Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Xia Lanyue and Xia Yao stood facing each other, Xia Lanyue looking at Xia Yao hesitantly.

It seemed that Madam Zhen hadn't seen Xia Lanyue for a long time, so she appeared at the door of the house. She looked at Xia Yao and said, "It's a bit dark outside, Young Master Xia, could you walk me home?"

Xia Lanyue looked at Zhen Shi, then at Xia Yao, "Then I'll wait for you to come back..."

"I'm sorry, I have something to attend to right now and can't see you off. Take care on your journey, Miss Zhen," Xia Yao said to Xia Lanyue, without glancing at Zhen Shi.

Madam Zhen stood at the door, pursing her lips and not moving, as if she had suffered some injustice.

Xia Lanyue stood there awkwardly, looking down at the floor, at a loss for what to do.

The three of them stayed there quietly.

Finally, Xia Yao spoke up, "Miss Zhen, are you staying to watch us, husband and wife, be intimate?"

Zhen was surprised by his words, then blushed and ran out of the house without saying a word.

Xia Lanyue blushed deeply at his words, but she couldn't decide whether to leave or stay, and sweat began to pour down her body.

Xia Yao walked up to Xia Lanyue and said, "Let's continue."

Xia Lanyue was taken aback and became nervous. "I'm here today to talk to you about something serious."

Xia Yao didn't hear what he wanted to hear, so he turned his head to the side, looking like he refused to communicate.

Xia Lanyue was helpless. Looking at Xia Yao's appearance, she knew that things were unlikely to succeed.

She wavered a little. Actually, a kiss didn't mean much to her. It wasn't that she had no feelings for Xia Yao, but there were too many people and things between them, making it impossible for her to continue loving him.

If a kiss can solve the problem, she's willing to try.

Xia Lanyue composed herself and walked around to stand in front of Xia Yao. Then, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

Her kiss was fleeting, like a dragonfly skimming the water, before she withdrew and stared blankly at Xia Yao.

Seeing that there was no further action, Xia Yao frowned and said, "That's it?"

“I have done what you just said,” Xia Lanyue said.

Clearly, a brief touch was not enough for Xia Yao. He wrapped one arm around Xia Lanyue's waist, pulled her closer, and then lowered his head to kiss her again.

Xia Lanyue quickly blocked his chest with her arm, refusing his approach.

Xia Yao stopped what he was doing, and his eyes turned cold.

"Can you agree to what I'm about to say?" Xia Lanyue asked.

"It depends on your performance."

"Okay," Xia Lanyue said, releasing her hand from his grasp, then closing her eyes and kissing him.

Her lips parted slightly, sliding across his, trembling slightly yet filled with unwavering determination.

Xia Yao remained expressionless as he listened, without responding to her.

Xia Lanyue continued kissing him, using her clumsy skills. Just as Xia Lanyue was losing hope and about to stop, unable to sense Xia Yao's feelings, Xia Yao suddenly tightened his arms and responded to her kiss.

His tongue probed into her mouth, pounding against her palate with urgent and forceful movements, before turning to gently bite her lips, as if expressing his dissatisfaction.

"Um……"

The kiss quickly ended with Xia Lanyue's painful groan.

Xia Lanyue licked her lips, a faint taste of blood spreading in her mouth.

She glared angrily at Xia Yao, but Xia Yao remained indifferent.

"Are you satisfied now?!" Xia Lanyue asked angrily.

Xia Yao did not speak.

Xia Lanyue tried to push him away, but Xia Yao held her waist tightly and wouldn't let go, so she couldn't break free.

"Let go," Xia Lanyue said.

Xia Yao seemed not to hear, and still did not react.

Unable to break free, Xia Lanyue simply withdrew her strength.

Thinking of the purpose of her trip, Xia Lanyue's voice softened, "Can you help with Jiang Di's matter?"

Xia Yao stared at Xia Lanyue for a long time before speaking, but his answer was irrelevant: "Xia Lanyue, have you ever been sincere with me?"

Hearing this, Xia Lanyue felt inexplicably heartbroken. His casual remark had negated all her feelings.

She wondered what she had done wrong that made him not feel it? Or perhaps he simply hadn't tried to feel it at all. A surge of resentment welled up inside her, and despite having so much to say, only one sentence came out: "If you don't think it's there, then it's not there."

Xia Yao sneered and released his grip. "What, you're not pretending anymore?"

Xia Yao's voice carried a hint of resentment, and Xia Lanyue knew that he was angry.

