The soldiers lowered their heads, not daring to look or speak. But that crisp, decisive slap didn’t just land on Lu Yun’s face – it struck everyone’s hearts, leaving them stunned. How could Miss Luo be such a fierce lady?
Shouldn’t she be gentle and virtuous, as elegant and composed as the ladies in paintings?
…No, this couldn’t be Miss Luo being inconsistent. Lu Yun must have done something truly excessive.
Lu Yun’s face was struck sideways. In front of everyone, intense shame and anger swept through him simultaneously. He stared at Luo Lingyu’s retreating figure, his eyes dark as he spoke each word: “Luo Lingyu, come back and apologize to me!”
Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu frequently argued. Since knowing her, Lu Yun had been kicked in the knee, had wine splashed on him, been kicked in the groin, and had jade ornaments and gold and silver objects thrown at him… Luo Lingyu was simply crazy! She acted weak and pitiful in public, but was so fierce to him in private.
But this time was different from before. Previously, they only fought in private, with only their servants knowing. This time, she had humiliated him in public.
This wasn’t the first time she had slapped him. The first time, they weren’t close, and he had teased her in private. Lu Yun was also at fault then, so he didn’t hold it against her. But this time, slapping him in public when he was a military officer, with all the soldiers watching… Had he been too good to her?!
Lu Yun’s angry voice came from behind as Luo Lingyu ran away heartbroken, completely ignoring his shouts. She lifted her skirts and ran quickly. When she turned a corner, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her eyelashes wet and pupils dark, her face still red from anger. The young lady bit her lip, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Her maid Lingyu tried: “Young Miss, that…”
Luo Lingyu interrupted: “Don’t mention that scoundrel! Who would apologize to him? Let him wait!”
She had been so worried about him… She was selfish enough that when Nanyang fell into chaos, she only wrote letters to the Luo family expressing concern and suggesting they move, not willing to risk her life returning to share in their hardships. Yet she had returned from peaceful Jianye to war-torn Nanyang just to warn him of mortal danger. Afraid of burdening him, she worried internally but always showed trust in him outwardly. She supported him so much – though she was unwilling for him to take risks, when he wanted to fight battles and do this and that, she always helped and encouraged him.
She had been so good to him!
Yet he betrayed her like this!
How could he treat matters of life and death as child’s play? He treated it like an experiment – what was he trying to prove? That he would definitely die? Under what circumstances he would die? He didn’t take his own life seriously at all, not revealing anything to her. That night when she saw his wounds, she thought they were just small scratches like from shaving, not worth mentioning or treating. But now thinking back, what kind of experiments was he doing on the battlefield to get himself wounded?
When others faced mortal danger, they tried to avoid it. But Lu Yun rushed towards it eagerly, as if afraid he wouldn’t die fast enough. If he wanted to die so badly, then let him die.
He was just arrogant, different from others. It made Luo Lingyu truly angry and sad.
Lingyu followed her young miss, also thinking that Third Young Master had gone too far this time. However, the young miss slapping Third Young Master in public was also excessive. Their Third Young Master had always been pampered and respected, pursued by all the ladies – when had he ever been slapped before? And with so many people watching too. The young miss hadn’t seen how Third Young Master’s face had turned green with anger, twisted with rage.
These two together… what a fateful tragedy.
Lingyu jogged to catch up: “Young Miss, Young Miss…”
Luo Lingyu: “I said don’t mention him to me!”
Lingyu helplessly said: “That’s not it… this servant just wanted to ask, what should we do? Before coming up the mountain, didn’t Miss plan to stay overnight in the military camp? Now that Miss has fought with Third Young Master, should we still stay in the camp? Should we go down the mountain?”
Luo Lingyu coldly replied: “We’ll stay! Why shouldn’t we? Does he own the military camp? Am I without options? Just because he’s dissatisfied with me, should I run away like a stray dog? This isn’t Jianye where I have to leave and coax him when he dislikes me. I came here to improve the soldiers’ meals – who does he think he is?”
Luo Lingyu shed more tears: “If he drives me away now, won’t it be even worse after I marry him?”
