"You haven't answered my question!"
Yun Xi wriggled in Qi Rong's arms, trying to break free, but his arms were like iron pincers, tightly pinning her down.
"If you'd like to think so, then so be it."
Qi Rong paused slightly, his eyebrows raised as he stared at Yun Xi. A flicker of complexity flashed across his eyes, but his expression remained nonchalant.
With that, he strode towards his own courtyard.
Hearing Qi Rong's answer, Yun Xi was momentarily stunned. After failing to break free, she waited until Qi Rong carried her into the bedroom and placed her on the couch. Then, seizing the opportunity, she nimbly rolled towards the inner side of the bed.
Back pressed tightly against the wall on the inner side of the bed, Yun Xi's beautiful, misty eyes stared warily at Qi Rong.
"Let me make it clear first: I will never share a bed with you until you rescue my father!"
On the way here, this thought had been weighing heavily on Yun Xi's mind. It was the only reasonable excuse she could come up with to reject Qi Rong.
Since theirs was just a deal, she would keep her feelings in check and handle things like a business matter.
Although she didn't think Qi Rong would go back on his word, the thought of their possible intimate actions made her nervous and even scared.
Watching Yun Xi's tense and defensive look, Qi Rong propped his hands on the bed and leaned closer to her, wearing a mischievous smile.
"So, as long as I rescue your father, you'll agree to be with me?"
Qi Rong's tone was ambiguous as he finally trapped Yun Xi between his arms.
Watching his handsome face getting closer and closer, Yun Xi felt as if the air around her was growing thin. She turned her face away, her cheeks flushing red. For a moment, she stammered.
"I, I..."
But she hesitated for a long time and didn't know how to answer Qi Rong.
Yun Xi was embarrassed and instinctively avoided Qi Rong's teasing gaze. However, this only made Qi Rong more eager to tease her.
"What? You were so eloquent when scolding people before. Why are you speechless now?"
Qi Rong had rushed back from Lingchuan to the capital in a fit of anger, but seeing Yun Xi like this, half of his anger faded away.
Unable to resist, Qi Rong reached out and pinched Yun Xi's soft and smooth cheek, turning her blushing face towards him so that he could better observe her expression.
Looking at Qi Rong's incredibly handsome face and meeting the playfulness in his eyes, Yun Xi's heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she stretched out her arms and pushed against Qi Rong's chest.
"Stay away from me. You're taking all the air away!"
Yun Xi pretended to be cold - faced, but her words sounded like a lover's coquetry.
"What? Does my presence make your heart race and your breathing difficult? I never knew I could have such an impact on you."
Qi Rong's eyes were smiling, but he remained still, sitting upright and looking at her leisurely.
Meeting Qi Rong's proud expression, Yun Xi pouted and said angrily.
"Who cares about you? Don't flatter yourself. And don't look at me!"
With that, Yun Xi stretched out her hands and covered Qi Rong's eyes. Qi Rong grabbed her wrists and pulled her into his arms. In an instant, he crushed his lips against hers!
In an instant, Yun Xi lost her breath. Her thoughts were floating in Qi Rong's kiss, like a small boat on the sea, finally swallowed by the waves.
After a long time, Qi Rong reluctantly let go of Yun Xi's slightly swollen lips. His black eyes stared intently at Yun Xi's dazed eyes. His fingers pinched her chin as he said in a deep voice.
"If it weren't for how cute you are, I'd definitely teach you a lesson you won't forget!"
How dare she marry someone else behind his back? Just thinking about it made him furious!
It seemed that after this incident, he had to strengthen the guards around Yun Xi!
Otherwise, if she did something even more shocking in the future, he wasn't sure if he could control his anger and avoid doing something irreparable!
Due to the slightly punishing kiss just now, Yun Xi was still out of breath, and her mind was in a complete mess.
Hearing Qi Rong's words, she was momentarily confused. Was he complimenting or threatening her?
But in Yun Xi's heart, she was still not convinced and couldn't help retorting.
"What right do you have to teach me a lesson? It was you who used me!"
So among the two of them, he was the most excessive one! She hadn't done anything wrong!
"Also, even if I become your concubine in the future, I'm still me. Don't expect me to obey you blindly. That's absolutely impossible!"
Thinking of how Wushuang had nestled in Qi Rong's arms like a timid bird in front of the Prince Xian's Mansion, and the faint fragrance of Wushuang still lingering in her nose, Yun Xi's heart ached.
She suddenly sat up and angrily pushed Qi Rong's shoulder. The disgust on her face was hard to hide.
"You stink. Don't come near me until you take a bath!"
Yun Xi turned her back, her eyes slightly red.
She knew that theirs was just a deal, but it was extremely difficult to suppress her feelings and act as if she didn't care.
She just hoped that before she completely let go of her feelings for Qi Rong, she wouldn't be hurt again and again, made to feel humble and embarrassed!
Despite Yun Xi's complaints, Qi Rong didn't show the slightest bit of anger.
Looking at her slender shoulders, Qi Rong's heart softened. A feeling of pity welled up in him, and he hugged her tightly, ignoring her struggle.
Qi Rong rested his chin on the crook of her neck, breathing in her faint fragrance. His heart was filled with an unusual sense of satisfaction.
"I know you hate me, and I know you must have had a hard time these days. But you know, I have my reasons. There are things I have to do! And I won't change my decision for anyone."
Saying this, Qi Rong couldn't help but let out a sigh. His long fingers caressed Yun Xi's fair neck, tracing the marks he had left. His eyes were filled with regret.
"Apart from you."
Feeling Qi Rong's helplessness, Yun Xi sniffed and shouted angrily.
"You're lying!"
At this point, he still wanted to deceive her?
If she was truly unique in his heart, why did he use her against her father without caring about her feelings?
And why did he deliberately humiliate her and make her his concubine?!
She used to think that as long as they truly loved each other, the title didn't matter. So even before she married Qi Rong, she still liked him and felt secure as long as he was by her side.
Over time, she became more and more dependent on him. Even in Lingchuan, she stayed up all night, racking her brains to come up with strategies for him.
She really wanted to help him and make his life easier, but how did he treat her?
It couldn't be simply described as "hateful" or "despicable"!