If she truly wanted to stop it, she should have pushed Lin Jie away the moment he kissed her.
Now, with her cheeks flushed red and Lin Jie leaning closer and closer, she knew full well she ought to push him away—this was wrong. They were sworn siblings. This… shouldn't be happening.
But she was slightly drunk. She wanted to move, but her limbs wouldn't obey. She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Her mind was growing hazy, and her vision of Lin Jie became blurrier and blurrier.
The sudden light from the bedside lamp illuminated her dazed and flushed face. To Lin Jie, she looked utterly enchanting—like a siren calling to him.
Fear, panic, shame, and embarrassment battled in Liu Erlong's heart… yet beneath it all, a trace of anticipation stirred. So many emotions swirled together, she couldn't tell what she was feeling anymore.
Boom.
Her mind went blank—completely blank. In that moment, Liu Erlong felt as though she had forgotten everything. All the troubles of the mortal world, all her sadness and grief… everything vanished from her thoughts.
Lin Jie's voice echoed in her mind: "I really like you, Erlong-jie."
Unconsciously, her arms tightened around him.
Lin Jie didn't really know what had come over him. He liked beautiful women—that much was true. Maybe his heart was a little too big... maybe he was even a bit of a scoundrel. But once he liked someone, he wasn't willing to let them go.
He knew this was wrong.
But even so—even knowing it was wrong—he still wanted to go through with it. Because there was no turning back anymore.
Liu Erlong—this captivating, charming sworn sister—had an allure that Lin Jie couldn't resist. Most men probably couldn't. Lin Jie was no exception, especially in the state they were both in now.
The light from the bedside lamp lit up Liu Erlong's dazed and reddened face in full clarity, and Lin Jie knew—his Erlong-jie was also a little lost in the moment.
He didn't want to miss this chance. Because he understood—if he let this moment slip by, Liu Erlong would come to her senses by tomorrow. And once she did, she would pull away from him. The closeness they once had would vanish.
So he couldn't let this moment pass.
Pluck the flower while it still blooms. Do not wait until the branch is bare.
Liu Erlong's eyes grew more and more unfocused, her dazed heart sinking deeper. Her flushed cheeks were burning red.
Her eyes were dreamy, her cheeks as red as ripened peaches, her snow-white skin slowly turning rosy. Her heart shy and fluttering, she was both nervous and faint with intoxication.
"They say a jade beauty, sculpted by divine hands, can enchant even the firmest heart…"
And when such a rare treasure is already in your arms—how can a man feel anything but awe?
What world is this?
Could this truly be the human world, or some heavenly dreamland...?
Just as Liu Erlong was completely caught in the haze, she suddenly sobered up.
She realized—she had already missed the best chance to stop this. But now that the mistake had been made… why not see it through?
Above the quiet forest dwelling, the moon hung high and bright like a silver disc. Moonlight blanketed the world in soft white glow, and everything seemed serene and dreamlike.
Just like that room, where a pure white bloom had blossomed—fresh and beautiful.
By now, Lin Jie had finally regained his senses. Looking at Liu Erlong lying beside him, her eyes tightly shut, her cheeks still flushed, clearly pretending to be asleep—Lin Jie didn't know what to say.
No matter how many promises he made, if he couldn't fulfill them, they were meaningless.
Liu Erlong, still pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, didn't know how to face Lin Jie either.
She was more than a decade older than him. Lin Jie was her sworn younger brother. But now… this had happened.
She knew—if she hadn't tacitly allowed it, Lin Jie never would have had the chance. She didn't blame him.
She only blamed herself—for having let herself get lost in the moment.
She had completely lost herself in that tender, dreamlike night—reveling in the warmth of a real, living body holding her tightly. She had poured out all the loneliness, resentment, and emptiness she'd bottled up over the years.
But after that release, she didn't know how to face him anymore.
Do I like Lin Jie? she wondered silently.
Maybe… somewhere deep down, she did. Otherwise, why would she have let this happen?
She knew Lin Jie was already in a relationship with Zhu Zhuqing. Then what was she to him now? Could she ever have a future with him? She was so much older than him.
And how was she supposed to face Zhu Zhuqing?
