Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 418 - 416

Shangguan Xuanyi hurried to Xiao’er’s side, scooping her into his arms in a bridal carry. He then found a seat next to an old bench.

Xiao’er struggled feebly, wanting to stand up. If she were caught again, she’d want to throw herself headfirst into a tofu dish!

"Keep still while I check your foot."

"My foot is fine. But the eggplant in the pot is about ready to burn!"

"Let it be!" Xuanyi reached out to remove Xiao’er’s embroidered shoes.

Xiao’er clasped Shangguan Xuanyi’s hand, "Brother Shangguan, I’m telling you my foot really isn’t hurting! Get the eggplant off the heat! I’ve had to give up a lot for that dish of braised eggplant. If it’s ruined, I lose big time!"

Shangguan Xuanyi, upon hearing this, was both amused and exasperated. He had no choice but to place her onto the bench and personally serve up the precious braised eggplant.

After the eggplant was safely removed from the heat, Shangguan Xuanyi quickly moved forward. He stretched out his hand to pull back Xiao’er, who had strategically attempted to leave the scene per "a retreat is the best strategy" of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. He cradled her and placed her back on the bench.

"Sit still! Let me look at your foot!"

"Really there’s nothing wrong. It doesn’t hurt anymore, and the dish did not smash." Xiao’er couldn’t help but shyly draw her foot back.

Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t respond but gently grasped her ankle, preventing her from struggling, he carefully removed her shoe, and then prepared to remove her sock.

"Um, I can do it myself!" It’s just a foot after all. There’s nothing to fuss about, Xiao’er reasoned with herself.

"Girl, don’t be shy. It’s not the first time I’ve seen your feet. I remember clearly how they look. Looking again is just reinforcing my memory." Shangguan Xuanyi looked up at Xiao’er’s serious face and said.

Hearing his words, Xiao’er was taken aback. Had her typically dignified Brother Shangguan also learned how to flirt?

Taking advantage of Xiao’er’s momentary surprise, Shangguan Xuanyi quietly slipped off her sock.

Upon seeing a red mark on her soft white foot, but no bruising, Shangguan Xuanyi felt relieved.

Shangguan Xuanyi reached out and held her small foot, his thumb rubbing over the red mark. "Does it hurt?"

Shaking her head, Xiao’er responded, "Just a little bit, it does not really hurt. But your touch tickles!"

Having heard her response, Shangguan Xuanyi deliberately scratched her foot for fun.

Unable to hold back, Xiao’er drew her foot back, "Hehe... Stop it! Or else I will... kick you in the face!"

So, she was ticklish. In the future, if she didn’t obey, he could use this method to punish her! Shangguan Xuanyi thought to himself.

Xiao’er had no idea that her weakness had been exposed.

Fearing that she might fall backward, Shangguan Xuanyi naturally released Xiao’er. He helped her to put on her shoes and socks, picked her up again, and, sitting on the bench, placed her on his lap. "Girl, let’s continue."

As he finished speaking, Shangguan Xuanyi tightened his hold on Xiao’er. He lifted her small, pointed chin and pressed his lips to hers.

Before Xiao’er had fully comprehended what he meant by ’continue’, their lips met again. At the fear of getting caught again, she felt mortified about facing her community, and so she struggled slightly and opened her mouth to protest.

Having felt such a delightful taste before, he craved for more. Shangguan Xuanyi cradled her head with one hand and pulled her waist closer with the other. Simultaneously, his tongue slipped into her mouth, deepening this bewitching kiss.

Their hearts beat close to each other, so close that they could feel each other’s pulses. Shangguan Xuanyi closed his eyes, entwining his tongue with hers, deeply savoring her.

First love is captivating. In her two lives, this was Xiao’er’s first love, her first kiss. Kissed until she slowly closed her eyes, her hands gradually moved to encircle his waist.

Feeling the response of the maiden in his arms and tasting the sweetness in his mouth, he kissed her even more passionately, his arms behind her waist tightened. It felt like he wanted to meld her within his bones. He only craved for more, more of its sweetness...

At this moment, it was as if everything in the world had stopped.

"Crack!" The weight of the two was too much for the bench, and it finally collapsed.

Shangguan Xuanyi came back to his senses as soon as the small bench made a kinkling sound.

He swiftly stood up, holding Xiao’er in his arms.

Staring blankly at the prematurely halted affair, Xiao’er turned to look at the small stool. She couldn’t help but find the situation a blend of comedy and pathos. She honestly wasn’t sure if she should be grateful the bench had collapsed at such an apt moment.

Shangguan Xuanyi looked at the broken pieces of wood with creased brows. Damn it! It’s been interrupted midway again! He wasn’t satisfied yet!

If looks could set fire, his gaze could surely burn those wooden pieces to ashes!

"The kitchen stools probably need to be replaced with sturdier ones," he said, his voice hoarse and lower than usual, having not completely recovered from his passionate reverie.

Xiao’er, upon hearing this, came back to her senses. Whether or not the stools in the kitchen need replacing is none of her concern- she definitely wouldn’t be inviting him to the kitchen next time!

Thinking that he wanted to continue, she was scared and hastily pushed him away: "Stop it, Brother Di and the others have been waiting for a long time."

"Stay still, I just want to hold you a while, just a little longer." Only then did Xiao’er stop struggling upon hearing these words.

Shangguan Xuanyi buried his head in the crook of her shoulder, inhaling her unique scent. He patiently waited until his emotions gradually calmed down before releasing her, and gently arranged the hair that he had tousled.

"Let’s go! Time for dinner!" Shangguan Xuanyi said, holding Xiao’er’s hand and walking out.

"Aren’t we going to serve those dishes?" Xiao’er turned her head to look at the several dishes left on the counter.

"Someone will," he said without turning his head.

Shangguan Xuanyi led Xiao’er to his study room, "Girl, let’s dine here."

"Why? That doesn’t seem right!" As the host, it was highly impolite of him to leave the guests and eat on his own!

"There is nothing wrong. They are like family, they won’t mind. Plus, I don’t want anyone else to see you in your current state." Shangguan Xuanyi said, reaching out to touch her flushed cheeks, speaking honestly.

What’s evident on her current look? Hearing Shangguan Xuanyi’s words, Xiao’er felt quite uneasy.

She quickly took a small mirror from her bag and looked at her reflection. The maiden in the mirror had eyes sparkling and her lips, slightly swollen from the kissing, was even more enchanting, enthralling, and attractive.

Is that person in the mirror really me?! Xiao’er’s face turned redder in embarrassment!

"Shangguan Xuanyi, get out!" Xiao’er shouted in anger.

"Alright." Shangguan Xuanyi chuckled lightly and obediently complied. He needed to have some food served. He couldn’t let this girl go hungry. He needed to fill her first, then she could fill him.

The first time this maiden had addressed him by his full name, it somehow felt quite nice. The feeling again made him want to kiss her!

Shangguan Xuanyi shook his head, trying to dispel his fanciful thoughts.

He couldn’t continue to kiss now. If it upset her, and she forbade him in the future, what would he do then?

Considering this, Shangguan Xuanyi quickly left the room.

Ah yes, first love is enchanting, and the first kiss is captivating.