As dusk approached, the golden sun hesitated on the horizon, as if reluctant to part with the world.
The couple, having been out, returned to Jinling City cloaked in the evening glow.
Chu Qingyi watched Li Ye's gradually receding figure, her heart a tangled mess of emotions.
The golden sunset illuminated his imposing form, as if draping him in a radiant veil of light, making him appear tall and majestic.
Her gaze never left him, her beautiful eyes shifting between reluctance and a tinge of bitterness.
Perhaps from the moment she witnessed Li Ye's betrayal with her own eyes, the two of them had become like this—seemingly intimate, yet drifting further apart with each passing day.
Her eyes remained fixed on that imposing figure ahead until he disappeared at the end of the road.
With her focus lost, her gaze grew dim, the stars that once sparkled in her eyes seeming to lose all their color.
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Only she knew how desperately she wished Li Ye would turn back, wrap her tightly in his arms.
In that brief span of time, she had been filled with hope countless times, only to be drowned in disappointment again and again.
It wasn't until hope was completely extinguished that she finally snapped out of it.
As the sun set, the last traces of light gradually vanished from the horizon, leaving only the boundless night to accompany the heavens and earth.
Wispy trails of cooking smoke drifted slowly into the air, and scattered lights began to flicker on one by one.
Chu Qingyi walked alone on the path home, her figure appearing utterly desolate.
Before Li Ye returned, her heart had been filled with nothing but resentment and anger toward him. Yet, when he finally stood before her, she belatedly realized how laughable her previous thoughts had been.
It turned out that even if this man had done something so unforgivable, as long as he stayed by her side, her mind would automatically filter out those painful memories, leaving only his gentleness in her sight.
Moreover, what right did she have to blame him?
Compared to him, her own actions were far more excessive, far more difficult to accept.
At the very least, the person he cheated with was a completely unrelated woman, while the one she cheated with was actually his son—what a laughable truth.
At this moment, Li Xuan's figure surfaced in her mind: his lower half naked, that ugly, thick, and large penis exposed, staring straight at her, while a pair of small hands continuously stroked between his thighs.
And that night, when she finally crossed the line and stood naked before Li Xuan, he used that thick, large penis to forcefully invade her body, thrusting in and out of her at will.
What was even more laughable was that, as one of the main participants in this erotic scene, she felt not an ounce of shame. Instead, she experienced wave after wave of pleasure, that exquisite sensation almost swallowing her whole.
Chu Qingyi's mind flashed with images of her and Li Xuan entangled in passion. It wasn't hard to imagine how wanton and debauched she must have looked when his penis brought her to climax.
Yes, after doing all these things, what right did she have to blame Li Ye?
If he ever found out the truth, given his temperament, he would probably wish he were dead.
The self-mockery on her face deepened, mixed with a sense of sudden clarity.
Since both she and Li Ye had done things to betray each other, there was no need for her to keep fixating on his mistakes.
If she wasn't mistaken, the reason Li Ye was in such a hurry to return to the Disciplinary Department, aside from the matter of those demon beasts, was likely to go back and see his little lover.
Just the thought of him and Xu Ruanyao being affectionate and intimate made Chu Qingyi's heart ache with bitterness and helplessness.
In the past, she had always believed in monogamy. Yet, as a proud daughter of heaven, how could she have ever imagined that she would now tolerate another woman by a man's side because of him?
"Sigh... life is unpredictable. Let things take their course," she murmured to herself.
About half an hour later, Chu Qingyi leisurely made her way back to the old Li family residence.
Li Xuan, who had been waiting nearby, hurriedly rushed forward in his slippers, asking with concern, "How did it go, Mother? Is everything alright? Did you have lunch today? Are you hungry? I've already prepared a meal for you, just waiting for you to come back."
The barrage of questions left Chu Qingyi's mind in a daze. She gave the chattering Li Xuan a faint glance and simply turned to go back to her room.
As soon as she stepped inside, she slammed the door shut with force, giving Li Xuan no chance to enter.
