so decisive about it — he hadn't even tried to coax her. She rushed to the window and shouted, "Come back! Come back!"
The night was silent. There was no response.
Shan Qingluo's body went limp, and she crumpled to the floor, her eyes rimmed with red. She murmured under her breath, "Come back, you heartless thing…"
A broad chest pressed against her from behind, warm against her delicate body, as a pair of large hands wrapped around her waist and gently pulled her close. A deep voice rumbled by her ear: "Just kidding!"
Shan Qingluo spun around, tears streaming down her face. Her fists pounded against Yang Kai's chest, though they were soft and feeble — more coquettish than angry, if anything.
Yang Kai watched her with a grin, perfectly still.
After a while of pummeling, Shan Qingluo suddenly reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and lifted her face, pressing her red lips to his.
"Mm…" Yang Kai's breathing grew immediately labored. He felt the body in his arms burning with passion as a slender, tender tongue slipped into his mouth like a sinuous snake, bold and unrestrained beyond measure. How could Yang Kai show weakness? He seized that tongue and played with it in kind, and Shan Qingluo's already soft body went even more limp, melting entirely into his embrace.
A long while passed before their lips finally parted, a thin trail of saliva connecting them.
Shan Qingluo's eyes were sultry as silk, her entire being glowing with the radiance of a flower in full bloom. Only then did she remember something, and she blushed. "Your daughter…"
In the heat of the moment, she had completely forgotten there was a little girl standing right beside them. Even for someone as daring as her — someone who was entirely uninhibited in matters of romance — she felt her face flush with embarrassment.
"She stepped outside," Yang Kai said with a slight smile.