However, she also knew that explaining would be useless; explaining would only deepen the misunderstanding between them.

“You’ve only ever used me, whether it was saving Dai You or Jiang Di,” Xia Yao said.

Xia Lanyue sighed helplessly, unsure how to answer.

Receiving no reply, Xia Yao coldly looked at Xia Lanyue and said, "You can leave now."

Xia Lanyue wanted to leave, but with Jiang Di on her mind, how could she leave so easily? "What about Jiang Di?"

"I won't save him," Xia Yao said, turning his back on her.

"What?! You're playing me?!" Xia Lanyue exclaimed anxiously, walking around to stand in front of Xia Yao. "How can you go back on your word?"

"Ha," Xia Yao sneered, even more furious, "Xia Lanyue, do you have a heart at all?!"

"How come I don't have a heart?" Xia Lanyue asked anxiously.

"You care so much about him, but what do you take me for?"

“He is my friend. He helped me when I was in my most difficult time, but you have made things so bad for him. Of course I have to help him,” Xia Lanyue said, her voice trembling with emotion.

"He helps you, and you know how to be grateful. But what about me? I help you, so why aren't you grateful? And why are you treating me like this?"

His words left Xia Lanyue speechless. She began to recall her experiences over the past few days, and after thinking it over, it seemed that Xia Yao had taken better care of her. Thinking this way, her response became less confident, "I... I'm grateful to you too."

"Really? I can't feel it."

"I... am grateful in my heart."

"But what I see is you making things difficult for me because of another man."

“He’s nothing special… no, I don’t mean to make things difficult for you, it’s just that he’s in a very difficult situation right now…” Xia Lanyue was speechless. She didn’t know how to persuade Xia Yao without hurting his feelings, and also to protect Jiang Di. “Waaah…”

This time, before Xia Lanyue could finish speaking, Xia Yao kissed her again.

Xia Lanyue did not resist anymore, not because she could not, but because she did not want to, because she felt indebted to Xia Yao.

Xia Yao gently probed her tongue into his mouth, tenderly entwining it with his tongue, as if pouring out the longing that had been building up in her heart for so long.

He grabbed her arm, wrapped it around his neck, and pulled her arm around him even tighter, pressing them close together with no distance between them.

Gradually, they both became immersed in the moment, their breaths mingling, their kisses growing deeper and more tender.

Xia Lanyue felt her body becoming soft, as if she had lost all strength. Her hands tightly wrapped around Xia Yao's neck, as if seeking a sense of reliance and support. Xia Yao took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue gently tracing patterns in her mouth, bringing her waves of tingling sensations.

Time seemed to stand still; in the dimly lit room, only the rapid breathing of the two could be heard.

After a long while, Xia Yao stopped, their eyes met, and he gently stroked her face, his eyes revealing even more longing.

Without further hesitation, he reached out and untied Xia Lanyue's sash, but Xia Lanyue stopped him in time, saying, "No."

Xia Yao froze in mid-air, looking at Xia Lanyue, waiting for her explanation.

“I… want to wait until after we get married,” Xia Lanyue pushed Xia Yao’s hand away.

"You lied to me again," Xia Yao said, her voice filled with disappointment.

"No," Xia Lanyue raised her head, her eyes firm.

Xia Yao stared into her eyes, as if searching for an answer. Finally, after hesitating, he let go of her hand. "I told you I wouldn't force you. You can go now."

Xia Yao turned his back and stopped looking at her.

Xia Lanyue quickly bent down to tie her belt, but when she looked up again and saw Xia Yao's lonely figure, her heart ached involuntarily. His figure was slender, yet he carried many things on his shoulders, including her expectations.

She couldn't give him much, but he never complained. However, when it came to matters of the heart, he was intolerant of infidelity. But conversely, wasn't that precisely a sign of his love for her?

As for the others, she didn't want to think about them at the moment; all she knew was that she still liked Xia Yao.

She feared that after leaving today, their present state would be one they could never return to.

But what if she doesn't leave? Has she really decided to give herself away?

After a brief moment of hesitation, Xia Lanyue went over and hugged him from behind.

Xia Yao's body trembled slightly, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he turned around.

He suppressed his excitement, "Are you really willing?"

Xia Lanyue nodded affirmatively.

Xia Yao's face lit up with joy, but then his smile froze as if he had thought of something. "Are you doing this for Jiang Di?"

Xia Yao shook her head, and before he could ask any more questions, she kissed his lips.