Inside the bandit's lair, she still dared to defy the bandit chief.
Xiao Guiyu looked up. A tall, imposing man stood at the door against the light. The golden light of dusk shone on him, Xiao Guiyu could even see the fine hair on his face.
His brows were drawn down, and those fierce phoenix eyes stared directly at her.
Xiao Guiyu suddenly sat up straight, her spine was ramrod straight as she met Qi Zhi without arrogance or servility.
"Xiao Guiyu." Qi Zhi suddenly called her, his voice deep and his gaze flickering with uncertainty.
"I hear you haven't eaten all day?"
Qi Zhi sat down at the table, noticed the overturned teacup, and lifted the teapot. The little girl hadn't even drunk any water.
Xiao Guiyu let out a cold snort, said sarcastically—
"I wouldn't dare eat anything from you bandits." Who knows what tricks they might pull next!
Stubborn girl, trying to be stubborn with me.
Qi Zhi's sharp eyes noticed her chapped lips, and in just one day, her chin had grown noticeably thinner.
Qi Zhi picked up the teacup, twirled it in the air, and asked while suppressing his anger, "Not even water?"
Xiao Guiyu lowered her eyelids, remaining silent. Her beautiful hair fell messily around her neck, making her skin appear even whiter.
After two days without proper food, Xiao Guiyu's face had taken on an abnormal pale hue.
Qi Zhi stood up and approached Xiao Guiyu with a strong sense of oppression. She was sitting on the edge of the bed with nowhere to retreat. She looked at Qi Zhi with a serious face, and her eyes gradually became alert.
Xiao Guiyu had a typical melon seed-shaped face that thinned quickly at the chin when she lost weight. Having gone without food for two days, even the slightest weight loss was noticeable to Qi Zhi.
He reached out and gripped her chin.
His fingertips sunk into the soft flesh of her chin. Qi Zhi rubbed his fingers twice and frowned, saying, "You really have lost weight."
Xiao Guiyu jerked her head away from his hand, glaring at him with round eyes. This detestable man, knowing nothing of propriety or shame, kept pinching her chin again and again.
"Come here, eat something." Qi Zhi beckoned to her, his tone relatively gentle.
Xiao Guiyu didn't even notice that Qi Zhi was coaxing her like a child. She remained silent, staring at Qi Zhi with bulging eyes, but didn't respond to him.
Qi Zhi brought the food to the table, then leisurely poured himself a cup of tea.
He swirled the tea in his mouth, letting it moisten his tongue before swallowing, "I met my brother-in-law today."
Brother-in-law?
Xiao Guiyu's expression turned puzzled for a moment before quickly realizing he meant her brother, Xiao Guize.
Seeing her expression change, a faint smile flickered in Qi Zhi's eyes. Even the anger he felt at her self-abusive behavior dissipated.
Qi Zhi continued in an unhurried tone, teasing her, "Now that you're mine, isn't Xiao Guize my brother-in-law?"
Hearing this, Xiao Guiyu gritted her teeth, and clenched her fists tight, "Shameless." What a shameless bandit!
"I have nothing to do with you. Don't you dare spread such nonsense outside," Xiao Guiyu suddenly got angry, threw a pillow at Qi Zhi. What a scoundrel!
Qi Zhi caught the pillow with one hand, and brought it to his nose for a light sniff. Though Xiao Guiyu had only slept in his bed for one day, his pillow was already stained with Xiao Guiyu's fragrance.
Seeing his action, Xiao Guiyu suddenly blushed, her gaze flickered as she sprang up from the bed's edge as if it had burned her.
Qi Zhi taunted, "After sharing a bed, now you're acting shy?"
From the beginning, Xiao Guiyu had been confined to his room, no wonder the people of Qi Family Stronghold were gossiping about him secretly keeping a treasured beauty.
Qi Zhi's room wasn't particularly large; when Xiao Guiyu stood in the open space, she was barely two meters away from him.
Qi Zhi took a sip of tea, looked at Miss Xiao with a slight smile on his face.
Qi Zhi stood up and approached Xiao Guiyu.
Their interactions seemed to always follow this pattern since they met.
Xiao Guiyu stepped back half a pace, and her calves hit the bed edge. She felt embarrassed and frustrated, her gaze flickered as she dared not look directly at Qi Zhi.
If this bandit tries to do something…
Just when Xiao Guiyu was worried and thinking wildly, her wrist was suddenly grabbed by Qi Zhi. Qi Zhi pulled and easily brought her into his arms.
