Chapter 40: Strawberry Mark

Chapter 40: Hickey

The night was silent, the biting wind outside muffled by layers of screens in the bedchamber.

Xiao Yan’s voice was clear, and he sounded wide awake.

Liu Qingci was certain he hadn’t misheard.

The silence stretched on a bit too long.

“Uh...” He didn’t know how to respond, so he could only ask, “...Where?”

Xiao Yan said, “On the neck, I guess.”

Liu Qingci swallowed nervously; the sound was loud in the quiet night.

Even now, he could still rationally think... he had no right to refuse.

“...Okay,” he said.

Then, he heard the man beside him move.

The rustle of fabric against the bedding, and the mattress dipped as the man shifted closer.

Xiao Yan moved nearer to him.

A faint, clean scent unique to Xiao Yan distinctly enveloped him as the distance closed, carrying body heat—not scorching, but like an invisible warm wall closing in.

Liu Qingci’s breathing instinctively grew shallower, every sense focused on the movements of the man beside him.

He could even hear the other’s breathing, slightly faster than usual, just inches away.

Warm breath spread across the side of his neck.

Xiao Yan extended an arm, loosely circling his shoulder.

It wasn’t a restraining gesture, more like an awkward brace and steady.

Liu Qingci’s whole body stiffened, and he could almost hear his heart pounding in his chest.

He couldn’t help but close his eyes, his long lashes trembling violently in the dark.

The skin on his neck prickled at the hot breath, the vulnerability of exposed skin had never felt so acute.

He could feel Xiao Yan lower his head further, the warm tip of his nose almost brushing his skin.

That moist breath made the fine hairs on his neck stand on end.

Then, a cool, soft touch pressed against his neck.

It was Xiao Yan’s lips.

Liu Qingci held his breath abruptly.

He felt the softness there part slightly, and then two rows of even teeth, tentatively, closed and pressed into the thin layer of skin.

Not hard.

The anticipated pain didn’t come.

The force was barely even a bite.

Just as Liu Qingci was puzzled, he felt the teeth gripping his skin slowly released and pulled away.

But that soft, warm head still lingered near his neck, muttering:

“A bite would still hurt a lot... I changed my mind.”

Liu Qingci’s muddled mind couldn’t process Xiao Yan’s disjointed words: “Wha... what?”

He felt the warmth near his neck draw even nearer.

The hand that had been loosely around his shoulder tightened slightly, as if adjusting his angle.

Then, those cool lips pressed against him again.

The touch was so gentle it was almost unsettling.

“Mmph!”

Liu Qingci let out a stifled grunt, caught off guard.

A strange, unfamiliar sensation exploded from that spot on his neck, shooting down his spine and spreading through his entire body.

A sting, an itch, a burn.

He could clearly feel the moisture of the other’s lips and tongue.

And the slight dizziness from the forceful suction that drew blood under the skin.

The suction lasted a few seconds, the pressure far from light.

Liu Qingci went completely stiff, his mind filled with only one thought.

That bowl of medicine worked?

That bowl of medicine worked!

The medicine he had urged Xiao Yan to drink had actually worked!!!

Liu Qingci’s muddled brain didn’t know whether to regret it or regret it.

Then, Xiao Yan released him.

His warm lips left his skin, and the arm around him withdrew.

Liu Qingci lay stiffly in place, the spot on his neck, throbbing with a stinging burn and a lingering dampness.

He didn’t need to touch it to know an unmistakable mark had been left.

Only their slightly hurried breaths intertwined in the silent night.

He heard Xiao Yan toss the covers aside with a loud rustle, then... climb right over him, get out of bed, all in one fluid motion.

Liu Qingci lay in the dark, eyes wide with confusion.

He heard Xiao Yan’s voice, slightly hoarse, low, and magnetic:

“Get some sleep. I’m going out for a bit.”

Before he could speak, Xiao Yan had disappeared as if he'd bolted in panic.

Liu Qingci: “...”

He sat up and stared at the spot Xiao Yan had disappeared from, slowly raised his hand, and lightly touched the skin on the side of his neck with his fingertips.

Xiao Yan had once again come to the window in the outer chamber of the bedchamber.

As soon as the window was opened, the cold night wind howled.

It cooled off certain unspoken reactions.

Xiao K finally got its audio and visual back and blurted out cluelessly:

“What happened, what happened? Host, what just happened? Why is it all pixelated again?!”

Xiao Yan stood in the wind and said gravely, “Don’t be nosy. All you need to know is the mission's done.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao K’s eyes lit up and it ran a silent check.

“Eh? (O_o)” It analyzed very professionally, “This is a bruised area from broken capillaries—blood leaking into the tissue… it’s quite noticeable.”

Xiao Yan was silent.

Xiao K asked in amazement, “Host, how'd you pull that off? (^∀^*)”

Xiao Yan: “…Just answer me: does it count or not?”

“It counts, it counts!”

“Good enough, then.”

When dawn came, the three-day mission would be up, and this task would be complete.

Xiao K whooped and cheered inside his head.

Xiao Yan, however, was very calm.

He sat with Liu Qingci, the two of them silently facing each other.

Every time he turned, he could clearly make out the dark red hickey he had planted on Liu Qingci’s neck.

Ahem.

It was too dark last night, so he hadn’t seen it clearly.

Now that he looked, he realized it was so obviously sucked.

This was his first time doing something like this. At the time, he was only afraid that the mark wouldn’t be heavy enough and the system wouldn’t pass him, so he'd bitten down too hard.

Liu Qingci had pale, delicate skin that bruised easily; even a small bump would take ages to go away.

He had no idea how long this glaring mark would stick around…

Xiao Yan pushed down his guilt, cleared his throat, and said:

“Qingci, you'll go back to Tingzhu Court tonight.”

Liu Qingci had a book in his hands, but he hadn't actually read a word.

He could feel Xiao Yan’s gaze occasionally falling on his neck, which was impossible to ignore, and he just couldn't settle down.

He was taken aback, paused, and wisely didn't pry; he simply agreed.

“Your Highness, these books…” Liu Qingci lightly touched a stack of scrolls on the desk and asked softly, “May I take them, Your Highness?”

Hearing this, Xiao Yan looked over, a flash in his eyes.

Liu Qingci wanted to take these books—could they hold the evidence he'd taken from the study?

After all, these days he had allowed Liu Qingci to move freely in Lanyue Pavilion, including the study.

“Take them if you like.” He made it sound casual, like he couldn't care less.

Liu Qingci rose, made a respectful bow, and said, “Thank you, Your Highness. I’ll take my leave now.”

Xiao Yan's brow twitched; he stood up without thinking and even stepped closer.

“Leaving now?” he blurted out.

At Liu Qingci's look of surprise, Xiao Yan realized he'd overreacted. He coughed into his hand a couple of times.

“Take this as well.” He pulled out a medicine jar they both knew well and handed it to Liu Qingci.

This was the wound salve Xiao Yan applied to Liu Qingci himself every night.

Liu Qingci held the cool porcelain bottle in his hand, but it felt almost hot.