Chapter 302: Xi Xi Xi Xi Xi Xi

Chapter 302: Xi Xi Xi Xi Xi Xi

Wu Yue put on a stern face, "You investigated me behind my back, didn't you?"

Shen Que felt guilty, "I was just doing a background check. When employees switch jobs, new employers do background checks too."

Wu Yue, "Since when do background checks include past relationships?"

Wasn't he just afraid Wu Yue might be under Shen Qingci's spell and sent as a spy...?

Shen Que shot back, "Don't new employers ask about marital status too?!"

Wu Yue laughed, amused,

"Then ask me about my current marital status."

Shen Que looked hopeful, "What's your current marital status?"

Wu Yue's face fell, "Widowed."

Shen Que, "..."

Shen Que whined pitifully, "Wu Yue, are you mad at me again?"

Had he messed up again? He really didn't want to go through another cold war with Wu Yue.

Wu Yue suddenly stood tall, with a fierce glare as she backed Shen Que toward the sofa. Step by step, he retreated until he finally sat down.

His hands pressed into the couch as he looked up at Wu Yue, uneasy.

Just as Shen Que was about to speak, Wu Yue suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his ear.

A lightbulb went off in Shen Que's head. He took the chance, pulling Wu Yue down onto the sofa with him.

Wu Yue whispered, "Shen Que, let's not fight. I just want to stay quietly with you like this for a while."

She wasn't angry. Background checks were normal—recruiting new members always involved them.

She had even wondered why Blaze hadn't investigated her sooner.

Shen Que tightened his embrace, "Mhm."

Originally, Shen Que had investigated her out of suspicion, but the more he dug, the more he realized Wu Yue was just a tragic figure.

Just like him—miserable since childhood, bullied in the orphanage, and still a small, overlooked pawn even in Shadow.

He never told anyone. No one in the team knew.

It wasn't until he overheard Jie Chen mention it that he learned he had met Wu Yue as a child.

Just as he'd found out.

Wu Yue suddenly asked, "Shen Que, when did you start liking me?"

Shen Que thought for a moment, "Right when the World Boss battles first started."

Wu Yue, "Was it because I was pretty? Did you like me just for my looks?"

Shen Que, "...No."

Honestly, it’s tough to call which of them is better-looking.

Wu Yue reached out to pinch Shen Que's face. "Then why? My supposed death was just the trigger—there must have been a reason, right?"

Pinch, pinch. Damn, his skin is *so* soft.

Shen Que said, "Because you're brave, hardworking, passionate, sincere, and full of life. It made me drawn to you."

His life had always been drenched in gloom and ice, leaving him hyperaware as he kept sinking.

Compared to looks that would inevitably fade with age, the emotional fulfillment Wu Yue gave him deeply captivated him.

She wouldn’t stop praising him—saying he was amazing, that he spoke coolly.

No one had ever said such things to him before. All they did was order him around, tell him to submit.

Even if he had heard similar words before, he disliked those who approached him with hidden agendas.

Whether it was admiration, curiosity, or even the desire to conquer him with charm—it all grossed him out.

It wasn’t that he was oblivious. On the contrary, due to his background, he had experienced the manipulation and malice hidden behind romantic pursuits far too early, making him more wary and closed-off.

Wu Yue asked, "So you’d fall for *anyone* who’s hardworking, passionate, and sincere?"

Shen Que thought seriously for a moment before shaking his head.

"No. Everyone is different. There are no two identical people in the world.

Even if two people do the same thing, the ripples they cause and the outcomes will never be the same.

If I come to the beach and pick up my favorite seashell, I’m done looking at other shells again—no matter what they look like, they’ll have nothing to do with me.

I’ll just leave, never returning to the beach, never looking at another seashell."

Wu Yue couldn’t help but laugh. Shen Que, burning with curiosity, leaned closer to her face. "Then when did you start liking me?"

Wu Yue countered, "Shen Que, do you know you always give me that look—the kind that begs to be bullied?

That expression that says, ‘Come bully me, I won’t cry, I’ll take it—hell, I might even like it.’

That time in the polar region when you suddenly ran over, I thought I must’ve misunderstood. Why were you looking at me like that? What did it even mean?"

Shen Que said, "Later, when I found out you were injured, my feelings were all over the place. It was a very unfamiliar feeling for me.

So I wanted to confirm—was it just adrenaline, or had I really fallen for you?"

Wu Yue said, "So you played me the whole time in the World of the Stele, faking helplessness, and then deliberately pulled the wrong rope so everyone saw me knock you over.

Do you know that even now, Uncle Zhou, Aunt Fu, and my siblings all think I was the one who came onto you first?!