Her mind was a mess.
She had lived over thirty years—and this was the first time she had ever felt something like that.
Just thinking about it made her already flushed cheeks turn even redder, almost dizzying.
Lin Jie had made up his mind. Since it had already happened—he would face it head-on.
He pulled Liu Erlong tightly into his embrace. He could feel her body trembling slightly. But instead of letting go, he held her even tighter.
Leaning in, he whispered beside her ear, "Erlong-jie, I know you're not really asleep."
A slight shiver.
Lin Jie felt her tremble again. He realized—for the first time—how shy she could be.
This wasn't the fiery-tempered Liu Erlong he had first met at all.
Back then, Liu Erlong had been brash and hot-headed, fiercely protective and intolerant of evil.
Of course, one's temperament had a lot to do with personality—but more often, it stemmed from life's hardships.
When someone found peace in their heart, the things that used to make them angry lost their power.
That's why, over the years, Lin Jie had kept spending time with Liu Erlong. He wanted to gradually smooth out her temper... and help her forget Yu Xiaogang altogether.
As for the methods? Well, no need to say more.
To his surprise—it had worked far better than he imagined.
Now, Lin Jie placed a hand gently on her flat, smooth belly, caressing it softly. Blowing a light breath near her ear, he teased, "Erlong-jie… if you don't say anything, I'll just keep going."
Another shiver.
Liu Erlong knew—she couldn't pretend anymore. Lin Jie had long since seen through her.
She just didn't know how to face him. That's why she'd pretended to sleep.
"Xiao Jie… what we did was wrong," she whispered, her voice soft and delicate.
Lin Jie leaned close to her ear again. "Erlong-jie, I know this was wrong. But… I don't know what came over me. Maybe it's just that you're too beautiful. That's why I made this mistake."
Beautiful?
Me? So beautiful that I made Xiao Jie lose control?
Hearing his words, a hint of secret joy welled up in Liu Erlong's heart.
But the happiness quickly faded. Her heart was still a mess.
"Erlong-jie, do you know? I've always liked women like you. Do you know why I wanted to be your sworn younger brother? Because you have this irresistible charm… you've always made me feel drunk with desire," Lin Jie said, his deep voice stirring in her ear.
Liu Erlong's heart fluttered.
She had always thought he saw her as an older sister. She never imagined he had such deep feelings for her.
Could I really be that attractive to Xiao Jie? But I'm already in my thirties—twelve years older than him. A girl like Zhu Zhuqing is far more his type, isn't she?
Thinking of Zhu Zhuqing again made her heart sink.
Lin Jie and Zhu Zhuqing were lovers. Then what was she now?
"Xiao Jie… I'm too old for you. You know we can't be together. What are you going to say to Zhu Zhuqing?" she asked.
Zhu Zhuqing already knew about his relationship with Ning Rongrong. At first, she didn't say anything—because she and Ning Rongrong were close sisters, and she truly loved Lin Jie. So in the end, she tacitly accepted it.
But Liu Erlong was their Dean. If Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong found out about this… how would they see her?
For a moment, Lin Jie felt his head spin. But he still spoke firmly, "Erlong-jie, we don't need to care about what the world thinks. Even if you're older, I don't mind."
You don't mind… but what about Zhu Zhuqing?
The thought made Liu Erlong hesitate again.
"And Zhuqing?" she asked quietly. "You may not care what others think—but what about her?"
Lin Jie answered seriously, "I'll talk to her. Erlong-jie, don't worry."
"No…" Liu Erlong turned to face him, cheeks still flushed. "Xiao Jie, don't tell Zhuqing yet. I'm afraid she won't be able to accept it."
Lin Jie thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I won't say anything for now. But Erlong-jie, will you be with me?"
Liu Erlong froze.
That's right. Should she be with him?
They had already crossed that line. What else could she do now?
After thinking it through, her blushing cheeks gave a slight nod. "Mm."
"Really?" Lin Jie couldn't hide his joy. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and kissed her again, their lips brushing softly.
A moment later, he pulled back and looked at her flushed face.
Looks like he hadn't done wrong after all.
The quickest and most effective path to a woman's heart… really might be that one.