Transmigrated Female Official

Just as Chu Qingluo was lost in thought, Luo Lifei, supported by Ling Nan, also came out of the Yibin Pavilion. Her steps were unsteady, clearly indicating she was somewhat drunk. Seeing Chu Qingluo still standing at the door, she suddenly broke free from Ling Nan's hand, rushed forward, grabbed Chu Qingluo's shoulder, and stammered, "Qingluo! I've realized that Chu Yilin... he's a... a bastard!" She then stumbled backward a step.

Chu Qingluo quickly reached out to support her, and agreed, saying, "Yes, yes, you're right, he's a bastard."

At this moment, Ling Nan also came over to help support Luo Lifei. Chu Qingluo said to him, "You can help take Luo Lifei home later." She had always thought that Ling Nan was a very reliable person, and since he had spoken his true feelings tonight... of course she wanted to give him a chance to prove himself.

"Okay, don't worry." Ling Nan's reply was still brief and to the point.

After all these people were settled, Chu Qingluo finally had a chance to talk to Wuyang alone.

"I'm sorry, Qingluo, I made things difficult for you just now." She had said before that she needed time to think, but I was so impatient, and even pressed her for an answer in this situation because I was a little drunk. I was definitely forcing her... This behavior was really terrible! Wuyang was already overwhelmed with shame.

Chu Qingluo just smiled and said, "It's mainly because of me that I haven't been able to reply to you for so long. I hope you don't mind." She was indeed hesitant. After all, letting him leave after the matter was over wouldn't be a good thing for him either, so she had been dragging her feet on replying to him until just now, when she was forced to make the final decision.

“That’s not how it is…” Wu Yang shook his head, even though he was the one who was wrong.

"Alright, listen carefully to what I have to say." Chu Qinglu interrupted him, "They say if you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. After you get back, hurry up and prepare the twelve initiation gifts. You must enter the sect before Yun Shi'en makes her selection. As for what happens after that, even if you want to leave... you can't rush it, understand?"

Wu Yang listened intently, feeling not only moved but also deeply disappointed. He desperately hoped this wasn't just a performance... He stared at Chu Qingluo, unable to say anything else, and could only nod twice firmly: "Thank you, Qingluo."

……

Back in her room at Ningxiang Courtyard, Chu Qingluo felt utterly exhausted. By then, the effects of the alcohol had mostly dissipated, and she could finally relax comfortably in the bathtub.

There have been so many things going on lately that she's been overwhelmed. First, there was Ji Qiran's sudden confession, then the leap in her relationship with Gongsun Yu, then the tedious selection of concubines, and the issues involving Wu Yang and Chu Yilin—how to get out of their predicaments, and so on… Even if she ignored the troublesome Fifth Prince and didn't gossip about Luo Lifei's romantic entanglements, she still had to consider Shaoyao's feelings…

Seeing that Chu Qingluo hadn't made a sound for a long time after taking a bath, Gongsun Yu lingered at the door for a long time before finally knocking: "Qingluo?"

Receiving no response, he knocked twice more, but remained completely silent. Without hesitation, Gongsun Yu pushed open the door and entered, but Chu Qingluo was nowhere to be seen, neither on the table nor on the bed. He frowned slightly, approached the screen obscuring the bathtub, and hesitantly called out, "Qingluo?"

Chu Qingluo still didn't answer, and Gongsun Yu was frantic. He rushed behind the screen... and saw her head resting against the edge of the bathtub, her eyes tightly closed. He took two steps over, checked her breathing with his hand, and only after confirming that she was just asleep did he breathe a sigh of relief. She had really drunk too much today!

Staring at her peaceful, sleeping face, her long eyelashes still damp... Gongsun Yu smiled in rapture, but when his gaze moved down to her fair collarbone, he suddenly realized something was wrong and quickly stopped, not daring to continue admiring her.

He gasped for breath, ignoring his racing heart, and plunged his arms into the water, scooping her up in his arms...

Gongsun Yu carefully dried the water droplets off Chu Qingluo's body and wrapped her in a thin blanket... At this moment, his own face was burning hot.

Lying down beside her, Gongsun Yu knew very well that she had been extremely tired lately. Thinking of this, he felt a pang of heartache. He leaned in and placed a kiss on her smooth forehead, lingering there for a long time.

Chu Qingluo turned over in a daze and saw that the person next to her was Gongsun Yu. She subconsciously leaned her head over and habitually put her arm around his waist, murmuring, "Gongsun..." After saying this, she fell into a deep sleep again.

"..." Gongsun Yu felt even worse now. She had called his name in her delirious state, indicating her dependence on him. It should have been a joyous occasion, but he couldn't feel happy at all. Even though they were separated by a blanket, the thought of her being completely naked made his blood boil! What's more, she was leaning against him in such an intimate position...

This is definitely going to be a sleepless night!

Gongsun Yu looked helplessly at her sleeping face. Although he wasn't in a hurry, this little girl was really too good at bullying people.

……