Chapter Twenty-Five: The Sensual Detoxification Method (An Explosive Turn of Events...)

If someone happened to walk past the car at this moment, they would certainly have found the scene inside to be extraordinarily ambiguous: a beautiful young woman, bare from the waist down, knelt on the seat with her hips raised in an utterly tempting and criminally seductive posture, while a man crouched behind her, his eyes glinting with desire, and bit down on her shapely bottom.

Long Fei spat out a mouthful of blood, now darkened, then frowned and pressed his lips to her again. By now, Ye Qian seemed to realize that Long Fei was helping her by sucking out the poison. Though her heart swelled with gratitude, she only wept harder.

After two minutes of regulating his breath, Long Fei pressed both hands tightly on either side of Ye Qian’s wound. Pure yang energy surged into her body, forcing more dark blood to ooze from the injury. He wiped away every last trace, then mopped the sweat from his brow, helped Ye Qian dress, and settled her gently to one side.

At that moment, Ye Qian’s heart was a tangle of emotions. Clearly, Long Fei had just saved her life, but the manner and process of that salvation left her deeply conflicted. What weighed on her mind was not her survival, but how she could ever face Long Fei again. Should her attitude toward him change now?

After all, the most private part of her body had been both seen and kissed by him. What was she to do now? Should she expect him to take responsibility? The more she dwelled on these thoughts, the more her tears fell, though her sobs grew softer.

“Miss Ye, could you stop crying? I’m exhausted after saving you, and you’re still crying? Honestly, I don’t know what debt I owe you from a past life. I’d only just arrived in Shanghai, and your father immediately summoned me to be your bodyguard. It’s only my second day and I’m already sucking poison out of you! That was your backside, not your face, you know. Do you understand?”

Long Fei wasn’t sure if he was trying to comfort or rebuke her—either way, he was feeling rather out of sorts. To others, it might look like he’d taken advantage and was playing innocent, but he truly was a little frustrated. After all, he’d just saved someone’s life, and not only did she not thank him, she seemed to resent him even more. He particularly hated when women cried, and Ye Qian, usually so feisty, was now sobbing uncontrollably. Wasn’t she supposed to be a little devil? Why was she crying?

Ye Qian continued to weep, but seeing the sweat pouring from Long Fei’s brow, she felt a twinge more grateful toward him.

“All right, all right, the poison is out now. You were tormented by croton oil and I sealed your meridians, so after I unseal your acupoints, you’ll feel weak for a while. After we get home, I’ll prescribe some medicine and you’ll recover quickly. But after I unseal your acupoints, don’t make trouble for me, okay? It’s almost midnight—if we don’t get back soon, your mother will worry herself sick.”

When Ye Qian made no objection, Long Fei carefully unsealed her acupoints. Two of them were on her chest and lower abdomen, but he had no time for embarrassment. As soon as he finished, he readied himself for any outburst.

To his surprise, Ye Qian didn’t attack him. Instead, she stifled her tears, shifted her sore hips with a small moan, then turned her head and said quietly, “Thank you.”

Long Fei was baffled. Had the little devil changed her nature? Why wasn’t she fighting back? He found it a bit disconcerting.

Still, it was for the best, and Long Fei was delighted. He quickly started the car, and as they neared home, Ye Qian straightened her skirt and wiped her tears.

Dream Garden.

Qi Yufei was more anxious than anyone else. She hadn’t let Ye Qian out for so long, and now, on her first day out, something had happened. She was certain Ye Qian was in trouble. She’d called Ye Qian’s mobile countless times—at first, no one answered, and soon it was switched off. Calling Li Yan, she’d been told Ye Qian had already returned home.

Ye Wentian had just arrived overseas today, so Qi Yufei didn’t call him, but if anything serious happened, she knew she couldn’t keep it from him. He doted on Ye Qian most of all.

She was about to send people out to search when someone reported that Long Fei had returned with Ye Qian.

Qi Yufei rushed out, rehearsing how she’d scold her wayward daughter—and Long Fei, the bodyguard. But when she saw Ye Qian, all her anger vanished. She could plainly see her daughter’s legs trembling as she walked, her face pale and body weak.

