Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“Brother, I’ll be staying at home for a while. Please focus on recovering here.”

Before leaving the courier station, Jiang Heng went to bid farewell to Yan Hui, mentioning only that she would be home for a few days—without elaborating further.

Yan Hui, who had been recuperating at the courier station for the past couple of days, remained unaware of Zhang Qian’s death. Worried that Zhang might secretly return and harm Jiang Heng, he had already decided it best for her to stay temporarily at the Jiang residence—and thus made no attempt to stop her. Yet there was one matter he still felt compelled to address.

“A Jiu…”

He wanted to urge her to seek an annulment and find a better match.

In fact, he already had someone in mind—Du Zhong, who had once studied under Tang Yue alongside him. Du Zhong possessed both fine character and appearance, and had recently been appointed Director of the Ministry of Justice of the Qi Dynasty. Rumor had it he remained unmarried. Yet voicing this suggestion proved unexpectedly difficult.

“Brother, don’t overthink it. Just focus on recovering,” Jiang Heng comforted him gently—though inwardly, she felt hollow at the thought that he would soon return to Lingnan.

“You’re an envoy—they’ll let you return safely, won’t they?” Jiang Heng still couldn’t shake her unease.

Though envoys were traditionally spared during wartime, once hostilities erupted in earnest, who would still honor such noble conventions? It was not uncommon for envoys to be executed solely to boost troop morale.

Nonetheless, Yan Hui gave a slight nod and replied softly, “They will. Don’t worry.”

A smile finally lit up Jiang Heng’s eyes. “Then you must take good care of yourself. No matter what, you must stay alive.”

As long as he lived, anything remained possible.

Yan Hui smiled faintly and murmured a quiet, “Mhm.”

That same day, after a brief stop at the Jiang residence, Jiang Heng was escorted back to the Gu family.

No sooner had she stepped into Ninghe Court—without even pausing for a sip of tea—than Gu Qingyue came dashing over, excitedly hugging her and calling “Sister-in-law!” over and over.

“Sister-in-law, I’ve missed you so much! You won’t go back to your parents’ home again, will you?”

The Gu family knew nothing about Jiang Heng having swapped places with her elder sister. To Gu Qingyue, Jiang Heng’s extended stay at her parents’ home simply signaled a quarrel with her brother.

“Sister-in-law, what would you like for dinner? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it right away!” Gu Qingyue offered eagerly.

This time, instead of replying, “Anything’s fine,” Jiang Heng paused briefly before saying, “I’ve heard the carp from the Luo River and the bream from the Yi River are especially delicious—I’ve never tried either.”

Northerners rarely ate fish, and Jiang Heng was no exception. The last time she’d had crucian carp soup, a tiny bone had scratched her throat. Though Yan Hui had patiently taught her how to eat fish several times at the courier station, she still lacked skill and often struggled to remove the finer bones.

“Wonderful! I’ll send someone to buy them right now!” Gu Qingyue chirped happily before skipping off.

Jiang Heng gazed at the familiar furnishings in the room, yet felt strangely hollow inside.

At the courier station, though propriety restricted her from spending much time with her brother—and required caution in every word—she’d felt at ease knowing he was just next door.

But here, she was utterly alone.

“Ah, Miss, look at this necklace pendant—is this the one you were searching for before?”

Rui Zhu, tidying the dressing table, had found a silver pendant and brought it over for Jiang Heng’s inspection.

Chun Jin, overhearing, hurried over in surprise. She distinctly recalled the pendant having fallen into Gu Yu’s hands—and being angrily smashed by him, leaving one corner damaged. Could it truly have been repaired?

This pendant was flawless—nearly identical to Jiang Heng’s original. It must also have come from Guanyin Temple; the engraved character “Jiu” matched perfectly in both script and placement, without the slightest variation.

The sole difference lay on the reverse side: instead of swirling water motifs, it bore a mountain-valley pattern.

This was not her pendant.

“No,” Jiang Heng said, handing it back to Rui Zhu.

“Then… did the head of household buy you a new one?”

This was the main chamber of Ninghe Court. Aside from Gu Yu and Jiang Heng, no one else could enter freely—so Rui Zhu naturally assumed this possibility.

Jiang Heng replied indifferently, “I don’t know,” then sat by the window, staring blankly outside.

