In the side chamber, upon the fragrant bed, Xia Ningshang was lost in a daze of passion.
Yang Kai hadn't laid a hand on her, but his words—brimming with tenderness and devotion—had dismantled every last defense she had. Her whole being felt as though it had ascended to the clouds, drifting on the wind, rising and falling, her delicate body writhing unconsciously as soft moans escaped her throat.
Her beautiful eyes were glazed and unfocused, a look of immense satisfaction blooming across her lovely face.
Yang Kai leaned down and kissed her eyes, her small nose—his movements careful and reverent, as though handling the most exquisite work of art, without a single gesture out of place.
She turned her head away, her delicate earlobe flushed red as blood, and whispered in a trembling voice, "Junior Brother... before you leave, will you remember what I look like?"
Yang Kai paused, then gently nodded.
From the day he'd first met Xia Ningshang until now, more than a decade had passed—yet he had truly never once seen his Little Senior Sister's real face.
No matter when or where, Little Senior Sister had always worn a thin veil over her features, ensuring no one could glimpse her true appearance.
At first, Yang Kai had been curious about what kind of face she had. But as time passed, he'd simply stopped caring.
Whether that face could bring down a kingdom or was utterly unremarkable, Little Senior Sister would always be Little Senior Sister—irreplaceable by anyone.
She possessed the most innocent pair of beautiful eyes in the world, and that was enough.
He hadn't expected that, on the eve of their parting, Xia Ningshang would bring it up herself. Naturally, Yang Kai would not refuse.
As she spoke, Xia Ningshang reached up and untied the thin veil that concealed her features.
A breeze drifted through the window, catching the gauze and carrying it away to the far side of the bed.
Xia Ningshang closed her eyes and, somewhat nervously, held her head still, baring her face completely to Yang Kai's gaze.
Yang Kai studied her carefully. His body shuddered violently, and a sharp glint of astonishment crossed his eyes.
Even though he had steeled himself beforehand, the instant he beheld Xia Ningshang's true face, he couldn't help but lose his composure.
Little Senior Sister's beauty was not the greatest he had ever seen—both Su Yan and Shan Qingluo could rival hers. But she possessed a quality entirely her own.
Just as Su Yan had her cold aloofness and Shan Qingluo her bewitching allure, Little Senior Sister carried an air of sacred purity.
It was as though more than twenty years of life had left not the slightest mark upon her.
A dainty nose. Cheeks flushed with the blush of peach blossoms. Small, crimson lips—two perfect petals. Her unadorned face was dusted with rosy hues, and her skin was as tender and luminous as snow-white jade.
Like most great beauties, every feature of hers was exquisitely flawless.
But when these exquisitely flawless features came together, they produced an effect beyond anything he'd expected.
Sacred purity and naive innocence intertwined, making Yang Kai feel she was at once untouchably divine and charmingly unaware of the world.
Yang Kai had traveled far and wide for years, and the number of beautiful women he had seen was beyond counting. Yet never had any woman given him such a powerful visual impact as Xia Ningshang.
In the instant he beheld her true face, an almost irresistible urge surged through him.
He wanted nothing more than to pull Xia Ningshang into his arms, hold her so tightly she merged into his body, carry her with him, and never let her leave.
The moment the thought arose, Yang Kai drew a deep breath and crushed it down. A look of bewilderment crept across his face.
He was no man lacking in willpower. On the contrary, he could restrain his desires and govern his actions—a man of considerable self-control.
And yet he had still been struck by that impulse.
Yang Kai wondered what sort of reaction other men would have if they beheld Xia Ningshang's face.
"Master told me long ago... not to reveal my face easily. That's why I've worn the veil all these years," Xia Ningshang explained softly. Under Yang Kai's burning gaze, she felt deeply self-conscious, her cheeks blazing red.
"Manager Meng was right," Yang Kai nodded firmly, one hand gently threading through Xia Ningshang's hair as he leaned half his weight over her. In a tender voice he said, "I think most men who see you would have two thoughts."
"Which two?" Xia Ningshang was mortified with shyness, but curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't help asking.
"To protect—or to possess!"
Protect that naive, untainted innocence. Possess that untouchable, sacred purity. Either one would give a man a tremendous sense of triumph.
The collision of these contradictory desires would bring Xia Ningshang a great deal of unnecessary trouble.
"And what about you, Junior Brother?" Xia Ningshang suddenly mustered her courage and looked Yang Kai straight in the eyes, asking what her beloved truly thought. She cared deeply about this!
She could disregard anyone else's thoughts—she only wanted to hear Yang Kai's.
"Me?" Yang Kai flashed a wicked grin. "Little Junior Brother here is part of 'most men' too."
With that, he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to Little Senior Sister's red lips.
"Mmm..." Xia Ningshang's body went rigid in an instant, her beautiful eyes widening as though struck by a soul-shattering spiritual attack powerful enough to obliterate her consciousness. In that single moment she lost all command of her body—unable to move, unable to speak.
Yet she was enveloped by an immense wave of bliss and fulfillment.
She closed her eyes and savored this long-awaited, intoxicating moment, her heart pounding within her chest like war drums—powerful and relentless.