Chapter 130: A Complete Confession

“Smack!” A solid, unmistakable slap landed, making her butt sting so badly she felt like puffing up and jumping away.

Mo Qi sniffled, looked up at Shen Yijue with a pitiful gaze, and complained, “It really hurts.”

But could this pain compare to the ache in his heart when he discovered her feigned warmth was just a ruse to escape?

Knowing full well she was playing the pity card, he still couldn’t bring himself to continue hitting her.

Shen Yijue released his hand, and Mo Qi noticed his anger seemed to have diminished considerably. Tentatively, she moved slightly and found no resistance, so she quickly scrambled to her feet.

She sat down beside Shen Yijue, stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye.

He sighed helplessly inwardly, but his face remained stern and handsome. “Where are you hurt?”

“Nowhere! Nowhere!” Mo Qi shook her head vigorously like a toy, cautiously trying to appease him. “How about you? Why did you come up the mountain at night in the rain? It’s so dangerous.”

“You know it’s dangerous?” Shen Yijue gritted his teeth, casting a cold glare at her.

Mo Qi’s playful smirk vanished, and she fell silent.

After a long pause, Mo Qi was the first to speak again. “Let’s go back to camp. I’ll take care of your scratches.” She turned her head to Shen Yijue, seeking his consent.

The flashlight flickered and went out, casting a faint shadow over Mo Qi’s delicate face.

Shen Yijue looked at her.

Puzzled, Mo Qi touched her face. “What’s wrong?”

Before she could finish, Shen Yijue suddenly leaned in, one hand bracing against the ground, the other gently gripping the back of her head, and kissed her.

It was all so familiar.

Mo Qi froze in place, forgetting to pull away, offering no resistance.

Shen Yijue kissed her softly before pulling her fully into his embrace. “I’m sorry.”

Mo Qi snapped her head up, thinking she must have heard wrong.

Shen Yijue pressed her back to his chest, speaking quietly. “I acted on my own feelings without considering yours. That was wrong of me. I’ll be more mindful in the future.”

Leaning against his warm, solid chest, Mo Qi blinked in disbelief. The tyrant was actually apologizing to her? Though it felt awkward and reluctant, this was incredibly rare coming from his domineering nature.

“Speak! Who are you? Why are you impersonating King Shen?” Mo Qi suddenly jumped up, gripping Shen Yijue’s neck with a serious expression, demanding answers.

“Ugh.” Shen Yijue gasped, shooting her an exasperated glare.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t notice the wound on your neck.” Mo Qi quickly released him, no longer joking around. She used the torchlight to examine the cut on his neck.

It was a long gash, still bleeding slightly—probably scratched by a branch.

“It's so long—I wonder if it’ll leave a scar.” She carefully cleaned away some rotten bark debris from the wound, then blew gently on it. “Blowing on it makes it hurt less.”

Seeing her tender expression, Shen Yijue’s mood finally brightened completely.

Mo Qi looked up at him.

Their eyes met, and without reason, Mo Qi’s heart clenched as if gripped by a giant hand, making it hard to breathe. Her usually clear mind grew dizzy and light.

Shen Yijue moved closer.

His familiar scent brought an inexplicable sense of peace.

Mo Qi slowly closed her eyes.

Since he was on her mind, she decided to lower her guard a little. For him, she’d try once more. Just once.

Feeling Mo Qi’s change, Shen Yijue’s heart swelled with joy.

Her emotional barriers broken, Mo Qi grew bolder. Shen Yijue caught her restless hands firmly.

He wanted to, but couldn’t here—at least their first time couldn’t be in such a filthy, chaotic place. Besides, it wasn’t sanitary and would be bad for her health.

With her hands held, Mo Qi lifted her eyelids slightly to look at him.

Her eyes narrowed, a mix of curiosity and dissatisfaction.

Her lips, having endured long kisses, were lush and moist, her exquisite face flushed with a rosy blush—utterly seductive.

Shen Yijue felt a torment akin to a cat’s claws scratching at his heart, aching to claim her then and there.

Mo Qi leaned in to kiss the corner of his mouth; this mischievous woman was clearly teasing him on purpose!

“Pleasure is fleeting and the day soon dawns; from now on, the king will neglect morning court,” he had once scoffed at this saying. Now, gazing at Mo Qi, he only wished to devour her utterly, to merge her into his very being.

Though his blood boiled with desire, Shen Yijue forcibly restrained himself, kissed her gently, and soothed in a soft voice, “Be good. It’s dirty here, bad for your health. Listen to me.”

Mo Qi knew Shen Yijue meant well, pouted and grumbled a bit but reluctantly withdrew her hand from his trousers. “You start a fire but don’t put it out, hmph.”

Shen Yijue felt the discomfort himself but found it amusing. “It’s usually men who are impatient, not women like you. No, you’re the female seducer.”

Mo Qi laughed and deliberately lifted Shen Yijue’s chin, teasing, “Who told you that King Shen is unparalleled in beauty and grace, so tempting? I’m just an ordinary mortal—how could I resist your deliberate seduction?”

“I’m suffering more than you. Don’t provoke me,” Shen Yijue said with a smile in his eyes. He took her hand and pulled her close, feeling the emptiness inside him slowly fill.

If Guan Min knew Shen Yijue had let Mo Qi off so easily, he would surely mock him mercilessly—he wasn’t sure who had threatened to break someone’s legs out of anger.

The mountain night was still chilly, and after sitting for a while, both felt cold.

“You have a lot of scratches. Let’s go back to camp and clean them,” Mo Qi suggested.

“I didn’t bring any luggage.”

“I can tell,” Mo Qi rolled her eyes and muttered, “Since they already know where I am, coming a day late wouldn’t have made a difference. Why risk coming up the mountain at night in the rain? It’s so dangerous.”

“I just wanted to catch you and give you a good beating. I wasn’t thinking beyond that.” Shen Yijue stood up and pulled Mo Qi to her feet. “Besides, you’re so cunning. Maybe if I’d come a day later, you’d have run off again.”

Mo Qi touched her nose. “If you weren’t so domineering, keeping me tied to your side, I could have run.”

“I’ll try to be more mindful from now on,” Shen Yijue said earnestly, holding her hand.

Mo Qi felt a sweet warmth in her heart and squeezed his hand back. “Let’s go, back to camp first.”

They turned on the flashlight and headed down the mountain, but after a long walk, they still couldn’t find the camp with lights on.

Surrounded by darkness, Mo Qi finally admitted, “I think we’re lost.”