Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 223: Do You Want Me?

Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Do You Want Me?

"Beautiful!" Xie Xun blurted out, his arm hooked around Fengyu’s waist, his gaze alluring. "Whose young gentleman is this? How is it that I’ve never seen him before?"

Fengyu traced her slender finger lightly across his chest, her voice trailing off like a delicate whisper, "He belongs to Xie Xun’s household."

Xie Xun, who had been teasing, now found himself captivated, his mouth dry and his thoughts ablaze. This little girl had been so innocent at Xiyanshan, still putting on an air of propriety when he flirted, chastising him for his lack of decorum. Yet now, at Mudan Building, she seemed to have mastered the art of seduction without a teacher.

No! Someone must have taught her.

Or perhaps, with their engagement solidified, she had grown bold.

Mudan Building’s main hall was dedicated to performances by the young women. Surrounding the main hall were six smaller pavilions, with the easternmost one serving as the residence of Lady Thirteen and the other performers.

The remaining five pavilions were used to entertain honored guests. Mudan Building housed thirteen talented women, each with unique skills—Lute Bureau, dance and music, poetry and song Bureau, and more. After their dragon boat performances, their value skyrocketed, attracting scholars and poets who specifically requested them for their showcased talents. For the right price, one could even privately hire a woman to serve them for the evening.

Xie Xun had once spent lavishly to have Miss Lan Hua play the pipa exclusively for him.

The Mudan Building’s architecture—its jade terraces and flowing streams—captured the soft elegance of Jiangnan Water Town. Everything there was a feast for the senses. This evening, sixteen Beiman Generals had come for entertainment. The young women attended to them in the main hall, while the western pavilion opened its doors to accommodate the Beiman guests, hosted by the women of Hongxiu Pavilion. Flying Shadow and Nuanyang, along with guards from the Marquis Mansion, positioned themselves inside the pavilions and waited for Xie Xun’s orders.

Xie Xun pressed Third Miss Fengyu’s waist against the railings, kissing her deeply. Her hair ribbon fluttered in the air, her upper body leaning precariously outward as Xie Xun held her firmly. Fearful of falling, Fengyu’s small, anxious hands gripped his collar tightly, her muffled moans swallowed entirely by him.

"Don’t... I’m going to fall," Fengyu murmured as he bent her body outward, her waist already too weak to resist. Her soft whimpers were carried away by the wind, while Xie Xun kneaded her waist. Her supple figure seemed to melt into his hands, quivering like water under his touch.

In just a few days apart, longing had swelled like an unstoppable tide. Yet Fengyu was unable to sustain his ardor, biting down hard on his lips. Xie Xun released her, his lingering kisses leaving her lips red and swollen. Still unsatisfied, he chased her lips as Fengyu flushed and avoided his advances.

"Why are you always like this!" Fengyu protested, pounding his chest in frustration. Ever since their hearts had aligned, Xie Xun had made his affection apparent through frequent kisses and embraces, his zeal overwhelming her every time.

"You don’t like it?" Xie Xun asked, his nose brushing against hers, his eyes brimming with desire.

Fengyu nodded, then shook her head—unable to articulate whether she liked it or not. Xie Xun himself couldn’t explain why he constantly felt the urge to kiss her, especially when they were alone, compelled to leave marks of his presence on her. Her waist, gripped so tightly, had already turned red. His pulsing blood told him it was never enough, his yearning growing deeper by the day.

Fengyu had not yet married and remained a maiden. Xie Xun knew he had to act with restraint, to stop before violating propriety. Yet he couldn’t control himself.

Looking at her delicate, flustered, and uncertain expression, Xie Xun’s heart softened to a myriad of tender feelings. He felt nothing but boundless affection. Never had he imagined becoming so deeply entangled in the charms of a woman.

"Should I restrain myself?" Xie Xun teased her. Fengyu grew visibly conflicted. She didn’t actually dislike his kisses and embraces.

