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墨書 Inktalez
As the night deepened, I stood anxiously outside Xiao Yuan's study. The incident earlier in the day, when the Emperor fainted, had heightened the tension in the air, but my racing heart was due to something else entirely...
"Host," the system said softly, "you've been standing here for half an hour."
"Shut up!" I gritted my teeth. "I'm... organizing my thoughts!"
Just as I was caught in my turmoil, the door suddenly opened. Xiao Yuan, dressed in a pale moon-white robe, appeared. His cool demeanor looked particularly gentle under the candlelight.
"Come in," he said softly.
I steeled myself and stepped inside, only to find that his study was different from usual—dim candlelight flickered, and the aroma of tea lingered in the air, creating an inexplicable atmosphere of intimacy.
"Ding! This is the standard setup for a date!" the system exclaimed excitedly.
I was about to curse it in my mind when I heard Xiao Yuan's deep voice: "That night..."
"Wait!" I hurriedly interrupted him. "Let's talk about serious matters! The Crown Prince..."
"You’re avoiding me," he suddenly leaned closer, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness. "Why?"
I instinctively stepped back. "No... not at all! I've just been really busy lately; that's perfectly normal..."
"Normal?" He raised an eyebrow. "So running away when you see This Official is also normal?"
His tone... why did it sound a bit aggrieved? I lowered my head sheepishly, only to feel his fingers lift my chin.
"Look at me." His voice was soft but left no room for refusal.
I was forced to meet his gaze; those ink-black eyes were filled with emotions I couldn't comprehend. When did this man learn to look at people like that?
His gaze was too intense, making me feel flustered and helpless. It felt like being called into the boss's office only to realize they weren't there to criticize my work but to confess their feelings!
"Um... Lord Commander," I struggled to keep my voice calm, "please let go of me; let's get back to serious matters..."
"This is serious," he said in a low voice, laced with a hint of danger. "Why are you avoiding me?"
"I-I’m not avoiding you!" I protested stubbornly, lifting my chin defiantly. "This is... this is maintaining a proper distance between superiors and subordinates!"
"Is it?" He suddenly moved even closer, his warm breath brushing against my earlobe. "So hugging This Official for warmth that night was also a normal superior-subordinate relationship?"
"Ah! He said it out loud!" the system screamed in panic.
I froze completely. Oh no, he remembered what happened that night!
"That was... that was an unavoidable medical measure!" I defended myself with a flushed face. "You had a fever..."
"Mm," he chuckled lightly. "So you were worried about This Official's health?"
Wasn't that too ambiguous? I wanted to step back but realized I was already trapped between his desk and his body. This position... felt just like a classic scene from a domineering CEO novel!
"Lord Commander," I said weakly, "this isn't... very appropriate..."
"Appropriate?" His voice held a hint of amusement. "Then tell me, what would be appropriate?"
I was at a loss for words. How could I respond? Surely I couldn't say that an appropriate superior-subordinate relationship meant merely nodding at each other when we met and absolutely not hugging together late at night for warmth?
"System, help!" I silently cried out. "Why has he suddenly become so flirtatious?"
"Tsk tsk, this is the prelude to a confession!" the system said gleefully. "Host, just give in!"
At that moment, Xiao Yuan suddenly raised his hand and gently caressed my cheek. "Do you know? That night, I was very clear."
"Huh?" My eyes widened in surprise.
"Everything from holding you tightly to calling you 'Meng Er'—all of it was done while I was fully aware," his voice grew softer.
I felt completely unsteady: "Then... your fever..."
"Yes, I really did have a fever," he chuckled softly. "But those words were all intentional."
He tightened his grip around my waist, his voice low and intimidating. "Do you have any idea how worried This Official was that night?"
My heart skipped a beat. When did this cold-faced Commander learn to say such flirtatious things?
"Lord Commander..." I tried to push him away, but as soon as my hand touched his chest, I felt the powerful rhythm of his heartbeat.
"Don't call me by my title," he whispered softly in my ear, "call me Xiao Yuan brother."
"The male lead is being affectionate!" the system exclaimed excitedly. "This is too charming!"
I felt completely flustered. "This... this is too inappropriate, isn't it?"
"Then tell me," his lips brushed against my earlobe, "what would be appropriate? Hmm? Meng Er?"
How could this man say my name so gently? My heart raced like a drum, and I felt dizzy.
"Um... let's get back to business!" I struggled to keep myself focused. "About the Crown Prince..."
"This is business," he chuckled lightly. "This Official is seriously investigating a suspicious individual."
"A suspicious individual?" My heart tightened.
