RPDPHW Chapter 49

“Speak! What is your relationship with her?”

As soon as they returned to the room and the door closed, Zhong Shujin immediately pressed Gu Qingyin against the door, bracing her hands above Gu Qingyin’s shoulders, trapping her as she questioned her.

“You mean Tongtong?” Gu Qingyin rested her hand on Zhong Shujin’s waist and smiled teasingly. “She’s a very kind child.”

“Who asked you that?! I’m asking about your relationship! Why does she look like she can’t wait to stick to you?”

Zhong Shujin had run too fast on the way back to the room, and now, in addition to fuming, she was panting heavily.

Gu Qingyin chuckled and leaned in slightly until their foreheads touched.

“The one who can’t wait to stick to me now… should be you, right? My dear Leader Zhong.”

“I…”

Gu Qingyin’s warm breath brushed against Zhong Shujin’s face as she spoke.

The scent was intoxicating. Just one whiff, and Zhong Shujin felt lightheaded. She froze mid-sentence, holding her breath, nervously gazing at Gu Qingyin.

Seeing Zhong Shujin like this truly delighted Gu Qingyin.

As Zhong Shujin’s face gradually turned red, Gu Qingyin moved slightly and pressed a soft kiss onto her lips—light as a dragonfly skimming the water. Before Zhong Shujin could even part her lips to respond, Gu Qingyin had already withdrawn, casually ruffling Zhong Shujin’s damp hair.

“Why did you come out without even drying your hair? As for Tongtong, I see her as a little sister. What’s there to misunderstand?”

“A little sister?” Zhong Shujin had only been throwing a small tantrum, acting a little jealous, but now she was truly sour. “Oh, so her brother insists on marrying only you, and you see her as a sister? Does that mean you see her brother as… mmph—!”

Before she could finish, Gu Qingyin swiftly reversed their positions.

Now pressing Zhong Shujin against the door, she leaned in and sealed her lips, swallowing the rest of her words.

Under Gu Qingyin’s relentless advances, Zhong Shujin gradually softened. Her initial resistance faded as she slowly wrapped her arms around Gu Qingyin’s neck, instinctively responding to the deepening kiss.

When the lingering kiss finally ended, Gu Qingyin rested her forehead against Zhong Shujin’s and murmured softly,

“Silly girl, my beloved is right here by my side. How could I possibly have room in my heart for anyone else?”

Beloved.

That one word was enough to make said beloved burst with joy.

“But what if your beloved isn’t by your side? Would there be room for someone else then?”

“Hmm…” Gu Qingyin gazed at Zhong Shujin’s flushed cheeks and the enticing arch of her brows, then deliberately sighed in mock distress. “Well… in that case, I suppose… I just might.”

“Hey! That’s not fair!”

Her beloved immediately panicked upon hearing those words. Huffing with frustration, she cupped Gu Qingyin’s face, bit down hard on her lips, and then declared possessively,

“When I’m not by your side, you’re not allowed to have room for anyone else either! Got it?”

Hearing this, Gu Qingyin’s smile deepened. She lightly traced her fingers along Zhong Shujin’s waist and asked teasingly,

“Did I ever say you were my beloved?”

Zhong Shujin’s eyes widened in an instant.

“I… I’m not?”

Her expression was a mix of grievance and a hint of panic.

“Yes, yes, you are!” Gu Qingyin pulled her into a tight embrace, her voice full of indulgence. “Everything you say goes, my beloved.”

At that, Zhong Shujin could no longer hold back her smile. She wrapped her arms around Gu Qingyin in return, lightly pinched her ear, and pouted,

“You always bully me!”

Gu Qingyin chuckled, catching the mischievous hand at her ear and bringing it to her lips for a gentle kiss before replying,

“I haven’t even started bullying you yet.”

Her eyes held an unmistakable hint of mischief—soft yet smoldering, an intoxicating mix of tenderness and desire.

That one look alone was enough to make Zhong Shujin go weak.

Oh no. Oh no. Zhong Shujin felt like she had completely lost control of her heart.

Gu Qingyin was holding her hand, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was holding something far more precious.

Her heart.

Firmly, completely, in the palm of Gu Qingyin’s hand.

She felt like she was about to suffocate.

Bully?

How would Qingqing bully her?