But whenever he approached her, her body and emotions reacted peculiarly, making her bashful and unable to express herself. Avoiding him became her only thought. She had arrived an hour earlier than him, face still red as she sought advice from Lady Thirteen about her feelings. Lady Thirteen had responded with a knowing smile: "The love between men and women is simply about affection and desire. Where there is love, desire follows. Don’t be afraid, young lady. If the Little Marquis behaved coldly and distant while alone with you, then you would have reason for concern. You don’t need to adhere rigidly to propriety—we’re not bound by the vows and restrictions of a cloistered nun. If you resist wholeheartedly, that would mean you misunderstand his intentions. Of course, you must also distinguish between feeling shy and truly disliking him—they are two very different matters. But the Little Marquis’s affection for you is surely a good thing."

Fengyu didn’t understand. Why was it a good thing?

If others discovered her predicament, they’d accuse her of lacking decency and modesty. Fengyu herself couldn’t quite figure it out. Lady Thirteen didn’t elaborate, instead advising her to follow her heart. She trusted Xie Xun’s upbringing; while the Little Marquis was somewhat uninhibited, with youthful passion awakening, he would never risk defiling a young woman before marriage.

They were already engaged. Kisses and embraces would only strengthen their bond. Lady Thirteen secretly hoped Xie Xun would love Fengyu so much that he’d see no one else, devoting himself to her for a lifetime.

Fengyu mulled over Lady Thirteen’s words—did she truly dislike it?

Her gaze fell upon Xie Xun’s eyes, clouded with desire. Her heart seemed to burn in response. She realized that she didn’t hate it. Uncertain of how to answer him, Fengyu was met with Xie Xun’s amused laughter.

How adorable!

Fengyu had a habit of turning difficult when overwhelmed, resorting to jabbing remarks. "You come to Mudan Building often to drink with the girls. When Sister Lan Hua accompanies you, are you just as close with her?"

Xie Xun: "..."

He had intended to tease Fengyu but hadn’t anticipated she’d provoke him in return. Fengyu seemed rather bothered by Lan Hua. Xie Xun chuckled lightly and said, "She played a fine melody. It helped me sleep. I sought her out mainly for a good rest."

"Sleep?" Fengyu squinted at him suspiciously. "You slept with her?"

Exasperated, Xie Xun pinched her cheek. "What nonsense are you thinking? The women of your Mudan Building live by performing arts, not selling themselves—have you forgotten?"

"If it was mutual consent, I couldn’t stop it," Fengyu replied coolly, a trace of displeasure flickering in her expression as her heart soured. Rumors in the marketplace claimed Xie Xun favored Miss Lan Hua and intended to bring her into the Marquis Mansion someday for a lifelong companionship. Gossip, while often exaggerated, had its basis in truth, and the constant whispers had settled into Fengyu’s mind.

Xie Xun clasped her soft, boneless hand, interlocking their fingers tightly. Third Miss Fengyu’s thinly veiled sarcasm demanded clarity, but digging too deep into the matter might hurt her feelings.

"When I first returned from Ningzhou, I was indeed in a poor state—my leg’s poison flaring up, my mood foul, and unable to sleep through the nights. Later, Lin Cheng brought me to Mudan Building. Hearing that Miss Lan Hua was skilled in playing ’Qingxin Rhythm,’ I tried seeking her help. It worked quite well. Each time I came to find her, it was always me drinking while she played, and she’d leave once I fell asleep. We never crossed any boundaries."

Xie Xun had never been one to leave lingering affections in the realm of fleeting pleasures.

Fengyu’s heart tightened. Her gaze instinctively shifted to his left leg. "All this time, there’s still no cure for the poison?"

Shaking his head, Xie Xun spoke of his leg’s condition with an air of caution to avoid making her feel guilty. "Zhang Lingzheng tried to create an antidote but couldn’t identify the formula, and dared not experiment recklessly. The toxin is aggressive; the slightest misstep could cost me the leg."

Yet suppressing the poison alone wouldn’t last much longer.

"If this Marquis loses a leg one day, would you still want me?" Xie Xun murmured, his gaze dropped to their interwoven palms, applying a subtle pressure.