Volume One, Chapter 23: Allegory

Gu Huaixu’s sudden advance caught Jiang Wan completely off guard.

“H-husband…”

She instinctively wanted to stop him, but the tremor in her voice only added fuel to the fire.

“Husband is here,” Gu Huaixu replied, his kisses trailing downward. “I’ve made you wait long enough. I’ll satisfy you right now.”

With that, he lifted the thin blanket covering Jiang Wan.

The dim light traced the exquisite curve of her body; her long curled hair and the gap in her nightgown revealed the fair, delicate skin beneath.

Gu Huaixu was momentarily transfixed.

After a brief pause, he pressed himself eagerly and somewhat clumsily against Jiang Wan, rubbing haphazardly over her.

This day had finally arrived.

Jiang Wan forced herself to suppress the discomfort in her heart, feigning bashful shyness. “T-turn off the light…”

She bit her lip and reached for the bedside lamp switch.

As the room plunged into darkness, she used the motion to open the drawer in her nightstand.

It was better for this to happen while Gu Huaixu was drunk.

As long as there was blood on the sheets, as long as she acted convincingly enough, she could get away with it.

Gu Huaixu was intoxicated with excitement.

Jiang Wan, too, twisted open a bottle cap, dipped her finger inside, and withdrew a capsule, waiting quietly for the right moment.

But…

Gu Huaixu kissed her all over, yet in the end, his passion faded and nothing happened.

“H-husband?”

Jiang Wan saw him sitting silently on the bed and tentatively asked, “What’s wrong?”

Her heart leapt into her throat, fearing he had discovered her trick.

But Gu Huaixu simply drew her hand closer.

“Sweetheart, what should I do? I think I drank too much. I can’t muster any energy…”

Jiang Wan’s palm was burning.

But that was all—only heat remained. The vigor from moments ago had vanished.

It wasn’t that he drank too much; it was simply that he’d overdone it.

Jiang Wan didn’t know whether to feel relieved or regretful.

The capsule in her other hand had grown soft and sticky from her nervous sweat, threatening to burst at any moment.

She dared not move, only wanting to hurry things along.

Life or death, let it be swift.

Just as she hesitated whether to help him further, Gu Huaixu deflated like a balloon and suddenly collapsed beside her, falling asleep.

“Sweetheart, another time.”

He closed his eyes, holding her, greedily inhaling her scent.

“I’m just too tired, or maybe… it’s the alcohol these past few days.”

Gu Huaixu’s consciousness grew faint, but he still insisted o