21: Xu Lian fell into depravity

Situ Jun felt his head spinning and his body weak. He was actually awake but pretended not to be, enjoying the softness of leaning in Xu Lian's embrace.

The faint fragrance from Xu Lian's body lingered at the tip of his nose, making his mind wander.

The two of them stumbled out of the living room. Along the way, their bodies inevitably touched. Every slight collision was like a ripple in their hearts, making their heartbeats quicken involuntarily.

Having finally reached the side room, Xu Lian carefully tried to lay Situ Jun on the bed. But just then, Situ Jun's hand, which was gripping her dress, didn't let go. With a tug, Xu Lian also fell onto the bed.

“Steward Situ?”

Xu Lian called out softly. Seeing no response, she said anxiously:

“Steward Situ, let go of your hand.”

Her face turned crimson with shame, her cheeks rosy and incredibly cute, but she couldn't break free from Situ Jun's grip no matter what.

Xu Lian struggled a few times, but seeing it was futile, she could only sigh helplessly.

She reached out to pry open Situ Jun's hands, but unexpectedly, Situ Jun suddenly rolled over, pinning her firmly beneath him.

The smell of alcohol on Situ Jun mixed with a man's unique scent wafted over, making Xu Lian's heart tremble. She said in a panic:

“Steward Situ, you're drunk...”

“Aunt Xu...”

Situ Jun's raspy voice sounded in her ear, his hot breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe. “I'm not drunk.” His palm merely rested lightly on her slender waist, without any further movement.

Xu Lian struggled to get up, but Situ Jun subconsciously pinned her hands down.

Their eyes met. Situ Jun's eyes were full of heat, while Xu Lian's eyes were full of panic.

At this awkward and tense moment, Situ Jun seemed to suddenly snap back to his senses. He abruptly let go, got up from Xu Lian, and said with an embarrassed look:

“Aunt Xu, I-I'm sorry, I...” His face flushed red, not knowing how to explain.

Xu Lian tidied her slightly messy clothes and hair, saying with a red face, “It's fine, you were drunk.” But her heart could not calm down for a long time.

A night breeze suddenly blew outside, making the copper bells under the corridor jingle, as if adding a different atmosphere to this awkward scene.

Inside the room, the candlelight flickered, casting their shadows onto the wall, swaying slightly.

Meanwhile, in the main bedroom, Nangong Xue leaned against the carved bed, listening to the faint sounds coming from the direction of the side room, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

She took a small sip of hangover tea, her gaze fixed on the moon obscured by clouds outside the window, her thoughts drifting away.

In this deep mansion, loneliness followed like a shadow, and Situ Jun's appearance was like a spring of clear water injected into her stagnant life.

Moonlight spilled through the window lattice onto the two of them, making Xu Lian's flushed cheeks look as brilliant as the sunset.

The chirping of insects came from outside, intertwining with the slightly cramped atmosphere inside.

After a long time, just as the two were still immersed in their own thoughts, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside.

Situ Jun suddenly snapped awake, rolled to the inner side of the bed, and pulled the brocade quilt over himself.

The door creaked open, and Nangong Xue's figure appeared in the doorway holding a Glazed Lamp. In the hazy glow, her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes held a hint of post-drunken cunning:

“Aunt Xu, is he settled?”

Xu Lian's heart almost jumped out of her throat. She forced herself to remain calm and replied:

“It's... it's all settled.”

She could feel Situ Jun's warm breath brushing against her neck, and a tense atmosphere spread through the air.

Nangong Xue leaned against the doorframe and chuckled, the Glazed Lamp casting swaying shadows on the floor:

“Aunt Xu, why are you so flustered?”

Before she finished speaking, she had already stepped closer, the hem of her gauze skirt brushing against the bluestone floor with a faint rustling sound:

“I see that Steward Situ is quite a handsome man. Tonight...”

She suddenly lifted a corner of the brocade quilt. Under the candlelight, Xu Lian's messy hair and flushed cheeks were fully revealed.

“Madam!”

Xu Lian was both ashamed and anxious, but she was held down by Nangong Xue's hand on her shoulder. On the side, Situ Jun had nowhere to hide, his face full of embarrassment:

“Madam Nangong, what a coincidence... heh.”

“It is quite a coincidence.”

Nangong Xue remained noncommittal and smiled charmingly. Then, this usually dignified noblewoman ran her fingertip along Situ Jun's well-defined jawline, her eyes brimming with flirtatiousness:

“What a young gentleman you are, causing trouble for Aunt Xu under the guise of being drunk?”

Situ Jun felt awkward once again. As his eyes darted around, he caught a glimpse of Nangong Xue's alluring body.

Since he had been caught by Nangong Xue, for the sake of having a future with Xu Lian, Situ Jun simply went all out. He straightened his back and said seriously:

“Madam Nangong, I am sincere toward Aunt Xu.”

Seeing Situ Jun looking at her with burning eyes, Nangong Xue's face instantly flushed. She took a step back, stood up straight, and said unnaturally:

“Xu Niang has been made so flustered by you. You must treat her well in the future... and... be careful, don't disturb the peace of this mansion.”

After saying that, she didn't care about the awkward pair on the bed and walked straight out, closing the door behind her.

Inside the room, the two looked at each other, both seeing the tenderness in each other's eyes.

“Aunt Xu, Madam Nangong didn't blame us. From now on, I will definitely protect you and treat you well.”

Situ Jun said with a face full of affection.

“Mhm.”

Xu Lian looked bashful, making Situ Jun's heart fill with joy.

The two sat on the edge of the bed, whispering their inner thoughts. The moonlight spilled gently over them, as if blessing this newly budding relationship.

After some time, just as Situ Jun was about to get up and leave, a series of strange sounds rang in his mind.

“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully winning over Xu Lian. Obtained 3 years of Cultivation.”

“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully Awakening the ‘Hundred Flowers Charming Body’ for his Dao Companion. Reward: Mystic-grade Body Refining Cultivation Technique ‘Yin and Yang Body Tempering Art’. Note: As long as the Host and Dao Companion support each other in Cultivate, Major Achievement can be reached with perseverance.”

“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining 500 heavenly luck value.”

“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining 10 Intermediate Lucky Draws.”

“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for having a Dao Companion's favorability reach 70 for the first time. Reward: 10 ‘Fertility Pills’. Note: Consumption by the Host's Dao Companion can improve their Physique.”

“Ding! Favorability has reached 70, triggering the System's automatic detection mechanism. Detected Xu Lian as the Host's Dao Companion, automatically recording her as a heroine of the hundred flowers diagram.”

Situ Jun was stunned at first, then quickly realized these were prompts from his System.

Although his heart was full of pleasant surprises, at this moment, his gaze was more focused on the bashful Xu Lian before him. He knew that compared to these rewards, the person in his arms was his most precious harvest.