Chapter Sixty-Four: The Secret of the Jade Pendant

Li Shishi had long harbored affection for Xiao Fei. Though there was a considerable age gap between them, ever since their acquaintance, they had weathered many trials together and created unforgettable memories. Yet Li Shishi’s great vengeance remained unfulfilled, and she saw herself as a courtesan—though never having taken a client, the stigma lingered. She knew she could not compare to Liu Ruyan or Qin Tianxiang, and even less so to the talented young lady Jin Wanyu. Thus, Li Shishi could only bury her love for Xiao Fei deep within her heart.

But such feelings, once awakened, only grew stronger the more she tried to suppress them.

Li Shishi said to herself: Tonight, I need so much love—even if there is none, I must create it. Tonight, let me indulge myself just this once.

Yet when Xiao Fei carried Li Shishi to the bed and slowly undressed her, she still could not let go.

“No… don’t…” Li Shishi murmured softly.

“Sister, please don’t tease me. You’ve already gotten me so worked up, how can I stop now?” Xiao Fei protested with frustration.

“Hmph, you’re a grown man and yet you can’t control yourself? I really look down on you,” Li Shishi laughed coquettishly.

Xiao Fei could have restrained himself, but seeing Li Shishi reclined on the bed, her blouse half undone, her fragrant shoulders quivering as she laughed, he found all self-control slipping away.

“Sister, you can’t play with me like this. You started teasing me first, didn’t you?” Xiao Fei complained.

“Hmph, what if I did tease you? I like it. But you want me? No way. Tonight, I’m not leaving. I’ll sleep right here in your bed. If you dare act improperly, beware—I’ll scream for help.”

Faced with such a remarkable woman, Xiao Fei could only be speechless and helpless.

In the end, Li Shishi lay on the soft bed while Xiao Fei slept on the sofa by its side.

To be honest, sharing a room with such a tempting beauty, it was impossible for Xiao Fei not to have thoughts. But though he was dry kindling, Li Shishi was not the spark—and even if he had desires, they would come to nothing. He could not force himself upon her.

Xiao Fei wrapped himself in a blanket and settled quietly on the sofa. As he was about to undress, Li Shishi’s shrill voice pierced the night: “Don’t take off your clothes!”

“If I don’t undress, how can I sleep?” Xiao Fei ignored her and started taking his clothes off.

“You’re still undressing!” Li Shishi grew truly anxious and grabbed a pillow, ready to charge at him.

“My jacket—surely I can take off my jacket?” Xiao Fei removed his outer coat, covered his head, and lay down.

Li Shishi turned off the bedside lamp and quickly began to undress. When she was nearly done, she suddenly remembered she had no nightwear here; she decided not to undress further and made do. Before long, Xiao Fei’s snores rose up, showing he was not much of a threat. Li Shishi yawned, overcome by fatigue, and soon fell asleep.

She had no idea how much time had passed, but while sleeping soundly, Li Shishi awoke with a start from a dream, shrieking as she covered herself with the blanket.

Xiao Fei jolted upright on the sofa, unsure what had happened, until he heard the faint squeaking of mice. He hated his sleep being disturbed and grumbled, “Must you make such a fuss? It’s just mice. Is it really worth all this?”

Women seemed naturally afraid of snakes, frogs, mice, and Li Shishi was no exception. Xiao Fei felt helpless.

Hearing Xiao Fei’s voice, Li Shishi remembered there was someone else in the room. Without hesitation, she jumped out of bed and rushed to Xiao Fei.

He had just lain down when suddenly someone pressed onto him. In his confusion, he groped blindly—and realized, with a gulp, what was happening.

This sister wouldn’t let him undress, yet she herself was left in only her undergarments! What was going on?

Xiao Fei stroked Li Shishi’s smooth back to comfort her. “Don’t be afraid, the mice won’t eat people. And even if they did, they wouldn’t eat good people.”

He might as well have said nothing; with those words, Li Shishi grew even more frightened, trembling and her voice quivering. More frog croaks sounded, and she began to sob softly, holding Xiao Fei even tighter.

“But… but I’m not a good person…” Li Shishi’s voice shook.

“Why do you say that?” Xiao Fei was puzzled.

“Because I’ve squashed ants…”

“Oh, come on. Anything else?”

“I’ve stepped on cockroaches…”

“My goodness, I can’t take it. Those are pests, it doesn’t matter if you kill them. You’re a good person. Now sleep…”

Xiao Fei was exhausted and tried all he could to coax her to sleep.

“But you’re a bad person. Why don’t the mice eat you?” she asked.

“Huh? How am I a bad person?”