"Hey, Mother..." Li Xuan's words were cut off as Chu Qingyi closed the door in his face.
Shut out, Li Xuan could only stand dejectedly at the doorway, not daring to disturb her again for the time being.
But why did only Mother come back? Where did Father go? Did he return to the Disciplinary Department again?
Li Xuan's small head was filled with big questions, but he could only keep them to himself, waiting until Chu Qingyi felt like talking to him before daring to ask.
"She came back so late; she must not have eaten yet." Unable to figure things out, Li Xuan patted his head, a look of excitement appearing on his face. He scurried to the kitchen and began bustling about.
Soon, the clanging sounds of pots, pans, and dishes colliding could be heard from the kitchen. After a while, the fragrant aroma of food wafted through the air.
Having been idle all day, Li Xuan finally caught sight of Chu Qingyi's figure again. His face flushed with excitement, and the apron hanging around his neck, stained from his busy work in the kitchen, was so filthy that its original color was no longer discernible.
He eagerly dashed toward the east wing, persistently pestering Chu Qingyi.
Exhausted from a long day of running around, she had initially wanted to avoid engaging with Li Xuan. However, unable to resist the enticing aroma of the food and worn down by his incessant chatter, she reluctantly opened the door.
Li Xuan dutifully carried the meal to her room, and the mother and son shared their supper under the dim, flickering candlelight.
Compared to Chu Qingyi's reticence, Li Xuan's mouth was like a machine gun firing nonstop, as he eagerly asked her about the day's events.
Ever since the couple had left the house early in the morning, the old Li residence had suddenly grown quiet. Accustomed to Chu Qingyi's company, Li Xuan instantly felt like a lonely soul, left to sit idly on a chair in the courtyard, lost in thought. Even the chirping birds in pairs on the trees seemed to mock him.
This left Li Xuan utterly stifled, eagerly awaiting Chu Qingyi's return.
His eyes remained fixed on the main gate, and every rustle or movement outside stirred excitement within him.
Thus, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, he had finally managed to bring her back. How could he not seize this opportunity to draw closer to her?
"Mother, what exactly did you do today? Was it related to Father's work? Let me tell you, even though I don't know what Father does outside, it's definitely not something safe. You shouldn't get involved. Protect yourself, or your son will worry," Li Xuan said with great patience.
"I know," Chu Qingyi replied, sounding slightly impatient.
"And also, can you take me with you when you go out in the future? You have no idea how much I missed you today, being all alone at home," Li Xuan pressed further, putting on a pitiful expression.
Compared to his endless chatter, Chu Qingyi grew even more sparing with her words. After a brief pause, she uttered only three simple words: "It's not convenient."
Li Xuan, brimming with enthusiasm, felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe. Fortunately, he was already accustomed to facing Chu Qingyi's indifference. Undeterred, he shamelessly continued, "Then can you come back earlier in the future? The moment I can't see you, my heart feels unbearably restless."
Chu Qingyi already found him annoyingly noisy, and now he seemed like an unbearably irritating fly buzzing around her ears, making her exceptionally irritable.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and an impatient expression appeared on her face.
Unfortunately, Li Xuan remained completely unaware of her displeasure and continued his endless stream of words. "I've finally realized, Mother, that you absolutely cannot leave me. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do..."
Before he could finish, a sharp "smack" echoed as Chu Qingyi slammed her chopsticks onto the table.
The sudden action left Li Xuan stunned, and he looked at her in confusion.
She merely cast him a cold glance before turning and retreating to her room.
"Is... is she angry again?" Li Xuan muttered to himself. "But I didn't do anything to upset her?"
Puzzled, he watched her retreating figure. Though deeply confused, he dared not provoke her further and could only sit alone at the table, devouring his food ravenously.
With Chu Qingyi no longer by his side, he felt liberated, indulging in his meal with a voraciousness that was almost pitiful to behold.
