On a winter night, the cold was sharp.
Cui Lingyao was in no hurry to return to her chambers, slowly working through two account books.
Only when Xia Zhi came in to report that the hot water was ready did she put down her bamboo brush, rise slowly, and enter the washroom.
Throughout this series of actions, she was like a wandering spirit, moving purely on muscle memory.
It wasn't until she came out of the washroom, entered the inner chamber, and saw the man on the bed that she suddenly snapped back to her senses.
Xie Jinbai had removed his hair crown. Dressed in sleepwear, he was half-propped against the headboard, a book in hand that he was flipping through casually.
He was turned sideways to her, half his face obscured by the candlelight. Though she couldn't see his features clearly, she could still tell he was exceptionally handsome.
Truly striking and dashing.
He had clearly heard her movements but didn't so much as turn his head to glance at her.