***

Meanwhile, Gu Qingyue sought out Luo Ci and told her Jiang Heng wished to eat fish, asking her to send someone to purchase some.

Luo Ci relayed the request to Xiao Luo Shi.

“Carp from the Luo River and bream from the Yi River? She certainly has expensive tastes!”

Though northerners generally disliked fish, centuries of conflict between North and South had brought many defectors from Jiangzuo—people who loved fish and turtles. The Wu residential district where they settled lay close to the Yi and Luo Rivers, so fish from these waters naturally entered their diets. Southerners excelled at cooking fish—especially the delectable Luo River carp and Yi River bream. Over time, these dishes gained fame throughout the capital. Any capital resident who ate fish would come here to buy them.

A popular saying in the capital went: “Luo carp and Yi bream cost more than cattle and sheep.”

“Do you know a single bream is worth a whole sheep? And she wants *both*—the Luo carp *and* the Yi bream!” Xiao Luo Shi grumbled discontentedly. “Is Third Uncle back? I need to speak with him. With tastes this refined, we can’t afford to keep her!”

Luo Ci, too, had hesitated over the exorbitant prices of Luo carp and Yi bream—which was precisely why she’d reported the request to Xiao Luo Shi. She’d anticipated her dissatisfaction.

“Sister, we mustn’t lose the big picture for small gains,” Luo Ci advised gently. “No matter how expensive, can the esteemed Duke’s household truly not afford it?”

“Think about it—our cousin was already planning to divorce his wife. If you complain to him about her now, won’t that just give him more reason to go through with it?”

“I don’t care whether they divorce or not. In fact, it’d be better if they did. Our humble household simply cannot afford to keep a noble young lady from a great family,” Xiao Luo Shi retorted sarcastically.

Luo Ci silently cursed Xiao Luo Shi’s shortsightedness—her advice the other day had clearly been in vain. Outwardly, she maintained patience and persuasion: “Sister, have you forgotten what I told you? Would you rather have our sister-in-law as your sister-in-law—or that Seventh Miss?”

“It’s true you’re the eldest daughter-in-law of the Gu family, but the Duke’s estate ultimately belongs to our cousin. It’s best if he entrusts you with managing household affairs—but if one day he decides he wants his own wife to take charge, what can any of us say?”

“Right now, sister-in-law is out of favor with our cousin, so he hasn’t raised the issue. But if it were that Seventh Miss…”

“Sister, she was once an empress. I’ve heard the late Southern Dynasties ruler kept a spotless inner court—with her as his sole empress. Even after five years without bearing children, he took no other consorts. Think about it—if this Seventh Miss had no extraordinary talents, how could she control a man? She held an emperor of the Southern Dynasties in her palm—and she still has our cousin pining for her. If someone like her enters the Gu family and asks our cousin for control of the household, wouldn’t it be as easy as lifting a finger?”

The mere thought made Xiao Luo Shi clench her teeth in frustration.

“Moreover, sister-in-law has been in our family for three years. Surely she’s suffered some grievances. If she returns and tells that Seventh Miss—after all, they’re real sisters—and once the Seventh Miss marries our cousin as she wishes and takes charge of the household, she might deliberately make things difficult for you, to vent her sister’s grievances… She’s so cunning, she could make you suffer without leaving a trace. If you suffer, you’d have to bear your grievances in silence—unable to do anything about it…”

Xiao Luo Shi fanned herself rapidly with a round fan, breathing heavily—whether from heat or anger, it was hard to tell.

“So according to you, I have to indulge Jiang Heng from now on, letting her say whatever she wants about me? I haven’t even gotten even for her cat scratching A Duan—and now I have to indulge her too? Isn’t this just bullying!”

Luo Ci urged her to lower her voice. “Sister, it’s only for a little while. Maybe soon you won’t have to put up with it anymore?”

After this lesson, Luo Ci felt they could no longer afford to delay. They could not simply wait passively for their aunt to raise the subject of an heir. She needed to act—now—to avert future troubles and ensure the opportunity she’d long awaited would not slip away.

***

In the end, the Luo carp and Yi bream appeared on the Gu family’s dinner table.

Owing to the earlier divorce dispute, the family dinner that evening was unexpectedly harmonious—though it was an awkward, compromised harmony.

