Chapter 48 — Very scared? Or… does it hurt a lot?
“Be good, don’t be nervous. Just sit down gently.”
Xie Hejing’s gaze settled on Nan Xu, his voice low and tender, like a soft breeze wrapping around her senses.
Standing still, Nan Xu felt her heart racing wildly from nervousness, but little by little, it began to calm.
She lowered her eyes, and before she knew it, her legs were carrying her toward him.
As she moved, Xie Hejing’s eyes never once left her—dark, steady, and filled with quiet intent.
His left hand rested open on the sofa, palm up. His nails were neatly trimmed, the skin smooth and healthy.
The closer she got, the more clearly she could smell that familiar scent of cedar mingled with something faintly damp and fresh. Her breath hitched for a moment.
But when she turned her head slightly, the scent would fade again—teasing her, luring her forward.
In the center of his palm was a small mole, light brown, as if marking the very spot she was meant to reach.
Nan Xu finally stood before the sofa. Just one more step, and she would be there.
Xie Hejing’s gaze dropped to that mole.
“Do you see it?” he asked.
She nodded. “I see it.”
“Cover it.”
His voice was rich and velvety, like aged red wine—thick and intoxicating, drawing her into its warmth until she could hardly think.
At that moment, the faint mole was no longer just a mark—it was calling to her, waiting for her.
Nan Xu whispered softly, “…Okay.”
Xie Hejing raised his other hand and rested it lightly on her waist. The pad of his thumb brushed her shirt in an absent, unhurried motion, sending tingling heat all through her body.
The warmth of his palm spread quickly, flooding her with sensation. His grip tightened slightly, and beneath the gentleness was a quiet strength she couldn’t resist.
It felt like a silent command—one she couldn’t disobey.
She took another step forward.
The room was utterly still, filled only with a heavy, charged tension that clung to the air.
Her knees sank slowly into the sofa. A faint ringing filled her ears, her heart pounding fiercely again.
She bent her knees, shifting forward bit by bit. The fabric beneath her yielded softly, deepening with each movement, as if holding its breath for what was to come.
Beside her ear, Xie Hejing’s breathing grew heavier, edged with a restrained hunger. Each exhale brushed against her neck, making her flinch and draw in slightly.
She bit her lip. Every inch she moved felt languid, cinematic—like the moment a shy girl in a film finally breaks free of her fears and takes that bold, irreversible step. Beautiful and fragile all at once.
At last, she was right above that little mole. The distance between them was so small she could feel the faint heat rising from beneath her.
The fabric of her clothes brushed lightly over it—then lifted away again in an instant.
“Hiss…” Xie Hejing drew in a sharp breath.
Nan Xu tilted her head, her gaze meeting Xie Hejing’s. His eyes were deep and profound, as if lurking with endless and boundless desire.
The room remained unlit; the only light source was the glow seeping from the frosted bathroom door. It struck the far wall, leaving only faint illumination by the time it reached the two of them.
The expressions and faces between them became somewhat blurry, but the sensations beneath her and in his palm were extraordinarily clear.
The position had held for a while, and Nan Xu’s legs were beginning to tremble.
Xie Hejing didn’t rush her, slowly waiting for her to break through to the next step, and then the step after that.
A casual smile hung on his face, and a rare hint of haziness was in his eyes.
His beloved muse was finally willing to surrender herself into his hands.
Nan Xu held her breath, her fingernails digging into her palms, quickly pressing out several crescent-shaped marks. Several emotions wrestled within her heart, but ultimately impulse gained the upper hand.
She finally made up her mind, sinking her body downward. Her knees finally let go of their supporting weight and slid apart.
She dropped down hard.
In this moment, Xie Hejing experienced a phrase for the first time in his life:
——“A delicate darling in the palm of one’s hand”
The delicate feel and warm temperature caused Xie Hejing’s entire body to tense up; the part that had just subsided once again showed a tendency to revive.
An extreme heat, bordered by his palm, frantically spread toward them both.
Separated by a layer of fabric so thin it was almost negligible, his fingertips gently eased, rubbed, bent…
Nan Xu gripped his waistband, her fingertips white, her entire body burning hot and trembling.
Xie Hejing quietly lifted the corner of his mouth, sat up straight, and applied slight force with his left hand. Bending his arm inward, he pulled her closer to his front.
Startled by the sudden movement, Nan Xu’s hands left the waistband and rested on Xie Hejing’s left forearm.
The bulging veins brushed against Nan Xu; she could feel the intimidating pressure radiating from Xie Hejing.
She released his arm and looked up at him, a thin layer of moisture floating in her eyes, making her look pitiable yet utterly captivating.
Xie Hejing placed his right hand on Nan Xu’s back, lightly patting it, and asked, “What is it? Are you very nervous? Very scared? Or… does it hurt a lot?”
