She Is Such A Jerk, And Yet She’s The One Crying! - Chapter 32.2

Lin Dongruan said that even for her sake, she should drink more of this deer antler wine? Was Lin Dongruan… implying something to her?

Qiang Ning’s heart pounded like a drum. She immediately and urgently took the wine: “Alright, Sister, I’ll drink it right now.”

Lin Dongruan hadn’t touched a drop of the wine because she was reluctant to waste it. She handed her own cup to Qiang Ning as well: “Tonight might be a bit difficult to endure. Don’t be afraid, A-Ning; I will stay by your side.”

Qiang Ning knew what deer antler wine was for, and she was mentally prepared. Having drunk so much, she would naturally feel aroused and find it difficult to resist. Fortunately, since Lin Dongruan had already offered to “accompany the gentleman even at the cost of her life,” she naturally had no reason to retreat at the last moment.

The other woman thought her body wasn’t up to the task and had handed her so much deer antler wine; she had to prove herself—not only was she capable, she was very capable! The night was long, and she would surely display the most enduring stamina.

Qiang Ning drank three cups in a row, her ears reddened by the pungent wine, drinking until Jiang Weilan looked at the wine with a stingy, pained expression.

Lin Dongruan felt that it was enough; any more would be excessive. She then supported Qiang Ning, preparing to head home. Jiang Weilan hurriedly saw them off, fearing the Princess Regent might change her mind and take all his wine at once.

“Does your estate have any chains or shackles?” Lin Dongruan saw that the sky was too dark and the blacksmith shops were all closed, so she had to ask Jiang Weilan, “I trouble you to gift me a few.”

Jiang Weilan’s estate had slaves and servants, so such things were naturally available. In the end, when Lin Dongruan returned home, she brought not only Qiang Ning but also a long, thin chain and a pair of shackles.

At that moment, Song Luo happened to be supervising a portion of the Shadow Guards running laps. He witnessed this scene from a short distance away and heard the report from his subordinates about what had happened at the County Governor’s estate. He immediately grew very alert and withdrew the Shadow Guards from the roof, telling them to go further away and not to eavesdrop or peek.

—After all, if they were caught at such a moment, the punishment wouldn’t be as simple as running three laps; it might very well cost them their heads.

Everyone showed a look of sudden realization, expressing one after another that they would not touch this taboo. Only then did Song Luo retire peacefully, waiting for the good news the next day.

Inside the room, Lin Dongruan helped Qiang Ning onto the bed, removed her shoes, socks, and outer garment, and used a damp cloth to wipe her reddened cheeks.

Qiang Ning felt the coolness in her haze and sobered up slightly. She opened her eyes and vaguely saw Lin Dongruan taking care of her by the bedside. The heat in her heart grew even stronger: “Sister, you promised me today; you aren’t allowed to go back on it.”

Lin Dongruan’s grey eyes were full of smiles, and her voice was gentle: “A-Ning, when have I ever lied to you? What I have promised will naturally be honored.”

Qiang Ning felt her bones go soft at those words. Strands of hair clung to her cheek. She blinked, unable to hide her smug smile: “Really?”

Lin Dongruan: “Really.”

Qiang Ning looked down and pulled the quilt a bit higher, saying modestly, “Sister, you are so kind, even personally undressing me.”

Lin Dongruan asked her, “How do you feel now? Can you still endure it?”

“I can endure it,” Qiang Ning said very considerately. “But Sister, if you wish to bathe before this, you should hurry.”

Lin Dongruan: “I said I would stay with you. How could I leave you alone to go bathe?”

These words directly confused Qiang Ning. She thought for a moment, not quite understanding, and said to her, “Sister, I’m really not that strict. If you leave for a moment, I can certainly wait.”

Lin Dongruan: “It won’t be too late to wash at dawn.”

Qiang Ning was delighted, thinking she was right. After a night of hard work, bathing the next morning would make the whole happy event feel thoroughly complete.

