Jiao Jiao had been loyal by Xue Tuzi's side, clinging to his sleeve or curling in his lap with unwavering devotion. Yet when Shudu's commanding finger crooked in summons, the little Gu worm had abided. Xue Tuzi's lips pressed into a thin line not wanting to argue with Shudu over a trivial matter allowed the Gu worm to rest by the demons side while he retreated to the solitude of his bedchamber.
"Xiao Xiao isten, I need you to keep a close eye on Shudu and that girl," Xue Loahu said, lowering his voice as if revealing a grand conspiracy. He paused, struggling to find the right way to explain to a Gu worm that he didn't want Shudu and Huo Yi engaging in… well, certain activities.
"They must not—" Xue Laohu hesitated, his eyes darting around nervously before finally sighing in relief as inspiration struck. "They must not sleep with each other, okay?"
Jiao Jiao tilted its jelly like head sideways, the motion causing its translucent body to wobble like a half-set pudding. Its red eyes blinked in slow succession, clearly bewildered by the instructions - yet after a moment's wobbling consideration, it gave an enthusiastic nod.
The spider demon perched on the window sill, her eight limbs skillfully weaving a sturdy web across the opening, ensuring that nothing—not even the wind—could slip by unnoticed. Her expression was dark with frustration, her eyes glinting with irritation.
She knew exactly what was happening. Her master had grown impatient. He had waited long enough for Xue Tuzi, and when the beauty had refused to yield, he had gone after easier prey.
Her master was an insatiable beast—one who devoured everything he desired without hesitation.
Or so she thought.
To her surprise, Shudu had not laid a single inappropriate finger on Huo Yi.
The woman had tucked herself beneath the blankets, her breaths slow and even as she fell into a peaceful sleep.
Shudu, meanwhile, sat at the edge of the bed, one knee drawn up, his arms resting lazily against it. His crimson eye flickered in the dim light, watching her in silence. There was no hunger in his gaze. No desire.
"You think so poorly of me, Xiao Zongzi," Shudu mused, his voice laced with amusement as a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. His crimson eyes gleamed as he stepped toward the window, where Xiao Zongzi sat, her multiple legs poised in irritation. She exhaled sharply, rolling her many eyes at him in exasperation, her fangs clicking together in disapproval.
Shudu crouched by the windowsill, the moonlight casting long shadows across his muscular form. His head tilted slightly as he observed Jiao Jiao's sluggish movements. The little Gu worm's usual vibrant energy had dimmed after hours of being proudly displayed to Huo Yi its tiny body now curled in exhaustion, translucent skin pulsing faintly like a dying ember.
Shudu stroked Jiao Jiao's back with one careful finger, he understood the weariness all too well. Every moment away from Xue Tuzi's side stretched unbearably long, like a wound that refused to close. Jiao Jiao's antennae drooped pathetically, mirroring Shudu's own unspoken longing.
"Do you miss him?" Shudu asked softly, the Gu worm let out a feeble whimper, his body twitching as he bobbed his head up and down.
Shudu only chuckled. "Let me go see him. Stay here," he murmured, standing to his full height before hopping gracefully off the window sill. His long braid billowed slightly as he landed soundlessly on the wooden floor, his steps quiet as he made his way toward Xue Tuzi's bedroom.
Inside, the beauty lay restless, tossing and turning beneath the heavy blankets. His delicate brows were tightly furrowed, his breath uneven as frustration rolled off him in waves. No matter how tightly he burrowed beneath the covers, he was still cold. No matter how firmly he clutched his pillow, it wasn't the same. It wasn't his warmth.
Xue Tuzi let out an aggravated sigh, shoving the blankets aside as he sat up. "Ugh," he groaned, rubbing his temples. His mind was restless, his heart unsettled.
"It's that damned window," he muttered, eyes flicking toward the source of the chilly night air. "I can't sleep because of the cold."
A lie.
With a determined huff, he swung his legs over the bed, marching toward the window to slam it shut. But just as he reached for it, a shadow moved—quick, smooth, effortless.
Before he could react, someone hopped through the open window.
"Still awake?"
Xue Tuzi froze.
Shudu's voice was smooth, low, almost teasing as he straightened himself, his piercing gaze locked onto the startled beauty before him.
Xue Tuzi's momentary shock melted into anger, his features sharpening into a glare. "What do you want?" he spat, crossing his arms defensively. "Was that bug girl not enough for you?"
Shudu arched a brow, his lips curling into an infuriatingly lazy grin. He let out a slow whistle, shaking his head. "What a temper," he mused, clicking his tongue as he took a measured step closer.
Xue Tuzi stiffened as Shudu leaned in, his breath warm as it ghosted against Xue Tuzi's ear. His voice dropped to a husky whisper.
