An Ruo's heart felt as if it were stuffed full, her glistening black eyes like a universe holding countless stars, deep and bright...
"If you're not ready today, I won't force you."
This kind of thing required mutual consent. They were equal, lawful spouses, and he didn't want to coerce her for his own selfish desires.
He was measured in his advances, had just done her a huge favor, and had made it clear that as her lawful husband, he wouldn't be petty enough to care about that membrane.
She was silent for a long time. The man thought she was hesitating, suppressing the burning sensation below as he prepared to pull away, but the girl grabbed his shirt.
"I... I'm ready." Her hesitation earlier was only because she didn't know how to say she was willing.
But after saying this, An Ruo's entire face flushed so red it could bleed, as if she wanted to dig a hole and crawl in right then.
The man was slightly stunned, not expecting her to agree. His deep, dark eyes tinged with desire as he gazed at her intently. "Really willing?"
"Didn't you say we're husband and wife..." An Ruo bit her lip. "This kind of thing... is legal, right?"
Who the hell marries a wife only to look and not touch?!
The man chuckled softly. "You and I doing this is a natural progression, fair and just, not against the law."
With that, his large hand intertwined with her small one, fingers laced together.
Sensing the girl's unease, the man gently kissed her forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks... and finally those pale pink lips.
An Ruo stared dazedly at the light above her head. It was too glaring, so she squinted slightly, biting her lip softly as she slowly adapted to this strange yet wonderful sensation...
This was actually her first time. The previous time, her mind had been unclear, with only fragmented memories. Waking up with her whole body aching had reminded her something had happened, but other than that... she felt nothing.
If asked what it felt like, it was just one word: pain!
This time was different. The man constantly attended to her feelings, softly asking how she was, seeking her opinion when changing positions...
An Ruo's consciousness grew hazy. She felt as if she were floating on the ocean's surface, then soaring among the clouds—a very peculiar sensation.
The two embraced, sinking into the sea of desire, gradually succumbing until the night was filled with passion.
...
Shen Residence, Ming Garden.
Private doctors came and went from the room. Shen Yu and Fang Yingxue stood anxiously outside, worry etched on their faces as Shen Tingfeng underwent leg treatment inside...
Fang Yingxue wept bitterly, covering her face, while Shen Xingrou gently comforted her.
After more than three hours, the doctor emerged, and the second branch of the family surged forward.
"Second Young Master's condition is not optimistic. The blunt force trauma to his leg bones is severe, with some damage. However, Second Master and Madam need not be too pessimistic. With two months of rest, he'll be able to walk again, and recovery will gradually follow."
Shen Yu frowned. "How long for a full recovery?"
"Injuries to the bones and tendons take at least a hundred days."
Once the doctor left, Fang Yingxue couldn't hold back her curses. "That bastard Shen Xiaoxing, daring to break my son's leg like this! That damned little beast, I won't let this go!"
Shen Xingrou lowered her eyes slightly, pursing her lips. "Mom, could it be that Second Brother offended Big Brother somehow, and that's why..."
"What kind of grudge could justify beating your Second Brother like this? A bastard is always a bastard—no matter when, he's an untamable dog!"
Fang Yingxue wasn't from a wealthy family and hadn't received a higher education. In her youth, she had used her looks to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry, and it was then that she had used some tricks to get close to Shen Yu, leaping into the position of Second Madam of the Shen family.
Old Master Shen had always looked down on her, not because of her background, but because of her reckless mouth. That's what happens without a proper education—she dared to say the most vulgar things!
She ranted for a full twenty minutes. Shen Yu couldn't take it anymore and called for Shen Tingfeng's personal bodyguard to get the full story.
If he hadn't, Fang Yingxue would have been even angrier. "Fine! For a woman, he dares to break my son's leg! That Shen Xiaoxing has some nerve!"
After learning the details, Shen Yu was furious too. He narrowed his eyes. "That little brat, just recovered his eyesight and already this arrogant. He'll get what's coming to him!"
But what shamed him more was his own son's lack of spine. To end up like this over a woman was bad enough, but that woman was his own sister-in-law! He didn't know how much Old Master valued Shen Xiaoxing lately, and now his son had boosted his arrogance. Going after his woman at a time like this was like walking into a trap!
This couldn't be hidden from the old man, and in the end, the second branch would suffer. Who could blame them when Shen Xiaoxing had come out of seclusion so fiercely, with a手腕 and boldness that Old Master admired?
Frustrated at work and dealing with a son ruled by his libido at home, Shen Yu let out a heavy sigh. His whole life had been spent competing with the older generation, then the younger, and now he was looking at another failure.
"Second Master, you have to avenge Tingfeng! That bastard is so audacious, completely disregarding our second branch. If this continues, where will we stand in the Shen family?"
Shen Yu shot her a cold glance. "I'm working on it. You take care of your son. His leg injury might be a blessing in disguise—keeps him from running off with those worthless friends and causing more trouble!"
With that, he strode away, leaving Fang Yingxue to rush into the room and weep over the unconscious Shen Tingfeng, then lift her head to curse Shen Xiaoxing.
Shen Xingrou stayed by her side the whole time, lips pressed together, silent.
Her biological brother, Shen Tingfeng, had been a troublemaker since childhood, surrounded by beautiful women. The outside world either sneered at him or mocked him maliciously, and even she, as the Third Miss of the Shen family, couldn't escape the attention he brought.
In contrast, Big Brother Shen Xiaoxing, though cold and aloof, was disciplined and never brought shame to the Shen family.
She remembered the first year Big Brother was brought back to the Shen residence. She had been playing and climbed a tree when the servants were slacking off, only to get stuck and unable to get down. She cried her heart out, but no one came to help.
Just when she felt utterly helpless, a sixteen-year-old, cool-faced boy stood under the tree, glanced at her, and without a moment's hesitation, fetched a ladder to rescue her.
Shen Xingrou was very young then, terrified, and threw herself into his arms, sobbing. He stood still, neither comforting her nor pushing her away, letting her tears and snot smear all over him.
When she stopped crying, he pulled out a tissue and handed it to her, then moved the ladder away. He didn't say a single word the entire time, just walked off coldly.
In Shen Xingrou's memory, Shen Xiaoxing was never talkative. At first, his gaze toward her was cold, even hateful, but gradually, he just seemed uninterested in dealing with people, not actually disliking her.
Later, their grandfather sent him abroad. By the time he returned, he had become a refined, hardened man, and with that, the second branch's fear of him grew.
Then came the plane crash. His legs were injured, and he lost his sight. She had secretly visited him a few times, but his temper grew so volatile that she dared not go again, until their grandfather had him move out of the Shen residence to recuperate.
Shen Xingrou looked at the weak Shen Tingfeng on the bed. Many times, when he did terrible things, she wanted to run and tell Shen Xiaoxing to watch out for the second branch. But she was afraid it would harm her own family.
Fang Yingxue cried for half an hour, until her tears finally ran dry—or maybe she was thinking of new, vicious ways to deal with Shen Xiaoxing. She quietly began wiping down Shen Tingfeng's body.
But Shen Xingrou's eyes darkened. This time, they would definitely not let Shen Xiaoxing off. How could she send word to Big Brother?