Lingyu fell silent, wanting to say that Third Young Master wasn’t driving her away at all, but she dared not provoke her young miss further. When her young miss deliberately acted emotional like this, she could only admire her skill.
…
Lu Yun didn’t receive an apology from Miss Luo, and couldn’t hold his head up in front of his subordinates. What a great humiliation – how dare she do this? When he saw her running away, he wanted to chase after her, but his pride wouldn’t let him lose face. The strange, suppressed expressions of his subordinates felt like they were mocking Lu Yun. Lu Yun returned to camp without a word, his face dark.
An attendant carefully brought ice, suggesting Third Young Master apply it to his face – with Lu Yun’s handsome features, being slapped by that lady with such force had left a clear handprint on his face.
Everyone was stunned: they saw Lu Yun’s porcelain-like face bearing that clear handprint as he returned to his tent.
Being stared at the whole way.
The attendant bringing ice made Lu Yun even more embarrassed and angry. His face wasn’t like other young lords’ rough skin that wouldn’t show marks when hit. Instead, marks showed up especially clearly on his… Previously when she slapped him, he only lost face within the Lu family, and people didn’t know who had slapped him. But this time, this time!
Third Young Master sat imposingly in his tent with the handprint on his face, seething with anger. He felt extremely stifled but couldn’t ignore it, knowing that if he disregarded the mark on his face, he wouldn’t be able to show his face for several days. Not wanting to be constantly reminded of this incident… Lu Yun could only maintain his dark expression, not sending away the trembling attendant, and stiffly took the handkerchief wrapped with ice to press against his face.
Lying on his couch to calm his anger, after a while, Lu Yun felt his mood had stabilized and asked about Luo Lingyu.
Attendant: “…The young miss refuses to apologize.”
Lu Yun: “…”
Suppressing his anger, he said: “I also did wrong, I can apologize to her. But she must also apologize to me. I can’t indulge her habit of slapping people whenever she’s upset. What if she offends someone she shouldn’t?”
The attendant thought to himself that you can rest assured, Miss Luo only treats you this way, she’s always been kind to others. Such a beautiful young lady, she even cried, what is there to fuss about? But of course he dared not say this out loud, only reluctantly saying: “…Then this servant will go relay the message again.”
Lu Yun gave a faint “mm” in response.
He lowered his beautiful, thick long eyelashes, lying on the couch with his sleeve covering his face. The usually elegant young man now showed irritation in every movement.
The attendant was gone for a long time. By the time Lu Yun started eating dinner, the attendant returned with an awkward expression: “This servant conveyed your meaning to Young Miss, but… but Young Miss gave a cold laugh and said you were dreaming.”
Lu Yun: “…”
The attendant secretly observed that although the young master’s face stiffened upon hearing those words, he made no big reaction, his left hand still holding the handkerchief pressed to his face. The weather was cold and he still had to apply ice – Third Young Master’s face was as white as snow, black hair dampened against his cheeks. If other ladies saw him like this, they would surely be infatuated. But alas, alas… The attendant mused to himself, watching Lu Yun who had been eating for a while suddenly slam down his chopsticks and say in a deep voice: “She’s always like this, always!”
“Every time she throws a tantrum, I have to coax her! Am I always fighting with her for no reason? Even if I’m wrong, why must I be the one to lower my head every time?”
It had always been this way.
Luo Lingyu usually treated him with smiles and laughter, trying to please him. But once she was unhappy, she would ignore him.
Once unhappy she would just ignore him!
Either she needed something from him and would come apologize with a smile; or if she didn’t need anything, if he wanted to make up with her, he had to swallow his pride and try to make her happy. Someone like Luo Lingyu who put benefits above all else, every time she tried to please him had an ulterior motive. And he, and he… The more Lu Yun thought about it the more annoyed he became, and felt that this time he wasn’t really wrong. If he hadn’t experimented, wouldn’t he have died without knowing why? His only mistake was being accidentally seen by her…
Lu Yun said: “I’m not wrong.”