"Third Uncle Gu, you don't realize how expensive these carp from the Luo River and bream from the Yi River are. The cost of just these two fish would have covered our meals for four or five days."

Although Xiao Luo Shi had reluctantly agreed to buy the fish, she couldn't help feeling resentful and wanted to vent to Gu Yu.

"Hmm." Gu Yu responded with a faint hum and said nothing more.

Luo Shi, seeing her son silent, thought he was still upset about the failed separation. She shot a look at her eldest daughter-in-law, signaling her not to add fuel to the fire. Looking at Jiang Heng, she unusually said, "Expensive or not, since we've bought them, let's enjoy them freely. San Lang's wife, since you like this, go ahead and eat."

"Hmm." Jiang Heng replied softly, reaching to take some fish.

As the most senior in the household, the two fish were placed in front of Luo Shi. Gu Yu sat beside Luo Shi, and Jiang Heng sat next to Gu Yu, so the fish were somewhat far from her. Unable to stand up, Jiang Heng had trouble reaching them, managing only a tiny piece with her chopsticks.

Gu Yu lifted both plates of fish and placed them directly in front of Jiang Heng.

He then lowered his eyes and continued eating as if nothing had happened.

Since Luo Shi had no intention of eating fish anyway, she assumed her son was merely annoyed by Jiang Heng reaching across him and remained silent.

"In the future, place the fish in front of her," Gu Yu instructed.

The servants standing nearby murmured their assent.

Xiao Luo Shi seethed quietly. In the future? Did she expect to eat this every day?

"Sister-in-law, you really like fish, don't you? Then you must finish both of these—don't waste any," Xiao Luo Shi said with a fake smile.

Each fish was as long as a man's two hand spans and quite meaty; together, they weighed a lot.

The Gu family had never had the habit of eating fish, so these two were all for Jiang Heng.

Even if Jiang Heng ate nothing else, she couldn't finish both fish by herself.

She said nothing, though, lowering her eyes to chew slowly and carefully, filtering out the fishbones.

Gu Yu looked at the fish, took a bite himself, then after a moment's thought, looked at Gu Cen. "Would you like some?"

It sounded like a question but felt more like an assigned task.

Gu Cen wasn't opposed to eating fish. "Sure."

Gu Yu then asked a maid to bring a new plate and gave Gu Cen the fish head, tail, and the meat attached to them.

He kept only the middle, most tender and flavorful part.

He took a few more bites himself but didn't eat more fish.

He knew how much the lady could eat.

...

After the meal, in the study, Gu Yu handed Cheng Ping a stack of papers.

They weren't bound into a book, just loose sheets.

Each page was dated and seemed to contain meal plans.

Breakfast: ...

Lunch: ...

Dinner: ...

Notes: ...

The notes specified where to buy each ingredient, whether it was easy to find, and if one needed to arrive early to get it.

Every page was like this.

And from the handwriting, it was Gu Yu's own.

"Tell the kitchen to include these foods in rotation in the future," Gu Yu instructed.

These were the meals Yan Hui had arranged for the lady at the official posthouse over the past few days. Gu Yu had seen that they rotated about every eight days—nothing too complicated.

Just a meal—what was there for Yan Hui to boast about? It wasn't like he cooked it himself. Was it so hard to copy?

"What about the carp and bream? Should we include them?" Cheng Ping asked.

The meal plans didn't include carp or bream.

Gu Yu thought for a moment. "Ask her. If she wants to eat them, add them to the rotation."

Jiang Heng never used to eat fish. That day at the palace banquet was the first time, and she ate reluctantly. To him, she didn't seem to particularly like fish; she only ate it because Yan Hui said he loved fish soup.

Today, she said she wanted fish—was it still because of Yan Hui? Or had she acquired a taste for it and gradually grown interested?

Gu Yu thought perhaps... it was the latter.

Cheng Ping acknowledged the instruction and turned to leave.

Gu Yu asked again, "When you investigated the illness of the three courtesans from Xia Su, did you find out if Madame was taking..."

He wanted to ask if Jiang Heng had been taking contraceptive medicine, but he couldn't voice it.

"Taking what medicine?" he asked vaguely.

Cheng Ping thought carefully for a moment and shook his head. "No, Madame only took some cold medicine during her illness. Before and after, she rarely took any medicine."

No medicine?

Gu Yu felt inexplicably much better.

