Greetings, Ninth Uncle

Chapter 98: Wedding Candles (I)

Li Chengjing wanted to be considerate to Cheng Yujin, so he very gentlemanly waited until she finished drying her long wet hair. Besides, he had never seen a woman groomed herself in private. Regardless of what, women of high-ranking families always dressed meticulously whenever they went out, and every single one of them looked exquisite and elegant in their full gear. As a man, Li Chengjing felt great awe towards the female art of beauty care.

Li Chengjing always wanted to know how the women did it. Now, he finally had the opportunity to observe from a close distance, and the one he was observing was also his own wife. Of course he was happy.

After observing for a while, Li Chengjing felt from the bottom of his heart that being a woman was truly not easy. No wonder it took Cheng Yujin so long in the bath. Even he was astonished at the level of care she took on her hair alone. Of course, there was also the possibility that Cheng Yujin was an exception even among the women. Although women generally loved beauty, few were as perfectionists as Cheng Yujin.

In his life, Li Chengjing had never seen another person who cared about their appearance as much as Cheng Yujin. This girl’s degree of pursuing perfection was bordering on abnormal. Li Chengjing still remembered the first time he saw Cheng Yujin. Each step she took was perfectly measured, as if there was an invisible ruler between her feet. Li Chengjing even once suspected that Cheng Yujin didn’t know how to run.

Because running would destroy her elegance. How could the beautiful Eldest Miss Cheng allow herself to look less than perfect?

No man had dried Cheng Yujin’s hair before. In fact, no one had ever done that to her except for her personal servants. She pretended to be calm on the surface, but she was actually very nervous inside. She knew that Li Chengjing was watching her, calmly and patiently, and his gaze was focused on her. In fact, it would be better if he became impatient and left. With him sitting here and watching her so closely, Cheng Yujin became even more nervous.

For Cheng Yujin, this distance was too close. Li Chengjing was sitting next to her. They were close enough that Cheng Yujin’s arms would touch his sleeves if she were not careful.

Cheng Yujin tried her best to avoid colliding with Li Chengjing. She was very tense, but the man next to him suddenly smiled, as if he recalled something funny. Cheng Yujin couldn’t help but stop her hand and looked at Li Chengjing curiously: “Why are you laughing?”

“It’s nothing.” Li Chengjing’s eyes were full of smiles. He casually moved a strand of hair stuck on the back of Cheng Yujin’s neck and then said, as if reminiscing: “I just remembered the first time I met you. Each strand of your hair was like exquisite silk. Beautiful, but lifeless. At that time, I wondered if a painted skin demon¹ really existed, it must be similar to you. A beauty so perfect to best everything else, yet with no trace of worldliness, as if it wasn’t touched by the mundane life.”

When Li Chengjing’s fingers touched her skin, Cheng Yujin felt electric sparks go through her neck to her spine. Cheng Yujin couldn’t tell whether she was feeling itchy or numb. She subconsciously wanted to evade, but she held the impulse back. The fruit of her years of hard work and training was truly useful now. No matter how flustered Cheng Yujin was, she looked perfectly calm on the surface. Like the painted skin demon Li Chengjing said, she always looked decent and dignified, but also lifeless.

Cheng Yujin nodded calmly: “Is Your Highness complimenting me? Thank you very much.”

In fact, when Cheng Yujin said that, she was actually hoping that Li Chengjing would take his hand off. But Li Chengjing seemed unable to perceive her implied tone, and his fingers kept lingering on her neck.

Cheng Yujin was forced to sit next to Li Chengjing. Their distance was less than one arm, close enough that they almost felt each other’s breath. It was too close for Cheng Yujin. She was both nervous and tense. However, although she wanted to move apart, years of competitive spirit ruled over her. She was the Crown Princess; how could she show her cowardice side?

If the enemy didn’t move, then she wouldn’t move either. Cheng Yujin could only maintain this delicate balance stiffly, unaware of the fact that she was giving Li Chengjing a free advantage. From such a close distance, he could clearly see Cheng Yujin’s slender white neck, her smooth and soft shoulder lines, and the slightly looming collarbone. Her hair wasn’t dry yet. The wetness from the hair dampened the fabric around her collar, and there were also some messy strands of hair sticking to her neck. Nothing was exposed, but it was a scenery more attractive than anything else.

Li Chengjing lowered his gaze further. The tip of his nose seemed to catch a warm body fragrance that radiated naturally from the body’s misty moisture. This fragrance was hard to describe, and couldn’t be compared with any other scent he knew. Even the most expensive ambergris and agarwood seemed too showing and too artificial instead, losing all their appeals before her.

Li Chengjing moved his fingers, pretending to be pulling the hair for Cheng Yujin, so he could touch the snow-white neck of hers. He liked the sensation very much, so he of course wouldn’t let go so easily. Li Chengjing gradually felt that too much time had been wasted, and he glanced again at the glowing red pair of candles. Cheng Yujin noticed his movement and also turned her head around. In fact, she just wanted to avoid Li Chengjing’s hands: “Your Highness, what are you looking at?”

Li Chengjing’s hands touched the empty air. Of course he noticed Cheng Yujin’s small action. Yet, he chuckled amusedly. Cheng Yujin didn’t know why, but she suddenly tensed up instinctively.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Don’t you want to know what I’m looking at? It was those two candles.” Seeing Cheng Yujin’s avoidance, Li Chengjing stopped going in circles and simply took the initiative to break the fragile balance. “Tonight is our wedding night. The wedding candles have been burning halfway. Shouldn’t it be time to start the real event?”

Li Chengjing was too straightforward. Cheng Yujin could no longer pretend ignorance. Her snow-white neck was flushed red, yet she still tried to maintain a dignified posture: “Your Highness, according to the protocol…ah!!”

Before Cheng Yujin could finish her words, her body was carried by Li Chengjing. Even as he walked, a muffled laugher came out of his lips: “Has anyone told you that the Eldest Miss of Yichun Marquis Manor is dignified and beautiful, but she is like a wooden puppet? Her etiquette is perfect, but she looks boring and not as good as those lively girls.”

Cheng Yujin suddenly lifted her body and held on to Li Chengjing’s shoulders. She had never practiced this movement before, let alone done it with a man. As a result, she didn’t know where to put her hands. Cheng Yujin, whose perfectionism ran deep into her bones, was already annoyed enough. Hearing Li Chengjing’s words, she became furious.

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1. Painted skin demon: demon disguised as a beautiful maiden by wearing human skin.