The kicker is, when I tried to explain that it wasn’t true, they said they understood—that it was normal for me to be a sucker for a pretty face, that it was just genetics and not my fault.

They said my mom was the same when she fell for my dad, that my dad still got it...!!

That no unattractive man would ever catch our family’s eye..."

If not for the fear of making things too awkward—lest they think Shen Que was some two-faced psycho and refuse to approve—Wu Yue would’ve spilled all his tea!

Shen Que let out a snort of laughter, which made Wu Yue struggle to break free in frustration. He held her tightly,

"You're not allowed to leave. Nobody leaves until we hash this out today."

Wu Yue opened her mouth and bit Shen Que's shoulder, and his eyes instantly darkened.

His voice grew hoarse as he said, "Wu Yue, don’t do this. I can’t handle this."

Wu Yue cupped Shen Que’s face in her hands, gazing at him earnestly:

"Look, you’ve always worked so hard—playing nice with the royal court, outmaneuvering them at every turn, all to protect Blaze and shake off your shackles to survive.

Yet you chose to protect me, keeping my secret even if it meant walking to his death.

Shen Que, you must have gotten something from Long Xi’s mouth back then, didn’t you? That’s why you were so hellbent on killing him, even at the cost of your own life.

Long Xi’s leverage had to be the antidote—his ace in the hole. But I was the one who could unlock it.

After I told you the news about obtaining the antidote, your replies stopped coming.

So what did you find out? Was it about me?"

Shen Que nodded slowly, "Yes, but I don’t want to tell you."

He didn’t want to say it. As long as it remained unspoken, it could be as if none of it ever existed.

Wu Yue, "That was the moment I confirmed—very seriously—that I liked you. Really liked you.

Shen Que, I’m not playing with you, nor am I stringing you along. I also needed to repeatedly confirm your feelings and my own.

Because I take emotions very seriously too."

Shen Que stared at her intently and gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment.

He instantly dropped all the room's defenses. "You can go to training now."

Wu Yue took a deep breath, suddenly grabbing Shen Que’s hand and sliding her wrist into his grip.

Under Shen Que’s puzzled gaze, she looked at him and said:

"Shen Que, do you know? Sometimes when I reject you, it’s not really a rejection.

Sometimes, I reject you because I want you to pull me close and kiss me hard.

Actually, I kinda dig it when you lose control. It looks damn hot on you."

Shen Que blinked rapidly, his entire body turning beet red.

"You... what did you say?"

Wu Yue stood up and made for the door. She opened it, threw a look over her shoulder at Shen Que, then suddenly raised her brows, her voice dripping with challenge:

"So, who was it that just dared me not to chicken out?

If you don’t stop me now, I’m really leaving."

Shen Que was across the room in a flash, shouldering the door shut. "Wu Yue, do you have any idea what you're saying?

Are you really sure about this?"

"Wherever you want to go then, I won't let you get away."

Wu Yue, "..." God, this guy is so damn annoying!!

Wu Yue ignored him and turned to leave.

Shen Que’s gaze darkened instantly. Acting on pure instinct, he reached out and dragged Wu Yue forcefully back into the room.

With a "click,"

he locked the door without hesitation.

...

Shen Que pinned Wu Yue against the door, wrapping an arm around her waist and cupping her face before kissing her hungrily.

One kiss after another fell, releasing pent-up desire in full force.

Wu Yue, blushing furiously, fisted Shen Que’s shirt weakly, tilting her head up as she was kissed until she was weak.

Noticing Shen Que’s hand sliding up from her waist to her back, Wu Yue flinched and whispered,

"You’re not allowed to try anything, or I’ll leave."

Shen Que immediately withdrew his hand, instantly behaved.

As his kisses trailed lower, he left hickeys on Wu Yue’s neck.

Embarrassed, Wu Yue covered her neck and turned to push the door open, ready to leave.

Shen Que instantly wrapped his arms around her, breathing heavily by her ear as he pleaded, "Yue Yue, don’t go."

Wu Yue, "Then you can’t bully me like this anymore."

Shen Que agreed at once, "Okay."

He led Wu Yue to the sofa, devouring her with his eyes so intently she couldn’t even lift her head.

Her face burning, Wu Yue glared at him, "Stop looking at me!"

Shen Que refused, "I'll look all I want."

How could he not look at his own wife? Not just look—he’d kiss her too.

Clamping his arms around Wu Yue’s waist to keep her from escaping, he cradled the back of her head and kissed her again.

As his hands started growing bolder, Wu Yue pushed at him.

But Shen Que’s strength was overwhelming—no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free. Blushing furiously, Wu Yue shouted, "Shen Que!"