"No, she wasn't enough."
His lips brushed against the delicate skin just below Xue Tuzi's ear as he murmured, "Are you jealous?"
A shudder ran through Xue Tuzi's spine. The warmth of Shudu's breath, the rich timbre of his voice—it was unbearable. His fingers curled into the fabric of his sleeves, his once-defiant gaze faltering as he swallowed.
"Maybe," he murmured before he could stop himself.
Shudu's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his face before something darker settled into his expression. Without hesitation, he pulled Xue Tuzi into his arms, the embrace firm yet oddly tender.
"You shouldn't be," Shudu murmured, his lips trailing from the crook of Xue Tuzi's neck, up along his jawline, and finally—finally—finding his lips.
Xue Tuzi barely had time to catch his breath before Shudu deepened the kiss, his grip tightening, his hunger intensifying. He indulged greedily, nipping and tugging at the beauty's lower lip, savoring the way it turned a flushed, bruised red beneath his touch.
"Xiao Jiao—where—" Xue Tuzi tried to speak between stolen breaths, but his words were swiftly swallowed by another kiss.
Shudu growled softly against his lips, his fingers pressing possessively against the small of Xue Tuzi's back as he guided him down onto the bed, his weight pinning him beneath.
"Can you bring him?" Xue Tuzi panted, his voice laced with a rare softness.
Shudu, who had been far too preoccupied savoring his skin, merely let out a muffled "Mnnn," dismissing the request entirely.
Annoyance flared in Xue Tuzi's eyes, sharp and unyielding like a blade drawn in warning. Yet here was Shudu, utterly unbothered, indulging himself without the slightest bit of remorse. His lips moved with languid purpose, claiming every inch of exposed skin with a greedy possessiveness. Each press of his mouth, each teasing graze of his teeth, sent a trail of heat across Xue Tuzi's body, leaving behind visible marks more binding than any chains.
Shudu kissed him as if he had all the time in the world, as if the storm raging inside Xue Tuzi's heart was of no consequence. His tongue traced the curve of his jaw before dragging down to his collarbone, slow and deliberate, savoring the way Xue Tuzi tensed beneath him.
Xue Tuzi's irritation simmered, then bubbled, then boiled over.
His hands, which had been gripping the fabric of his robe in hesitation, suddenly shoved against Shudu's chest with all the force he could muster. The impact sent the demon staggering back slightly, though not nearly enough to wipe the satisfied smirk off his lips.
Shudu only grinned, his expression unreadable as he studied the beauty before him. "Fine," he relented, though the glint in his eye said otherwise. He stepped back, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll bring him," Shudu finally relented, stretching lazily, "but only if you promise me—"
"Whatever," Xue Tuzi cut him off, adjusting the folds of his disheveled robe.
He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to steady his racing heart. "You should have brought him before shoving your tongue down my throat," he snapped.
Shudu chuckled again, unbothered. "You weren't exactly resisting," he mused, flashing a wicked grin before turning toward the window.
Xue Tuzi clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. He watched as Shudu moved with effortless grace.
"You promised."
Shudu's voice was a silken thread, weaving its way into Xue Tuzi's ears, low and intoxicating. He leaned in, his breath fanning over the shell of Xue Tuzi's ear, lingering just long enough to let the heat of his presence seep beneath his skin. His lips, so close yet refusing to touch, sent an involuntary shiver down Xue Tuzi's spine.
He swallowed hard, his pulse erratic, but he refused to move, refused to give Shudu the satisfaction of a reaction. His fingers dug into the fabric of his robe, gripping tightly as if it were the only thing anchoring him.
A smirk played at the corner of Shudu's lips, sensing the tension radiating from the beauty's rigid form.
Xue Tuzi scoffed, his lips curling in defiance as he turned sharply away from Shudu. Rolling his eyes, he let out a quiet huff, the weight of the demon's words lingering in the air like an unwanted touch. I promised nothing, he thought bitterly, his fingers tightening at his sides, nails pressing into his palms.
"Don't take too long," Xue Tuzi muttered, his voice edged with feigned indifference as he turned away. His fingers threaded through his tousled hair, working through the tangles left in the wake of Shudu's relentless kisses. Strands clung stubbornly to his damp skin, a lingering reminder of the heat that had passed between them. He exhaled sharply, smoothing his disheveled locks with a practiced touch, but no matter how much he tried to fix it, the ghost of Shudu's touch still lingered—on his lips, on his skin, and deep within the erratic rhythm of his pulse.
Shudu paused, glancing back at him over his shoulder. His crimson eye gleamed with something dangerous.
"You almost sound like you'll miss me," he teased before vanishing into the night.