Nan Xu shook her head. She couldn’t explain why her eyes were wet.
She could only reply, “It doesn’t hurt.”
Xie Hejing raised an eyebrow. That meant she was nervous or scared.
He reached for the nearby phone and slid to unlock it: “I’ll put on a song for you to ease the tension.”
“What song?” Nan Xu asked.
Xie Hejing said, “You’ll know in a minute.”
He tapped the screen a few times casually.
Instantly, a sensuous, lingering music flowed between the two of them. The soothing, winding melody, like a vine, gently entwined them both.
Both were lost in the intoxicating atmosphere. Xie Hejing’s fingers kept moving in caresses, and he rested his head in the crook of Nan Xu’s neck.
“Baby, can you wriggle gently in my palm?”
His tone was almost a bewitching whisper, tantalizing her bit by bit.
Nan Xu’s breathing gradually became steady, and her vision cleared, yet she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to close her legs.
Xie Hejing stood in the middle, forcefully compelling her to continue indulging.
Nan Xu’s cheeks were completely flushed, and she lowered her eyes in a panic, burying her head in Xie Hejing’s neck, her fingers unconsciously clutching at his clothes.
Feeling Nan Xu’s shy and dependent movement, a smile emerged at the corner of Xie Hejing’s mouth. He put down his phone, and his right arm gently wrapped around her body, pulling her a little tighter.
“Good girl, try it out, find a rhythm you like.”
The music flowed continuously in the enclosed space, pushing the atmosphere to its peak, time and time again.
“Little by little.”
Xie Hejing couldn’t help but murmur a lyric.
The tone was like a whisper, carrying a hint of seduction, the final note sinking slightly, but it hooked Nan Xu’s heartstrings, making her heartbeat become even more uncontrolled.
Nan Xu’s breathing grew rapid and disorderly; every breath became incredibly difficult.
She swallowed repeatedly, took a deep breath with the song, and summoned the courage to move a little.
The movement was tiny, like a tentative probe, and yet like accumulating strength.
Xie Hejing’s eye corner twitched, and the strength in his hand suddenly increased. Nan Xu bit down hard on her lower lip, refusing to make any sound.
“Good girl, that’s great,” Xie Hejing kissed the side of her neck. “Keep going, okay?”
The words of encouragement made Nan Xu’s moist eyes appear somewhat confused, but then she nodded, gently rubbing along with Xie Hejing’s movements and rhythm.
Both their breaths grew more and more urgent.
The next second, Nan Xu felt something scorching hot press against her leg.
She was about to ask a question, but Xie Hejing didn’t give her the chance to speak, directly pressing the back of Nan Xu’s head and kissing her fiercely.
As if to vent the desires that had built up to an explosive point through this channel.
His tongue pried open Nan Xu’s lips, swept past her teeth, and wildly tangled with her own tongue, their breaths mingling in their mouths.
Neither could tell whose breathing was more rapid, both were immersed in this extremely lingering kiss.
After a long while, they finally broke apart. Xie Hejing’s hand gradually became slick, and he moved, seemingly wanting to separate the layer of cloth.
But Nan Xu pressed his hand down: “Not this time.” She sounded somewhat eager and nervous.
Xie Hejing narrowed his eyes, not forcing the issue, only saying, “Then next time, don’t wear this troublesome thing, okay?”
Nan Xu didn’t answer. Xie Hejing leaned closer, intimately rubbing against her ear.
“Don’t be shy. If you’re willing, I can not wear anything either.”
“Don’t be scared, baby, hmm?”
“Follow my lead; I’ll make you happy.”
“…”
Xie Hejing regulated the pressure, from her legs to her hips, and then to her waist, like a massage, and yet like a seduction.
Under the continuous stream of advances, it was already late into the night. The ticking of the clock in the room drilled into Nan Xu’s ears.
Nan Xu leaned against Xie Hejing, her head dizzy, and her body so soft she had no strength left. Sleepiness struck, and she couldn’t help but yawn.
Xie Hejing, however, was still enjoying himself and teased when he heard Nan Xu yawn: “Am I not trying hard enough? How are you already sleepy?”
Afraid that Xie Hejing would “try harder”—and if he went too far, she wouldn’t be able to get up tomorrow—Nan Xu immediately shook her head, her voice clearly a little hoarse: “No, I just don’t have much energy today. I have a lot of work to deal with these past few days.”
At that moment, she was still thinking about work. Xie Hejing’s eyes darkened slightly. “Then don’t go to work anymore. Just stay home. I’ll prepare everything you need. You can save all your energy for this—how does that sound?”
There was a trace of thoughtfulness in his tone, as if even before Nan Xu could respond, he was already planning what to prepare.
But Nan Xu had no intention of agreeing to that. She wanted to go out; even if work kept her so busy she barely had time to breathe, she would rather that than stay home all day.
