Chapter 50: The Cunning Wild Cat

Hua Qinci reached out and patted the wine jar, her face alight with excitement. “Drink? Of course we’ll drink! I haven’t had wine in ages—we have to drink to our heart’s content tonight.” As she spoke, she brazenly pinched Qin Youtian’s handsome cheek. “You need to drink more too! Just have fun. For once, Mother isn’t here, and neither is my cousin. Heehee.”

She’d shed her usual wariness, revealing the innocence befitting her age. Perhaps she didn’t even realize it herself, but she was only ever unafraid when she was with Qin Youtian. She knew he wasn’t a bad person—he was honest, even a bit simple. As for his nightly transformations, she just regarded him as being ill.

She was a doctor, after all; illnesses were meant to be cured, and soon, she was sure she could cure his as well.

Tonight was a good beginning.

Such were Hua Qinci’s thoughts.

Qin Youtian watched her self-assurance with an amused, arching eyebrow, a smile playing at his lips. Even he was startled by his own expression—why was he smiling like this? Everything he had lost, all he had so carefully restrained, slipped out, unwittingly, before her.

Woman, you’re doomed!

He kept his composure, timidly calling for the waiter to fetch them bowls—big ones.

Hua Qinci watched his little act, a contemptuous smile tugging at her lips, as if she already saw herself victorious and basked in the feeling.

Just wait and see—tonight I’ll drink you under the table! Always so smug, always picking on me. I’ll make you tremble every time you see me from now on.

“What do we need bowls for? It’s much more satisfying to drink straight from the jar.” With a flourish, she hoisted the wine jar. “Bottoms up!”

Then she took deep, hearty gulps. “Good wine,” she exclaimed, not forgetting to praise it after drinking.

Qin Youtian’s eyes shone with a starry gleam. Bashfully, he poured two bowls from another wine jar, then raised his cup. “My wife can drink anyone under the table, but I, your husband, am a lightweight. Tonight, I’ll risk my life to keep you company.”

With that, he downed his bowl in one go.

One was eager for quick victory, the other advancing by feigned retreat; each had their own designs.

Hua Qinci kept finding excuses to urge bowl after bowl on Qin Youtian, and he did the same to her. They drank from afternoon until the moon hung high, both surprised at their own stamina, but with the wine bolstering their spirits, neither would admit defeat.

At last, Hua Qinci could no longer hold out—she collapsed. Qin Youtian, triumphant, scooped her up and carried her back to their room.

All the way, Hua Qinci muttered incessantly about revenge. Qin Youtian, a bit tipsy himself, figured she meant to get back at him for drinking her under the table.

Once inside, he laid her gently on the bed and closed the doors and windows.

At this moment, Hua Qinci’s cheeks were rosy, her pink lips murmuring unintelligibly, and her two perfect fans of lashes fluttered with every breath.

Qin Youtian watched her for a while, smiling with his eyes. “Qinci? Qinci?”

“Water! I want water!” She clawed at her clothes, groping as if to get up.

Qin Youtian had already brought her some water. Hua Qinci sat up, startled to see him, but after a moment’s thought, she took the bowl and drank a few sips. Then she handed the bowl back to him and lay down again to sleep.

“What a cunning little wildcat,” Qin Youtian muttered, unable to help himself. Seeing that it was already late, he lay down beside her, still fully clothed.

No sooner had he settled in than Hua Qinci latched onto him as if he were a comfortable pillow, draping herself across him completely.

In the shimmering twilight, wind and rain could not disturb the peace, and a clear blanket seemed to cover all sleeping things, dispelling countless shadows of fear from the darkness.

The cunning wildcat seemed much quieter now, though she kept burrowing into his arms. Qin Youtian’s brow creased slightly; his heart, which had been calm, once again rippled with unease.

Gazing at the wildcat in his embrace, he couldn’t help but capture her small mouth with his.

That soft touch was pure bliss—yielding, inviting, impossible to resist.