Chapter 66: Three-Way Standoff

Jiang You'an wrapped her arms around Su Mingxiu's neck, tilting her face up to kiss his lips.

Su Mingxiu was completely inexperienced in such matters; he only felt that Jiang You'an's lips were exceptionally soft. His eyes fluttered open and closed, allowing him to clearly see her picturesque features and delicate, flawless skin. The desires in his heart were inevitably stirred, and he parted his lips unconsciously, slowly responding to her.

Just from a mere kiss, his entire body had grown hot.

Jiang You'an's hand moved downward, sliding past his jaw to his neck, her slightly cool fingertips resting upon his Adam's apple, gently stroking it.

Unable to bear it, he let out a ragged breath.

That soft hand continued downward, slipping into his collar like a gentle feather brushing against his chest.

"You... You'an..."

Jiang You'an looked up at him, "Hmm?"

Her eyes were filled with tender affection, shimmering with moisture. When she smiled and looked at him, Su Mingxiu's mind went blank for a brief moment.

He held Jiang You'an's waist and took the initiative to kiss her back.

The surrounding air grew sultry; the two pressed tightly against each other, their breaths entwine.

Su Mingxiu had painted many portraits of beauties for Jiang You'an, but none of them could compare to the vibrant, breathtaking reality before him, which left him utterly intoxicated.

With her eyelashes lowered and a hint of shyness on her face, Jiang You'an untied her outer garment, exposing a snow-white shoulder, and reached out to hook her fingers into Su Mingxiu's belt.

Yet, Su Mingxiu's gaze suddenly regained a trace of clarity, "Wait..."

Jiang You'an looked at him, "What is it?"

Su Mingxiu gently pressed his lips together, "We only need a story to fool my parents. The final step... must wait until after we are married."

Knowing that he was looking out for her, Jiang You'an pressed no further.

"Very well."

Su Mingxiu still held her close, his burning gaze lingering on her shoulder. Unable to help himself, he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss there.

He rested his chin on Jiang You'an's shoulder and asked in a low voice, "May I hold you for a little longer?"

Jiang You'an smiled softly and murmured an assent.

The two of them leaned against each other quietly, feeling each other's warmth.

Only Lu Xuanheng, standing outside the door, felt ice-cold all over.

He had guessed that Jiang You'an had mostly likely come to meet Su Mingxiu, but he never expected that they would actually...

Right before his eyes, Jiang You'an had thrown herself into Su Mingxiu's arms; they had embraced, kissed, and undressed each other...

Whenever Jiang You'an was with him, she always wore an expression of pain, resistance, and unbearable suffering. Yet when she was with Su Mingxiu, she was so deeply moved and passionate.

If she truly liked Su Mingxiu so much, then what was he?

Lu Xuanheng clenched his fists so tightly that the blood rushed straight to his head.

He would never allow anyone else to possess Jiang You'an—not unless he was dead!

He longed to rush in immediately, but his legs seemed nailed to the spot, until the door of the bamboo cottage finally opened and Jiang You'an and Su Mingxiu walked out.

Both sides caught sight of one another. Su Mingxiu's first reaction was to shield Jiang You'an behind him, while Jiang You'an, seeing Lu Xuanheng's utterly gloomy expression, stepped in front of Su Mingxiu instead.

Seeing them holding hands and protecting each other, Lu Xuanheng felt a stinging pain in his eyes.

He gritted his teeth from the back of his jaw and asked with a chilling tone, "Cousin, didn't you say you were going to the estate's garden to enjoy the flowers? What are you doing running all the way out here? Could it be... the household can no longer satisfy you?"

Hearing his ambiguous insinuation, Jiang You'an glanced at the unlatched window and realized that Lu Xuanheng must have witnessed everything earlier, making her feel a pang of guilt.

Sensing Lu Xuanheng's anger, Su Mingxiu wanted to step forward and explain, "Young Master Lu..."

"Pay him no mind." Fearing that Lu Xuanheng might blurt out something unthinkable in his extreme rage, Jiang You'an just wanted to get Su Mingxiu away first.

She linked her arm through Su Mingxiu's and said softly, "Let's go."

Su Mingxiu nodded, and the two turned to leave together.

However, Lu Xuanheng could not possibly tolerate Jiang You'an ignoring him like this. As she passed by him, he grabbed her wrist fiercely, "Cousin, being so disobedient is truly giving me a headache."

Jiang You'an stiffened all over.

Such an action was far too intimate no matter how one looked at it.

She hastily tried to wrench her hand free from Lu Xuanheng's grasp, "Let go!"

Lu Xuanheng refused to loosen his grip, while Su Mingxiu frowned and said, "Young Master Lu, You'an came out to meet me to discuss our marriage."

He did not know that the "disobedience" Lu Xuanheng spoke of wasn't merely sneaking out, but Jiang You'an understood the underlying meaning all too well.

She hurriedly said, "Cousin, I'll return with you right now."

Yet Lu Xuanheng pressed on aggressively, "You may return your body, but has your heart returned as well? Why don't you clear everything up right here in front of Young Master Lu today?"

Jiang You'an looked at him, anger burning deep within her eyes.

Was he intending to force her to expose all their sordid secrets?

Su Mingxiu had no idea what Lu Xuanheng was talking about and remained completely baffled.

Just as the three of them were locked in a stalemate, Madam Su hurried over.

She had arrived in a towering rage, but upon seeing the current situation, she found herself utterly bewildered.

Fearing that things would spiral out of control beyond redemption, Jiang You'an quickly gave in to Lu Xuanheng, casting him a pleading look.

With a cold face, Lu Xuanheng finally released her wrist.

"You suddenly ran off without a word. When grandmother couldn't find you, she was worried sick."

Lowering her head, Jiang You'an murmured, "It was my fault. I will go back right now."

She glanced at Su Mingxiu, and he gave her a slight nod.

She then curtsied to the arriving Madam Su and left in the company of Lu Xuanheng.

Once everyone else had departed, Madam Su finally let her anger erupt, furious, "You've grown quite capable, colluding with your personal servant to deceive me. What, if I had arrived any later, were you planning to elope with someone?"

Lowering her gaze in silence, Su Mingxiu replied quietly, "I only wanted to see her. Why must Mother push things to such extremes?"

Looking at his increasingly emaciated face, Madam Su felt a pang of heartache, yet she kept her stern expression and said, "See her if you must. After all, you are leaving for Jiangnan tomorrow, and from now on, you will have no more dealings with each other."

With that, Madam Su turned to leave.

Su Mingxiu followed closely behind her, his voice drifting lightly, "Mother is speaking far too late, I'm afraid. We have already shared an intimate relationship."

Madam Su halted in her tracks, turning back stiffly to stare at him in disbelief, "What did you say?"

Feigning calmness, Su Mingxiu spoke with utmost solemnity, "Her purity has been given to me; I must marry her."

Madam Su nearly choked on her breath, trembling as she pointed a finger at him, "You—you... Go home!"

...

Jiang You'an accompanied Lu Xuanheng as they left. Lu Xuanheng boarded the carriage first, and she hesitatingly followed him inside.

Though she felt a twinge of guilt, she reasoned there was no need to feel guilty before Lu Xuanheng; she ought to stand her ground instead.

As soon as she sat down, she took the initiative to strike first, "Su Mingxiu came to find you earlier—why didn't you tell me, and why did you claim in my name that I wanted to break off the engagement?"

Without answering at all, Lu Xuanheng grabbed her and pulled her straight into his arms.