Perhaps she wasn't deliberately avoiding having his child. Perhaps it wasn't because she was thinking of Yan Hui, hoping to reunite with him someday, that she didn't want to bear Gu Yu's child.

Maybe it was just that they had spent little time together, so she hadn't conceived.

"You may go."

Gu Yu dismissed Cheng Ping and went to get out the illustrated manual his mother had sent before his wedding.

He thought he knew what he was doing and had never bothered to study the manual. Today, he pulled it out to see which positions were most likely to lead to pregnancy.

...

When Gu Yu arrived at Ningheyuan, Jiang Heng was sitting by the north window, gazing absently at the sparse shadows outside.

She held a book in her hand—*Record of Peonies from Lingnan*.

Lingnan... Why was she reading that?

Could she still be thinking of following Yan Hui to Lingnan?

Gu Yu frowned, stepped forward and snatched her book.

"Elder Brother."

The sound of his footsteps startled the lady. She turned her head instinctively and the address slipped out.

Gu Yu's steps halted. Was she really thinking of Yan Hui just now?

Jiang Heng's gaze turned cold and indifferent the moment she recognized who it was. She picked up the book again and began reading intently under the lamp.

Gu Yu snatched the book from her and casually tossed it onto the table.

Just like before, he wordlessly lifted her into his arms. This time, however, he did not immediately carry her to the bed. Instead, he stood there, holding her, and gazed deeply at her face.

His brow was tightly furrowed, his thin lips pressed into a nearly straight line as he looked at her with cold, furious intensity.

"What did you call me?"

Jiang Heng turned her head away indifferently. "I wasn't calling you."

That "Elder Brother" was naturally not meant for him. She knew very well he would never be her brother.

Gu Yu's frown deepened.

Why was she still thinking about that Yan Hui? She was here, in the Gu residence, in the room they had shared for three years of marriage. Couldn't she think of anyone else?

Gu Yu stared at the lady, but she refused to look at him.

After a long standoff, the man suddenly frowned, lowered his head, buried it in her shoulder, and bit down fiercely.

Jiang Heng couldn't hold back a pained gasp. "You!"

In the past, he had been reckless, at most more inventive, rougher, and prolonging the torment, but he had never bitten her like a mad dog before.

Gu Yu looked at her furrowed brows and pained eyes, and for some reason, the anger in his heart began to dissipate.

He just wanted her to look at him vividly and alive, as she did now—even if it was with anger, it was better than her cold indifference, as if he didn't exist at all.

He lowered his head again, moved to her other shoulder, and bit down once more.

Jiang Heng raised her hand to cover her shoulder, preventing him from biting her. There was little flesh on her shoulders, and it hurt much more than other places.

Gu Yu didn't insist. He moved to another spot, switching to her neck.

Like a wolf carrying its cub, he bit down with force that was not too heavy but certainly not light either.

At first, it was a distinct, painful bite, but gradually, the force lightened, though the time his mouth lingered on her neck grew longer.

Their cheeks and temples brushed together intimately.

This had never happened before.

Jiang Heng felt her whole body growing warm, especially her cheeks and the tips of her ears.

The man's large hand resting on her waist was no longer just forcefully restraining her as before. Instead, it began to gently caress her, moving slowly, step by step, gradually downward...

The intimate brushing of cheeks and temples did not pause because of this...

Jiang Heng felt as though her body was no longer her own, escaping her control, greedily enjoying and succumbing to the sensations.

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

Even her voice trembled with pleasure.

Gu Yu remained silent throughout, his palm now damp with a dew-like moisture.

The book hadn't lied to him after all. It turned out he could make her feel this way even without doing that...

Now, it should be about time.

Gu Yu finally picked her up and carried her to the bed.

Indeed, this time she didn't tense up and resist him as before. Instead, she lay softly against his shoulder, appearing unusually docile.

...

The next morning, Jiang Heng had not yet risen when Gu Yu went to the study to instruct Cheng Ping.

"Go and get some tonic medicine to nourish the body and aid conception."

After a moment's thought, he emphasized, "Go yourself. Don't tell anyone. If the kitchen asks, say it's contraceptive medicine."

Cheng Ping was surprised, unable to understand why the master would act so duplicitously, insisting on calling a fertility aid a contraceptive.

