Volume One, Chapter 11: Devour Everything I Give You

Not forcing her? Was she imagining things?

“Oh.”

Perhaps he was joking with her.

Chu Linyuan had been born into privilege, accustomed to getting whatever he wanted by any means necessary. How could he ever wrong himself?

The man’s brow lowered as he brought his face close to Lin Qingwan’s, his eyes deep and star-like.

His handsome features came into view, making Lin Qingwan’s heart skip uncontrollably.

In the previous life, she fell for his appearance at first sight. Now, with him so close—

“What… are you doing?”

The narrowing distance allowed Lin Qingwan to clearly feel the man’s lips near hers. She tilted her head slightly, gripping the embroidered quilt beneath her. Was this not forcing her?

Unable to dodge, Lin Qingwan gave up struggling and closed her eyes, waiting for him to continue.

“May I kiss you?”

Hearing Chu Linyuan’s words, Lin Qingwan couldn’t help but open her eyes. Why did he have to ask? How was she supposed to answer?

“No…”

The refusal slipped from her tempting lips. Chu Linyuan was not surprised.

He withdrew from in front of her, his eyes full of disappointment, yet feigning strength as he sat on the edge of the bed to comfort her.

“Don’t be afraid. If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you.”

Startled, Lin Qingwan opened her eyes to see the clearly disappointed man smile at her with a mixture of indulgence and helplessness. She felt somewhat flustered.

Now, Chu Linyuan’s gaze was filled with nothing but her, leaving her unsure how to respond.

“Your hand needs bandaging.”

“Are you feeling sorry for me?”

His tone lifted, the corner of his lips curved slightly, and the affection in his eyes was intoxicating.

“No.”

She wouldn’t pity him. If she did, he would suffer terribly.

Turning her face to the other side, she expected him to get angry again, but she waited in vain for any outburst.

Unable to resist, she looked back and saw the man’s face full of loneliness, like a loyal dog abandoned by its master.

“You…”

She couldn’t bear to see him like this. Chu Linyuan was always proud; when had he ever shown such an expression?

Supporting herself, she pulled his hand into her arms, furrowing her brows slightly, and gently blew on it.

“Call the healer to bandage this.”

“Someone!”

At the prince’s voice, the young eunuch outside immediately pushed open the door.

“At your service.”

“Bring the Jade Renewal Ointment.”

“Yes.”

Leaning against the woman, he looked at Lin Qingwan and curled the corner of his mouth.

“I want you to bandage it; otherwise, the blood will keep flowing.”

“I’m not a healer. I don’t know how to bandage.”

Looking at Chu Linyuan’s childish tantrum, Lin Qingwan was truly helpless.

“Your Highness, here is the Jade Renewal Ointment.”

The young eunuch held a tray with a delicate porcelain jar atop it.

Seeing the man remain still, Lin Qingwan sighed.

Supporting herself, she pulled his hand into her arms, sternly reaching out.

“Give me the ointment.”

Chu Linyuan smiled as he took the ointment from the eunuch and handed it to Lin Qingwan, placing his injured hand before her.

“Lin Qingwan, did I forget to tell you something?”

Lin Qingwan took the ointment, using a cotton swab to apply it gently to the wound.

“What is it?” she asked suspiciously, unsure of his intentions.

“I am sincerely fond of you.”

?

Hearing Chu Linyuan’s words, her hand paused mid-application. Her calm heart was suddenly jolted, thrown off rhythm.

She slowly turned to him, as if frozen, unsure how to react.

Seeing the woman’s rare expression, Chu Linyuan laughed heartily, joy shining in his eyes.

Snapping back to reality, she quickly lowered her head and murmured softly, “I don’t understand what Your Highness means.”

Seeing the bleeding stopped, she took gauze from the side and wrapped it around his wrist.

Though she tried to remain calm, her eyes betrayed obvious panic, and her heart was in turmoil.

“Lin Qingwan, I am sincerely fond of you.”

Using his uninjured hand, he pulled her into his embrace, kissing the top of her head.

Where Lin Qingwan could not see, his eyes froze with icy resolve, yet his voice remained gentle.

“No one has ever stirred my heart like this. I wish to have you by my side every moment. Otherwise, why would I have rushed to find you the moment I heard you intended to leave?”

“I feared that if I delayed, I would never see you again in this lifetime.”

Held in Chu Linyuan’s arms, listening to his words, Lin Qingwan nervously bit her fingers.

He lifted her chin and slowly closed the distance, softly asking, “May I kiss you?”

Seeing her stunned silence, he smiled gently and stroked her forehead.

“Qingwan, I want us to be an ordinary married couple. You don’t have to treat me as the crown prince. You can lose your temper with me, make demands—there’s no need to hide any thoughts from me.”

Lin Qingwan sighed slowly, half laughing, half crying. Was he the same with Ling’er in her previous life?

“Your Highness, there’s no need for such haste. Perhaps in the future, you will meet someone even more worthy.”

Was this the butterfly effect of her rebirth?

If he treated her like this now, what would happen when he met Ling Ruoxue later?

“If I ever meet someone more worthy and betray Wan’er, I’ll wish a terrible fate upon myself.”

The woman widened her eyes and covered his mouth with her hand.

“Your Highness, be careful with your words.”

“Your Highness, the medicine is ready.”

Yun Yuying bowed as she placed the medicine on the desk for the prince.

She was nothing like her stern brother—Prince Chu surely wanted to feed the medicine himself.

Chu Linyuan touched the steaming bowl on the desk, feeling it was still hot, and instructed the maid beside him.

“Bring some candied fruit.”

“Yes.”

Watching Chu Linyuan scoop a spoonful of the decoction and gently blow on it, Lin Qingwan spoke.

“I can drink it myself.”

She was already awake; it wasn’t her hand injured—she could manage drinking the medicine herself.

“I like feeding you. I like seeing you well-fed.”

Lin Qingwan pursed her lips, staring at the spoonful in his hand, now reluctant to drink at all.

Standing nearby, Yun Yuying observed everything keenly, wishing she could be deaf.

“Why not drink? Do you want me to feed you with my mouth, like before? If so, just say so—”

Before Chu Linyuan could finish, Lin Qingwan bit the spoon and drank the medicine in one gulp.

“No hurry, drink slowly.”

After feeding her all the medicine, he opened the exquisite porcelain lid and took out the candied fruit.

He picked the largest piece and placed it in Lin Qingwan’s mouth, his finger stirring it inside her mouth, pushing it deeper.

Lin Qingwan shrank back, turning her face away, uncertain whether to spit it out.

Perhaps sensing her hesitation, Chu Linyuan leaned close and whispered by her ear.

“You must eat everything I give you and swallow it.”

Blushing, she chewed the candied fruit hard and swallowed. She hated this man so much.

He said he wouldn’t force her, yet now he even controlled how she ate sweets.

The man removed his outer robe, lifted the quilt, and slid in beside her. His warm body pressed close, making Lin Qingwan tense.

Chu Linyuan held her tightly, feeling a fire raging through his body.

“Wan’er, do you know how much I want you?”

His voice was hoarse.

The maids and the healer exchanged glances and immediately bowed, stepping out and closing the door of the bedchamber.