He swept her up into his arms.
"Ah!" Xiao Guiyu cried out in surprise, and struggled to get out of his arms.
However, the next moment, Qi Zhi carried her to the table. Miss Xiao's petite frame fit perfectly in his arms.
Qi Zhi chuckled softly, deliberately making the teacups clink as he poured fresh tea into a new cup and brought it to Xiao Guiyu's lips.
Xiao Guiyu's cheeks flamed red as she glared at him in angry embarrassment: "Qi Zhi!" Being held like this was truly mortifying.
"Xiao Guiyu, don't force me to get rough," Qi Zhi raised an eyebrow, deliberately putting on a stern face to frighten her.
Qi Zhi had a fierce face, and when he was serious, he looked ferocious, but when he looked at Xiao Guiyu, his eyes were filled with subtle tenderness.
Xiao Guiyu curled her lips, and touched the teacup with her chin. Qi Zhi shook his hand slightly, and the tea spilled all over the floor.
Qi Zhi looked at the half-empty teacup, then at her parched lips, and brushed her lips with his fingertips.
Xiao Guiyu was shocked and closed her lips tightly.
Her legs were trapped between his, her entire body was in his arms. Xiao Guiyu's eyes hardened, and seizing her chance, she bit down on Qi Zhi's arm.
"Xiao Guiyu, are you a dog?" Qi Zhi drew in a sharp breath but held the petite woman even tighter.
After a moment, a bruised bite mark appeared on Qi Zhi's muscular arm. A triumphant gleam flashed in Xiao Guiyu's eyes as she threatened fiercely, "Let me go."
Qi Zhi's eyes flickered slightly as he drank the remaining half cup of tea, and held it in his mouth.
His large hand stroked Xiao Guiyu's back, forcefully pulling her body against his chest. Qi Zhi lowered his head, Qi Zhi lowered his head, pressed his lips against hers, and then tried to pass the tea to Xiao Guiyu.
Xiao Guiyu hadn't expected this scoundrel would try to make her drink the remaining tea this way!
Her pupils contracted. She kept her lips tightly sealed, and the pale green tea dribbled down her chin and onto her delicate collarbone.
The tea continued downward, sliding to...
In mere moments, her clothes were soaked through.
"Mmph—" Xiao Guiyu pushed against Qi Zhi's chest with her hands, shuddering as the cold tea slid down her body.
As she trembled, Qi Zhi took advantage of the moment to pry open her teeth, and his tongue lingered in her mouth, attacking her fiercely.
Qi Zhi held Xiao Guiyu tight, leaving her nowhere to escape. Her struggles seemed to become a form of teasing, igniting Qi Zhi's desire.
The kiss deepened, and a look of desire clouded Qi Zhi’s eyes. His gaze as he looked at Xiao Guiyu was intense and dark, like a wolf about to devour its prey.
The kiss left Xiao Guiyu breathless and disoriented, tears welling up in her eyes. Her face, naturally pink and lustrous, took on a dreamlike look in the dim twilight, like shimmering golden light dancing on water.
At some point, Qi Zhi suddenly released her, letting Xiao Guiyu collapse weakly in his arms. Her red lips parted repeatedly as she panted.
Xiao Guiyu's hands were tightly clenched, and her eyes were filled with fear and apprehension as she spoke hoarsely through her sobs, "Qi Zhi, let me go."
Seeing he had bullied her too harshly, guilt flashed in Qi Zhi's eyes, instantly replaced by his usual cold handsomeness as he said in a husky voice, "Sorry, but I won't."
After speaking, Qi Zhi adjusted her sitting position, and held Xiao Guiyu in his arms again as he silently poured more tea.
He brought the fresh tea to Xiao Guiyu's lips, the meaning was self-evident.
Remembering what had just happened, Xiao Guiyu's eyelids trembled. After a long silence, she finally lowered her head and sipped obediently.
Seeing her finally willing to drink water, Qi Zhi's brows relaxed slightly. He then handed food to her, half-closed his eyes and sniffed the fragrance on her body, whispering:
"A'Yu, you shouldn't play with your health."
Xiao Guiyu and Xiao Guize were twins.
Qi Zhi originally thought Xiao Guiyu was naturally petite, but after seeing Xiao Guize during the day, he learned that Xiao Guiyu was somewhat frail and prone to illness if not properly cared for.
Hearing him call her 'A'Yu', crystal tears suddenly fell from Xiao Guiyu's eyes as she choked out: “You… you bastard.”