“A-Ning is heating up. If it’s uncomfortable, remember to exhale audibly.” Lin Dongruan leaned over to check the temperature of her forehead, tucked her exposed hand back under the quilt, and then lightly stroked her head to comfort her. “Heat and sweating are necessary to achieve the benefits of nourishing the Qi and the body. This Spotted Deer Jade-Extension Dragon Mountain Wine is a top-quality tonic wine; it is very effective for curing A-Ning’s heart condition.”

Qiang Ning: ???

Wait, had she misunderstood something?

Qiang Ning: “Sister, what do you mean? Didn’t you say you would keep me company?”

Lin Dongruan turned and picked up a scroll, speaking softly: “Of course. Tonight, while you sleep, I will stay with you and read by night.”

Qiang Ning struggled to sit up indignantly: “You lied to me! That’s clearly not what you said before.”

“Sister wouldn’t lie to you.” Lin Dongruan explained patiently, “Tonight I will certainly keep our appointment and will not leave you by even half a step.”

How could she deliberately induce such fantasies and then remain here, devoid of desire, reading a book? Qiang Ning’s expectations had fallen through; how could she be happy? She exerted all her strength to fight the alcohol, wanting to get up and pull Lin Dongruan over as well—at the very least, she had to get some advantage, or she truly couldn’t swallow this frustration!

“Sigh.” Seeing her break free from the quilt, Lin Dongruan sighed helplessly and took out the already prepared chains and shackles. “A-Ning is not being good.”

Qiang Ning: ???

What were these things? When did she bring them back? Was she so drunk she was hallucinating?

Lin Dongruan—the gentle and amiable Lin Dongruan—how could she be associated with something as barbaric as shackles? The two simply didn’t belong in the same picture, like a scholar’s elegant landscape ink painting placed next to a vulgar folk picture book; they were completely incongruous!

No… that’s not right…

Until the cold chains actually touched her, Qiang Ning still couldn’t believe that one day she would be personally bound here by Lin Dongruan, with no room for resistance.

“Sister, undo the chains. Don’t push me.” Qiang Ning’s gaze suddenly turned deep. The wine fueled her desire, and she truly couldn’t suppress the increasingly surging sensations, so she could only threaten her: “If you don’t undo them, don’t blame me later.”

At worst, they would go down together. She would call her Shadow Guards to burst through the door and capture Lin Dongruan. When the situation was reversed, even if Lin Dongruan cried herself unconscious here, she wouldn’t soften her heart and release her.

Lin Dongruan smiled: “A-Ning has grown up; she’s learned to use harsh words to threaten people.”

Qiang Ning gave a cold laugh and mimicked three long and one short bird calls, urgently summoning the Shadow Guards waiting outside. Unfortunately, she didn’t manage to wait for the Shadow Guards; instead, she first received Lin Dongruan’s evaluation: “A-Ning’s bird calls are quite realistic.”

Qiang Ning thought the Shadow Guards outside hadn’t heard, so she called again. This time, there was still no movement.

Lin Dongruan stroked her head and asked in confusion, “Why would a drunk person suddenly learn to chirp like a bird? A-Ning, are you a little sparrow in disguise?”

Qiang Ning was embarrassed to the extreme and ignored her with gritted teeth.

A long time passed.

The effects of the deer antler wine fully took hold. Qiang Ning’s face was flushed red, her body covered in a layer of fragrant sweat. Below, she felt as if she were sinking into a warm pool of desire, making her both humiliated and unable to endure.

When Qiang Ning spoke, her voice carried a sob from the extreme effort of holding back: “Sister, I was wrong. I can’t bear this.”

Lin Dongruan looked seriously at the scroll under the candlelight: “Don’t be afraid, A-Ning. I will stay with you.”

With her here, Qiang Ning felt even worse.

“Sister, if you won’t come to the bed to sink with me, then don’t let me see you here. I really can’t take it.” Qiang Ning’s chest heaved, and she had to pant for every sentence she spoke. The corners of her eyes were slightly red as she looked up unwillingly. “With you here, I’m even more…”

Lin Dongruan was a person of her word; she would certainly not go back on her promise: “But I promised you that I would stay with you the whole time.”

Qiang Ning was truly on the verge of crying from frustration: “No need, it’s really not necessary.”

Lin Dongruan shook her head and refused gently: “That will not do.”