Silver and jet-black tresses danced harmoniously in the water as Bai Qingyue's humanoid form filled the narrow tub, his long legs tangling with Li Meirong's in the tight space.

When he shapeshifted, the garments he had worn prior to shifting into fox form had rematerialized on his body. Now, he too had soaking-wet clothes clinging to his broad shoulders.

He allowed his hands to wander. One slithered around Li Meirong's waist and the other gently grasped the back of her neck, and in a single smooth motion he pulled her onto his lap.

Her small, soft body was practically enveloped in his when he leaned her back against his chest.

The mist lingered from Bai Qingyue's transformation, and the position they were currently lying in was quite suggestive. An onlooker might have mistaken them for the subjects of a romantic painting, perhaps one of two fairies lying amorously in each other's embrace.

Bai Qingyue nestled his face into the crook of Li Meirong's neck, inhaling her unique succulent scent. It was addictive to him, almost like a drug.

His wide palm, resting firmly on her stomach, radiated bright, warm light as he transferred his spiritual energy into her, replenishing her drained life force.

As Bai Qingyue did so, he tilted his head, until the breath passing through his slightly-parted lips ghosted along Li Meirong's skin.

She shuddered, but not with discomfort. His tongue flicked against her tender flesh, stealing a taste of her sweetness as his glowing phoenix eyes heated with desire.

He relished the taste that lingered on his tongue and, unable to resist any longer, clamped his mouth down on the side of her throat, gently suckling on her flesh.

Even in her unconscious state, a sudden moan escaped Li Meirong's luscious lips, as if she could feel every sensation. The seductive sound of her voice only increased his craving, his body becoming unbearably hot.

With his mouth firmly attached to his wife's neck, he trailed his tongue across her skin in circular motions, eliciting another sweet response from the sleeping beauty.

This was a special type of torture, he thought. The kind which he enjoyed and suffered from all at once.

Bai Qingyue let out a low, dissatisfied grunt as he struggled to contain himself. He could feel himself hardening just from the smallest taste of her. The cloth covering his groin was barely restraining his growing erection. He adjusted himself to more comfortably accommodate his throbbing shaft, and then moved the hindering garment aside.

Bai Qingyue groaned aloud when he felt his aching member squeezing between the plump cheeks of her backside.

His silver hair spilled around both of them like a curtain, mingling with her ebon locks and concealing the intimate moment.

Sensing Li Meirong's energy restored, and knowing she was now merely asleep, Bai Qingyue chose to gratify them both. He continued his chosen course of action, feeling secure in his righteousness.

She was, after all, the one who had offered herself to him first!

Grasping her small chin with his fingers, he tilted her head to the side for a better angle.

The sound of her gasps delighted him as he continued licking and suckling on the sensitive part of her throat. With her nestled snugly on his lap and his mouth meanwhile carefully exploring the delicate skin of her neck, he allowed his roaming hands to travel to her milky breasts. His lanky fingers tickled her soft, sensuous skin along the way.

He massaged the warm, pale buns, enjoying the weight and feel of her supple softness in his palms.

Li Meirong's nipples were already perked from the cold, wet fabric clinging to her skin. But his loving manipulation of her ample mounds coaxed the sensitive, rosy peaks to harden into tight beads. He brushed his fingers across them, and she let out a pleasured whimper as she shivered helplessly in his arms.

"…mm, feels good…" Li Meirong's barely audible murmur did not escape Bai Qingyue's exceptional hearing.

A burst of masculine pride erupted inside Bai Qingyue. A smug smirk was plastered across his face as he proceeded to tease and pinch the aching buds, making the still-unconscious Li Meirong's breathing to quicken.

It may not, once again, have been the right time to complete the act, but that did not mean he could not gain some sort of payback. Bai Qingyue had a growing list of grievances that demanded reparation from his unruly wife.

The thoughts brewing at the back of his mind gradually resurfaced. Li Meirong's agreement to try to engage him to another, in addition to all of her impudent remarks, had him unconsciously tightening his hold on her nipples. In his growing anger, he tugged at them hard.

How dare she try to marry him off?!

The sudden jolt to Li Meirong's nerves had her legs clenching together as she cried out.

Bai Qingyue paused, unclasping his hungry mouth from her neck. Li Meirong's constant reactions to his action made him wonder if, in her current state, she would answer the questions plaguing his mind.

His curious pondering allowed Li Meirong's nerves a much-needed moment to relax.

"Li Meirong," Bai Qingyue whispered her name, low voice husky as he left a series of small kisses on her cheek.

"Mm…"

Having managed to elicit a reply, Bai Qingyue shamelessly interrogated her.

"Do you love Snowball?"

"Mmhm…"

"Do you love Zhu Qingyue?" he asked brazenly, using the alias his father had bestowed upon him.

"Qingyue… is…" She only mumbled the name, but Bai Qingyue was already becoming excited at hearing her call for him.

Really, truly call for him, not the animal he pretended to be.

The silence lingered.

Impatient, the Sovereign Lord asked again.

"Well, what do you think of him?"

"… is…"

Bai Qingyue's heartbeat drummed in his ears as the moment stretched on, until finally Li Meirong breathed out her answer. It was just loud enough for him to hear.

"… a bastard."