"Huh?"
Xie Jiang felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
His profile was truly handsome, every curve and line of his face perfectly sculpted, striking a chord deep within her heart.
Who was Yi Yan Geng? She had long forgotten.
"Marquis Xie?"
The moment Xie Jiang lunged towards him, Xia Rong Yu's hand had already clamped onto her arm, ready to toss her into the lake with a slight exertion of force.
Who would have thought it was the Marquis of Nanhai?
Xia Rong Yu was filled with astonishment.
The Marquis of Nanhai wouldn't do either. Xia Rong Yu disliked such intimate physical contact with people, and they weren't familiar with each other.
Xia Rong Yu pulled downwards with all his might, but for a long time, he couldn't budge her. Xie Jiang had her arms wrapped around his neck, clinging to him.
Their faces were almost touching. Xia Rong Yu caught the scent of alcohol on her breath, realizing she was drunk.
Xia Rong Yu's head immediately began to ache. He gave up on brute force, asking, "Marquis Xie, could you please let go?"
Xie Jiang stared intently at his face, her eyes already a little hazy. After a long moment, she found her voice, "No, I can't."
Her mind was still functioning; she wasn't completely drunk yet. Xia Rong Yu asked, "Why can't you?"
Xie Jiang said, "He'll run away."
Xia Rong Yu actually understood what she meant. She was afraid he would run away if she let go. But why would she be afraid of him running away? However, this wasn't the time to pursue that. Besides, what logic did a drunk person have?
"I won't run."
Xia Rong Yu said this to her with a smile, trying his best to appear trustworthy. So, could she let go now?
Xie Jiang refused.
If he wasn't going to run, then it was perfect for her to hold onto him.
"..."
Xia Rong Yu grabbed her wrist and tried again to pry her arms open. However, the harder he pulled, the tighter her arms around his neck squeezed. Xia Rong Yu was almost strangled to death.
In their struggle, both of them began to sweat. Her unique scent mixed with the smell of alcohol, gradually seeping into his lungs.
Sweat beaded on Xia Rong Yu's forehead, and a faint warmth began to stir in his heart.
A dog that had been lying at his feet stood up, circled the two of them, and then looked up at Xie Jiang, barking.
Xie Jiang tilted her head at the sound, glanced over, and immediately averted her gaze, continuing to look at the beauty she held in her embrace.
Although she was dizzy, she knew who was good-looking.
"Woof!"
"Marquis Xie, are you looking for someone?" Xia Rong Yu thought for a moment, believing Xie Jiang had mistaken him for someone else. It wasn't possible she would pounce on anyone she saw, right?
"Mm."
Xie Jiang nodded heavily.
Unable to break free, Xia Rong Yu could only patiently guide her, "Who is Marquis Xie looking for?"
Xie Jiang thought seriously, then asked with a bewildered expression, "Who?"
Seeing that her expression was not feigned, that she genuinely didn't remember who she was looking for, Xia Rong Yu sighed long and helplessly, "The person Marquis Xie is looking for is not me. Shall I accompany Marquis Xie to find the person you are looking for?"
Xie Jiang, hanging from his shoulder, stared intently. Her side profile wasn't enough; she wanted to see his full face. Seeing that Xia Rong Yu was no longer struggling, she temporarily let go and instead cupped his face, forcefully pulling it towards her.
"What is Marquis Xie doing?" Xia Rong Yu didn't understand her actions and cooperatively turned his face.
But in the next second, Xie Jiang cupped his face and leaned in.
A soft, warm, and wondrous sensation landed on his face unexpectedly, and Xia Rong Yu was utterly stunned.
Looking at his slightly parted lips due to extreme surprise, Xie Jiang prepared to shift her position, nuzzling against his cheek.
Just as she was about to kiss him, Xie Jiang suddenly felt a tightening at the back of her neck, a chill of danger washing over her, setting off alarms in every pore of her body!
"What is Marquis Xie doing?"
The familiar voice sounded unusually calm, yet it carried a suffocating stillness, like the calm before a storm.
