Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 721: Consultation

Huang Rong’s pretty face flushed scarlet with embarrassment. Her small mouth opened and closed a few times, yet her heart was filled with self-reproach and guilt, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing her in such a daze, Song Qingshu quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Great Hero Guo, I was drinking water so hastily that I didn’t expect to disturb you.”

“Drinking water?” Guo Jing was taken aback. That didn’t sound at all like the noise of someone gulping down water. However, he wasn’t the type to pry. Upon hearing Song Qingshu’s explanation, he replied, “I was just making casual conversation—please don’t mind, Song Qingshu.”

“How could I?” Song Qingshu laughed. “Great Hero Guo, you just take a good rest. Madame and I will go over to West Poison’s place to get to the bottom of things.”

Guo Jing’s face showed hesitation. “Song Qingshu, Ouyang Feng is a man of formidable martial prowess and skilled in poison. I hope you’ll look after Rong’er later.”

Turning around, Song Qingshu cast a glance at Huang Rong, his smile growing even more radiant. “Don’t worry—I will definitely take good care of her.” He deliberately stressed the word “care.” 

Guo Jing didn’t catch his true meaning, but Huang Rong understood perfectly, and she instinctively shot him a fierce glare.

Stirred by that little look, Song Qingshu gently took her small hand and led her out. 

Huang Rong, caught off balance, staggered as she walked, bidding her husband farewell, “Brother Jing, I’m off now.”

Oblivious to the real situation, Guo Jing smiled and nodded. “Rong’er, be careful on your way, and remember to follow Song Qingshu’s instructions.”
‘Follow that b*stard’s orders?’ Huang Rong almost wanted to pinch her husband. If she truly obeyed Song Qingshu’s arrangements, he’d undoubtedly have her end up somewhere compromising.

Instinctively, Huang Rong glanced back at Song Qingshu. Noticing that he was, as if sharing a secret understanding, looking at her, she shifted her head away guiltily and mumbled, “I’ll act according to the situation.” Fearing that her husband might unwittingly say something to further embarrass her, she quickly hurried away as soon as she finished speaking.

Once outside, as the cool night breeze brushed against her, Huang Rong finally realized how feverish her cheeks had become. Seeing Song Qingshu trailing closely behind her with a playful grin, she instinctively stamped her foot and retorted, “What are you laughing at? Are you really that pleased?”

Song Qingshu merely shrugged. “Since Great Hero Guo has already told you to follow my arrangements, of course I’m happy.”

Huang Rong glared at him in annoyance, then suddenly broke into a charming smile. Stepping close, she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and, as if lacking any strength, clung to him. “Then how do you plan to arrange me?”

Her unexpected boldness took Song Qingshu by surprise. After all, she’d previously always carried herself like a wronged, timid little wife. This sudden, proactive display left him both startled and uncertain. “Rong’er, are you… are you all right?”

“Just now you teased me like that—and now you’re acting all proper?” Huang Rong snorted coquettishly. Recalling the absurd scenes from earlier that night, her face reddened even further. “Hmph, I’ve figured it out: the more I put on a resisting act, the more it seems to turn you on—and I just never behave the way you want.”

A strange glimmer flashed in Song Qingshu’s eyes as he thought, ‘Huang Rong really is Huang Rong; she’s already figured me out so quickly…’ After his moment of astonishment, he recovered and reached out to lift her chin, studying the charming young lady in his arms from above. “Rong’er, your resistance has its own allure, and your submission is equally enticing. I never expected you to adapt to our relationship so soon. Since that’s the case, shall we—”

“No… don’t!” Huang Rong cried out, her beautiful expression falling away in shock.

She wriggled free from Song Qingshu’s embrace without much difficulty, but then paused, noticing the playful, teasing smile still lingering at the corner of his mouth. Indignantly, she chided, “You… you deliberately played with me.” ȒάℕổᛒƐꞩ

“Who wouldn’t love teasing you?” Song Qingshu drawled, deliberately elongating his words.

Rolling her eyes at him, Huang Rong let out a soft sigh. “Tonight, you’ve already gotten your way. We can’t keep playing with fire like this—just now we almost got exposed. If Brother Jing were to see me… looking like that, how could I ever have the face to live?”

“It was all spur-of-the-moment; I never expected my nerve to be that bold,” Song Qingshu admitted, still a bit shaken by his own daring actions.

“Do you really think I could ever forget it?” Huang Rong murmured sorrowfully, then turned away to stand in silence.

Noticing her silence, Song Qingshu realized he had indeed pushed things too far earlier. Hastily, he stepped forward to apologize, “Rong’er, tonight was my fault. I promise I won’t f0rce you to do anything you don’t want to do again.”

But Huang Rong wasn’t so easily convinced. Coolly, she replied, “Young Master Song, your martial prowess is peerless. Even if you were to entertain any wicked thoughts in the future, I would be powerless to resist. So what’s the point of you saying these things now?”

Song Qingshu gave an awkward smile. “That scenario isn’t entirely impossible…” Seeing Huang Rong’s eyebrows almost shoot up in indignation, he quickly added, “Rest assured, Rong’er—even if I were to entertain any dark notions, I would consult you first. If you disagree, I would never force you.”

“Really?” At last, a trace of delight appeared in Huang Rong’s eyes.

“A gentleman’s word is as binding as a galloping horse’s whip,” Song Qingshu said in a low tone.

“Bah! If you were truly a gentleman, then all the gentlemen under heaven wouldn’t be worth a damn!” Huang Rong spat, bitterly recalling how she had once, without a care in the world, treated him as a gentleman—only to have him… do that to her. The bitterness was simply inexpressible.

Smiling, Song Qingshu pulled her back into his arms. “I was indeed a gentleman before we became intimate. Only after we shared that closeness did I reveal another side of myself. Few in this world have ever seen that side.”

“Bah, as if I should be honored to witness that side of you!” Huang Rong instinctively struggled a couple of times, only to find herself still held in his embrace. With a sigh, she yielded.

If it had been the old her, she could never have imagined letting any man other than Brother Jing hold her. But now, being cradled by Song Qingshu, she felt no discomfort at all—the warmth and breadth of his chest even gave her a sense of security.

A shiver ran through her, and she promptly suppressed some inexplicable thoughts. To divert her mind, she asked, “Song… have you figured out how to get the antidote from West Poison?”

Song Qingshu didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “What did you call me?”

Huang Rong immediately turned her head away, pressing her lips tightly together. Truth be told, she wasn’t sure how to address this man at that moment—Young Hero Song? Young Master Song? He hardly gave the appearance of a martial sect leader; and “Brother Qingshu”? There was simply no way she would call him that, even if her life depended on it.

“Rong’er, from now on, just call me Qingshu in private—it’s neither overly intimate nor too formal,” Song Qingshu suggested.

Hesitating for a moment—realizing that such an address wasn’t too much trouble—Huang Rong nodded.

Then Song Qingshu laughed. “Rong’er, given the feud between you both and Ouyang Feng, there’s no way he’ll hand over the antidote to us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get it.”

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