Linyue didn't even know what world they were in anymore. Was this reality? A dream? Or some strange realm where dangerous man with unfairly charming smiles ignored all rules of self-control?
At some point, her brain managed to float back long enough for her to mumble, "Fifteen… minutes…"
She meant to say more. Like how he had clearly gone way over the time limit. How their so-called deal was shattered into pieces. How he was a menace who didn't care about basic arithmetic. But she couldn't. Because Shu Mingye kissed her again, stealing away the last shreds of her logic. In the end, she gave up counting. She let him do as he pleased, for however long he wanted, while she melted in his arms, utterly and completely defeated.
Shu Mingye looked down at the flushed Pie curled against him. Breathless. So overwhelmed she seemed ready to drift into another dimension. Her eyes were closed like she had just finished running ten laps through heaven. Honestly, he was proud of himself. It was his best work yet. He grinned, smug and unashamed, then leaned down to press a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Pie," he murmured, still catching his breath, "do you want to bathe first… or get your beauty sleep?"
Linyue opened her eyes slowly. Her voice came out in a small mumble. "Both."
Shu Mingye let out a low laugh, warm and full of delight. "So greedy?" he teased, brushing her hair away from her cheek. "Then… do you want more?"
Her eyes flew open properly this time. She gave him a sharp, sleepy glare. Not very threatening, since she looked like a very tired dumpling. "You said fifteen minutes," she whispered accusingly.
"You didn't complain."
"You distracted me," she grumbled.
"I thought we agreed on extra," he said seriously. "Fifteen minutes... plus bonus."
She groaned and buried her face in his chest. "I want a refund."
"No refunds," he said smugly, wrapping both arms around her. "You already cashed in."
"Scam," she muttered into his skin.
He chuckled again, proud and victorious. Despite her sleepy threats, she didn't move away. If anything, she curled in closer, warm and soft against him.
Chaos couple: still teasing, still no beauty sleep, still thriving.
Despite the scam. Despite the shameless false advertising. Linyue still got her warm bath in the end. That smug man, her future husband (unfortunately or fortunately?), turned strangely obedient after declaring victory. He bathed her carefully, dressed her in soft night robes, and tucked her into bed like he was trying to earn bonus points for being a decent human being.
She couldn't complain. Mostly because she didn't feel like moving. Or lifting her arm. Or blinking too hard. Now, he was pulling the blanket over her like a responsible adult. A rare sight, really. Then he slid under the covers beside her like someone who definitely didn't just break every part of the fifteen-minute agreement. He wrapped his arms around her, glued himself to her as always, and buried his face in her hair.
Linyue sighed in a very sleepy, very surrendered way and snuggled right into his chest. Warm. Comfortable. Possibly sedated by affection.
Shu Mingye rested his chin lightly on her head. Her scent made him lose his mind a little every time. Sweet and clean, like gardenia after the rain. Somehow it managed to be both dizzying and calming at once. Like being drunk while trying to meditate.
Her breathing was slow and steady now. She had already drifted off, completely at peace in his arms. He smiled, satisfied, his heart ridiculously full. If only time could stop at this moment, in this quiet night, with his Pie safe and warm beside him... it would be perfect. With that thought, Shu Mingye finally closed his eyes and let sleep take him, still wrapped around the woman who somehow made a Demon King feel like home.
As usual, morning came too fast. Or in this case, it was less about the sun and more about being scammed into a "fifteen-minute" deal that had suspiciously turned into hours of no escape.
The first golden rays of morning light peeked through the window, soft and warm. Linyue opened her eyes slowly, her body still heavy from physical exercise and betrayal. She shifted a little, barely enough to count as movement, and immediately came the deep, half-sleepy voice beside her.
"You always wake up too early, Pie."
Of course. The clingy glue Demon King had been activated.
"It's not early," she murmured, her voice scratchy from sleep. "We just slept too late."
Shu Mingye chuckled, the sound low and smug. "Then next time, I'll extend the extra all the way until morning, so there will be no more too late."
Linyue's eyes opened wide. "No way. You can't."
"Of course I can," he said confidently, rolling over to face her. "Can't you tell I've been very considerate all this time?"
Linyue turned her head slowly to stare at him. "Considerate?" she repeated. "You?"
Shu Mingye grinned, absolutely shameless. "I didn't even claim interest on your sleep debt. That's called mercy."
She narrowed her eyes.
Shu Mingye, undeterred, reached out to pull her close again. "But I'll accept payment in kisses. Just a small fee. Very reasonable."
"Shameless," she mumbled into his chest.
He smiled proudly. "That's what you like about me."
Unfortunately, he wasn't wrong. Linyue knew it, and worse, he knew she knew it. That smugness was radiating from his skin. With a long-suffering sigh and a few soft kisses, she tried to strike a new deal.
"I'll go back to my chamber," she said sweetly, fingers tapping his chest. "Just to tell the others we're leaving in two days."
Shu Mingye didn't answer. He just stared at her, suspiciously quiet. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if calculating whether he should demand a leaving fee or a bribe.
Of course Linyue caught the look. She wasn't new here. She leaned in and pecked his lips before he could even open that shameless mouth.
"There. Fee." Then with another quick kiss to his cheek, she added, "And this is for the bribe."
Shu Mingye laughed, warm and satisfied. "Fine. You win."
Linyue slipped out of bed and walked behind the screen to change her night robes.
A beat passed. Then—
"Why are you changing over there?" Shu Mingye asked lazily from the bed, head propped up on one hand.
"Where else should I change?" she replied from behind the screen, already knowing what nonsense was coming.
"In front of me," he said with no shame. "I can help you."
"No need," she answered lightly. "How can I let my king do something so menial?"
Shu Mingye raised an eyebrow. "I already did it for you. Twice."
"Exactly," Linyue answered back. "Which is why you deserve a break today."
Shu Mingye chuckled. "You're getting better at this."
Linyue stepped out from behind the screen in fresh robes, her face calm and composed. "I had good training," she replied.
Shu Mingye grinned as he watched her leave. Robes neat, back straight, completely ignoring the fact that she had just scammed him with two tiny kisses and escaped.
Chaos Couple Update: The Pie escaped. One smug, shameless king left behind on the bed. Again.
Linyue strolled back to her chamber like a perfectly calm and reasonable person. She opened the door without hesitation. Inside, the others had abandoned all serious brooding and quiet meditating. Instead, they were having what could only be described as a full-scale tea party.
As usual, Song Meiyu was the first to spot her. "Sister Linyue!" she sang out, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "How was your night?"
Linyue narrowed her eyes. "Good," she replied simply.
Then she stepped inside like nothing scandalous had happened, sat down gracefully, and poured herself a cup of tea like a noble lady. Definitely not someone who had narrowly escaped a second "extra fee."
Song Meiyu blinked. "That's it?"
Linyue sipped her tea and announced calmly, "We're leaving in two days."
Song Meiyu gasped so hard her teacup nearly fell. "That quick?"
Linyue gave a small nod. "He said it's too slow."
Song Meiyu clutched her chest. "He's really determined to marry you quickly. I support this. I fully support this!"
He Yuying, lying sideways on the floor with a rice cracker between his fingers, didn't even look up. "Your support is loud," he muttered.
Before the tea party could turn into a full gossip storm, Shen Zhenyu spoke up. "Last night, Soup Man sent news."
Linyue turned her head to him at once. "What kind of news?"