After their struggle, the food had long since gone cold. Qi Zhi rubbed his brows and temporarily let Xiao Guiyu go, "I'll go heat this up."
As he spoke, Qi Zhi picked up the food and left, not forgetting to close the door behind him.
However, he didn't lock it.
Xiao Guiyu noticed this, her eyes flickering slightly, unsure whether it was intentional or not.
She got up and peered through the half-closed door to find guards still stationed outside the courtyard. Her eyebrows drooped as she rubbed her rumbling stomach, abandoning thoughts of escape.
When Qi Zhi returned and saw her still sitting honestly in place, a relaxed smile touched his brows as he teased, “If you behave, you’ll suffer less.”
Xiao Guiyu glared at him, her mind racing with worry about what to do that night. Would she have to sleep in the same room as the bandit chief?
Qi Zhi placed two bowls of noodles on the table. Seeing the fresh food, Xiao Guiyu's eyes widened in surprise, "Did you make this?"
"No." Qi Zhi denied flatly, saying without changing expression, "Third Aunt made it."
Hearing this, Xiao Guiyu didn't ask further.
This time, she honestly picked up the chopsticks and ate slowly.
Qi Zhi watched for a while, and seeing her eating the noodles obediently, he sat down on the other side of the table, discreetly brushing flour off his hands under the table.
Xiao Guiyu caught his subtle movement from the corner of her eye. She glanced down at the steaming noodles, and felt a twinge in her heart.
After they finished dinner peacefully, Qi Zhi finally spoke about serious matters, "In a few days, you'll come with me to Wucheng."
Though Xiao Guiyu had only recently returned to the country, she had heard from the bandits these past two days that Wucheng was the territory of Commander Chen.
Xiao Guiyu put down her chopsticks and asked Qi Zhi, “What are we going there for?”
Qi Zhi lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing at her lips which became moist and glossy from eating the noodles, and said, "To hand you over to Xiao Guize."
Hearing this, Xiao Guiyu's eyes instantly brightened. She looked at Qi Zhi intently, and said cheerfully, "Really?!"
"Mm." Qi Zhi made a soft sound of agreement, and lowered his eyes to hide his thoughts.
Before Xiao Guiyu could notice the subtle abnormality in Qi Zhi's expression, he continued, "If you behave yourself in the stronghold these days, I naturally won't make things difficult for you."
Xiao Guiyu snorted coldly, countering: "What did you discuss with my brother?"
This damned bandit was using her as a bargaining chip with her brother. If his demands were too outrageous, she would rather die than harm her brother and the Xiao family.
Qi Zhi gave her an ambiguous smile, and once again touched Xiao Guiyu's chin with his right hand as he spoke teasingly, "Talked about when I should welcome you into the house."
"Shameless." Xiao Guiyu tried to swat away Qi Zhi's right hand but was caught by him instead.
Qi Zhi leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers.
Meeting her eyes, he suddenly narrowed his own and quoted: “To die under the peony flower, even as a ghost, is romantic.”
Rogue!
Xiao Guiyu cursed inwardly, quickly pulled back her hand and retreated until she was two meters away from Qi Zhi.
"My brother never does a losing business. If you dare to touch me, my brother will definitely not let you go."
At this point, Xiao Guiyu paused, suddenly straightening her spine as if finding courage, "As for your deal, don't even think about it."
Watching her spirited display, Qi Zhi let out an amused snort. He threw out a casual “I’m going to wash up”, and left the room.
Just then, the Third Aunt came in with a tub of hot water for bathing. As she collected the bowls and chopsticks, she said, "Miss Xiao, you should also wash up and rest early."
"Young Master has been busy these past few days, and hasn't slept for two nights straight." Third Aunt muttered.
Xiao Guiyu's eyes flickered slightly, but she stubbornly cursed, "Serves him right."
Who asked this bandit leader to kidnap me to the mountain and use me to threaten the Xiao family?
Hearing the young lady curse the Young Master, the usually kind-faced Third Aunt turned silent, closed the door and went out with a cold look.
"Young Master treats you well with good food and drink, you really don't know what's good for you." Third Aunt walked away while loudly complaining, deliberately letting Xiao Guiyu hear, hoping the little girl would be more sensible.
Xiao Guiyu certainly understood, but from her perspective, she was kidnapped by this scoundrel Qi Zhi and his gang of bandits.
Just as Xiao Guiyu was about to retort, the door suddenly opened, and the man himself appeared before her, bare-chested.
"Ah!" Xiao Guiyu quickly covered her eyes.