However, she said, "Different people have different constitutions. Tonics vary accordingly. Rashly obtaining medicine might not only be useless but could even be harmful. It would be better to consult a doctor and get medicine based on a prescription."

Gu Yu naturally also wanted Jiang Heng to see a doctor and nourish her body, but she would not cooperate.

Perhaps the first thing she would do upon waking this morning would be to obtain contraceptive medicine.

She had only agreed to postpone the divorce temporarily. She was still delusionally thinking of following Yan Hui to Lingnan—how could she be willing to bear a child for him?

After some thought, Gu Yu said, "Go and fetch Doctor Han."

...

Jiang Heng woke late. Doctor Han arrived just as she had finished breakfast and was about to instruct Chun Jin to obtain a dose of contraceptive medicine.

"Let Doctor Han take your pulse and prescribe contraceptive medicine," Gu Yu said with a dark expression, putting on a cold front as if he truly feared she would conceive his child.

Jiang Heng was puzzled. Did prescribing contraceptive medicine require a pulse diagnosis?

Doctor Han appropriately said, "Contraceptive medicine can easily harm the body, and if mishandled, it can even be life-threatening. Madam, you must consider your health. Allow me to take your pulse and prescribe a formula with mild medicinal properties."

Jiang Heng no longer refused and obediently extended her hand.

After observing, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, Doctor Han wrote out the prescription and advised, "This formula is extremely mild, unlike the potent effects of ordinary contraceptive medicine. Therefore, it must be taken daily. If you no longer wish to prevent conception, you can stop taking it. After one month, you should be able to conceive normally without any harm."

Jiang Heng nodded, accepted the prescription, expressed her gratitude, and handed it to Chun Jin to obtain the medicine.

After Doctor Han left, Gu Yu stood up to see him out.

The two then went to the study.

"How is her health?" Gu Yu asked.

Doctor Han shook his head, "Not good. It's not easy to treat. The cold has penetrated her bones, damaging her core health. The imbalance of yin and yang has persisted for too long, becoming a chronic condition. I'm afraid... she may never conceive again."

Gu Yu was silent.

Cold penetrating the bones, damaging the foundation? Was it because she fell into the Yellow River that time?

Not long after that, she married into the Gu family. She never mentioned any illness or pain—had she been hiding this chronic condition all along, putting off getting it treated?

"Do everything you can to help her."

Gu Yu closed his eyes, suppressing the raging anger in his chest.

Doctor Han nodded regretfully, wrote out a new prescription, and left.

Gu Yu handed the prescription to Cheng Ping and instructed, "From now on, her medicine will be brewed in the small kitchen of Ninghe Courtyard. Remember, don’t mix it up with Chun Jin’s medicine, and make sure no one finds out."

The prescription Doctor Han gave Jiang Heng did contain contraceptive ingredients—even if she took it to a pharmacy for inspection, it would still appear as a contraceptive formula. The one given to Gu Yu was the true prescription for treatment.

Cheng Ping agreed, though puzzled, he dared not ask further.

"Go."

Gu Yu was eerily calm.

He didn’t have much time left with her—he was soon heading south to defend the border.

This strategy was unlike previous ones that emphasized speed; instead, it focused on defense, first ensuring Prince Zhennan could not advance north, then biding their time before making a move.

He didn’t know how long he would be gone or when he would return.

But Jiang Heng wouldn’t just wait around obediently at home for him as she once did.

He had thought… he could have a child with her during this time…

...

"Making her drink contraceptive medicine?"

This news reached Luo Shi’s ears.

Though Luo Shi did not like Jiang Heng as a daughter-in-law, she still hoped Gu Yu would have an heir. She was furious with his actions and said angrily, "San Lang has lost his mind! For the sake of Madam Guiyi, he’s even willing to give up his own heir!"

Luo Shi had once been very satisfied with the Jiang family’s Seventh Miss, but she still was uncomfortable with her current status. Before, when Gu Yu only showed concern for her without any intention of marrying her, Luo Shi, for propriety’s sake, said nothing. But if her son truly intended to marry her, she would never agree.

"Aunt, I never imagined my cousin would be so obsessed with that seventh sister…"

Luo Ci made no effort to conceal her emotions—heartbroken, helpless, in love but unable to have him...

Luo Shi had long been aware of Luo Ci’s feelings for her son, but Luo Ci had always been discreet, never showing such sorrow and desolation as she did today.