Zhong Shujin couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander. Her breathing had already turned noticeably heavier.

“Leader! Leader, open the door!”

Thankfully, Jing Rong’s timely knock interrupted her dangerous train of thought, snapping her back to reality.

She cleared her throat, quickly withdrawing her hand and pushing Gu Qingyin back a little. After adjusting her already neat robes, she finally opened the door at a leisurely pace.

“Leader, why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?”

Jing Rong, while instructing the servant to replace the bathwater with fresh hot water, looked at her with concern.

“I’m fine…”

“Huh? Is this bundle Doctor Gu’s? Why is it on the floor?”

Jing Rong picked up the small bundle left by the door, looking puzzled.

Gu Qingyin stepped forward with a smile, dusting off the fabric before taking it back.

“Yes, your leader was in too much of a hurry, so it got tossed aside.”

By now, the servant had finished filling the bath and quietly exited.

“Who’s in a hurry?! Clearly, you were the one rushing!”

Zhong Shujin’s face turned even redder. Flustered, she quickly snatched the bundle from Gu Qingyin’s hands, pulled out the neatly folded clothes inside, and stuffed them into Gu Qingyin’s arms.

“Go wash up! Now!”

“Alright, alright, I was the one rushing.”

Gu Qingyin’s lips curled into a knowing smile. Taking advantage of the moment, she gave Zhong Shujin’s hand a gentle squeeze, winked at her, and whispered,

“Be good. Wait for me.”

Zhong Shujin was stunned.

She never expected to see such… such an innocent expression on Gu Qingyin’s face.

It struck right at the softest part of her heart.

And that “Wait for me”—spoken with effortless allure—was enough to send her mind spiraling.

With just a single tease, Zhong Shujin was already tingling all over, weak to the core.

“Leader? Are you sure you’re okay?”

By the time Gu Qingyin disappeared behind the folding screen, Zhong Shujin was still standing there, dazed, clutching the bundle in her arms.

Jing Rong had been watching her for a while. Seeing her spaced out like that, he couldn’t help but voice his concern.

“Huh? Ah, —I’m fine! Totally fine!”

Pulled back to reality, Zhong Shujin suddenly realized that Gu Qingyin was now behind the screen, slowly slipping off her outer robe.

Panic surged through her, and without thinking, she shoved Jing Rong toward the door.

“Alright, go rest now! No need to come back!”

Before Jing Rong could even respond, she had already shut the door—locking him out.

Finally, only the two of them remained inside.

Leaning against the door, Zhong Shujin took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Meanwhile, Gu Qingyin had finished undressing and was gracefully stepping into the bath.

“Ah Jin.”

Zhong Shujin, completely entranced, nearly jumped at the sudden call.

“Huh? Huh?! What is it?”

Swallowing nervously, she walked toward the screen, her voice slightly strained.

“Did you forget to bring your clothes? Do you need me to get them for you?”

Gu Qingyin chuckled softly.

“Silly girl,” she said, scooping up a handful of water and letting it cascade over her skin.

“Weren’t you the one who handed me my clothes just now? Did you forget already?”

Oh.

So she did have clothes.

Which meant… she couldn’t use that excuse anymore.

Zhong Shujin felt a slight pang of disappointment, yet her eyes remained fixed on the folding screen, staring intently.

“Jing Rong’s interruption made me forget…”

Poor, innocent Jing Rong—wrongly blamed without even knowing why.

Gu Qingyin chuckled, amusement lacing her voice.

“Alright, alright, whatever you say. Now, dry your hair properly and wait for me in bed.”

On the bed…

Wait for me…

Zhong Shujin’s face turned scarlet in an instant. She bit her lip and huffed,

“Why are you so impatient?!”

She hadn’t even finished bathing, yet she was already telling her to wait in bed?

Gu Qingyin burst into laughter.

“Weren’t you the one who invited me here, my dear leader?”

Well… fair enough.

As someone who prided herself on keeping her word, Zhong Shujin couldn’t exactly go back on it now—even if it had been said on impulse. A promise was a promise.

With a soft huff, she obediently picked up a dry cloth, sat on the edge of the bed, and began drying her damp hair.

All the while, her gaze remained fixed on the silhouette behind the screen.

She absentmindedly rubbed her hair a few times before giving up entirely.

Tossing the cloth aside, she simply sat there at the edge of the bed, watching.