"Eh?"
Xie Jiang was forced to turn her head, meeting a familiar face.
But who was this person?
Xie Jiang tilted her head up in confusion and soon became lost in the man's superior jawline, even feeling an urge to touch it.
Xia Rong Yu quickly seized the opportunity to escape from Xie Jiang's grasp.
"Young Master Yi."
As soon as Xia Rong Yu regained his footing, he saw Xie Jiang holding Yi Yan Geng's head and leaning towards his face.
"..."
The soft, warm, and tingling sensation on his face had not yet faded. Seeing Xie Jiang's action, that fleeting wondrous touch became even clearer.
Unlike Xia Rong Yu, who was caught off guard, Yi Yan Geng pushed Xie Jiang's head away without hesitation. In turn, Xie Jiang opened her mouth and bit down on his palm.
She was like a dog, biting his palm and shaking her head.
Yi Yan Geng: "..."
Xia Rong Yu breathed a sigh of relief, "Marquis Xie seems to be drunk."
His words carried a hint of lingering shock.
"I will take Marquis Xie to be settled."
Yi Yan Geng shot him a cold glance, tucked Xie Jiang under his arm, and turned to leave.
The dog barked twice at the receding figure.
Then it turned to Xia Rong Yu, "Woof, woof..."
Xia Rong Yu sat down and stroked the dog's head.
"Marquis Xie's reputation for being lustful is indeed well-deserved. Fortunately, Marquis Xie encountered me. If Marquis Xie had encountered any of the female guests attending tonight's banquet, wouldn't that have caused further trouble..."
Xia Rong Yu shook his head as he spoke.
He stepped forward and crouched by the water, intending to wash his face. The dissipated sensation suddenly became vivid again.
An unparalleled warmth and softness, mixed with the sweet fragrance of alcohol...
Xia Rong Yu shivered violently, goosebumps rising all over his body.
He rubbed his arms vigorously.
~
His footsteps were hurried, like the rush of wind and thunder. He brought Xie Jiang to a secluded spot before realizing something was amiss with her.
She was surprisingly silent and not causing a fuss, obediently allowing him to carry her.
Yi Yan Geng's chest was filled with pent-up frustration. He had intended to simply throw her on the ground, but the lakeshore was covered in stones. If he dropped her like that, who knew how many bumps she would get on her head.
Although his mind told him, "What's wrong with a few bumps? It serves her right to be injured!" his arm, against his will, held her tighter. Yi Yan Geng was wondering if she had fallen asleep? Otherwise, how could she be so docile and well-behaved?
The moment he scooped her into his arms, her slender waist instantly straightened.
She climbed up his arm, all the way to his neck, hugging him. As soon as she reached him, she began nuzzling his face.
She had nuzzled Xia Rong Yu the same way just now!
Could she do this with anyone!
Did she even know who he was!
Yi Yan Geng dragged her to the water's edge, his heart filled with anger, and pressed her head down towards the water, wanting her to sober up!
The suffocating sensation that hit her, and the fear that seeped into her bones, caused Xie Jiang to struggle violently.
Even though he had a belly full of fiery rage with nowhere to vent it, Yi Yan Geng couldn't bring himself to truly harm her. At most, he would press her face into the water, attempting to stimulate her with the cold water.
If he pushed her entire head into the water, he worried she might catch a chill.
But her reaction was so intense, completely beyond his expectations.
She was struggling and resisting with all her might, incredibly fiercely.
Yi Yan Geng was startled and quickly pulled her up. "Jiang Jiang, what's wrong?"
Xie Jiang fiercely struck his chest with her palm. Yi Yan Geng barely managed to steady himself, and a metallic taste surged in his throat.
Yi Yan Geng's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't for his minor injury, but because he sensed that Xie Jiang was not well.
Not well at all.
"Jiang Jiang?"
Xie Jiang retreated to a corner where she felt safe, leaning against a large rock. Her eyes fixed on Yi Yan Geng, fierce and vigilant, her entire body trembling like a sieve.