Seeing the Duke’s Daughter’s face up close, Xunian’s guilt deepened by several degrees.
“Why won’t you look at me?”
The Duke’s Daughter leaned in closer, her shimmering eyes filled with intense possessiveness, silently waiting for Xunian to open her eyes and meet her gaze.
Xunian had no choice but to shut her eyes like a child covering her ears, pressing her lips tightly together, her brows furrowed slightly, as if this act would help her accept having been so intimately involved with someone like her.
The Duke’s Daughter, noticing such a strong reaction, subconsciously touched her own brows—like distant ink-strokes—and her lips, pale and red-toothed.
A wave of melancholy washed over her; it seemed Xunian did not like her face.
“If you don’t look at me, then you deserve punishment.”
She released Xunian, and the pressure on her body vanished. Xunian’s tense heart relaxed, only to then hear the sound of the Box clinking.
She opened one eye, trying to sneak a peek, and saw the Duke’s Daughter holding a Box.
Her keen sense for clues made her unable to resist asking, “What’s that?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
From Xunian’s unseen angle, inside the Box were bells, glass beads, a brush, and other items—all brand new.
The Duke’s Daughter took out a brush, its soft hairs naturally hanging down, seemingly different from an ordinary brush.
Xunian immediately grew alert, her mind settling to ponder what the brush could signify.
Perhaps it was something the Duchess had used?
But it looked so new.
She had no idea.
The Duke’s Daughter snapped the Box shut and turned around, her smile half teasing as she looked at Xunian.
Xunian felt a vague unease. Her fingers nervously curled, clutching the Sheet. “What are you going to do?!”
The Duke’s Daughter spoke slowly, her voice melodic and pleasant, “Guess what I’m going to do.”
Step by step, she closed the distance, making Xunian even more uneasy.
Her gaze shifted between the blonde woman and the object in her hand, and a terrifying possibility dawned on her.
Panicked, she backed away until she was pressed against the headboard, nowhere left to retreat. “No, no, not this…”
The cool, soft brush tip touched her jade-like skin, sending a tingling sensation throughout her entire body, provoking a shudder.
“Mm… no…”
The low moans escaping from the girl’s throat echoed through every corner of the room, filling it with an ambiguous pink haze.
The fluffy brush tip gently brushed over every sensitive spot, each flick teasing her heartstrings, her skin gradually flushed pink, her body unbearably warm.
“Mm… hmm…”
Her body trembled uncontrollably, her hands and feet weakly dragging the iron chain in an attempt to stop the Duke’s Daughter, causing the Iron Chain to clatter loudly.
The pale arm was entwined by cold fingers, fingers threading through her own and interlocking tightly.
A light laugh by her ear sent another shiver through her body.
Unable to control it, physiological tears streamed down, the corners of her eyes reddening as she bit her lip and squeezed out a few words, “You’re really… so bad…”
“Mm… you little brat~ uh…”
Xunian’s curses were cut off as the Duke’s Daughter’s only burning lips pressed against hers, their soft touch lingering before forcefully invading, capturing territory, and stealing away every breath that belonged to her.
She was left dazed from the kiss, her gasps and light moans dissipating into the air.
Xunian’s mind went fuzzy; in the end, she didn’t even have the strength to softly moan. Before drifting into unconsciousness, only one thought lingered in her mind:
The Duke’s Daughter is getting stronger day by day……
………
The airtight room had its curtains tightly drawn, blocking all outside light.
On the rumpled bed, two people were entwined, embracing as they slept under the covers.
Or rather, the Duke’s Daughter was hanging on Xunian like a sloth.
In the dark, Xunian, seemingly asleep, opened her eyes slightly and shifted within the Duke’s Daughter’s embrace, testing her.
The lingering soreness in her body was still present but tolerable.
She stretched out her hand, marked red by the Iron Chain’s restraint, and in the faint metallic clinks, carefully waved it in front of the Duke’s Daughter, who still had her eyes closed.
No response—she must be asleep.
Her anxious heart finally eased.
She reached for the Bedside Plush Toy, slowly pulling it into her arms.
After a brief search, her fingers found a hard lump.
She knew it.
Earlier, when she had sewn the plush toy for the Duke’s Daughter, it was partly to take a closer look at this thing—the only item in the room different from all the others.
While sewing, she had sensed something was off, but with the Duke’s Daughter watching her closely, she dared not act recklessly.
It turned out she had been carrying the Door of Clearance close to her all along.
Suddenly, a hand moved, pulling her closer into an embrace.
Xunian froze, clutching the Teddy Bear, afraid to move.
The steady breathing by her ear continued; Xunian explored the plush toy again, finding an opening.
This must be the Keyhole.
Suppressing the joy swelling in her chest, she gently returned the plush toy to its place and closed her eyes, leaning against the Duke’s Daughter’s embrace.
………
Half an hour before mealtime, the Duke’s Daughter opened her eyes on time.
Feeling the movement beside her, Xunian slowly opened her eyes, quietly watching her.
The Duke’s Daughter raised an eyebrow, “Why not sleep a little longer?”
Anyway, she would carry Xunian to the dining table herself.
Xunian avoided her gaze guiltily and replied coldly, “I don’t want to sleep anymore.”
Lunch.
Fu Ruxue watched as a despondent Xunian was carried to the table and fed bite by bite.
She shuddered.
Ugh.
So cheesy.
Ignoring everything else, she desperately sent Xunian a series of meaningful glances, trying to get her attention.
Xunian caught Fu Ruxue’s subtle movements out of the corner of her eye, her focus unintentionally drawn.
Fu Ruxue wanted to say something but silently glanced at Li Hua, then at the Duke’s Daughter, and dared not speak.
Li Hua’s expression was changeable as he tapped the table absentmindedly.
Fu Ruxue had no choice but to draw a cross with her Feather Pen, then pointed at Li Hua.
Xunian immediately understood.
It seemed the Key was with Li Hua.
Though she didn’t know why Fu Ruxue gave it to him—maybe she had her own reasons.
Fu Ruxue wasn’t sure if Xunian got her meaning, but Li Hua had just snatched the “Key” away!
………
Right after Xunian was taken away by the Duke’s Daughter, Fu Ruxue bent down to pick up the “Key,” but a large hand beat her to it, snatching the Key away with lightning speed.
“You…” Fu Ruxue looked up, only to see Li Hua’s back as he rushed out.
She stood frozen, momentarily forgetting to chase after him.
Could Li Hua know where the door is?
She remembered Xunian hadn’t said anything…
Li Hua ran until he was gasping for breath, holding the black cross out toward the keychain.
He wasn’t going to let Fu Ruxue out.
He didn’t know what Cheng Li and Fu Ruxue had said that day, but if it weren’t for the Duke’s Daughter guarding Xunian, whom Fu Ruxue protected, he would have tried to find a chance to get rid of Fu Ruxue.
No one could find out what he was doing here.
Especially the matter of Zhang Zhuanghao’s dismemberment.
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