201: Shen Xingwan is pregnant

The night was like thick ink, painting the West Wing in an ever-deepening silence.

Moonlight filtered through the window lattices, weaving a hazy net across the bed and tenderly enveloping the two figures held in each other's embrace.

Shen Xingwan's hair was slightly tousled by the night breeze, tangling around Situ Jun's fingertips and carrying the warmth of her hair incense.

He lowered his head to kiss away the moisture at the corners of her eyes. His palm brushed over the fabric on her back; the rustling of silk was like silkworms feeding on mulberry leaves, tugging at the heartstrings.

Her breath, sweet like osmanthus cake and faint like light tea, brushed against his neck, causing his Adam's apple to bob slightly.

"Xingwan..."

His voice was hoarse, damp with the lingering tide of passion. Yet, his fingers were exceptionally gentle as he untied the sash at her waist, as if handling fragile porcelain.

Her outer robe slipped from her shoulders, revealing a moon-white inner garment beneath. Reflected in the moonlight, it appeared almost transparent, outlining her slender shoulders like a white dove alighting on snow.

Shen Xingwan gripped his lapel, her knuckles turning white from the force, but as he kissed her collarbone, she couldn't help but tremble slightly, releasing her hold to wrap her arms around his neck.

His body heat radiated through their clothes, scorching like burning charcoal and dispelling the slight chill deep in her bones.

The night wind lifted a corner of the bed curtains, revealing falling pomegranate petals outside the window, as red as her skin, which was currently flushed with a faint crimson.

Situ Jun pulled her tighter into his embrace, as if trying to merge their very flesh and blood.

He kissed her eyes, her nose, and finally her lips. It was no longer the urgent demand from before, but a lingering, cherished caress.

Her response shifted from shy to fervent, like a vine coiling around an ancient tree, carrying a desperate, all-or-nothing courage.

Her inner garment was quietly shed, allowing the moonlight to flow wantonly over her skin, leaving a faint silver glow on her waist. As his palm brushed over her waist, she trembled like a startled fawn, yet she couldn't bring herself to flee.

The curtains fell, shutting out the moonlight and leaving only the residual warmth from the extinguished candles to rise slowly amidst their intertwined breaths... He whispered in her ear, his voice gentle enough to melt spring water, yet his fingertips possessed an irresistible strength as he pressed her toward him.

Shen Xingwan wrapped her arms around his neck, acting more proactive than usual. Her tongue timidly reached out, carrying the sweetness of osmanthus cake.

Situ Jun's body stiffened for a moment, and then he let out a low, husky laugh.

A corner of the bed curtains was lifted by the night wind, then slowly fell back, concealing their overlapping sleeves.

The sash at her waist hung loosely; he idly hooked it around his finger to play with it, making her waist and abdomen feel weak.

The moment their skin touched, it felt as if an electric current surged through her entire body. She couldn't help but bite her lip, her muffled groan swallowed by him.

"Husband..."

She murmured, her fingertips scratching faint red marks onto his back, as if trying to leave her own imprint upon him.

As the night deepened, the wind chimes under the corridor fell silent at some unknown point. Only the breathing within the curtains grew increasingly rapid, then suddenly slowed at a certain moment, like a receding wave at low tide.

Shen Xingwan was too exhausted to open her eyes. She could only cling to his shoulders, feeling the powerful rise and fall of his chest. The faint scent of soapberry on him, mixed with the crispness of night dew, became the most reassuring fragrance.

Situ Jun kissed her sweat-dampened forehead and tucked her moist hair behind her ear, his movements full of deep affection. He pulled over the brocade quilt to wrap them both, his palm remaining on her waist as if protecting fragile moonlight.

“Sleep,” he said softly, his chin resting on the crown of her head. “I'm here.”

Shen Xingwan nuzzled into his chest, finding a comfortable position as her eyelids grew heavier. Before falling asleep, she vaguely felt him kiss the corner of her mouth again, accompanied by a satisfied sigh.

The moonlight outside remained cold, yet it seemed to have softened from the warmth within the room. It fell silently upon the top of the bed curtains, causing the tassels to sway gently.

A few more pomegranate flowers fell, carpeting the windowsill like an unfinished poem from the previous night, hiding endless tenderness within the silence.