The attendant quickly said “yes yes yes,” how could Third Young Master be wrong? Third Young Master was so handsome and talented, everyone pampered him, he could never be wrong.
Lu Yun said: “I don’t believe she won’t apologize to me, I’ll wait and see.”
…
Like a contest, both waited for the other to give in and apologize.
Previous fights had always been fiery, with hitting and yelling. This time it was cold violence, complete silence.
Lu Yun continued training troops as usual. Luo Lingyu stayed on the mountain for two days, growing more disappointed. By the third evening, still waiting for Lu Yun to come, Luo Lingyu’s heart grew cold. She instructed Lingyu to pack their belongings, preparing to go down the mountain. Lingyu sighed: “Why let things become like this? You just need to say some nice words, give Third Young Master a way to save face. The young master still likes you, this servant has been constantly questioned by Third Young Master’s attendant these past two days. Though Third Young Master doesn’t come, he’s always paying attention to you, watching whether you’ve eaten or slept well.”
Luo Lingyu sat by the couch, watching her maid bustle about while lost in thought. After a while, Luo Lingyu said: “I feel so wronged. I came specially for him, worried he might get hurt, yet he doesn’t care himself. I’m angry and heartbroken, but he’s still hung up on me slapping him in public, caring more about that than the important matter of life and death… Is he too arrogant or too confident? Does he think I’ll definitely lower my head?”
“Is it because I always try to make him happy, always try to please him, that he thinks I should always please him?”
Luo Lingyu lowered her eyes, dazed: “…Lingyu, I habitually try to please people, make them happy. But that’s just my way of doing things, because my background isn’t good – if people around me dislike me, my life becomes very difficult. But Lu Yun… does even he think I should naturally try to please him?”
Lingyu: “Ah…”
Was the young miss overthinking things?
But love is just like that.
When happy, he is heaven and earth, the whole world; when disappointed, even the smallest of his usual flaws becomes infinitely magnified. How many couples have walked the path to separation over small conflicts, let alone Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun who weren’t even married yet, making such a scene.
Luo Lingyu said dejectedly: “I’m wondering if I should marry him. We’re both so proud, maybe we’re not suitable. I should have a husband who cherishes me, and he should find someone truly gentle who understands his sensitive nature…”
Lingyu was terrified hearing this, afraid this decisive young miss would really break up with Third Young Master. How had it come to this? Wasn’t it just an argument? Lingyu said tremulously: “…Let’s… let’s leave after dinner.”
Luo Lingyu didn’t stop her as she saw Lingyu suddenly become timid and run out of the tent like a streak of smoke. Luo Lingyu remained sitting quietly, head lowered thinking about their relationship. She and Lu Yun were always like this – when things were good they were especially good, when things weren’t good, they could see each other’s flaws. Luo Lingyu pondered dazedly whether in Second Young Master’s dream, she and Lu Yun were always destined to have feelings but no fate… whether it was a sign that in reality, she and Lu Yun also…
“Bang—”
The curtain was suddenly lifted, Luo Lingyu looked up to see Third Young Master’s gloomy face, and behind him her maid Lingyu peeping in with an apologetic expression. Lingyu felt very helpless – she didn’t want to betray her mistress, but as soon as she went out she was cornered by Third Young Master’s attendant. With Third Young Master’s methods… how could Lingyu resist?
Luo Lingyu naturally understood, she just sat quietly, not speaking. She even had the leisure to glance at his face – the five finger marks on that fair face had finally disappeared. Someone’s skin was quite good indeed.
Lu Yun said word by word: “You want to leave me, separate from me, marry another man?!”
Luo Lingyu: “…”
She looked at Lingyu: how were these words passed on? She had just worried a bit about their future, but here it became as if she had firmly decided to leave Lu Yun?
Though Luo Lingyu thought this in her heart, facing Lu Yun she only said coldly: “So what if I do?”
Lu Yun’s face instantly turned black as ink, a vein throbbing on his forehead, his eyes turning cold.
The attendant and maid were frightened, but Luo Lingyu wasn’t afraid. Lu Yun took a deep breath: “All of you, get out.”
