The door burst open and a strong pair of arms immediately encircled Li Meirong's narrow waist from behind. She felt a hot breath fan across her neck, followed by a soft brush of lips pressing on her skin. All of her previous thoughts stopped in their tracks.

A warm rush of reassurance pressed against her. She could smell him before she could see or hear him. Just from his scent alone, she knew who it was.

Li Meirong unconsciously grew limp in Zhu Qingyue's arms as she leaned her head back against the broad span of his chest. To her, it felt as if she was sinking into him, melding with his solid warmth.

His masculine scent invaded her senses. It made her feel safe, and at the same time, a little perplexed as a new feeling aroused within her, becoming slightly turned on by his body odour.

The softness of Zhu Qingyue's lips disappeared as he raised his head. A few strands of gossamer hair fell over her forehead, tickling her nose.

'So he didn't leave.' she thought, releasing a breath she didn't even know she had held. The constant beating of his heart comforted her, easing her confusion.

"Playing around on the cold floor is not good for your health," scolded Zhu Qingyue, unknowingly ruining the tranquil moment. He scooped Li Meirong into his arms and sat her back on the bed, wrapping her tight with a blanket.

Li Meirong turned her head and gave him an exasperated look. "Who is playing around?!"

Sadly, she didn't sound half as angry as she wanted to, since her voice came out squeaky and a little raspy.

"Stay put," ordered Zhu Qingyue as he strode into the compact kitchen area and poured water from one of the jugs into a cup.

Li Meirong's face darkened. She couldn't budge even if she wanted to. Not only could she barely move her fatigued limbs, but he had also wrapped her up like a tightly packaged sushi roll!

She sighed and looked to the front, staring at his ramrod back, and thought something seemed a bit different about Zhu Qingyue this morning. He was leisurely pouring water, his every movement filled with artistic elegance and grace she had grown to expect. A part of his ivory wrist was bare to view as he raised up the jug ever so slightly, slowly tilting it downwards. Just that small glimpse of his skin made her throat feel dry.

Zhu Qingyue did nothing out of the ordinary, but even so, he was astonishingly beautiful, casting a spell on any pair of eyes that dared look his way.

However, his enchanting looks weren't what held Li Meirong's gaze captive. It was something else which she couldn't quite put her finger on. Her silver-haired senior possessed a tranquil air about him, a serenity which she hadn't seen before. He looked fresh, radiant, and composed. As if for him, all the problems in the world ceased to exist.

Once Zhu Qingyue returned with the cup, he lifted the bundled up Li Meirong and brought her to sit on his lap. One arm snaked possessively around her waist, restraining her in place.

He then brought the cup to his own lips and blew his breath on it. Steam began to waft from the water inside.

"Drink." He delivered the cup to Li Meirong's lips.

Li Meirong frowned at him, pursing her lips together. Wasn't it just water he poured for her? He made it seem like he was providing her with precious medicine.

"What is it?" she asked with suspicion.

"It will aid your recovery." He inclined his head, gazing at her with an unfathomable look in his eyes.

Li Meirong didn't listen. She childishly turned her face aside and sulked. "This is all your fault anyway..."

"Wife is right. It is all this Husband's fault." Zhu Qingyue's magnetic voice reverberated from his chest. "But first you must drink, then you can beat up your husband."

The bundled up Li Meirong narrowed her eyes at him and huffed, completely uncooperative. If she could have petulantly crossed her arms, she would have. However, seeing as she was frustratingly bundled up, she could do no such thing.

Zhu Qingyue met her gaze. His customary unreadable expression began to alter with a little rise to the corner of his mouth, creating a sinister smirk on his bewitching face. He was savouring the moment, relishing in this silly bickering as if it was the best possible way to spend his time.

Li Meirong raised a questioning eyebrow as Zhu Qingyue raised the cup towards himself and poured the liquid into his own mouth.

For an instant, it seemed as though he had given up on trying to persuade her.

Then, he forcefully pried Li Meirong's lips open, sealing her mouth with his own as he drove the hot water down her throat.