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Jinshi passes through the gates of his palace; his legs—stiff from sitting at his desk for so long—can barely carry him. The sharp bite of the cold wind sweeps through his body, penetrating his cloak, making him shiver.
Far from his home, he had spent grueling hours at work from before sunrise yesterday until now, as the full moon hung high in the midnight sky, casting its bright light upon the figure seated on a bench in the garden, illuminating every detail.
His Maomao... She truly looks like the most beautiful sight his eyes have ever beholden, resting her hands at her sides, her legs extended before her, gazing up at the moon as her cascading hair sways in a passing breeze.
Releasing his breath, Jinshi makes his way toward her, his pace quickening in a way he didn't think possible. His lips, which had begun to curve into a smile, turn downward the moment he notices what she is wearing: merely a thin cloak.
Maomao stands up and walks to bridge the remaining distance between them, throwing herself into his arms and wrapping her arms tightly around his back, resting her head against his chest. She inhales his scent before speaking, her voice muffled, “You're back…”
Jinshi embraces her in return, placing one hand on her shoulder and the other over her hair. “Yes, finally…”
He asks with a frown, “But why are you wearing such a thin cloak?”
He pulls back and reaches out to cup her cheeks. The instant he feels their chill and notices the faint flush upon them, he immediately pulls off his cloak, stepping forward to drape it over her shoulders as he scolds her, “Your cheeks are freezing, Maomao! Don't come outside in weather like this dressed so lightly.”
Maomao’s lips curve upward, the corners of her eyes softening, “I am already wearing a cloak... And by giving me yours, you will be the one freezing!”
Jinshi gathers a stray strand of her hair and tucks it behind her ear, looking into her eyes as he says, “It doesn't matter, my dear. Your health means more to me…”
Maomao shakes her head, a faint pout forming on her lips as she takes him by the hand and pulls him down to sit on the bench. She intertwines her arm with his, resting her head against his shoulder. “Don't think like that ever again! I can't bear the thought of you falling ill for my sake…”
He tilts his face down toward her, planting a kiss upon her temple. He whispers, “Very well, I won't say it again and worry you.” He adds, just to tease her despite knowing the answer, “But why did you come out so late? Were you perhaps waiting for me?”
Maomao catches him off guard when she answers, lifting her face to meet his gaze. “Suddenly, the house just felt empty, so I came out to watch the moon…” Her eyes shimmer with warmth as she continues in a whisper, “But I found that it pales in comparison to you.”
His breath hitching for a few seconds. Jinshi gently takes her hands, raising them to his lips to press a delicate kiss upon them, then places them right over his chest, where his racing heart thumps. His voice emerges from his throat in an uncharacteristic tone, “I hold you so close to my heart... to the point that I cannot survive the exhausting ordeal of my days unless... I think of you and you cross my mind.”
Maomao brings her face closer and presses her lips softly against his cheek, “Then... did my husband think of me today as well?”
Warmth rushes to his cheeks, his lips twitching upward. Jinshi lifts his wife to sit in his lap; she offers no resistance whatsoever, instead looping her arms around his neck without shying away from his gaze. Wrapping his arms around her back, he lets himself go.
“I was sitting at my desk, buried up to my ears in paperwork, feeling the fatigue settling deep into my bones under the heavy pressure around me. Suddenly, I just wanted to be with you. I imagined you coming to me... You were wearing your favorite green robe and putting on your freckles, standing beside me as you handed me one of your soothing herbal tonics, urging me to drink it while scolding me to put down my work and rest. All the while, you were... holding my hand, never letting go... That was how I was able to keep going without sinking beneath the weight of it all…”
A smile spreads across Maomao's features, reaching her eyes as a light blush colors her cheeks. Tracing the edges of his hair with her fingers, she clears her throat before speaking, “Had I known this, I would have gone to you instead of... waiting here.”
A flutter stirs in his stomach and a lump settles in his throat. Releasing a trembling breath, Jinshi asks her, looking off to the side, “If you were waiting for me, does that mean... you thought of me even once as well?”
Maomao lets out a soft, terribly warm laugh that makes his heart leap wildly in his chest. She slowly lowers her head until her forehead rests against his, holding his gaze for a moment, the warmth of her laughter seeping into her voice,
“When I was grinding leaves to prepare a new medicine, I don't know how... my mind wandered. I imagined you hovering around me, asking one curious question after another about its benefits. Your expression seemed to soften gradually with every word I uttered. And when my wrist grew tired, you stepped closer, standing right behind me... wrapping your arms around me, resting your chin on my shoulder, and helping me. At one point, you nuzzled your nose against my neck, whispering about how sweet I smelled mixed with the scent of my herbs. And you didn't stop there... Even though I was annoyed and wanted you to help me quietly, I let you do as you pleased simply because you were sweet enough before that…”
Just as Jinshi prepares to ask another question to keep his wild imagination from running away... Maomao places her fingertips over his lips, flushed all the way to her ears and neck, “You had better not ask me any more…”
Kissing the finger placed on his lips with deliberate slowness, Jinshi lowers his voice, “Maomao, you must know that I would have dropped everything I was doing, even if the fate of the world depended on it, had I known what was going through your mind…”
She tilts her head to the side, her eyes dancing with a mischievous glint, “Oh my, it is certainly for the best that didn't happen…” She presses her nose against his. “Besides, who said I was thinking about what is undoubtedly running through your filthy mind right now?”
Maomao closes her eyes, tilting her head as she presses her lips against his lower lip in a soft touch, biting down lightly. Jinshi gasps, leaving his lips parted, and she wastes no time sliding her tongue between them. Her tongue meets his, intertwining, teasing him with varying degrees of pressure. Maomao tilts her head further, the arms wrapped around his neck tightening their pull, drawing him closer.
Jinshi matches her every move whenever she lets him. As she gently sucks on his tongue, a low sigh escapes him, his hand pressing against the small of her back to push her closer until their chests collide. Interlocking his other hand in her hair, he tilts her head to the other side, changing the angle of the kiss to take the lead this time.
Her chest rises and falls against his; his face burns with heat, feeling as though his heart might leap from his chest. Maomao lets out a tiny noise she couldn't suppress as the tip of his tongue caresses the corners of her mouth, just where and how she likes it. Slowly, Jinshi opens his closed eyes to look at her; her cheeks are flushed red, and in that moment, he realizes he will never, ever be able to get enough...
Maomao breaks the kiss, licking her lips as she breathes heavily. She places her mouth right next to his ear, her hot breath searing his skin. “I miss you…” finishing with an open-mouthed kiss on his earlobe.
Every coherent thought leaves Jinshi's mind as he stands up as fast as he can, scooping his wife into his arms to head inside with her. Clearing his throat, he asks, “So... what was the rest of what you imagined?” A hint of teasing inflects his words, “I need to know so I can fulfill it for you... exactly as you desire.”
Maomao huffs, burying her face in the crook of his neck and lightly striking his chest with her fist. She replies, her voice lilting dangerously, “You'll just have to work hard to draw it out of me in your own way... if you can…”
Jinshi chuckles, offering no reply. He knows with absolute certainty that he can achieve just that—even if it takes a little effort…