Just then, the long-awaited System notification rang in Situ Jun's mind:

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host. Dao Companion Shen Xingwan's favorability has risen to 100. She can now provide the Host with 20 heavenly luck values daily.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host. The Dao Companion has successfully conceived. Rewarding the Host with one Cultivation level advancement. The Host's current Cultivation is now Middle Stage Nascent Soul.]

The residual warmth of the candles within the curtains had not yet dissipated. Situ Jun froze in place. The echo of the System notification still rang in his ears, while the warm skin of Shen Xingwan beneath his palm served as the most tangible proof, making the heartbeat in his chest nearly shatter his ribs.

He looked down at the peaceful sleeping face of the person in his arms. Her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and a trace of flush still lingered on her lips. The shyness and fervor from moments ago seemed to remain in the residual warmth of their skin's contact.

He carefully placed his hand over her flat lower abdomen. The skin beneath his palm was warm and delicate. Through a thin layer of flesh, he seemed to feel the faint pulse of a new life.

This realization made the blood throughout his body feel as if it were boiling. His Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation surged within him, but he suppressed it with all his might, fearing that even a sliver of leaking spiritual power would disturb the treasure in his arms.

"Xingwan... we're having a child."

His Adam's apple bobbed, the excitement in his voice nearly overflowing as his fingertips lightly brushed her sweat-dampened temples.

Shen Xingwan let out a soft moan in her sleep. As if sensing his emotions, she snuggled closer into his arms, a serene smile appearing on her small face.

Situ Jun's heart instantly turned into a complete mush. He lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss onto the crown of her head, his movements as reverent as if he were treating the most sacred gift in the world.

Outside the curtains, pomegranate flowers were still rustling as they fell. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the window lattices, casting fragmented spots of light onto the brocade quilt.

He held her even tighter. The scent of her hair incense and the sweetness of osmanthus cake lingered around his nose, blending into a fragrance that put his mind at ease.

His Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation flowed slowly within his body, more robust and enduring than ever before. Yet, compared to this bit of progress, the impact of the words "successfully conceived" was what truly shook his soul.

He had never imagined that his mutual affection with Shen Xingwan could actually draw such a generous gift from the Heavenly Dao—no, perhaps this wasn't a gift from the Heavenly Dao, but Shen Xingwan herself was his destined karma and blessing.

He looked down at her peaceful sleeping face. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains and fell beneath her eyes, making the bit of lingering flush appear even softer.

The moisture at the corners of her eyes just now, her whitened knuckles as she gripped his lapel, her shyness and bravery when she proactively wrapped her arms around his neck... Scene after scene surged in his mind, finally transforming into a warm current in his chest that made his eyes sting with heat.

It turned out that those subtle heartbeats and unspeakable concerns had long since, unknowingly, become deep enough to shake the Heavenly Dao and nurture a bond that belonged to them.

Situ Jun raised his hand, using his thumb to gently stroke the hair that had stuck to her cheek after being dampened by sweat. His movements were as gentle as if he were touching fragile glass.

Outside the window, pomegranate flowers were still rustling as they fell, landing on the windowsill and also upon his heart, which was currently a complete, soft mess.

"From now on, I will protect you both, mother and child. I will never let you suffer even a bit of grievance again," Situ Jun whispered in her ear, his voice so gentle it could practically drip water.

Shen Xingwan seemed disturbed by his words. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she reached out to wrap her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.

Situ Jun chuckled and patted her back, gently coaxing her like soothing a startled kitten.

Within the hundred flowers diagram, Shen Xingwan's information had also changed:

[Name: Shen Xingwan]

[Age: 40 years old (A Cultivator's age is comparable to a 25-year-old secular woman)]

[Identity: Situ Jun's Dao Companion]

[Score: 94 points]

[Cultivation: First Layer of Foundation Establishment]

[Physique (Spiritual Root): Low-grade Dual Water-Wood Spiritual Root]

[Favorability: 100 (Max level, can provide the Host with 20 heavenly luck values daily)]

[heavenly luck value: 4000]

[Recent Evaluation: Striving to integrate into the Rain Embroidery Courtyard and become Situ Jun's wife]

The night grew deeper. The wind chimes under the corridor occasionally made a soft sound or two, only to be quickly drowned out by the sound of breathing within the curtains.

Situ Jun kept his eyes open, using the moonlight filtering in from outside to trace her features. Only when the horizon began to pale did he close his eyes with a satisfied smile, amidst her steady breathing.