Chapter Ninety-Three: A Night of Madness

The dishes on Uncle's dinner table were few, but hearty. There was an old hen stewed to perfection, a stir-fry of fresh greens from his own garden—emerald-colored mustard greens and crisp white radishes—and dried wild mushrooms paired with thin slivers of red chili.

"We don't have much to offer a guest of your stature in the countryside. Please forgive our humble hospitality," Uncle said. He puffed on his hand-rolled tobacco, his face etched with wrinkles that were filled with genuine delight. With such an esteemed guest present, he made an effort to restrain his usual coarse language. Li Ying looked at the table, her eyes brightening immediately.

"There are so many wonderful dishes! It smells heavenly," Li Ying said. She had brought the wine herself and now placed it on the table. "Uncle, I’ve come all the way from Guangzhou. I didn’t bring any formal gifts, just these two bottles of wine I picked up in town."

"How could I ever accept such a thing?" The old man’s eyes crinkled into slits as he smiled, hearing the fairy-like Li Ying call him 'Uncle.' "You come from a big city; I don’t know if you’re used to our rustic country cooking. Please, sit, take the seat of honor."

Li Ying, unfamiliar with the customs of country dining, was about to take the designated seat when Le'er hurriedly stopped her.

"Uncle, you are the elder, so naturally, you should take the seat of honor."

"You little rascal, of course the guest of honor should sit there."

Li Ying was incredibly sharp; she realized immediately that there were strict rules regarding the seating.

"Uncle, we are the younger generation; how could we possibly take the seat of honor? You must sit there," she said with a warm laugh. "Besides, I’m not a guest of honor. Le'er calls me big sister, so you are my elder. Just call me your niece from now on. My surname is Li—it’s better if you call me Li Ying."

These few words left the old man beaming with joy, and he readily took his place at the head of the table.

After the meal, feeling somewhat tired, Li Ying returned home. The yellow dog walked ahead, its tail wagging rhythmically; despite Li Ying being a stranger, it treated her like its own master, fawning over her. The night air was chilly, and having had two small cups of homemade wine, Li Ying’s cheeks were flushed. The breeze made her feel slightly dizzy.

"Le'er, I think I’m drunk."

Le'er quickly steadied her. "Sister, let me carry you."

"No... people might see us. It would be so embarrassing."

"It’s the dead of night; there isn't a soul around. Who would see?"

Without further ado, Le'er hoisted Li Ying onto his back. She giggled, feeling immensely happy. Nestled on his back, she wrapped her arms around his neck. It reminded her of the time she had been injured and he had carried her, a memory that filled her heart with sweetness. Had it not been for that accidental injury, she and Le'er would never have ended up together.

"Le'er, do you like me?"

"I do. I’ve dreamed about you several times."

"I like you too, Le'er."

As she spoke, Li Ying kissed him on the cheek. Le'er felt a surge of emotion, his body swaying slightly. They soon reached home, where Le'er finally set her down.

"Le'er, I need to bathe," Li Ying said, taking off her trench coat. "Is it easy to wash up here?"

"The bathing room is over there. Take a look," Le'er said, pointing happily to the room on the east side of the courtyard. "I’ll go heat up some water for you."

Le'er trotted off to the garden to fetch water, filling the large cauldron to the brim and stoking a roaring fire.

"Le'er, let me help with the fire," Li Ying said, walking into the kitchen with enthusiasm. "I’ve never tended a fire like this before."

The two sat side by side by the hearth. Li Ying kept stuffing firewood into the furnace, but the flames only grew weaker. Le'er taught her how to tend the fire, explaining that she shouldn't pack it too tightly; the fire needed space to breathe to burn brightly.

Li Ying quickly grasped the technique. The firelight cast a warm, reddish glow across her face, and this entirely new life felt wonderfully novel. The scent of her perfume drifted into his nose, leaving him distracted and restless.

"Le'er, your facilities here are actually quite complete," Li Ying remarked while tending the fire. "I was worried there wouldn't be a place to bathe. That large wooden tub is beautiful! I’ve used one like it at a hot spring before, but I never expected to see one here."

The tub was lacquered a beautiful red. Women always found such atmospheric touches charming. Soon the water was hot, and Le'er carried it bucket by bucket into the washroom. The water was scalding, so he added a couple of buckets of cold water.

"Sister, do you want me to scrub your back?"

Watching Li Ying take her toiletries into the room, and catching glimpses of her powder-white undergarments and cotton pajamas, Le'er grinned, his expression thick-skinned and expectant.

"You little rascal, keep dreaming."

Li Ying pushed him out. Le'er laughed and went to fetch more water, pouring it into the iron pot to heat. Every few minutes, he would run to the door of the washroom, listening to the splashing sounds inside and imagining her beautiful, supple body.

"Sister, is the water still hot? Do you need me to pour in more?"

"No, you little rascal!"