And watching.

Until she was utterly entranced.

She had planned to just keep looking—after all, a beauty like this, paired with such mesmerizing movements, was a sight well worth admiring.

But then, just as she was indulging in her silent appreciation, Gu Qingyin suddenly stood up in the bath, reaching for the soapberries placed at the side.

At that instant, Zhong Shujin was caught off guard by the silhouette reflected on the screen.

The graceful curves of a delicate figure—

Proud, perky peaks glistened with droplets of water as they trickled downward.

Just that one fleeting image was enough to send a rush of heat surging through her body.

Overwhelmed, she suddenly felt a metallic taste rise in her throat.

Before she could stop herself, she was already coughing up blood.

Panicked, she fumbled for the dry cloth she had used to wipe her hair, hastily pressing it against her mouth as she spat out a mouthful of crimson.

Alright. That was it. She definitely wasn’t going to sneak another peek.

After calming her disrupted breath, she discreetly hid the bloodstained cloth. Without even bothering to undress, she scurried under the blankets—

Turning her back to the screen as she shut her eyes, pretending to rest.

Luckily, she didn’t have to endure the agony of waiting for too long before she heard Gu Qingyin’s voice from behind.

“Why are you already in bed with your clothes still on?”

“I wasn’t sleeping!”

Zhong Shujin immediately opened her eyes and sat up.

But the moment she saw Gu Qingyin standing there, clothes loosely draped over her damp skin, she instantly dropped her gaze in embarrassment.

Honestly, Zhong Shujin had originally planned to remove her clothes before getting into bed.

But at the last second, a thought crossed her mind—

Wouldn’t it be better if she let Qingqing undress her instead?

That way, Qingqing might be a little more… excited. Maybe even a little happier.

And for some reason, without thinking, she actually voiced that thought out loud—

“I… was waiting for you to take them off.”

Gu Qingyin was momentarily stunned before breaking into a soft, amused laugh.

Sitting down beside Zhong Shujin, she pulled her into her embrace, took out a fresh cloth, and gently began drying her damp hair.

Smiling, she murmured, “Then does that mean this hair… was waiting for me to dry it too?”

Zhong Shujin definitely wasn’t going to admit that she had been too mesmerized watching Gu Qingyin to remember drying her hair.

Instead, she huffed, lifting her chin with feigned arrogance.

“What? I’m giving you the privilege of serving me—shouldn’t you be grateful?”

“Willing, willing—more than willing!”

Gu Qingyin’s voice was filled with indulgence, overflowing with affection.

Under her gentle touch, Zhong Shujin gradually relaxed, leaning against her, eyelids growing heavier until she was on the verge of drifting off.

Such warmth, such tenderness—

It made one feel at ease. It made one nostalgic.

“Alright.”

Just as Zhong Shujin was about to fall asleep, Gu Qingyin suddenly patted her cheek.

Only after she lazily blinked her eyes open did she hear the next words—

“Take off your clothes. All of them. Not a single piece left.”

… What?

Take them off herself?

She must have misheard, right?

Zhong Shujin rubbed her eyes, blinking hard in disbelief.

Hadn’t Qingqing always been very enthusiastic about undressing her?

So why… was she suddenly making this request today?

Before she could voice her dissatisfaction, Gu Qingyin had already picked up the dry cloth and walked toward the table.

Left with no choice, Zhong Shujin reluctantly complied.

Blushing furiously, she stripped herself bare before quickly diving under the covers, hiding her heated skin.

The flower had been prepared.

All that was left was for the beauty to come and pluck it.

Tilting her head slightly, she caught sight of Gu Qingyin stepping forward, backlit by the dim light.

Her heart pounded even harder.

As nervous anticipation coursed through her veins, her mind raced ahead—

Imagining how Qingqing would kiss her… how she would touch her… where she would start… how she would begin…

But then—

Just as Gu Qingyin reached the bedside, Zhong Shujin finally noticed what she was holding in her hands.

Wait.

Wait.

Why?

Why was she bringing that to bed at a time like this?!

Zhong Shujin was utterly stunned.

Wait…

Weren’t they supposed to be doing this and that?!

Why—why—was Qingqing bringing her medical needle pouch to bed at a time like this?!

What is happening?!

Readers , what do you think is going to happen?.. hmmm..