The moment this thought surfaced, Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback.
"Whew!"
After a long while, she took a deep breath as if accepting her fate. She turned her head away, avoiding Dai Chengfeng's invasive eyes, and in a voice as soft as a mosquito's, with a slight tremor, she said:
"...You... turn around first."
"Huh?" Dai Chengfeng didn't understand at first.
"I need to take off this Pope robe!" Bibi Dong managed to say through gritted teeth.
Wearing this symbol of supreme authority, facing this rebellious disciple and his elaborate arrangements, she felt an overwhelming sense of shame and tension, unable to relax.
Instantly, Dai Chengfeng's eyes gleamed with ecstatic joy. He obediently turned around, facing away from her, his tone light and cheerful.
"Yes, Teacher!"
Hearing the rustling sounds of clothing behind him, imagining the solemn and magnificent Pope robe being removed, revealing what lay beneath...
Dai Chengfeng felt his throat dry up, his heart pounding like a drum.
A moment later, Bibi Dong's still trembling voice came from behind: "Alright... it's done."
Dai Chengfeng eagerly turned around.
Bibi Dong had changed out of her Pope robes into a more casual purple outfit. She appeared less authoritative but much softer.
However, her exquisite face still flushed red, her eyes evasive, unable to meet his gaze. Her hands were nervously clasped in front of her, devoid of any usual Pope-like dignity—she was clearly a nervous, shy, and flustered beauty.
Seeing this, Dai Chengfeng felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He stepped forward, naturally taking her cool hand and leading her to sit by the round table.
"Teacher, try this dish. It's freshly made and should still be warm."
He diligently served the dishes, placing delicious food on the plate in front of her. Then he stood up, opened the bottle of red wine, and poured the ruby liquid into the two crystal glasses.
The rich aroma of the wine mingled with the scents of flowers and food, creating a mesmerizing atmosphere.
Bibi Dong looked at the exquisite dishes before her, then at the swirling wine in her glass, and stole glances at the disciple beside her who smiled warmly but whose eyes burned with desire. Her emotions were incredibly complex.
She symbolically picked up her chopsticks and tasted a bite. The flavor was indeed good.
But her mind was in turmoil, preventing her from tasting much.
Dai Chengfeng didn't rush her. He sat beside her, propping his cheek with one hand, smiling as he watched her. Occasionally, he refilled her wine or served her dishes, eating only sparingly himself. His gaze almost devoured her.
Under his watchful eyes, every second felt unbearably long and torturous for Bibi Dong. Her body grew hotter, her heartbeat faster.
Finally, unable to bear the silent torment, she put down her chopsticks, picked up her wine glass, and drained the remaining wine in one gulp, as if trying to gather courage from the alcohol.
The ruby liquid stained her lips, making them appear even more alluring.
Dai Chengfeng's gaze instantly darkened.
Bibi Dong set down her glass, took a deep breath, seemingly having made a big decision. She turned her head, bravely meeting Dai Chengfeng's eyes, though her gaze remained shimmering with unhidden shyness.
"You… you mustn't go too far!"
Her voice carried a hint of softness from the wine and feigned severity. "And remember, we agreed… just once!"
Dai Chengfeng's smile widened. Boldly moving closer, his nose nearly touching hers, their breaths mingling, he whispered:
"Teacher… how long is 'once'?"
"You!"
Bibi Dong was exasperated, about to reprimand him, but Dai Chengfeng suddenly sealed her lips with a kiss.
"Mmm..."
All protests and embarrassment were silenced by this sudden kiss, imbued with the fragrance of red wine.
Dai Chengfeng's arms encircled her slender, soft waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace. The other hand cradled the back of her head, deepening the kiss.
Bibi Dong's mind went blank; she could only passively endure.
Her feeble struggles eventually turned into futile whimpers, her tense body gradually relaxing. Unconsciously, her cool hands reached up to his shoulders.
In the bedchamber, the air was fragrant with flowers, candlelight flickered red, and the lingering aroma of wine lingered.
The delicacies on the round table slowly lost their warmth, but no one cared anymore.
Dai Chengfeng finally got his wish, beginning to savor the exclusive "wine" he had long coveted and only today received permission to taste.
...
The candlelight in the bedchamber swayed, casting the shadows of the embracing couple onto the gauze curtains, only slowly parting after a long while.
Dai Chengfeng lightly kissed Bibi Dong's slightly swollen lips, his forehead resting against hers. His breathing was still heavy, his eyes reflecting an insatiable dark fire.
Bibi Dong panted heavily, her eyes misty like water. That long, deep kiss had almost drained her of all strength and thoughts. The lingering aroma of red wine and his fiery breath still clung to her lips.
After a while, she managed to calm down slightly, gently shifting to create some distance. Her voice carried an unintentional softness and hoarseness:
"Enough... enough."
Dai Chengfeng chuckled softly, obediently loosening his grip but still holding her hand, planting delicate kisses on her slender fingertips. His gaze remained locked on her flushed cheeks.
Bibi Dong avoided his almost scorching gaze, turning her face to regain some semblance of her usual cold demeanor, but her trembling voice betrayed her:
"You... let go first... Master... needs to bathe first."
Upon saying this, her pale earlobes quickly flushed a deeper shade of red.
Upon hearing this, Dai Chengfeng's eyes gleamed with excitement, immediately responding without hesitation, his tone filled with undisguised anticipation and mischief:
"Perfect, I feel sticky too. Why don't... we join you, teacher?"
Bibi Dong abruptly turned her head, her beautiful eyes wide open, glaring at him with a mix of disbelief and indignation.
This person... how dare he push his luck!
She instinctively wanted to rebuke him sternly, but when she met his smiling eyes, the scolding words caught in her throat.
She saw herself reflected in his eyes—her hair slightly disheveled, her cheeks flushed, her eyes watery, devoid of any usual dignity.
A deeper sense of shame washed over her. She sharply turned her head away, refusing to look at him, letting out a faint hum from her nose, half-scolding, half-angry, yet ultimately not uttering any words of refusal.
It was... implicit approval.
Dai Chengfeng rejoiced inwardly, knowing her face was extremely thin-skinned, and this was already her limit. He refrained from speaking further, gently taking her hand:
"The hot spring pool behind the bedchamber is always ready. Let me guide you there."
Passing through an arched doorway draped with thin gauze curtains, the room was filled with steam. A spacious bath carved from warm white jade stone came into view.
The pool water was clear, gently rippling with light. Fresh petals floated on the surface, emitting warm, humid scents. The surrounding candlelight cast a hazy glow, adding a touch of ambiguous warmth.
Stepping into this private space, Bibi Dong's heartbeat quickened.
She stood by the pool, hesitating for a moment, acutely aware of Dai Chengfeng's intense gaze on her back, penetrating through the thin layer of her purple attire.
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