Rebirth: Traveling To Ancient Times As A Companion Reading Chapter 4

Punishment

Visiting relatives?

Family?

Returning to Jiangzhou early?

My dear, that is not what you told me on the bed half a month ago.

As the footsteps approached from behind, that familiar cold fragrance drew nearer. Qiao Yi’s heart rate gradually accelerated, feeling as if it might leap out of his throat at any moment.

Qiao Yi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

It is fine. I won’t die. I won’t die. I really won’t die.

But when the person behind him actually placed a hand on his shoulder, Qiao Yi’s legs still turned to jelly.

Turn your head.

Qiao Yi hesitated for a moment, not immediately obeying.

In the next instant, a hand as white as jade firmly gripped Qiao Yi’s chin, forcing him to turn and look directly at the person behind him.

Only then did Qiao Yi truly see Lou Ling’s appearance today.

He was not the red-clad groom Qiao Yi had imagined. Instead, he wore a rare crescent-white cross-collar robe with a white fox fur cloak draped over his shoulders. The warmer tones seemed to add a touch of tenderness to a man who was usually cold and detached, making him appear slightly more approachable.

Adhering to the philosophy of not striking a smiling face, a bright smile broke across Qiao Yi’s face the moment his eyes met Lou Ling’s. Before any interrogation could begin, he reached out and buried his face in Lou Ling’s chest, hugging him tightly as if nothing had happened. He coaxed softly, A-Ling, why did you only just arrive? I am so tired from walking.

Qiao Yi knew Lou Ling had a weakness for this.

From childhood to adulthood, no matter what trouble he caused, as long as he lowered his head first and acted spoiled, Lou Ling’s anger—no matter how fierce—would eventually transform into a gentle stream. This trick never failed.

Qiao Yi thought this time would be the same. But no matter how long he held Lou Ling or how many sweet words he whispered, Lou Ling did not lower his head to coax him as he usually did.

Oh no, did I push it too far?

Finally, just as Qiao Yi felt something was wrong and tried to look up, Lou Ling reached out and pressed down on his head.

Hmm?

With his face pressed against Lou Ling’s shoulder, Qiao Yi was utterly confused. He could not even speak; his every breath was filled with the cold fragrance of Lou Ling’s body.

He expected Lou Ling to say something after moving, but the silence stretched on. Gradually, Qiao Yi began to feel bored and drowsy. His eyelids grew heavy, yet Lou Ling remained silent.

Tired?

Before drifting off, Qiao Yi finally heard Lou Ling’s low inquiry.

Perhaps because his brain was truly struggling to function, Qiao Yi did not catch the strange tone in Lou Ling’s voice. Buried in Lou Ling’s embrace, he nodded and mumbled, I don’t know what kind of charcoal they are burning here, but the smell is strange. The whole gatehouse feels stuffy and draining. And I feel a bit hot.

Lou Ling looked down, his unreadable gaze fixed on Qiao Yi. His hand rhythmically stroked Qiao Yi’s back as he spoke with ambiguous meaning, Then it is working as intended.

Qiao Yi did not understand and wanted to ask for clarification. But before he could speak, darkness swarmed his vision, and he lost consciousness without warning.

Before blacking out, Qiao Yi only saw Lou Ling’s peerlessly beautiful face covered in a layer of frost. The emotions in his eyes swirled like ink, as if he had been enduring for a long time.

Damn it!

I was careless!

He knew something felt off.

But it was too late. Qiao Yi had no strength to resist and fell into a deep sleep.

Lou Ling gently held the unconscious Qiao Yi, standing still and closing his eyes as he let out a long breath, as if trying to settle his emotions.

Warm red silk curtains, flickering candlelight—a moment of a spring night is worth a thousand gold pieces.

Through the play of light and shadow, two overlapping figures could be seen within the gauze curtains, moving back and forth in rhythm with the candlelight.

Peering through the gap in the curtains, one could see a waist as white as snow and smooth as jade, twisting back and forth. It was coated in a thin layer of sweat, each drop seemingly testifying to its owner’s exhaustion.

Ugh! Qiao Yi whimpered like a small animal. His hands were braced against the abdomen of the person beneath him, his body leaning back weakly to expose his vulnerable neck. His eyes, washed by tears, were clear but vacant, staring blankly at the red canopy. A few unshed tears clung to the corners of his reddened eyes.

Two full hours had passed since he woke up, and Qiao Yi had no strength left.

Suddenly, Lou Ling’s low, magnetic voice sounded in his ear, but Qiao Yi’s muddled brain could not process it.

He lowered his head in a daze, meeting Lou Ling’s gaze. What?

Without waiting for an answer, Qiao Yi felt a wave of dizziness.

In an instant, he was lying on the bed, his position completely swapped with Lou Ling’s.

Looking up at Lou Ling, Qiao Yi opened his mouth to ask something, but upon seeing Lou Ling’s face—still breathtakingly handsome even in the flickering candlelight—he immediately forgot what he wanted to say.

Staring infatuatedly at that face, Qiao Yi’s hand instinctively reached up, tracing everything from the beauty mark beneath the eye to the lips he had bitten until they were bright red.

Before meeting Lou Ling, Qiao Yi never thought a man could look so enchanting. With brows like ink paintings and a face like carved jade, his beauty was truly unparalleled under heaven.

Lou Ling looked down at Qiao Yi. The latter’s eyes were blurred, unable to even focus, yet they were still full of his face.

Lou Ling’s lips curled into a sudden smile.

That smile was like white plum blossoms blooming brilliantly in winter, leaving Qiao Yi speechless with its beauty.

Qiao Yi raised his hand, gently caressing Lou Ling’s features, slowly moving down until he had touched every inch of his face. Watching Lou Ling with such fascination, a thousand words flashed through Qiao Yi’s mind, yet none were sufficient to describe the scene before him. In the end, he could only whisper, You are so beautiful…

Is that so?

Lou Ling’s low, charming voice rang in Qiao Yi’s ear like the seductive song of a siren, stripping him of his ability to think. He could only nod blankly.

Lou Ling said no more, quietly watching Qiao Yi. The latter made no attempt to hide his obsession, even proactively tilting his head up to kiss him.

Lou Ling did not refuse, accepting the kiss Qiao Yi offered.

As their lips and teeth melded, Qiao Yi, lost in a daze of passion, could not spare any attention for anything else.

With no obstacles in his way, Lou Ling’s movements became forceful as he gently cupped Qiao Yi’s face with his other hand.

Lou Ling’s eyes were clear as he stared intently at Qiao Yi, whose eyes were closed in a senseless, delirious state. Lou Ling’s hand slowly tightened. Since Qiao Yi liked his face so much, he should keep liking it. He should not like anything else; he must always, always, always like only his face.

Nnh… ah!

As his vitals were seized, the stimulation caused Qiao Yi to arch his body like a bow. Unable to endure it, he wrapped his arms around Lou Ling’s neck and leaned forward again, biting Lou Ling’s lip hard as they kissed fiercely.

The wet sounds of their kiss echoed. It was impossible to tell whose saliva was overflowing, landing on the white fabric between them.

Lou Ling’s kissing was far too aggressive, leaving Qiao Yi’s head spinning.

Light and shadow flashed before his eyes. Qiao Yi’s gaze was vacant, yet he still stared fixedly at Lou Ling’s face. In the ebb and flow of his consciousness, he felt as though the face before him was slowly merging with an identical but younger face from the past.

Amidst the hazy light and darkness, memories that had been buried deep for a long time began to surface.

Various people and scenes reappeared in his mind like a vivid shadow puppet play, making these recollections clearer than ever before.