Chapter 7: Doing Wicked Deeds with a Straight Face

Linglong ran back, crouching beside Qin Daofei. Though Qin Daofei's vision was already blurred with overlapping images, he still accurately saw Linglong by his side.

He gripped her arm fiercely and said in a calm voice, “After scheming so hard to return, you may as well stay.”

Linglong thought she heard a hint of reluctance in his tone, as though he was asking her to stay. Yet, after a moment’s reflection, she decided she must have imagined it.

Still, he was right. She had plotted her return, even going so far as to snatch Wang Shun from others. If Linglong were to leave again, how could she face those who had risked their lives to seize Wang Shun?

“Oh well, what can I do? You’ve seen right through me again. Let’s go home!” Linglong said with a mischievous smile.

Qin Daofei clung tightly to Linglong’s wrist, and, surprisingly, he breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

When Qin Daofei awoke again, their group was already at the city gate of the capital.

“Where are we?” Qin Daofei asked.

Linglong fed him a pill, grinning playfully. “We’ve arrived in the capital. The Master of Qin Manor mainly wants to drag me to see the officials. Now’s the best chance—otherwise, if we return to Xiaoyao Manor, your lovely wife and beauties see me, who knows what trouble they’ll make out of anger.”

Qin Daofei said nothing, drinking a sip of water from Linglong’s hand before closing his eyes to rest.

Linglong bared her teeth and poked his chest. “If I frighten your beloved wife, you’re not allowed to get angry with me!”

Qin Daofei grabbed Linglong’s mischievous hand, pressing it firmly against his chest. He found her chatter irritating; this was much more comfortable.

Linglong was unaccustomed to it, the warmth of his palm causing her heart to race inexplicably. She struggled forcefully, but though Qin Daofei seemed asleep, he held her hand steady, and Linglong, panting with exertion, was still unable to pull free.

“Damn it, you stubborn bumpkin, you’ll kill me with exhaustion!” Linglong glared.

Qin Daofei opened his deep, dark eyes, coldly staring at Linglong. He spoke coolly, “If you curse again, I’ll throw you out.”

“Damn—” Linglong started to repeat provocatively, but Qin Daofei grabbed her, pressing her against his chest. He murmured, “Perhaps, I should try another method?”

Linglong covered her mouth, eyes wide as she stared at him.

Her intuition told her Qin Daofei could be quite beastly.

Just then, Linglong heard a delicate voice urgently calling, “Brother Daofei, are you alright?”

Linglong’s bright eyes sparkled with mischievous laughter as she solemnly remarked, “Suddenly, I feel like causing some trouble.”

Hearing her speak so seriously about mischief, a strange feeling flickered in Qin Daofei’s heart.

Before he could dwell on it, he felt a sudden warmth on his lips, followed by a fragrant scent drifting into his nose. He squinted in surprise, his body stiff as wood.

But soon, he shifted from passive to active, provocatively reaching out with his tongue toward Linglong.

Linglong was caught off guard by his initiative and instinctively tried to retreat, but Qin Daofei’s hand secured her slender waist—she could not move.

At that moment, the carriage curtain was pulled aside.

Tan Xiyin stood at the doorway, astonished at the sight of the two entwined together. Her delicate hands clutched the curtain tightly, tears instantly blurring her eyes and falling one by one onto the carriage floor.

“Brother Daofei…” Tan Xiyin was gentle in appearance, and her plaintive cry tugged at the heart—even Linglong couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity.

Yet Qin Daofei released Linglong indifferently, showing not the slightest extra emotion.

“Lady Tan, it’s been so long!” Linglong rose gracefully, her smile flirtatious as she waved playfully.

Ah!

Tan Xiyin hadn’t expected the woman with Qin Daofei to be Linglong. Terrified, she stepped back, then tumbled out of the carriage.

Linglong covered her eyes with both hands, sighing regretfully, “What shall I do, Master Qin? I’ve frightened your lovely beauty.”