28: Chapter 28's progress is evident and deserves praise.

Jiang Xuan slid inside along the edge of her sheer silk bodice.

Su Yue let out a muffled groan, her breath completely blocked.

Her hands lifted, clutching the cuffs of his sleeves.

Not pushing him away, nor pulling him closer, just clutching, gripping tightly.

After a long while, they slowly parted.

Su Yue's Phoenix eyes were veiled in a mist of moisture, her blush burning from her cheeks all the way down to her neck.

Her lips were slightly swollen, appearing fuller than usual.

Looking at her like this, Jiang Xuan chuckled softly: "Come."

Su Yue abruptly turned her head away, her voice turning cold again: "I'm not doing this anymore."

Jiang Xuan couldn't help but laugh.

This cool and prideful Fairy really wanted to stay stubborn to the end.

He didn't say anything more; with one hand supporting her back and the other around the back of her knees, he gently laid her flat on the bed.

Su Yue lay in the quilt, her dark hair scattered across the pillow, the silvery-white sheer bodice appearing faintly visible under the moonlight.

She raised one hand, half-covering her face, her Phoenix eyes watching him shyly through her fingers.

Su Yue pursed her lips, tensed her face, and refused to make a sound, that stubborn streak exactly the same as last time.

"Don't..." She let out a single word from behind her fingers.

Jiang Xuan paused and looked up at her.

Su Yue's hand slowly lowered from her mouth, her pair of Phoenix eyes red and bright, staring at him.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but her throat only moved up and down, and nothing came out.

After a few breaths, she closed her eyes and slowly, bit by bit, let go.

Su Yue's breathing was completely thrown into chaos; she turned her head away and buried her face in the pillow.

Jiang Xuan gave her a moment to buffer, then leaned close to her ear, smiling.

After hearing clearly what he said, her hazy gaze instantly became three parts clearer.

Her face flushed another shade redder, and she turned her head away, her voice weak: "No..."

Jiang Xuan laughed: "Fairy Su, you pushed back during this part last time too, but in the end, you couldn't push it away."

"Don't struggle this time; it will be inevitable in the future regardless."

Su Yue's lips moved, the words of rebuttal reaching her throat, only to be swallowed back down.

She closed her eyes, her chest heaving several times.

Then she slowly sat up, the moonlight spilling onto her curved back, outlining a smooth and graceful arc.

Her raven-black hair fell from her shoulders, covering half of her face.

She slowly opened her lips, softer than the previous two times.

However, there was already obvious improvement.

At least this time, she didn't have a sour look on her face.

Jiang Xuan reached out, gently placing his hand on top of her head, stroking down along her raven-black hair.

Su Yue's eyelashes trembled, but she didn't swat his hand away.

Time passed bit by bit.

Su Yue felt the change and her Phoenix eyes snapped open.

Unlike the previous two times, this time she didn't struggle or swat at him; she just frowned and closed her eyes.

After a few breaths, she sat up straight, turned her head, and picked up the jade bottle placed at the head of the bed.

But she hesitated for a moment, then tilted her head back slightly and swallowed it.

Jiang Xuan looked at her with some surprise.

Su Yue gulped down two large mouthfuls of spring water, wiped the corner of her mouth, and then turned around, her face completely flushed.

"I didn't say anything this time." Jiang Xuan said with a smile.

Su Yue turned her head away, her voice muffled: "Don't get cocky..."

Jiang Xuan laughed, reached out to pull her back, and pressed on her shoulders to make her lie down again.

Su Yue's two hands subconsciously pushed against his chest.

But the force of the push was very light, not even counting as resistance, more like an instinctive nervous reaction.

After several breaths, she slowly relaxed bit by bit.

She bit her lower lip, her brows knitted, but her defenses were torn down layer by layer.

Her Phoenix eyes lost focus, gazing at the rafters above, her expression blank and hazy.

Later on, she could no longer care about any modesty.

Her voice was different from Ye Baiyuan's, and also different from Jiu Xi's.

It wasn't the crisp, green mountain stream water, nor was it the soft, cuddly little fox.

It was a clear, resonant tone with a cold undertone, like the wind on a winter night passing through a bamboo forest, revealing an indescribable gentleness amidst the biting cold.

Clearly she was restraining herself, yet the more she restrained, the better it sounded.

The moonlight cast swaying shadows on the window lattice.

The leaves of the old locust tree rustled in the night wind.

Who knows how much time passed.

The redness on Su Yue's face spread from her forehead all the way to her chest, her sideburns dampened by sweat.

But Jiang Xuan had no intention of stopping.

She whispered weakly: "...Again?"

Jiang Xuan looked at her, smiling: "Fairy Su, you dragged me out of my dreams tonight; we can't just stop halfway."

Su Yue closed her eyes and squeezed out a sentence: "As you wish."

Her tone held resignation, helplessness, and a hint of anticipation she hadn't even realized herself.

In order to completely master this cool and prideful Fairy, Jiang Xuan brought out his real skills.

The room was filled with a rich, inseparable scent of plum blossoms.

The small courtyard returned to silence.

The night wind blew over the courtyard wall, making the leaves of the old locust tree rustle softly.

The moonlight had mostly set to the west, with only the last crescent hanging on the edge of the roof ridge.

Su Yue lay in the quilt, not moving for a long time.

After a long while, she slowly turned her face to the side, revealing half of her flushed face.

Her Phoenix eyes were half-open, veiled in a layer of mist that hadn't dissipated, her eyelashes wet.

She looked at Jiang Xuan, who was leaning against the head of the bed pouring water to drink, her lips moving, her voice raspy:

"...Satisfied?"

Jiang Xuan took a sip of water, looked down at her with a smile: "Fairy Su's improvement is visible to all, deserving of praise."

Su Yue closed her eyes and buried her face back into the pillow.

A muffled voice came from the pillow, indistinct, but it could be heard as two words.

"Shameless."

Jiang Xuan smiled, put down the cup, lay down beside her, and reached out to gently wrap his arms around her waist.

Su Yue didn't push him away, but instead leaned into his embrace and then stayed motionless.

After a while, her breathing gradually became light and even.

Jiang Xuan looked at her quiet profile, reaching out to help her brush away the few strands of wet hair stuck to her cheek.

The last bit of moonlight faded from the window paper, and the room turned completely dark.

He closed his eyes, silently calculating in his heart.

Since opening this shop, his cultivation had been rising, business was heading in a good direction, and the people around him were increasing one after another.

Life was indeed becoming more and more flavorful.

It's just that his body couldn't quite handle it.

In his last conscious thought before falling asleep, Jiang Xuan set an ironclad rule for himself.

Tomorrow, no matter who comes, no matter what they say.

He must get some proper rest.

The next day, early morning.

When Jiang Xuan opened his eyes, daylight had already seeped in through the window paper, spreading a warm, goose-yellow hue across the room.

He turned his head; Su Yue was still fast asleep, lying on her side curled up beside him.

Her raven-black hair was scattered across the pillow, a few stray hairs clinging to her cheek.

They had been too intense last night; she had fallen asleep before she even had time to put on her clothes.

The quilt only covered her up to her waist, her shoulders and large areas of translucent white skin exposed in the morning light, with a few shallow red marks still left on them.

Her brows were relaxed, her lips slightly parted, her breathing long and even, sleeping deeply.