“What happened?” Qi Yufei frowned and hurried to help Ye Qian into the living room.

“Mum, I’m fine. I just want to go upstairs and rest.” Ye Qian tried to appear composed, but each step was a struggle. What she lacked now was strength.

Qi Yufei shot her daughter a reproachful look. “You really think you can fool me? You think I can’t see something’s wrong? Come, I’ll help you to bed. Then you’re telling me exactly what happened. And Long Fei, you come too!”

Long Fei agreed, helping Qi Yufei settle Ye Qian onto her bed.

Ye Qian’s bedroom was cozy, with posters of Hou Mengdie on the walls, several plush dolls on the bed, and pink curtains and bedding. A few wind chimes hung by the window, tinkling softly and lending the room a dreamlike quality.

The little girl clearly knew how to decorate, though the dolls spoke to her loneliness. It was common for the children of wealthy families to lack friends and affection.

Noticing Long Fei’s curious glances, Qi Yufei grew displeased. “Didn’t I tell you to keep Xiao Qian safe? How did she end up like this?”

“Madam Ye, it’s not like I wanted this to happen. If you want the truth, you should ask your precious daughter—it has nothing to do with me!” Long Fei’s “Madam Ye” made Qi Yufei’s heart ache a little, though this was a secret only she and Ye Wentian knew.

Long Fei felt wronged—he’d saved someone, yet was being scolded. He couldn’t be bothered to explain; if it came to that, he was the real victim. If Ye Qian’s scheme had succeeded, he’d have been in trouble.

“Mum, it’s not Long Fei’s fault. Don’t blame him!” Maybe she felt guilty, or maybe she feared Long Fei would expose her plot, but Ye Qian hurried to defend him. This left Qi Yufei puzzled. Just that afternoon, her daughter had hated Long Fei, and now their relationship seemed much closer.

“You’re still lying to me. Tell me the truth—what really happened?” Qi Yufei insisted on knowing.

Ye Qian refused to answer and feigned sleep. Long Fei had no choice but to explain, “Here’s what happened—Ye Qian was bitten by a venomous snake on the way home. That’s why we were late.”

“No—” Ye Qian tried to stop him, but it was too late. Her cheeks flushed crimson and she blurted, “Mum, I want to sleep. Please, both of you, leave!” She burrowed under the covers, refusing to show her face.

When Qi Yufei heard her daughter had been bitten by a snake, she panicked. “Why didn’t you take her to the hospital? Long Fei, help her up—I’ll arrange a car right now!”

“No need. I’ve already drawn out the poison. She just needs a couple of days’ rest. I’ll prepare some medicine for her later,” Long Fei replied coolly. Still, seeing how anxious Qi Yufei was, he felt a little wistful. If a woman as exquisite as Qi Yufei cared for him like this, he wouldn’t mind being bitten by a snake—on the bottom, no less. Maybe then she’d use her mouth to suck out the poison for him, too.

“You? You can treat this? I still think it’s safer to go to the hospital!” Qi Yufei’s eyes widened in disbelief, unaware that Long Fei, though serious-faced, was entertaining all sorts of inappropriate fantasies.

Long Fei sighed, “So you don’t trust me?”

Qi Yufei was suddenly moved—Long Fei’s expression and mannerisms reminded her so much of an old acquaintance that it pained her.

“No, no, I trust you. I just think a hospital would be best. Where did the snake bite her? Let me see if the wound is inflamed!”

Qi Yufei tried to pull back Ye Qian’s covers, but Ye Qian clung to them tightly, her head buried, shouting, “Mum, I’m fine! I know I’m fine. Please go, I want to rest!”

“How can I relax if I don’t check? I must see. And how did Long Fei draw out the poison? Was the wound disinfected? It’s so hot these days; it might get infected!” Normally, Qi Yufei was never this fussy—clearly, when it came to her daughter, she was as anxious as any mother.

Long Fei felt his scalp tingle. If he stayed any longer, he’d have a hard time explaining, so he quickly took his leave.