Luo Shi did not oppose Luo Ci becoming her son’s concubine.

Luo Ci’s marriage prospects were complicated. Having been raised in the Duke Wei’s residence all these years, her expectations had grown high. But the Luo family was common—those in the capital of equal status to the Duke Wei’s residence would not seek her hand, while those of lower status were beneath her notice. Too good for the lower classes, not good enough for the higher ones.

Thus, Gu Yu had always been her best choice.

"Aunt, Cousin is so determined—I’m afraid we can’t dissuade him. Perhaps…"

Luo Ci hesitated.

"Perhaps what?" Luo Shi asked.

"Perhaps… we could make sure the deed is done… I’m willing to have his child…"

Luo Shi’s eyes widened in shock, about to scold her for being so shameless, but seeing her bow her head meekly, as if this were her only option.

"Aunt, Cousin is dead set on divorcing his wife. Now he’s even arranged for contraceptive medicine—the divorce is only a matter of time. Why not let me conceive a child for Cousin? Once it’s done, out of consideration for our family connection, he surely won’t abandon me. Then, if I insist on not allowing Madam Guiyi to enter the household, I believe Cousin, for the child’s sake, won’t be so stubborn." Luo Ci knelt, tears streaming down her face, speaking earnestly.

"Aunt, I truly love Cousin. I only wish to stay by his side. I know he is now Duke Wei—he could marry a better woman. In the future, if he finds a more suitable match of equal status, I am willing to lower myself to a concubine without any resentment…"

Luo Ci cried passionately.

Luo Shi’s heart softened eventually, and she did not scold her. Instead, she helped her up and said, "Aunt knows your heart is breaking, but your cousin is as stubborn as an ox. With his strength, how could you possibly 'make sure the deed is done'?"

Luo Shi knew little of seductive tactics—she thought it easy for a man to have his way with a woman, but difficult for a woman to do the same to a man.

Having come this far, Luo Ci threw all shame aside, producing a packet of medicine.

"I’ve heard that if a man drinks this, he will become compliant… willing to be intimate…"

Luo Shi’s eyes widened again, about to speak, but Luo Ci knelt and pleaded for forgiveness. "Aunt, I have no other choice. I am also a daughter of a respectable family—I am not shameless. But I… I have no other way. If I remain proper and well-behaved, there is no way for me to be with Cousin…"

Luo Shi sighed. "Alright. Will this medicine cause any other harm?"

Luo Ci shook her head. "It’s just an ordinary aphrodisiac."

...

At Yifang Hall, Luo Shi pretended to be sick and summoned Gu Yu.

"These past few days, I’ve been dreaming of your two elder brothers and your father. Ah, perhaps it’s just me getting old and overthinking things."

Luo Shi spoke casually, signaling a maid to serve tea to Gu Yu.

The dose of the drug was strong, and fearing it would leave a taste if dissolved in tea, Luo Ci had specially prepared a strongly flavored floral tea to mask the medicine’s flavor.

Gu Yu took a sip—it was somewhat sweet and strangely flavored. He didn’t like it, so he did not drink more.

"What, not to your taste? I find it quite fragrant. Try a bit more." Luo Shi said, taking a sip of her own tea.

Gu Yu had no choice but to take another sip.

As they chatted, Gu Yu finally finished his cup.

His head started feeling fuzzy. He saw his mother and the servants withdraw, and Luo Ci came to help him over to the couch to rest.

Suddenly, he grabbed Luo Ci’s wrist and, with his remaining rationality, slapped her, knocking her unconscious. He then hurried toward Ninghe Courtyard.

Only when he saw Jiang Heng, saw the marks he had left on her neck, and confirmed the person before him was indeed Jiang Heng, did he finally let his guard down.

He held her tightly, his mind growing increasingly muddled, nearly completely taken over by the drug.

"Ah…"

"A Jiu, don’t hand me over to someone else."

Don’t leave him with another woman like last time. He truly couldn’t control himself anymore.

"Even if... you treat me... as your older brother..."

His mind was at war, the last shreds of reason and pride forbidding him to say such things, yet...

"Just don't hand me off to someone else..."

"A Jiu, you smell so good, let me take in your scent..."

Gu Yu buried his face against her neck, kissing and inhaling her scent, all reason gone.