Li Ying almost moaned aloud. She soaked in the large wooden tub, scrubbing her beautiful skin, and as she listened to Le'er’s footsteps, she felt her body softening, unable to restrain the flames rising within her.

"Sister, are you finished? Do you want me to help you out?"

Finally, Li Ying let out a soft moan and fell silent. Seeing she wasn't responding, Le'er went back to stoking the fire with a grin. Eventually, the washroom door opened, and Li Ying emerged, wrapped in her pajamas with a towel over her hair.

Le'er came running from the kitchen.

"Don't come over here! Go wash up quickly; you smell like sweat."

Le'er sniffed himself; he did indeed have a heavy scent of perspiration. He quickly poured the remaining bathwater into the tub, washed his hair, applied soap, and scrubbed vigorously. After rinsing off, he slid into the tub.

While he bathed, Li Ying lay on the bed and opened a book. However, after a long while, though her eyes were on the page, not a single word registered in her mind.

"Damn it... what am I thinking about?"

She scolded herself in frustration, but she still couldn't focus. The door creaked, and Le'er walked in. He was wearing only his briefs. Her eyes fell on his sturdy, well-proportioned body, especially noticing the distinct bulge in his briefs. A wave of warmth rushed to her lower body, and she quickly clamped her legs together.

"What are you doing here?"

"I’m here to sleep with you, Sister."

Le'er smiled shamelessly, locked the door, and climbed onto the bed. She stopped pretending to read, and Le'er’s hands reached boldly beneath her clothes.

"You rascal... mm..."

"Sister... I’ve missed you so much." Le'er quickly stripped away her pajamas. "You smell so sweet."

"Le'er... be gentle..."

Li Ying was no longer in control. Ever since Le'er had left Foshan, she had followed suit, first traveling to Japan and South Korea, then resting in Guangzhou. The longing she had tried to suppress had only flared up again. She had always been confident in her self-control, but she couldn't understand why she was so helpless against her desire for him.

Her long, fair fingers gripped Le'er. The flames burned in waves, and she no longer had the strength to restrain herself. The sensation of his entry washed over her, leaving her dizzy. She gripped his body tightly, her nails digging into his skin.

Her moans turned into cries. Less than three minutes had passed before she plummeted from the clouds into the valley of ecstasy. Her entire body felt boneless, and her fingers lost all strength.

Le'er flipped her over, entering from behind and resuming his rhythmic thrusts. At first, she supported herself with her hands, but she soon grew overwhelmed again. Waves of pleasure pushed her toward the peak, her head shaking, her long hair tossing. Her arms gave out, and she had to lower her head, shifting her weight to her forearms.

"Le'er... Sister can't take it anymore... mm..."

Le'er had no intention of being gentle now. He changed positions, gripping her waist and letting her hips sit atop his body.

Li Ying seemed to lose all consciousness. With her face tilted back and mouth slightly agape, her eyes hazy, her beautiful body was tossed wildly by Le'er, like a small boat caught in a fierce storm, repeatedly thrown toward the summit of pleasure.

"Le'er... spare me... I can't... oh..."

Wave after wave of impact, surge after surge of pleasure—she drifted from clarity into a daze, and back again. She didn't know how many times she had peaked. Finally, as a rush of searing heat flooded her, she fainted amidst the intensity of their union.

"Sister..."

Le'er kissed her lips gently, and she slowly drifted back to consciousness, though her body felt as if it no longer belonged to her. She lay in his arms, unable to move.

"Le'er, let me sleep for a while."

Soon, both drifted into a sweet slumber. Li Ying slept soundly; she hadn't slept this peacefully in a long time. When she was awakened again by Le'er, the faint light of dawn was filtering through the windows.

"Le'er, no more."

She kept her legs tightly closed, her hands shielding herself from his advances.

"Sister..."

Le'er began to kiss every inch of her skin. Despite her fear, she couldn't help but feel electric shocks darting through her, and she couldn't help but moan. When his lips latched onto her breast, her body trembled involuntarily.

"Le'er... don't..."

But Le'er had no intention of sparing her. Her hands were pushed aside, and her tightly clamped legs were pried open. As he entered her once more, the pleasure flooded her like a rising tide. The contrast between them was striking: she was as fair and flawless as carved jade, while he was dark-skinned, glowing like polished obsidian.

Both bodies were aesthetically stunning—one powerful, the other enchanting—entwined together. One was ferocious, the other whimpering and yielding, enduring the storm-like intensity.

The first rays of sunlight hit the curtains as they continued their frenzy. Outside, birds sang with melodic beauty, but the sounds inside the room grew higher and more piercing. When the final cry escaped her lips, Li Ying collapsed back into the bedding, her voice barely a whisper.

"Le'er... I need to sleep..."

Le'er smiled as he looked at the beautiful Li Ying, tucked her in, and climbed out of bed with light, silent steps. Despite the madness of the night, he remained full of vitality.