The room was silent except for the sound of shallow breathing. After a long kiss, Qian Ran glanced at the sleeping Dai Yueheng before pushing Zhu Ying toward the bed.
"No, Qian Ran, we can't… not here," Zhu Ying whispered, her face red with shame as she caught sight of her unconscious son. She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and self-loathing.
"Don't make a sound. If someone outside hears you, it'll be bad for your reputation," Qian Ran said with a smirk.
For someone like Zhu Ying, entrenched in the aristocratic circle, her reputation was paramount.
"Not here, Qian Ran. Anywhere else is fine, just not here. Please?" Zhu Ying's voice softened into a pitiful plea, her tone laced with fear.
"No."
"Relax. You're doing this for Dai Yueheng. If he knew the sacrifices you made for him, he'd forgive you," Qian Ran said, gripping her delicate chin firmly. His tone left no room for argument.
"I'll be clear: I'm the only one who can heal his martial soul. If you cooperate, I'll ensure Dai Yueheng remains the brilliant talent he once was," Qian Ran continued.
Zhu Ying nodded reluctantly. She knew Dai Yueheng's future was entirely in Qian Ran's hands. Without his help, even if her son's body recovered, he would be crippled in cultivation forever.
"Go over there," Qian Ran said, pointing toward the bed.
The bed was wide, easily accommodating two people. Dai Yueheng was lying on one side, leaving ample space.
Feeling humiliated yet strangely exhilarated, Zhu Ying climbed onto the bed and slowly lifted the hem of her pencil skirt.
Qian Ran, feeling irritated by the lack of space, casually lifted Dai Yueheng with his soul power and placed him gently on the floor. The movement was quiet, avoiding any disturbance.
But Zhu Ying wasn't as lucky.
Two hours later.
Zhu Ying stirred from unconsciousness, her face pale and her body trembling with exhaustion.
Qian Ran had gotten carried away, and she bore the full brunt of his fervor. Despite her initial reluctance, Zhu Ying had proven herself exceptionally adept, mastering every intimate nuance to perfection.
"Take some medicine when you get back," Qian Ran said casually, patting her silk-clad thigh as he spoke.
Zhu Ying, still catching her breath, glared at him with a mix of anger and embarrassment. To hear such remarks after everything that had happened only fueled her frustration.
"You're awful! Do you have any idea how risky this is? If Dai Hao finds out, we're both done for!" Zhu Ying hissed, lightly kicking Qian Ran's leg.
"I'm not afraid of Dai Hao. If anyone's ruined, it'll be you. And even if he finds out, he wouldn't dare publicize it. The Duke's Mansion is too renowned—such a scandal would spread across the continent in no time," Qian Ran said nonchalantly, his smug grin never faltering.
Sleeping with someone's wife wasn't illegal. It was merely a question of morality. But when it came to the wife of an enemy? Morality didn't even enter the equation.
Zhu Ying's thoughts shifted to her son. "How is Yueheng?"
"He's almost fully recovered. His physical injuries have healed completely, and the damage to his martial soul has been repaired. He can use his martial soul again, but he'll need additional sessions to fully restore his strength," Qian Ran explained matter-of-factly.
Zhu Ying's mood instantly brightened. The anger and resentment she had harbored dissipated in the face of such good news.
Healing Immortal Douluo had previously estimated it would take at least a month for Dai Yueheng to regain basic mobility. Yet Qian Ran had accomplished more in just a few hours.
"Wake him up!" Zhu Ying urged eagerly.
"Are you sure you don't want to fix your appearance first?"
Her skirt was wrinkled, but with a bit of tidying, most wouldn't notice. However, her sheer black stockings were torn beyond repair, leaving her legs bare.
Panicking, Zhu Ying rummaged through her storage ring for a replacement.
"I don't have another pair of these stockings!" she exclaimed, her face pale. Zhu Ying's wardrobe was extensive, and while she had similar items, none matched exactly.
"Well, it's not like you have to wear them," Qian Ran suggested with a sheepish grin.
"You idiot! Do you want to get me killed? Dai Hao's cultivation is advanced—he'd notice immediately," Zhu Ying snapped, glaring daggers at him. She had already gone through two pairs of stockings today, thanks to Qian Ran.
"I'll ask Jiujiu to lend us some," Qian Ran said, opening the door without hesitation.
"Wait!" Zhu Ying's face turned scarlet as she sat frozen on the chair.
The sound of the door opening startled Dai Hao, who immediately stood up. Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu turned toward Qian Ran curiously.
"It's almost done. Jiujiu, come with me," Qian Ran said as he grabbed Xu Jiujiu's hand and pulled her inside, shutting the door behind them.
"What's going on?" Xu Jiujiu asked, bewildered.
"Do you have any black stockings? I need a pair," Qian Ran replied awkwardly.
Zhu Ying, sitting nearby, buried her face in her hands, mortified. She had believed that what transpired between her and Qian Ran would remain a secret between the two of them. Yet now, on the very first day, a third party had found out. How was she supposed to handle this?
She regretted everything. Men and their sweet lies—when they were done, they simply left, leaving women to bear the consequences.
"Huh?" Xu Jiujiu blushed deeply. She hadn't expected such a request, and seeing Zhu Ying's bare legs made her even more flustered.
Taking advantage of Zhu Ying's distraction, Xu Jiujiu pinched Qian Ran hard on his waist.
"You're impossible! If the Duke hears even a whisper of this, we'll have a crisis on our hands," Xu Jiujiu whispered sharply, glancing at Zhu Ying's disheveled state.
Thankfully, no noise had escaped the room during their earlier activities. Otherwise, not even the royal family would be able to smooth things over with the Duke's Mansion.
Unconcerned by Xu Jiujiu's anger, Qian Ran smiled. He knew she'd calm down after some coaxing.
With a pair of black stockings finally procured, Qian Ran handed them to Zhu Ying. "Hurry and put these on."
(Chapter End)