The maid and attendant: “…Yes.”
Third Young Master’s expression was so terrible, they were really worried the delicate Luo Lingyu would be bullied! What should they do? The attendant was Lu Yun’s man, not daring to defy Lu Yun’s order to get help. Lingyu was anxiously pacing in circles, but knew she had been sent by the old madam to be Young Miss’s maid – Young Miss was so shrewd, if she sided with Third Young Master instead of Young Miss, even if Third Young Master and Young Miss made up later, she would lose her standing with the young miss.
Lingyu wracked her brains: “…Ah, General Wei! Let’s go down the mountain to ask General Wei for help!”
…
Luo Lingyu truly wasn’t afraid of Lu Yun. She just sat quietly, lowering her eyelids to stare absently at her hands, not caring how angry Lu Yun was.
After the maid and attendant left, Lu Yun suddenly walked over and sat beside her. He changed his tone, reaching to hold her hand: “Lingyu, don’t be like this…”
Luo Lingyu moved away, pulling her hand from his.
Lu Yun’s eyes darkened, his expression turning ugly. But he didn’t show it on his face, instead following her movement to sit closer, reaching for her hand again. Though feeling much shame inside, Lu Yun’s face showed only conciliation: “Alright, stop being angry. You’ve already slapped me, made me lose so much face, surely your anger has dissipated? I haven’t done anything else since then, when you were angry, didn’t I leave you alone? Lingyu, stop ignoring me, okay?”
Third Young Master who had firmly declared to his attendant that he would never admit wrong, now with no one watching, threw away his pride and came to please Luo Lingyu.
Third Young Master never cared about his image in private. She still remained stiff and ignored him, so he reached out and pulled her into his embrace, lowering his head to kiss her ear lightly. Luo Lingyu’s ear tingled, instantly turning red with a boom. She dodged his lips, angrily slapping at his hands holding her: “What are you doing… Don’t touch me! Take your hands away…”
“Little Sister Lingyu, don’t be like this,” Lu Yun spoke softly and humbly, whispering tenderly by her ear, “You made me angry too. How could you talk about leaving me? Who breaks up just because of an argument? How can you give me no face at all? You weren’t like this before…”
Luo Lingyu was breathless from his kisses, having to bite her lip to resist giving in: “Then- then go find the me from before… I- I, stop touching everywhere!”
As they spoke, she was pressed down onto the bed by him. Dense kisses pressed against her nape, his lips and teeth working together made her back feel like it was being pricked by needles, completely numb. Food and sex are human nature – his face came close, rubbing noses with her at close range, his lips hovering near and far, his handsome features infinitely magnified before her eyes. He gazed at her tenderly, holding her in his arms and caressing her. Luo Lingyu gasped for breath, gradually losing strength as she struggled.
Lu Yun tested: “Don’t leave me, hmm? Don’t marry someone else, okay?”
The young lady’s eyes turned red, her consciousness seeming to drift away. She bit her lip, but under his gentle offensive, she still couldn’t help but let out a whimper. When she opened her mouth, he captured her lips in a kiss.
This time he was completely on top with her below, she trembled beneath him. Luo Lingyu was annoyed and pounded her fists against his shoulders.
Her chest heaved up and down.
His eyes brightened at this, growing addicted to the taste, and he leaned in.
Luo Lingyu pushed him: “…Stop it! We’re still fighting, Lu Xuechen.”
Lu Yun sighed, burying his head between her breasts, his voice muffled and extremely aggrieved: “I never lose my temper with others, I only get angry with you. I was wrong, but you were wrong too. No matter how we fight, don’t ignore me. When you ignore me, I feel so terrible…”
Luo Lingyu retorted: “When I pay attention to you, I just scold you, doesn’t that make you even angrier?”
Lu Yun said softly: “I’m not afraid of you scolding me, I’m just afraid of you ignoring me. Little Sister Lingyu, you always leave when you’re unhappy. As if I’m not important, you can abandon me anytime, plan to be with other men anytime. Every time you’re a little nice to me, you want to get something from me…”
Luo Lingyu said angrily: “I don’t! That was before… when have I used you recently?”