“No,” she refused firmly.
Xie Hejing raised a brow but didn’t press the issue. Instead, he pulled her closer, focusing entirely on “serving” her.
It wasn’t until he heard her yawn again that he spoke.
“Tired?” he asked.
Resting her head on his shoulder, Nan Xu didn’t even want to move anymore. “Mm, yeah. Sleepy.”
“Looks like your desire for me really isn’t that strong,” he teased.
He’d felt his desire stirring ever since they walked through the door, and it hadn’t subsided—it was only getting stronger. Yet even in that state, as he tended to her, she somehow managed to get sleepy.
Xie Hejing gave a mischievous squeeze, making Nan Xu tense up and curl into his arms with a small protest. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you’ll remember tonight,” he said softly, “so you don’t wake up tomorrow and forget everything.”
“How could I?” Nan Xu retorted. “I’ll remember.”
Tonight had pushed her past every limit she’d ever known—there was no way she could forget. Maybe she’d even dream about it later.
“Really?” he asked again, sounding doubtful.
Nan Xu nodded firmly.
“Good. Then remember this too.” He took her hand.
Puzzled, Nan Xu looked at him. “Remember what?”
The next second, a familiar heat spread from her palm. Her breath caught. “You—you’re still like this?”
He smiled faintly and explained, “You’re the one who isn’t feeling much desire, not me.”
“And it’s been like this all night.”
Nan Xu’s hand trembled slightly. “Then what are you going to do about it?”
Seeing the worry in her eyes, Xie Hejing curved his lips. “Nan Xu, have a little pity on me. Next time, you can help me—okay?”
“Next time?” Nan Xu’s eyes widened. “What about this time?”
It must be uncomfortable—she’d heard his quiet groans earlier, as if he were in pain.
“This time, I’ll let you off.”
He released her hand, lifted her into his arms, and carried her to the sofa. Unable to resist, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“I’ll go wash my hands.”
He walked into the bathroom, pushing the door fully open. The light stretched his tall figure into a long, slender silhouette.
He stood before the sink, the sound of running water filling the room as he reached into the basin.
Nan Xu caught sight of the marks on his hand, and her face instantly flushed. She quickly averted her gaze.
Xie Hejing continued washing his hands at an unhurried pace, carefully rubbing his fingertips as if savoring the lingering sensation from earlier.
“I’ll take you back to the main bedroom in a bit,” he said casually.
Almost by reflex, Nan Xu shook her head. “No need, I can go by myself.”
At that, Xie Hejing raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing at his lips. “Are you sure? Your legs aren’t weak? Can you even walk?”
What did he mean, she couldn’t walk?
Nan Xu braced her hands against the sofa and tried to stand—but the moment she did, the soreness and lingering heat between her legs made her collapse back onto the cushions.
Unable to help herself, she looked down—and froze. Several faint red handprints marked her thighs.
She sighed inwardly. She’d have to shower again later, and those marks definitely weren’t going to fade anytime soon.
Lying back on the sofa, she covered her face with her hands just as Xie Hejing walked over. She refused to look at him.
Watching his own fingertips, Xie Hejing seemed to recall something. His gaze swept over her flustered expression, and he asked lightly, “Do you want me to help you wash?”
“No!” Nan Xu quickly dropped her hands to protest, then immediately covered her face again.
He chuckled softly, deciding not to tease her further. He’d already pushed her enough tonight—any more and she might actually be scared next time.
“Alright.”
He scooped her up effortlessly and carried her back to the bed in the main bedroom. Before putting her down, he asked one last time, “Are you sure you don’t need me?”
“No!” she bit out through gritted teeth.
That was final. Xie Hejing dropped the thought and instead asked, “Then tell me… did you feel good tonight?”
Ideally, she’d feel so good she wouldn’t be able to stay away from him.
Nan Xu turned her head to the side, her ears reddening.
Even one simple question could make her blush. Amused, Xie Hejing smiled indulgently and changed his phrasing.
“Alright, then—were you happy?”
Seeing that she was about to stay silent again, he leaned closer, his voice laced with mock threat. “If you don’t answer, I’ll make you relive it—so you can think it over properly.”
He started to move toward her, and Nan Xu instantly pulled the blanket over herself in alarm.
“I was happy!” she practically shouted. “Happy—very happy!”
His brows relaxed, and he leaned in again.
“What are you doing? I already said I’m happy!” she squeaked from under the blanket, half afraid he’d actually continue.
But instead, Xie Hejing only bent down, pulled the blanket back just enough, and pressed a light kiss to her lips. Then he drew back.
“Then… good night.”
“…”
His tone was so gentle it caught her off guard. For a moment, Nan Xu just stared—then her wariness melted into a soft smile.
“Good night.”
Taw’s Note: Is this even allowed… I’m translating this chapter while questioning myself. OwO