His mouth hung wide open as he stuffed food in bite after bite, resembling a wild dog that had gone days without food and suddenly discovered a feast.
Bits of food sprayed incessantly from his mouth, scattering freely across the table before him.
He didn't seem to mind at all, eating heartily and in large mouthfuls.
If Chu Qingyi had witnessed the scene before her, any appetite she had would likely have vanished entirely.
Feeling restless and unsettled, she returned to her room and simply lay down on the bed, closing her eyes to rest.
Memories of the past flashed through her mind one after another, further unsettling her already agitated emotions.
Outside the window, the moonlight grew stronger. In the blink of an eye, the unbearable heat of midsummer had passed, and the oppressive warmth in the air gradually faded away.
A bright moon quietly nestled in the ink-blue sky, silently radiating its own light.
From the slumbering city of Jinling, the occasional bark of a dog could be heard, one after another, rising and falling in succession.
Lost in her recollections of the past, Chu Qingyi managed to fall asleep despite her restlessness. Even in her dreams, the Duke of Zhou refused to spare her, weaving a rather unpleasant dream for her.
In this indescribable dream, she found herself in a chaotic world where the sky and earth were both a feeble grayish-white. The surroundings were utterly silent, devoid of any signs of life or any sounds at all.
The extreme silence drove her nearly mad. She trudged forward slowly, longing to find a companion.
But no matter how hard she searched, her surroundings remained unchanged.
Tormented to the brink of madness, she began to run wildly, only to discover that this world seemed endless. Even if she ran day and night, she could not escape it.
And so, she ran for what felt like an eternity until the last ounce of her strength was exhausted. Utterly drained, both physically and mentally, she collapsed onto the cold ground, curling her body into a tight ball.
Slowly, she closed her eyes, as if sinking into another dream.
Suddenly, she sensed a beam of light piercing through the pale world. Her body was enveloped by a warm glow, melting away the chill that had seeped into her bones.
This warmth gradually intensified, like a spark igniting a prairie fire. Soon, her entire being felt as though it were immersed in a warm ocean, utterly comfortable and at ease.
The earlier madness and helplessness vanished completely. Now, she relaxed completely, following her body's instinctive response as she sought out that warm sensation.
In her dream, she no longer curled up but stretched her body out, her expression softening and a faint smile gracing the corners of her lips.
For some reason, this feeling of being enveloped in warmth brought her a deep sense of peace. Subconsciously, she drew closer to this warmth, seeking solace in it.
And just as she had hoped, the warmth grew even more intense, not only enveloping her entire body but also flowing through every corner of her being like a gentle current.
"Mmm..." she couldn't help but let out a soft moan, her brows relaxing in pleasure.
Suddenly, without warning, this warm current surged toward her most intimate area. The strange sensation jolted her awake from her dream.
Only then did she realize that there was no strange world, no warm current. What had brought her warmth was none other than Li Xuan—someone so familiar to her that he felt like a part of herself!
Startled awake, she discovered that Li Xuan's body was pressed against hers, skin to skin, and a pair of small hands were roaming freely over her body!
What astonished her even more was that she hadn't resisted in the slightest. In fact, she had even leaned toward him, as if seeking refuge in his embrace!
"What are you doing?!" she exclaimed, pushing Li Xuan away with a mix of anger and reproach.
Li Xuan, who had been enjoying the moment with his eyes closed, was abruptly pushed away. The warmth and softness in his arms vanished suddenly, leaving him with a sense of emptiness.
He looked at Chu Qingyi's furious expression and stammered an explanation, "I... I... I just missed you... too much..."
As he spoke, he secretly observed her reaction.
She hadn't resisted at all just moments ago, so why did she seem like a completely different person now?
He thought pitifully, nervously fidgeting with his hands.
Originally, he had planned to rest early tonight, but unexpectedly, his mind was filled with thoughts of Chu Qingyi—her every smile, her every gesture—deeply tugging at his heart. It also stirred a desire he hadn't felt in days, growing increasingly intense.