Shen Que blinked, feigning innocence, "What?"

Wu Yue stood up abruptly, "I’m really leaving this time!"

She made a break for the door, but Shen Que cut her off.

With puppy-dog eyes, he gazed at her, "Yue Yue, you said it yourself—you weren’t really rejecting me. You want this too."

Wu Yue’s face was on fire, "But you keep trying to push things too far!"

"A kiss is one thing, but Shen Que's hands keep wandering!

Shen Que immediately apologized, "I'll behave, don’t go."

He cautiously observed Wu Yue’s expression and, seeing she no longer intended to leave, tentatively slipped an arm around her waist.

Shen Que leaned closer, "Just one kiss, okay?"

Wu Yue wouldn’t meet his eyes. Sensing her defenses weakening, Shen Que immediately kissed her.

Wu Yue hooked her arms around Shen Que’s neck as he led her to the couch.

He pulled her onto his lap, but Wu Yue, flustered, kept wriggling to escape. Suddenly, Shen Que’s voice turned hoarse:

"Stop moving, babe."

Wu Yue went stock-still instantly, her face, ears, and neck flushing crimson.

She shot him a fleeting glance before she averted her eyes.

Shen Que leaned in, whispering near her ear, "Babe, just one kiss, please?"

Wu Yue pushed him lightly, "No funny business."

Shen Que buried his face in her neck, "No funny business, just one kiss."

Wu Yue’s breathing grew faster, her face flushed and her gaze gradually dazed. Shen Que smirked and started pressing his advantage.

…

Wu Yue lost track of how long Shen Que had been holding and kissing her. By the time she regained her senses, it was already dark outside.

She lowered her head and insisted, "Shen Que, let me up. I need to go back to the dorm."

Shen Que refused to release her, "Just stay over tonight, okay? I promise I won’t do anything."

Wu Yue glared at him, her face burning, "I don’t believe you!"

Shen Que swore, "I really won’t do anything. Before, when we lived together, I was always well-behaved."

Wu Yue gritted her teeth—that was completely different! Back then, they weren’t together. Now, Shen Que was looking at her like she was his next meal!

Seeing Wu Yue determined to leave, Shen Que blurted out, "Besides, the fox spirit is here too. Babe, please—tomorrow we’ll be in an instance and won’t get any time alone for days."

Wu Yue blushed, "Don’t call me babe!"

Shen Que whined, "Yue Yue."

Wu Yue took a deep breath, "Fine, but nothing is allowed! Just sleep!"

Shen Que agreed too quickly, "Okay!"

Before bed, they took separate showers. What had been a relatively normal atmosphere became thick with tension afterward.

Wu Yue’s pulse jumped under Shen Que’s hungry look.

She warned him, "One wrong move, and I’m leaving immediately."

Shen Que agreed smoothly, his eyes drifting over her as his tone turned dangerously casual, "Mm, I won’t misbehave."

Shen Que walked up to Wu Yue, scooped her up bridal-style, and placed her on the bed before climbing on after her.

Wu Yue immediately raised her hands to push him away. "Shen Que, what did you just promise...?"

Shen Que's voice was mumbled, "I won’t do anything, just one kiss.

"Wife, you won’t let me misbehave, but you can’t deny me just one kiss, right?"

Shen Que pulled her closer by the waist, and Wu Yue’s breathing grew increasingly rapid. Sensing that the more he kissed her, the more his hands started roaming inappropriately, she fumed through clenched teeth.

This guy had no shame whatsoever!!

Not a single word of truth!

Someone needed to teach him a lesson!

This time, even as Shen Que’s hands began to stray, Wu Yue played it cool.

Just as Shen Que was getting lost in the moment, getting carried away...

The scene before them suddenly shifted—the intimate atmosphere turned horrifying in an instant. A woman in red robes, with a grotesque fox-like face, had her flesh and fur bursting into violent flames, revealing stark white bones as she let out a piercing, bone-chilling cackle.

Shen Que, who had been totally into it, was so startled that he jerked backward.

"Snrk—"

After steadying himself, he saw Wu Yue bent over laughing her head off, unable to stop. Unable to help himself, he also curled his lips into a smile.

Pulling Wu Yue into his arms, Shen Que groused,

"You did that on purpose, didn’t you?"

Wu Yue’s eyes twinkled mischievously. "Who told you to keep lying?"

Shen Que kissed her once, like he meant it. "I just like you too much—can’t control myself."

Wu Yue shyly averted her gaze, and Shen Que hugged her, closing his eyes. "Sleep, wife. This time, I really won’t do anything."

Damn, that stunt of hers nearly gave him a heart attack!!