Free Web NovelChapter 44: Half Naked
Wanqing’s hand beside her body curled into a fist at Anning’s expression. She had always known Anning to be someone who stood strong no matter what.
Even if she wanted to see her cry, Wanqing was the only one qualified to make her cry. No one else could do that to her tiger.
"It doesn’t matter. I got drunk last night and might have done a few things. I’m sorry," Anning apologized, bowing once more.
Her voice was still slightly unsteady, but she was trying her best to pull herself together. She felt upset, disgusted with herself and frustrated all at once.
Wanqing didn’t respond. She calmly took slow steps toward Anning. She still hadn’t asked Anning to raise her head, so Anning remained stuck in that position.
"Raise your head," Wanqing said firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Anning didn’t want to talk about what happened, nor did she need the daughter of that bastard looking at her with eyes full of pity.
Ha! She didn’t even have an ounce of evidence to actually prove what she was saying. If she told Wanqing the truth and it is seen as slander or something worse, it could end with her dying.
As always, Anning didn’t say any of that out loud. She simply bit on her lower lip before straightening up. The moment she stood properly, she finally realized how close she was to Wanqing.
"What... is something the matter?" she asked, attempting to take a step backward.
At least she wanted to create some distance between them, but Wanqing was faster.
She reached out, snaked an arm around Anning’s waist and tugged her closer.
"Don’t make me repeat myself. Who the fuck made you cry?" Wanqing asked, taking Anning’s chin between her thumb and index finger before tilting her head upward.
"Why does it matter? Have you forgotten how you treated me? Why does me crying bother you?" Anning snapped, her eyes darting toward the small space left between her chest and Wanqing’s.
Wanqing’s chest was slightly larger than hers, but softer too. The first time Anning had felt Wanqing’s chest pressed against hers, she remembered her core tightening unexpectedly.
Even thinking about it now had blood rushing to her cheeks.
"You’re blushing," Wanqing said, reaching up to Anning’s cheek and brushing her fingers gently against her smooth skin. "I’m worried about you, tiger, and you’re standing in front of me thinking about someone else?"
Anning frowned at Wanqing’s words. She slapped her hand away from her cheek and snorted. If this mistress of hers knew exactly who she had been thinking about, Anning couldn’t help but wonder how she would react. freeweɓnovel.cøm
"I heard the imperial princess is coming over today because of something I did," Anning said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you upset with me?"
Anning wasn’t paying attention at that moment. She failed to notice the way Wanqing’s lips curved into a faint smirk or how her eyes gleamed slightly.
"I’m not upset. If anything, I’m pleased," Wanqing replied with a small shrug. Her hold around Anning’s waist tightened slightly. "You feel soft."
The second those words left Wanqing’s mouth, Anning shoved her away.
Brutally.
Yet instead of getting angry, Wanqing merely chuckled.
"Tiger, who made you cry?" Wanqing repeated after a few seconds.
Anning’s eyes widened slightly. She had tried her best to change the subject, but seeing Wanqing remain this persistent, she knew she would eventually have to answer.
"If I tell you it has something to do with your father... would you confront him?" Anning asked quietly, sounding uncertain of her own words.
Wanqing said nothing at first. She simply stared into Anning’s green eyes and took her time thinking about the question before giving a small nod.
"No one makes my tiger cry and gets away with it."
Anning froze. Her tiger?
To Wanqing, that nickname probably sounded like an endearment, but to Anning, it had always felt more like an insult.
Yet here she was blushing like a teenager who had just confessed to her crush.
"It really doesn’t matter, young miss. I can’t tell you about it now."
Anning paused before looking up at Wanqing. She noticed the way Wanqing’s eyes had turned cold again, her face stripped of any visible emotion.
"But that doesn’t mean I won’t tell you someday. Believe me," Anning added, flashing her a small smile.
Oddly enough, seeing Anning smile made Wanqing feel relieved.
"The imperial princess will be here soon. I’m going to shower, you should do the same," Wanqing said as she reached toward her hair.
She pulled out a small pin and immediately, her dark hair cascaded freely down her back.
"Be back here in a few minutes. You’ll be helping me with my clothes and getting dressed here too, so make it quick," Wanqing said, her gaze lingering on Anning for a few seconds before finally turning away.
Anning did exactly as Wanqing asked. She headed to the bathhouse and had a warm bath. While bathing, she scrubbed harshly at the places General Gu had touched.
She also noticed how the other maids and servants seemed to be avoiding her, almost as though she carried some contagious disease.
But she didn’t exactly care.
Afterward, she threw on the clothes she had worn earlier and practically ran back to Wanqing’s room.
Standing outside the doors, she took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm her racing heart. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
Only then did she knock.
"Young miss, can I come in?" she asked softly.
From inside the room, she heard a bit of movement before Wanqing finally told her to enter.
Anning stepped inside, sliding the door shut behind her before turning toward Wanqing.
But the second she turned, her eyes widened in surprise.
Standing before her was Wanqing.
Just... with a slight problem.
She was practically half naked.
Wanqing wore a white undergarment that hugged her figure despite being slightly loose. Her body was still damp from bathing and because of that, the thin material clung lightly against her skin.
"Are you done staring?"