Lu Yun said gloomily: “But when other ladies pursue me, I’ve never seen you get jealous… You don’t care about me, you always have a backup plan… You!”
He was bitten by Luo Lingyu, letting out a muffled groan in his throat. Luo Lingyu wanted to say you’re blind, I’ve been so jealous my stomach hurts, yet you still think I don’t care about you. But she was breathless from his kisses, and though she had many questions to ask him, Lu Yun was afraid she would reject him if she spoke, not daring to give her any chance to talk. The two pressed against the couch, and as they kissed, the rhythm slowly slipped beyond Lu Yun’s control.
Men and women in deep love shouldn’t be alone together, shouldn’t be so close to a bed. Such a small couch, once lying down on it, some things became hard to control.
Even if they were still fighting.
When Lu Yun kissed Luo Lingyu, she went from initial resistance to gradually becoming passionate. At first she pushed him away, but later wrapped her arms around his neck, tightly hugging his burning body. Fire ignites easily when you already like someone – how could they resist seeing each other so passionate? Lu Yun’s eyes were narrowed, sweat beading on his forehead, his panting, entranced appearance made Luo Lingyu hug his neck tighter, her heart completely moved.
So she also went to kiss him.
Pulling at his clothes.
Trembling voice: “Xuechen… Lu Yun…”
Outer robes fell to the ground, undergarments pressed beneath her. His hand caressed her hair as Lu Yun touched foreheads with her, his knee pressing forward between her bent legs. Gently rubbing, slowly grinding, Lu Yun sighed but not quite: “…Big brother wants to sleep beside you.”
Luo Lingyu: “…”
“Sleep beside you” sounded so nice, but he actually just wanted to sleep with her. She was ashamed she could now understand his type of flirting.
He had always been frivolous, naturally tending towards gentle and lingering moves in bed. After spending more time with her, his techniques increased. By now, both their foreheads were covered in sweat. Luo Lingyu couldn’t resist – though her heart was filled with shame and anger, still angry at this person. But when she opened her eyes and saw him, with his smiling eyes full of spring intentions, she couldn’t stay angry.
…He was truly her fate.
Lu Yun clung to her.
Luo Lingyu was stirred up unbearably, really unable to hold on, her face flushed red as she said shakily: “What do you really want, you’re so annoying!”
Lu Yun remained composed, continuing to entangle with her while still trying to talk and resolve their conflict. Luo Lingyu was covered in sweat, having to listen to him murmuring intimately in her ear, rambling on explaining that he wasn’t seeking death, he had a plan… Luo Lingyu raised her hand wanting to scratch his face: who wants to hear about this now?!
But when she raised her hand, Lu Yun sensitively caught it: “Don’t hit me…”
…
With Lu Yun’s endurance and techniques, after an hour both were covered in sweat. Most of their clothes were removed, snow-white skin exposed. The air was unbearably hot, testing their restraint. Seeing that Luo Lingyu finally stopped resisting listening to him talk, Lu Yun was secretly pleased. Only then did he bite and suck at her, wanting to enter.
However, the tent flap was suddenly pulled open, and General Wei’s casual voice burst in: “Lieutenant Lu, I heard you were bullying Miss Luo… uh!”
Lu Yun reacted extremely quickly – while Luo Lingyu beneath him was still dazed, a man’s robe was thrown over, wrapping around her. Not only that, he hugged the lady and turned his back to block the bright light. Lu Yun raged: “Get out!”
General Wei: “…”
Wei Cong was extremely embarrassed and quickly retreated.
…
A quarter hour later, Lu Yun’s face was dark, his expression worse than when he first went to find Luo Lingyu. The typical frustrated and irritable look of unfulfilled desire. General Wei just crouched in the bushes, wondering: why did he always catch Lu Yun and Miss Luo being intimate?
Couldn’t those two pay attention to time and place?
In fact, they had already closed the doors and windows and hidden in the tent, not knowing what more attention they could pay.
Leave a Reply