Zu An quickly corrected her. âIâm not living with her; Iâm staying in another room next to hers.â
âArenât you only separated by a single wall then?â Pei Mianman grabbed him as if she wanted to put him behind her protectively. âEven if you werenât living in the temporary residence, you couldâve just stayed with me! Why did you have to live with her?â
Zu An replied, âItâs because I have to pretend to be Jian Yanyou, so there are many details I donât know about. I need her to teach me. This is the most effective way to save the most amount of time possible.â
âDo you know who Yu Yanluo is? If a meteor were to fall from the sky and hit ten people anywhere in the world, at least one of them would be a fan of hers! Why would a woman like that take the initiative to invite an unfamiliar man to live next door to her?â Pei Mianman became vigilant, saying, âNo way. She probably started lusting after your body after her husband passed away.â
âLusting after my body?â Zu An gave her a strange look. I do have confidence in myself, but isnât that a bit too much?
Pei Mianmanâs face also turned red. Yu Yanluoâs reputation was so great that it was really hard to imagine that kind of woman desiring the body of a man. But since the words had already left her mouth, she wasnât willing to concede defeat anymore. She continued, âWhy not? Youâre handsome, and your cultivation is high. Youâre a good person too, and youâre funny and interesting⦠No matter how pretty she is, Yu Yanluo is still a woman; she still needs a man to love her dearly. After so many years have already passed, how could she not be moved at all? Otherwise, why didnât she look for another man, but instead let you live next door?â
Seeing that it was getting more and more out of hand the more she spoke, Zu An quickly cut her off, saying, âIt was because I saved her before in Brightmoon City. She might just feel a bit more at ease around me because of that.â
âBut you just said that her cultivation was really high! Hmph, that woman had the nerve to pretend to be weak and have you save her. What else could it be other than lusting after your body?â Pei Mianman finally seemed to have found her argument and spoke with a harrumph.
Zu An was speechless. Any smart man wouldnât try to reason with a woman in such a situation. As such, he quickly smiled and said, âAlright, alright, alright, she wants my body. But you have to trust me, I will definitely maintain my purity for you.â
âTrust you?â Pei Mianman harrumphed. âWho was the one who even went after his wifeâs close friend?â
Zu An was speechless again. He was starting to feel a bit of a headache. He picked her up and put her on his lap, spanking her. âWhat kind of nonsense are you spouting? Our relationship is clearly a harmonious one!â
Pei Mianmanâs gaze became flirty as she was hit. She turned around to look at him provocatively. She said while looking âalarmedâ, âNo, big brother Zu! I canât do anything thatâll let down Chuyan!â
Zu An immediately felt himself growing bigger. This woman really was alluring!
Pei Mianman always liked to play such harem roleplaying games with him, and her close friend Chuyan was a character who appeared often. If Chuyan were to see them one day, wouldnât she get so angry sheâd draw her sword and kill them?
But the more it was like that, the more Zu An felt a taboo sensation of stimulation. As such, he quickly got into character as well. He harrumphed and replied, âYour refusal would make things right with Chuyan, but wouldnât you be letting me down?â
Pei Mianman gave him a wronged look and said, âThen⦠I guess I can at least⦠help you out a bit. But you canât take my purity! That way, it doesnât count as betraying Chuyan.â
Zu An really was amused now. She was clearly going through her period, and yet she still made her intentions sound so pure.
âNo, wait. Iâd still have a guilty conscience after.â Pei Mianman quickly pushed him away a while later. She bit her lip and continued, âHow about this? Iâll pretend to be Chuyan, and you can treat me as if I were her. That way, Iâll feel a bit better. Do you have her clothes? Let me borrow some so I can look more like herâ¦â
Zu An was stupefied. He couldnât help but repeat that infamous quote: âYouâre such a seductress!â[1]
After who knew how much time had passed, Pei Mianman wiped the corners of her mouth with a reddened face. She didnât bother putting on her clothes again and leaned gently against his embrace. At the same time, she rubbed her sore cheeks. Hmph, at least he wonât seek out other vixens now; my hard work was worth it.
Chuyan, you should actually be thanking me for this. Iâm doing so much for your manâs purity!
Zu An caressed her fair skin with his fingers. The two looked into each otherâs eyes as they whispered to each other. The conversation unknowingly arrived at the subject of Cloudcenter Commandery.
âRight, has that fella Zhao Zhi bothered you at all recently?â Zu An asked. He was curious about Zhao Zhiâs most recent activities. Han Fengqiu had been at the Zhenyuan Merchant Group gathering. With him there, King Qi Manorâs influence was all but guaranteed.
Pei Mianman shook her head and replied, âThey came to ask about the progress of the investigation on your side. I did as we agreed, just telling them half-truths and half-lies. But recently, they havenât come to ask about it anymore⦠It really is a bit strange.â
Zu An frowned. For some reason, he felt Zhao Zhi was plotting something bad, but he had more important things to worry about at the moment. He was going to wait until he dealt with the Duke Manor first.
â¦
When he left Pei Manor, Zu Anâs legs were still feeling a bit weak. Big Manman really is an alluring woman through and through! Her fighting strength had clearly been reduced by half already, and yet he had still been left in such a state afterward.
That girl really was ridiculously talented in that field⦠Sheâd had Hong Zao bring over a bottle of oils, and Zu An had experienced pleasures he could never experience with a washboard.