“You won’t admit you’re bad? You’re poking my stomach with your finger—isn’t that bad?” Li Shishi said seriously.

Li Shishi, though raised in a brothel, knew nothing of men’s bodies. She had no idea it wasn’t a finger but…

“Oh… this…” So she’d discovered it. How embarrassing! Luckily, it was dark and she couldn’t see Xiao Fei’s mortified expression.

For a long while, neither moved or spoke, but Xiao Fei was growing increasingly uncomfortable.

“Are you… are you uncomfortable with me lying on you?” she asked.

Xiao Fei wanted to say, “Not only are you making me uncomfortable, I’m suffocating from holding back.” But with a woman as innocent as Li Shishi, she probably wouldn’t understand anything he said.

Li Shishi’s shy, enchanting voice sounded in Xiao Fei’s ear. He could feel her fragrant breath, and one arm held her slim waist to keep her from falling off the sofa, while his other hand gently stroked her cool, smooth back.

Li Shishi pressed tightly against Xiao Fei’s chest. At this point, how could he hold back? As the saying goes, pick the flower while it’s blooming, don’t wait till it’s gone. The girl had already said so much; all that was left was for him to take the initiative. Determined, Xiao Fei gritted his teeth and nodded vigorously, meaning: Yes, I am very uncomfortable—help me.

But after a long wait, Li Shishi gave no response. Foolish Xiao Fei then realized that nodding was pointless—she couldn’t see it. So he whispered in her ear, “I’m… really uncomfortable. Can you help me?”

Still no response. He added, “I know it’s shameless, since it’s your first time… but I really want… Well, if you don’t want to, I won’t force you, but I really wish… hey… hey…”

He was answered only by Li Shishi’s soft, sweet snoring.

Seriously? How can anyone sleep at a time like this—are you really a woman?

Xiao Fei was utterly speechless. It seemed this sister was not just innocent, but extraordinarily so. Well, at least he hadn’t done anything inappropriate. How could he bear to harm such a good woman?

Thinking this, Xiao Fei’s desire subsided somewhat. Sleeping on the sofa was simply too uncomfortable, so he carried Li Shishi to the bed, finding its softness much more pleasant.

He placed Li Shishi on one side, covered her with a blanket, and lay on the other.

The night passed without dreams.

When the glaring sunlight woke him, Xiao Fei opened his eyes in shock.

What on earth? They hadn’t slept together last night, so how was Li Shishi now sprawled across him, clinging tightly? What now? Xiao Fei panicked.

Worst of all, a man’s natural reaction was even more pronounced in the morning, and Li Shishi was pressing down so tightly he could barely breathe.

Last night he couldn’t see clearly; now, Li Shishi’s body was fully visible. She wore only a pink corset and matching panties. Her sweet, adorable sleeping face made Xiao Fei reluctant to disturb her, but how could he resist? Last night, when he couldn’t see her, it was easier; now, everything was on display.

Xiao Fei lifted his head a little and saw Li Shishi’s smooth, pale back. It was said a woman’s sexy back was the best aphrodisiac for a man—and now he believed it. He couldn’t resist placing his hand on it, gently stroking and kneading.

Seeing Li Shishi’s tender, luscious lips, Xiao Fei felt an uncontrollable urge to kiss her. Perhaps his touch was too much, for Li Shishi murmured and woke up. He hurriedly pretended to be asleep, feeling too ashamed to show his own depravity.

Li Shishi opened her eyes and was just as shocked—how could she be sleeping in Xiao Fei’s arms? Had he done something to her? What a beast!

Anger surged in Li Shishi. She was about to lash out and pummel this shameless fellow when she shifted her hips and felt something pressing against her.

But Li Shishi was a woman in her twenties. She took a moment to grasp it and immediately understood what it was.

Xiao Fei opened his eyes to see Li Shishi staring at his physical reaction, and his desire flared anew.

However, Li Shishi quickly dressed and dashed out of the room, leaving Xiao Fei dumbfounded and stamping his feet in frustration.

“Damn, how can you toy with me like this?”

Xiao Fei pulled the blanket over his head. Just then, something hard poked him. He grabbed it and saw it was a white jade pendant, likely left by Li Shishi. Examining it closely, he found an inscription: “Spring, third month, fourteenth year of Guangxu, birth of beloved daughter.”

On the reverse side, two inconspicuous characters: “Sanqing.”

“Sanqing? What does Sanqing mean?” Xiao Fei muttered.

Suddenly, a name flashed in his mind, one Li Shishi had mentioned several times before.

“Could it be him?” Xiao Fei’s brow furrowed. He dared not think further, unwilling to accept that Li Shishi might be the one he was destined to kill.