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Edited on May 25, 2021.

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Nowadays, Xiao Zhi Zhi pampers his eyes daily. He takes good care of his dark circles to the point where Xiao Ren looks at him and sigh.

He never knew that the general cared about his appearance.

While the culprit, Chu Zhu Yu, enjoyed her reward that was given by Xiao Zhi Zhi.

The top grade Jun Shan Yin Zhen tea lah~ Normally, it would be difficult to acquire this tea, but now that the opportunity is here, she should enjoy it.

While Chu Zhu Yu enjoyed her new pleasure, she wanted to let others experience her happiness. So, she also allowed Xiao Ren and Liu Shan to enjoy the top grade tea.

“It really is good tea.” Liu Shan inhaled the fragrance of the tea, and was eager to drink it.

Chu Zhu Yu brewed the tea with expertise, then she gave Liu Shan and Xiao Ren a cup.

After the two accepted the tea, Liu Shan spoke,

“It seems that Lady Chu is an expert at brewing tea, your skills are comparable to a Tea Master at the tea house.”

“Of course, since I was young, I--” worked hard to serve others the best tea at my Tea House.

Luckily, she prevented herself from speaking most of her thoughts out loud. She abruptly changed her sentence.

“--I liked watching other people brew tea, so I often watch the Tea Masters do their job, that’s why I can do it.”

“So that's how it is. I often hear the general say that the tea brewed by the Lady tastes so good, and today I have finally experienced it for myself. The general was right.”

While Liu Shan was drinking the tea, he looked behind him and asked Xiao Ren,

“Come to think of it, where is the general? Why is he not here?"

“This…” Xiao Ren was embarrassed, he didn't know the answer.

“What’s the matter? Did something happen to the general?” Liu Shan got worried as he looked at the embarrassed Xiao Ren.

“No, nothing happened. The general is just treating his eyes right now.”

“What?” Liu Shan hesitated, thinking that he heard wrong.

“The general is treating his eyes.” Xiao Ren replied again.

“Did the general hurt his eyes?”

“That... no. The general wants to remove the dark circles under his eyes.”

Liu Shan felt his jaw drop, since when did the general care about his dark circles? Liu Shan's hands shook, he was afraid that the tea would spill.

“Well, do you want to meet the general?” asked Chu Zhu Yu who was sitting near him.

“Yes, I came to notify the general about the situation in Cong Zhou. The emperor has issued an imperial edict for the general to suppress the rebellion of bandits in Cong Zhou, because of this, the general must depart to Cong Zhou tomorrow.”

“You guys… will go to Cong Zhou?” Zhu Chu Yu whispered. If Xiao Zhi Zhi really departs to Cong Zhou, it means she won't see him for a long time.

When she thought that she can’t see him anymore, she felt empty inside. The warm tea that she enjoyed drinking a moment ago, suddenly felt cold and tasteless, drinking it was awful.

What happened to her? Why was she so affected by the news that Xiao Zhi Zhi was leaving?

Chu Zhu Yu stared blankly at the tea cup in her hand, she couldn't even listen to the conversation anymore.

Her body was slightly shaking…. She felt as if her soul got separated from her body.

———

Why is this bed so uncomfortable?

Chu Zhu Yu thought to herself, her eyes not fully opened.

Yesterday, because of the news that Xiao Zhi Zhi will go to Cong Zhou, she ended up sleeping late.

Urgh… What time is it right now? Why did no one wake me up?

As she complained in her half-asleep state, she immediately heard the sound of a few wheels moving.

Wheels? Why are there also horse hooves mixed within the sound of the wheels?!

“You're awake?”

One beautiful face popped out, it was the general's beautiful face.

Chu Zhu Yu got up. She looked at the carriage's four corners, and suddenly said,

“Why… why I am in a horse carriage?”

She clearly remembered that last night before she slept, she was laying on a big bed in the general's residence.

“We are going to Cong Zhou, of course. We need to go by horse carriage, or do you want to ride a horse instead?” Xiao Zhi Zhi lifted his hand, fixing Chu Zhu Yu's messy hair.

“Going to Cong Zhou?!” she shouted, startled. “I thought only you will go to Cong Zhou, why am I also in the horse carriage?”

“You are going with me.” He said, blinking his eyes, “or is Zhu Yu not willing to go with me?"

“That… I don’t mean it like that.”

Chu Zhu Yu felt her empty heart slowly start to fill up with something again.

Now, she no longer needs to be sad over their separation because from the very beginning, he has decided to bring her with him, together.

“But I didn't prepare anything for a long distance travel.”

“I already ordered a maid to prepare it. As long as we're travelling, you don’t need to worry about lacking anything.”

He looked at her, and habitually pulled her into his chest and cuddled with her.

“Oh! Since you are going to Cong Zhou to suppress the bandits, do you have any injuries right now? Are you alright?” Suddenly, she bombarded him with questions.

Since he is a general, he will often fight in the battlefield. If that is so, then his whole body must have been injured a lot before!

Once Chu Zhu Yu thought about the possibility, her face paled. She suddenly went out of his embrace and grabbed Xiao Zhi Zhi’s collar.

She opened his clothes and pulled down his collar band so that she can carefully examine every inch of his skin.

In Xiao Zhi Zhi's half-naked upper body, his smooth but muscular skin only has a few small scars. The scars are not visible unless someone looks at it closely.

He's still okay.

She sighed with relief, unlike what she first thought, his body wasn't filled with many battle scars.

She raised her head, and their eyes met. In that very moment, she didn't notice his dark circles. Instead, she noticed his eyes that were dark with desire.

“Are you worried for me? Zhu Yu.”

His low, alluring voice sent shivers to her spine. His normally white cheeks were slightly blushing, and his breath fanned her cheeks.

“I…” Her hand nervously grabbed his collar band.

What the heck is she doing! She forcefully stripped a man half-naked, moreover, she did it inside a horse carriage!

“Your collar band… I'll give this back to you.”

Chu Zhu Yu tried to give the cloth back to Xiao Zhi Zhi, but he didn’t accept it. He pulled her into his chest again. His naked, powerful chest came in contact with her.

“Zhu Yu, I like it when you worry for me."

Xiao Zhi Zhi likes her anxious behavior because it makes him feel as if she cares about him.

“Will you worry about me a little more?”

Chu Zhu Yu's head is in a mess. Her nose is filled with his scent. His face is so close to hers, and she could even see her helpless expression in his eyes.

His fingertips are gently rubbing her lips, his warm breath makes her body tremble. If this continues...

She wants to push him away, but his arms were hugging her lower back, preventing her escape. Before she realized what was hapening, his face got closer to hers, and...

“Mmh…”

He kissed her.

Warm lips, soft but strong, made her lose her sanity. Her eyes opened widely and she looked at him again, but the pair of sparkling eyes once again drowned her.

“Be good, open your lips.” His low voice whispered beside her ear.

She couldn't think, she forgets where they are, and obediently opens her mouth.

His tongue entered her mouth, sweeping her to oblivion, not letting go.

“My Zhu Yu only belongs with me.”

His deep voice, casual and soft, captured all of her senses.

(E/R: *cough* ahem...)