Chapter 22 Don’t Move

Chapter 22: Don’t Move

Cui Ji’s gaze sharpened, his hand already pressing against the back of the other’s neck—one slight push and the man would meet his end.

“Hey, don’t move. Just stay put, and I won’t hurt you. I’m a good person.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a head buried itself into the crook of his shoulder, a warm breath brushing across his Adam’s apple.

Cui Ji’s body stiffened. Never having been this close to anyone, he was at a loss for a moment.

The other’s warm breath hit his neck in steady puffs, making his heart beat faster for no reason.

His hand was still on the back of the other’s neck, but he didn’t press down.

The shadow guards hiding in the dark prepared to step forward, but Cui Ji stopped them.

His eyes were covered, blocking his vision, and the soft palm against him felt warm, almost hot.

He instinctively wanted to pull the hand away to see the face before him.

But before he could act, a ruckus started outside the carriage.

“Quick! He ran this way!”

Cui Ji was out on personal business, so he kept a low profile and didn’t bring any guards.

Those servants knew how to read people, and since the carriage looked plain, they didn’t think much of it.

Cheng Ge had definitely run this way earlier, and now he was nowhere to be seen. They were sure he was hiding in this carriage.

They exchanged looks and moved toward the carriage together.

“A thief stole something. I saw him get into your carriage. We need to search it.”

Without waiting for Cui Ji to agree, they barged right into the carriage.

Murder flashed in Cui Ji’s eyes. Just as he was about to act, the man in front of him moved.

Cheng Ge moved fast, reaching up to blow out the lamp.

The carriage went dark, but he could hear the faint rustle of fabric.

Hands quickly wrapped around his neck, a warm body pressed up against him, and a face buried deep into his chest. Cheng Ge whispered, “Don’t say a word. Play along.”

Cui Ji froze, his fingers curling without thinking, unsure where to place them.

But before he could react, the carriage curtain was ripped open.

Under the faint moonlight, a steamy scene hit the onlookers’ eyes.

A beauty with loose black hair, robes half-open, a sliver of back gleaming like white jade in the moonlight.

Shoulders like carved jade, waist like a cinched ribbon, curves flowing like water—a real soul-snatcher.

As they say, seeing a beauty by lamplight is like looking at flowers under the moon. Even though you couldn’t see the face, the blurry outline alone sparked all kinds of fantasies.

The men stood there frozen, staring, forgetting what they were doing.

Seeing they hadn’t left, Cheng Ge grew anxious.

“Oh… husband, why are there people here?” His voice was three parts shy, six parts seductive.

As for the last part, Cheng Ge decided to treat himself to an extra chicken leg later, to soothe his voice, which was about to give out.

The shadow guards, hiding without orders, didn’t dare come forward.

They weren’t sure if they should cover their eyes, but after thinking it over, they clamped their hands over them—leaving a tiny gap.

All shadow guards: We’re just worried about our master, not being pervs, oh~

Cui Ji was thrown off by Cheng Ge’s whole act.

“———”

Cui Ji’s eyes darkened, his lips tight, his face blank.

He grabbed a robe from the couch and quickly wrapped it around the man, not leaving a single strand of hair exposed.

He looked up at the stunned crowd, his gaze icy. Even half-hidden in the shadows, he was scary as hell.

“Looking for death?” The men shuddered at his words.

Panic set in as they realized they might have offended some noble.

In the capital, spitting on the street could hit a fifth-rank official.

The carriage had seemed plain from the outside, but now, examining the interior decor, it was clearly not something a commoner could afford.

Though the Zhang family had some influence in the capital, it was nothing against the great noble houses.

Daring no further insolence, they muttered apologies and scurried away.

The carriage fell silent again. Cui Ji looked at the man huddled under the robe, about to see who was so bold.

But before he could move, the familiar hairpin pressed against his waist. “Don’t move.”

Cui Ji: “…” This man really had no conscience.

Cheng Ge only wanted to survive. Judging by the thugs’ reaction, this man was no pushover.

He didn’t have time to think. Throwing off the robe, he draped it over Cui Ji’s head.

Before the other could react, he turned and leaped out of the carriage, fleeing.

“Master, should I have him captured?”

Cui Ji slowly pulled the robe from his head, glancing in the direction Cheng Ge had disappeared.

He bent down, picked up the peachwood hairpin at his feet, and slipped it into his sleeve pouch with practiced ease.

“Mm, follow him. Don’t let those men find him.”

“Understood.” The shadow guard accepted the order and left.

Cheng Ge ran without stopping, not daring to pause, terrified of being discovered again.

He practically dragged himself back to the official residence, leaning against the courtyard wall as a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth.

Clutching the porcelain bottle in his hand, without a second thought, he poured the contents into his palm, grabbed a handful, and shoved it into his mouth.

“Cough, cough, cough!!!” The pills mixed with blood forced them down his throat, choking him into a fit of coughing, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

He collapsed weakly onto the ground, thumping his sore chest with both fists.

Yet he couldn’t help but curse under his breath, “That motherfucker Zhou Ming, hope he dies a horrible death.”

The moment he finished cursing, he passed out with his middle finger raised, his expression far from peaceful.

“For the parts that were cut, listen to the live narration, where the full version is available.”