"Yes," his fingers gently traced my cheek, "a mysterious Little Palace Maid, who always resolves issues in strange ways and doesn't act like someone raised in the palace..."
I swallowed hard. "So... has Lord Commander found anything?"
"I have," his voice turned deep. "I've found that this Little Palace Maid always appears when This Official is in danger, recklessly protecting This Official..."
"Isn't that just the normal duty of a subordinate...?" I said, feeling guilty.
"A subordinate?" He raised an eyebrow. "How would This Official know that caring for a subordinate also involves holding them close for warmth?"
"This... this is a special situation!" I stammered in explanation. "It was an emergency, and there was no other way..."
"So," the corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smile, "if it were someone else with a fever, would you do the same?"
That tone... sounded so jealous! I quickly shook my head. "No, no! It's just because it's you..."
As soon as I said it, I regretted it. Great, wasn't that just admitting guilt?
"Because it's me?" His voice suddenly turned serious.
Xiao Yuan laughed suddenly, his dark eyes filled with emotions I couldn't decipher. "Li Meng, do you know? Your ears always turn red when you lie."
"I... I'm not lying!" I instinctively covered my ears.
"Really?" His fingers gently moved mine away. "Then why are your ears flushed now?"
"This... this is because you're too close!" I fought to maintain the last shred of clarity. "There should be an appropriate distance between superiors and subordinates..."
"Then tell me," he suddenly leaned closer to my ear, "what kind of distance is appropriate?"
His warm breath brushed against my ear, making me feel weak all over. "At least... at least an arm's length..."
"An arm's length?" He chuckled softly. "But This Official thinks this distance is just fine."
As he spoke, he pulled me even closer. The familiar scent of pine enveloped me, making me feel lightheaded.
"The male lead is about to confess!" the system exclaimed excitedly.
"Lord Commander..." I weakly began.
"Call me brother," his voice was laced with temptation. "Be good."
"I..." I felt my rationality teetering on the edge of collapse. "This isn't appropriate..."
"What’s inappropriate about it?" He laughed softly. "Do you really think your relationship with This Official is just a simple superior-subordinate one?"
"This..." Just as I was about to say something, he gently lifted my chin.
Under the moonlight, his eyes, as dark as ink, sparkled with starlight as he focused intently on me, as if I were a rare treasure. The intensity of his gaze was so overwhelming that I instinctively wanted to look away.
But he didn’t give me a chance to escape. His lips brushed softly against the corner of my mouth, as if seeking permission. The warmth of his touch left me frozen in place.
His kiss was gentle yet impossible to refuse, like savoring a delicacy. My heart raced so fast it felt like it might burst.
“Ding! The male lead's intimacy level has reached 100%!” the system exclaimed excitedly.
I hurriedly pushed him away. “W-wait... this is an office...”
He chuckled softly, his breath warm against my lips. “Still thinking about work at a time like this? Hmm?”
“I... I’m just adhering to workplace guidelines!” I protested, trying to sound firm, but my voice trembled.
“Workplace guidelines?” His voice was low and husky. “How about this This Official gives you an order instead?”
“W-what order?”
“I order you,” his kiss landed on my eyelids, “to never mention the superior-subordinate relationship again.”
The warm sensation slid from my eyelids to the tip of my nose, finally landing on my lips. This time, the kiss was no longer tentative but filled with possessiveness. His tongue gently pried open my lips, and in that moment of surprise, he surged in.
“Mmm...” I wanted to say something but found all words blocked by his kiss.
Xiao Yuan’s kiss was domineering yet incredibly tender. One hand cradled the back of my head while the other caressed my back gently, as if soothing a frightened kitten.
This man... was simply too good at seducing!
“Host, this is far more exciting than any workplace romance guide!” the system chimed in excitedly.
I couldn’t even spare a moment to argue with the system. Xiao Yuan’s kiss was so intoxicating that I felt completely dazed. His fingers tangled in my hair, stroking gently as if I were a fragile treasure.
Just when I thought I might suffocate from lack of air, he reluctantly released me. Yet his lips lingered on my face, kissing from my brow to my cheek in a trail of soft touches.
“You...” I gasped for breath, “this is... a serious violation of workplace ethics!”
He chuckled softly, “So are you planning to report me?”
I was at a loss for words. Who would I report him to? Sixth Princess?
“So,” he pressed his forehead against mine, our breaths mingling together, “are we still going to talk about superior-subordinate relationships?”
I bit my lip and fell silent. This man... was truly cunning!
“Not going to speak?” A glimmer of amusement flashed in his eyes. “Then This Official will just have to continue proving it through actions.”
With that, he leaned down again.
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