That wasnât all. Halfway through, she had even called in Hong Zao to serve him too. Heâd really had to use the last ounce of rationality he had left to refuse.
Is that woman trying to completely suck me dry or something? Zu An thought, speechless. He had an idea of what she was thinking, but he felt her worries were groundless. Yu Yanluo wasnât the kind of person she expected.
â¦
He came back to Yu Manor. With the token that bypassed the Yu Manorâs security, even though it was daytime, it was still easier for him to return to Yu Yanluoâs bedroom than before.
âYouâre here,â Yu Yanluo greeted him. She seemed to have just gotten up from bed. She fastened her waistbandâs button while nodding toward him with a smile. She acted completely natural the entire time. She didnât seem awkward or embarrassed at all.
It was instead Zu An who felt a bit embarrassed. He replied, âI think itâd be better if I give you a moment to yourself.â He turned around after saying that.
Yu Yanluo smiled and asked, âAre you going to play the gentleman now? You were definitely much more daring last night.â
Now that he was being provoked that way by a mature beauty, Zu An naturally wouldnât be outdone. He replied, âThen does madam want me to treat you the way I treated you last night?â
Yu Yanluoâs smile immediately froze on her face. Her provocative expression was replaced with embarrassment. She replied, âHmph, I knew you were a scoundrel.â
Just then, someone outside knocked and said, âMadam, your food has arrived.â
Yu Yanluoâs expression became natural again. She gestured for Zu An to hide behind a screen, and she sorted out her clothes before saying, âCome in.â
Soon afterward, Maid Xing entered with a wooden tray, bearing an assortment of delicious food. She arranged the plates on the desk while saying with a smile, âMadamâs appetite today seems to be exceptionally good; you actually ordered so many things at once.â
Yu Yanluo didnât reveal any strange behavior. She said, âMy mood seems to have improved a lot recently, so my appetite has gotten better as well. I should be able to eat more in the near future.â
âThat is good to hear!â Maid Xing said happily. If her madamâs condition was good, she would obviously be happy to hear that. Yu Yanluo chatted a bit more with her, but then Maid Xing left, closing the door behind her.
Zu An walked out from behind the screen. Yu Yanluo gestured toward him and said, âThe food has just arrived, so come over and eat.â
Zu An saw that there were many small, fine dishes on the table. He couldnât help but say with a smile, âI think madam should eat first. My appetite always gets the best of me. If I start now, there might not be much left for madam afterward.â
Yu Yanluo shook her head and said, âMy appetite is usually poor around wintertime. These were all things I actually had them prepare for you. I would have called them to bring in more, but everyone knows about my condition. If I suddenly increased the amount by too much at once, that could draw a lot of suspicion, so I apologize in advance.â
Zu An was stunned. He couldnât help but say with a sigh, âThe madam is so considerate that I donât even know how to repay you!â
Yu Yanluo lifted up her dress and sat down by a small table. âBy helping Yanyou get revenge, I will actually be the one who owes you a favor. I should be the one saying that.â
Zu An sighed in admiration. Time hadnât left a trace on her body, and had instead made her seem even more wise and considerate. No wonder so many outstanding heroes prostrated themselves in devotion to her.
There was a natural calmness and charm to Yu Yanluo. The longer one spent around her, the more one would become affected.and then he
âWhy are we business partners buttering each other up? Letâs eat.â Zu An chuckled, then sat down straightforwardly.
âButter each other up?â Yu Yanluo was stunned, but she quickly guessed the meaning. She couldnât help but click her tongue in wonder. The person in front of her really was different from everyone else. He always came up with such new phrases, giving others a fresh sensation.
âHm? Why is there only one set of utensils?â Zu An didnât find a second set even after looking around.
Yu Yanluo said with a smile, âI live alone, so of course there is only a single set of eating utensils. Are you trying to expose us? You can eat; I do not have much of an appetite anyway.â
Zu An said out of curiosity, âEver since the last time I met the madam, Iâve discovered that you fear the cold and your appetite is poor. Are you wounded somewhere?â
Yu Yanluo shook her head. âThat is not it. This is how my body naturally is. Once it is winter, I tend to sleep a lot and lose my appetite. I have already gotten used to it after so many years. It will be fine after this season passes; you do not need to worry.â
âYou donât have an appetiteâ¦â Zu An thought of something and took out a bottle. He scattered a bit of the contents over each dish, then picked up a bit of food with his chopsticks, bringing it up to her mouth. He said, âI prepared a small gift after I met the madam last time. I was so busy I almost forgot. Here, give it a try.â
Yu Yanluo didnât open her mouth. Her eyes landed on that bottle on the table as she noticed that he had scattered something over the food. She asked with a strange expression, âThis isnât some drug like that âEighteen Spring Windsâ, right?â
Zu An was speechless. He couldnât help but reply unhappily, âAm I that kind of person in madamâs eyes?â
Yu Yanluo nodded and replied, âAbsolutely.â
Zu An was speechless again. As such, he took a bite out of it himself first. âNow you have nothing to worry about, right?â
Yu Yanluo had a crafty smile on her face as she replied, âWhat if you already took the antidote ahead of time?â
However, she didnât wait for his response and took the chopsticks, picking something and eating a bit of it. âI am just messing with you. If I really do end up being poisoned, just call me a poor judge of character.â
Her eyes widened before she even finished her sentence, as if she had encountered something extremely shocking.
1. Reference to Pin Ruiâs Wardrobe; this is the famous quote from the TV show. â