Before Wu Qing's eyes lay an endless expanse of red.
Inside the room, only two red candles burned on the table, one tall and one short, flickering with an orange - yellow light.
Her fingers were long and fair. She pinched at the buttons as if plucking grapes from a vine, undoing them one by one. Once all the buttons were undone, her soft and tender hands did their work. One pulled off his clothes while the other snaked up from inside, winding around his back and pressing against his spine.
Suddenly, Wu Qing trembled. His heart and soul were lured away by her small hands. His originally warm body grew hot.
"I don't mind if you're dirty," came her soft, low voice, sweet and enticing, making his ears tingle and his heart itch like it was being scratched by a hundred claws.
What was she up to? What on earth did she want to do to him? This little woman was crazy! How dare she provoke him like this! Didn't she know how hard he was struggling to hold back?
Liu Yushu had helped her younger brother bathe once or twice in the past.
Liu Yushu placed Wu Qing's clothes on the chair. She soaked a face towel, wrung it out, folded it neatly to the size of her palm, and gently placed it on his cheek, carefully wiping it. As she traced the shape of his jaw, his lips parted eagerly, and he gasped heavily. She clearly felt his jaw tremble, and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly withdrew her hand.
Out of the blue, a thought popped into her head, shocking even herself.
"What's wrong?" Wu Qing asked nervously when she didn't say a word. He bit his lower lip hard and asked uneasily, "Are you scared by the wounds on my body?" He was really afraid that she would despise him.
He was very strong. His build wasn't the kind of bulky and fat - filled strength, but rather a refined and solid one. Just the right amount of muscle clung tightly to his bones.
Suddenly, Wu Qing was jolted. The soft touch on his lips was like a leaf fluttering by. Her fingers had just grazed his lips.
"Don't toy with me," Wu Qing gritted his teeth, the outlines of his cheekbones protruding. He could hardly bear it anymore.
Liu Yushu's soft eyes took on a tinge of sadness. She whispered, "Does your wound hurt?" She wondered what kind of hardships he had endured in the past to have these wounds of varying depths.
Her pity for Wu Qing grew.
She thought his past must have been very bitter. It took a great deal of perseverance and self - restraint for him to survive.
He didn't answer. He was struggling so hard that his consciousness was starting to blur. He didn't even have the energy to respond to her.
Liu Yushu threw the face towel into the water basin and silently rinsed it. He wasn't dirty at all. After wringing it out, she placed the towel on the edge of the basin. She turned around and saw him lying on the couch, gasping for breath and breathing nervously.
Unconsciously, she balled her hands into fists. Step by step, she walked towards him. She closed her eyes, steeled her heart, and placed her hands on his waist.
The eyes hidden behind Wu Qing's silk belt widened in disbelief, and his body stiffened.
"I've said it before, don't toy with me," his voice quivered, with a hint of pleading in his tone. His heart was a whirlwind of emotions—shock, anticipation, unease, and joy. These emotions were like a net, trapping his heart and making him feel conflicted.
He was gradually succumbing to this "torture" from Liu Yushu. His emotions were on the verge of bursting.
Even for her younger brother, Liu Yushu had never wiped his calves herself. She always asked the maids to do it because of the gender difference.
But the situation was special now. For one thing, there were no maids around for her to order.
"Stop," he hissed through gritted teeth, "Don't toy with me, and don't torture or insult me!" His voice was full of anger.
His calves were numb, and so was his heart. His mind was in a muddle.
Wu Qing was saying the opposite of what he really felt.
Hearing this, Liu Yushu showed annoyance on her face. She bit her lower lip hard and threw the handkerchief at his face.