Volume 1, Chapter 23: Once I Hold Her, I Never Want to Let Go

Fu Shiyue’s breath hitched. Sensing danger, he snapped his eyes open.

As his gaze fell upon Lu Miao’s delicate features, the fierce intensity in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by utter astonishment. He stared, at a loss for what to do, at the soft, petite figure nestled in his arms.

The girl had been restless in her sleep and had rolled off the bed. Fortunately, the bed wasn't very high, and she had remained cocooned in her quilt, sleeping through the fall. Fu Shiyue exhaled in relief, intending to lift her back onto the bed.

Lu Miao shifted against him. Her head lolled, her soft, warm cheek pressing against the side of his neck. Her breath, light as a feather, brushed against his skin.

“...” Fu Shiyue stiffened for a second; the agitation he had just quelled began to rise again. His throat tightened, and he instinctively reached up to push her face away.

No sooner had he nudged her than she clung to him like an octopus, mumbling something incoherent in her sleep. Fu Shiyue couldn't make it out; it sounded like someone’s name. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, he leaned in to listen.

“Scoundrel... stop right there, don’t run... I’m going to eat you,” Lu Miao muttered.

“...” Fu Shiyue went silent, his face taut as he realized she was dreaming. Which animal was she dreaming about? Who was the scoundrel? Who was she planning to eat?

Before he could react further, Lu Miao opened her mouth and bit his neck, gnawing on him with relish as if he were a savory pig’s trotter. Her sharp canine teeth pierced his skin, sending a subtle, electric jolt through his entire body. Two veins on Fu Shiyue’s neck bulged instantly, and his dark, deep eyes grew dangerously dim.

He caught sight of the girl’s drool at the corner of her mouth. Her small, exquisite face, no bigger than a palm, looked both dainty and fiercely adorable. Had he left her hungry tonight? He had packed her a meal—a double portion, even, fearing she wouldn’t have enough. Ah, right—Lu Guoxun’s sudden visit had interrupted her dinner. No wonder she was acting like a little starving ghost in her dream.

Fu Shiyue’s gaze softened. He made no move to stop her from biting him, his large hand stroking the small head resting on his shoulder, his eyes filled with indulgence.

Like a kitten that had been petted, Lu Miao released her “prey.” Seeming to grow attached to the man holding her, she rubbed her cheek softly against the crook of his neck.

“Heh.” The sensation of her fuzzy head rubbing against him was both ticklish and excruciating. Fu Shiyue narrowed his eyes, his arm unconsciously wrapping around her back, pulling her soft, fragrant body closer.

The girl instinctively pressed against his chest. For comfort, she draped an arm over his waist, clinging to him like a koala. Everything happened so naturally that even Fu Shiyue didn't realize his self-control was slipping away.

Suddenly, she mumbled, “Mm... pig’s trotter... so delicious.”

“...” Fu Shiyue’s expression froze. She thought he was a pig’s trotter?

Lu Miao was dreaming that she was holding a fragrant pig’s trotter, smiling with blissful satisfaction. Seeing her silly expression, the man’s lips curled into a doting smile. Why couldn’t she dream of something more sophisticated? He had packed her so many delicacies, yet none of them had pleased her as much as this—she preferred gnawing on a pig’s trotter.

He didn't mind at all, reaching up to wipe the drool from the corner of her mouth. His finger paused when it touched her lips.

Fu Shiyue looked down. Lu Miao’s knee was pressed against his lower abdomen, and her collar had slipped during her movements, revealing her fair, slender shoulders and neck. His breathing grew rapid. He looked up, his dark eyes smoldering as he stared at her beautiful, peaceful face. Restless thoughts stirred within him.

His chin was so close to her nose that he could touch her lips if he only leaned in. He swallowed hard, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath to restrain himself. He reached out to adjust her collar, tensed his stomach, and, supporting her body, slowly braced himself to sit up, hoping to move her back to the bed.

However, the moment he moved, the girl frowned, muttering unhappily in her sleep, “Don’t move... my big pig’s trotter, don’t you run away!”

“...”

The soft girl wouldn't let go, her hands clutching his shirt tightly. She hummed and ground her teeth. Fu Shiyue felt a twitch of pain in his brow. Weighing the options of throwing her back onto the bed or letting her have her way, he decided against waking her. “Fine, enough.”

Resigned, he picked her up and laid her against the most stable part of his chest, keeping his arm around her to prevent her from sliding off. Perhaps finding the man’s embrace warm and secure, Lu Miao’s brow smoothed, and she fell back into a peaceful sleep with a satisfied smack of her lips.

After half a night of tossing and turning, Fu Shiyue felt exhausted and lay flat on the mattress. The floor mat was hard and uncomfortable, but he didn't mind. With the girl’s soft body pressed against him, it felt as though he were lying in a cold, rocky crevice, cradling a bundle of warm, soft cotton.

Raised under the strict discipline of his grandfather in the military and sent to guard the border, Fu Shiyue had spent his life surrounded by rugged men, drug dealers, and insurgents. He had never encountered a girl this soft and delicate, and once he held her, he found he couldn't bear to let go.

His body remained rigid, but he pulled the girl tighter, wrapping his arms securely around her to ensure she slept soundly.

The girl remained completely unaware, sleeping soundly in the man’s arms. Fu Shiyue kept his body tense, unable to relax, listening to her breathing, and did not sleep for the rest of the night.

...

The next morning.

Lu Miao woke up well-rested and stretched comfortably. She hadn't slept this soundly in a long time, and she lazily extended her limbs. Little did she know, a pair of eyes was fixed on her from above.

*Thwack.* Her arm suddenly struck the man’s chin.

Lu Miao lifted her head in surprise and met his dark, intense gaze. Her face froze, and her body went rigid. They stared at each other for a full ten seconds before he opened his mouth, his magnetic voice raspy, as if scorched.

“Did you sleep well?”

Lu Miao looked at his deep, stern face, convinced she must still be dreaming—how could she possibly wake up in the arms of this old man? But hearing his husky, sexy voice breathing hot air against her ear, she was dazed for a long moment before her brain finally caught up. “W-why are you in my bed?!”

The man’s brow arched, his tone flippant. “Are you sure it’s your bed?”

Lu Miao looked around and felt her face flush with anger. “You shameless scoundrel! Why did you drag me out of bed, and you even...” She caught sight of the arm he had wrapped around her waist, and her breathing faltered. “You actually dared to hold me?!”

The man released her, his expression unfazed. “You fell off, and you’ve been pinning me down all night.”

What?!

Only then did Lu Miao realize she was lying on the man’s solid chest, her arms wrapped around his waist and her slender legs draped over his thighs. She had practically claimed him as her own private property.

“...”

She stayed stiff for several seconds before scrambling to sit up.