Tyrant

What began as a playful exchange of flirtations, light and teasing, was still relatively restrained—there had been sparks, but never a true blaze. Yet, it seemed that Li Jie, clad in his “Conqueror’s Armor,” looked so irresistibly dashing that Su Mengyao found herself utterly lost in him. This was precisely how she had always imagined her “invincible hero” to be…

“Yaoyao, Yaoyao, didn’t we agree on just a little touching? You—”

“Shh…”

Su Mengyao straddled his waist, pressing a dewy finger to her own rosy lips. Her wide eyes blinked mischievously, their brightness reminiscent of a crafty little fox—only more clever, more enchanting.

She tapped him gently on the forehead, then traced down the bridge of his nose, paused at his philtrum, and finally pressed lightly on his lips. “Do you love me, brother?”

Speechless, Li Jie gazed at her—her cheeks as delicate as peach blossoms, her eyes brimming with spring. He swallowed hard, a sudden rush of saliva betraying his desire.

“Brother…”

Su Mengyao leaned in, her breath warm against his ear, her tongue sliding playfully along his earlobe. Her voice was soft, slow, but impossibly seductive. “This is my first time…”

A white silk painting, unsigned and untouched by brush or color, fell into her hands. It slid down, coming to rest on the edge of the couch.

She seemed almost otherworldly, shrouded in an ethereal air. On that pristine silk, she was the most beautiful sight of all.

No, not just the most beautiful scene—the most beautiful woman.

[Ding!]

[“Superstar System” reminds you: Filming…]

Filming, my ass!

Get lost!!!

Tonight, Li Jie would “remove the conqueror’s armor.”

In a single movement, all that he wore was cast aside—a bow bent, an arrow notched… and loosed!

“My sweet girl, I love you!”

Su Mengyao said nothing—she only bit her lip, gazing at him with unwavering intensity.

Moments later, a soft gasp escaped her. Her brows knit together; though her heart brimmed with joy, her body trembled, her fingertips nearly digging into his flesh.

Clouds gathered and rain fell. When at last the storm abated, Su Mengyao’s soul seemed to return to her body. She hovered between laughter and tears, and when she finally noticed a crimson plum blossom blooming upon the silk, she was so delighted that she clung tightly to Li Jie.

“Yaoyao, are you alright?”

“Mhm.”

She caressed his shoulders, his arms, his back, feeling that he was the finest gift she could ever receive.

In this studio, they had no sense of time or season—no phones, no sun or moon. Their minds floated in bliss, focused only on the pleasure of each other’s company.

Again and again, they forgot the world outside—spring, summer, autumn, winter faded away. It was as if this tiny, secluded haven was their own celestial retreat.

And they were immortals, sharing a paradise of their own.

It was only when their stomachs cried out in protest that they finally reached for a phone to check the time. It was already past nine in the evening.

After tidying themselves, they prepared to go out for a late-night meal. Before leaving, Su Mengyao spread the silk painting on the table. The red plum blossom was already fading.

“What are you doing?” Li Jie asked.

“I want to sketch a composition, paint a picture as a keepsake.”

But it was clear this would take time. For now, she simply wrote a poem across the silk:

A face like a lotus blooms with a smile,
A jeweled duck comb frames fragrant cheeks.
A glance betrays a thousand thoughts.
In her charm and gentle grace,
A letter conveys her secret loves.
Moonlight and shadows promise reunion.

She wrote in “Slender Gold Script,” her brushstrokes sharp as knives, yet they harmonized with the fresh plum blossom.

“All done.” She tossed her brush into the wash and threw her arms around Li Jie’s. “Jie, let’s go for supper.”

“Is everything alright?”

“Of course, why wou—ah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Wait a second.” She turned, grabbed a few tissues, tidied herself, crumpled the paper, and tossed it in the bin. Then she tiptoed up to kiss Li Jie, grinning mischievously. “All right, let’s go.”

Seeing her so lively and cheerful, Li Jie almost wondered if their passionate encounter had been a dream.

Led by Su Mengyao, they found a street vendor selling skewers—a rare, lively spot brimming with the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

As they waited for their food, Li Jie’s mind kept reliving the image of “the conqueror with his beloved concubine.” Having a strong body truly was a blessing.

Without hesitation, he updated his chat profile: Progress 1/12.

Immediately, someone in the “Ten Years of Anti-Fan” group chimed in: “Crab Bro, what’s that supposed to mean? Don’t tell me you’ve finally found a girlfriend without telling us?!”

“You bastard! No honor among men!”

“What happened, what happened?”

“Check Crab Bro’s profile—‘Progress 1/12’!”

“What the hell, you bastard!”

“Crab Bro, this can’t be real, right? Tell me it’s a joke!”

“No way, are you serious, Crab Bro?!”

“I’m done… I’m actually done. Damn it, I need three hundred thousand more for the wedding betrothal gifts.”

“Brothers, I’m muting the group for a month…”

Li Jie, silent and content, opened his mouth for another bite—only for Su Mengyao to stuff a thick, oversized, flower-cut potato sausage into it.

He took a bite, she took a bite—their cloying sweetness was no different from any other affectionate young couple.

As they finished eating, their conversation drifted to the future.

“Yaoyao, are you planning to drop out of Hidden Dragon Art School?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “There’s no good job waiting for me, and it costs a fortune every year. I’d rather quit. I can even get back over two hundred thousand. With that, I’ll have about six hundred thousand saved up. Maybe you could shoot a web series, Jie?”

“I have my own money—at least a few million in savings.”

“Wow, that’s amazing!”

“That’s more than enough to support you, isn’t it?”

“Mhm. I only need two or three thousand a month to get by.”

Li Jie was left speechless. What could he say? This “conqueror” truly couldn’t bear to part with his “beloved.”

He kissed her again, earning a glare from the beef skewer vendor nearby. On such a hot day, slaving over a grill with the fan on, did he really have to be subjected to this?

If they hadn’t spent over two hundred yuan, he would have said something for sure.

In public, flaunting your love—give me a break.

At ten o’clock, Li Jie walked Su Mengyao home. At her door, they shared a lingering five-minute kiss before he reluctantly returned to his dorm.

Back in his room, he sent Su Mengyao a selfie with a simple caption: Back at the dorm.

“Shake, shake, shake” replied with a pouty selfie blowing a kiss: Jie, sleep early~~mua~~

Heh~

Li Jie felt a thrill from head to toe, then dialed Chen Pi’s number: “Pi, are you asleep?”

“Not yet, Li, what’s up?”

“I’m planning to shoot ‘Masked Gourd Hero.’ I’ll send you the outline in a bit.”

“Well, well—what’s gotten into you? It’s not even dawn yet.”

“The world outside is still dark, but in my heart, the sun has already risen.”

“Damn, I can smell the stench of love…”

Chen Pi had seen it all, and he knew—someone had fallen in love.