The hard, erect flesh tormented his body and unsettled his mind.
After much internal struggle, he finally slipped into Chu Qingyi's room under the cover of darkness.
As soon as he entered, he saw her lying on the bed, still dressed, seemingly already deep in sleep.
He felt a surge of delight and stealthily approached, lying down beside her.
This was the first time he had observed her face up close. He had to admit, her delicate features were truly rare and breathtaking, even in sleep.
The only flaw was that she seemed to be trapped in a nightmare, her brows tightly knit with unshakable worry.
As if enchanted, he gently stroked her forehead, trying to smooth out the furrowed lines.
The moment his hand touched her skin, he felt a chill.
Growing bolder, he pressed his body tightly against her delicate form, savoring her softness. With his youthful hands, he freely caressed her body, enjoying a sensation softer than any silk in the world.
While lost in his own pleasure, he noticed the person in his arms subconsciously leaning closer to him. This thrilled him, and his actions grew even more audacious.
Just as he was immersed in the moment, Chu Qingyi suddenly awoke and, in a fit of anger, pushed him away.
"How could you enter my room without my permission?!" Chu Qingyi sat up, putting distance between them.
"I... I saw you were asleep, and I couldn't help myself... That's why..." Li Xuan stammered.
"Go back," she commanded.
"Mother, I don't want to go back," Li Xuan pleaded urgently.
"Go back," Chu Qingyi turned her back to him, her tone colder than the depths of winter.
"Mother, I really, really miss you. I miss your smile, your happy moments, your serious expressions. I even love it when you're angry. Even if you scold me or hit me, please don't send me away, okay?" Li Xuan scrambled closer to her, his small hands cautiously tugging at the hem of her dress.
"..." Chu Qingyi remained silent.
"These past few days, you've been ignoring me. Especially after Father returned, you hardly even glance at me. Do you know how much it hurts? And every time I see you and Father being affectionate, I feel so jealous I could go mad. But... but I can't say anything, and I can't do anything..." Li Xuan begged, his voice trembling with tears.
These words came straight from the depths of his heart. Every time he saw another man by Chu Qingyi's side, jealousy would drive him nearly mad.
And ever since Li Ye returned, he had to pretend nothing had happened, keeping his distance from Chu Qingyi to avoid arousing any suspicion. This restraint tormented Li Xuan, not only weighing on his mind but also straining his body.
To his surprise, Li Ye did not return with Chu Qingyi, filling him with overwhelming joy that he could hardly contain.
Now that he finally had a chance to be alone with her, how could he let it slip away?
He knelt half-prostrate beside her, looking like a dejected, pitiful stray dog wagging its tail, desperately seeking Chu Qingyi's pity.
"You and I may be mother and son, but he and I are husband and wife..." Chu Qingyi's heart softened in the end, her tone growing gentler.
"What does it matter if we're mother and son, or if you're husband and wife? How many times has my adoptive father returned home during your stay here? Hasn't it always been me, your son, keeping you company? And besides, you seemed quite happy when I was with you!" Li Xuan's voice suddenly rose, his expression turning indignant. "What's more, my adoptive father doesn't care about you anymore. He's been sleeping with other women outside. You're a fairy—how can you forgive him?!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the room fell into a deathly silence.
Li Xuan's expression stiffened. He didn't know why, but in his agitation, he had blurted out the thoughts he had kept buried deep inside.
The relationship between him, Li Ye, and Chu Qingyi had always been a thorn in his heart. Though he often comforted himself by thinking of them as his adoptive parents—the only people close to him in this world—whenever he saw Li Ye and Chu Qingyi together, all reason would abandon him, leaving only jealousy toward Li Ye and a possessive desire for Chu Qingyi.
Hearing Chu Qingyi mention this, he had bristled like a sensitive stray dog.
But as soon as he spoke, deep regret washed over him.
Damn it, how could I say such things in front of her?!
He thought this, his face etched with remorse.
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