The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 52: You’re Clearly Enjoying This

Zhi Wan cried out in alarm, "Ah!"

The world spun, and in the next moment, she found herself pinned to the bed.

Zhi Wan’s heart pounded. Just as she was about to struggle, a pleasant scent of cedarwood drifted into her nose.

The familiar, crisp fragrance made her freeze. She stopped struggling.

She looked up and saw that it was him.

"It’s you!" She sighed in relief, her body relaxing.

"Who else were you expecting?" the man asked nonchalantly, his long fingers caressing the soft curve of her waist.

A tingling warmth spread from her waist. Zhi Wan’s heart quivered. She clutched his night robe, bit her lip, and retorted, refusing to show weakness, "I thought you were some kind of pervert!"

"A pervert?" The man’s eyes narrowed, his voice laced with danger. "You’re the one who barged into my bedchamber. What, then, would you call your behavior?"

"You think I wanted to come here? I fell asleep and just appeared here. And I wasn’t trying to get on your bed—you’re the one who pulled me onto it," Zhi Wan argued righteously.

"So it’s my fault, then," the man murmured. He suddenly lifted her chin and brought his head down to capture her soft lips in a kiss.

Zhi Wan whimpered softly and boldly slid a hand inside his robes. Seizing the moment he stiffened in surprise, she suddenly pushed him over, reversing their positions and pinning him beneath her.

A flash of astonishment crossed the man’s eyes as he looked up at the girl straddling him.

Feeling rather pleased with herself, Zhi Wan leaned down and planted a kiss on his thin lips, and another on his smooth chin. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she swiftly pulled open his night robe.

When she found the small mole by his collarbone, Zhi Wan gently touched it with her fingertip.

The man’s brow twitched. He was about to pull his robe closed when he saw her lower her head and press a kiss to his collarbone.

The warm, moist sensation sent a jolt through him.

Immediately after, something soft and wet swept across his skin.

His lower abdomen tightened, and his fingers, resting on the mattress, curled involuntarily. "What are you..." The voice that came out was incredibly hoarse.

Even he was surprised by the sound.

He had wanted to ask her if she knew what she was doing.

But he left the rest unsaid, a startling darkness swirling in the depths of his eyes.

Zhi Wan, completely oblivious to how dangerous the man had become, was growing intensely curious about his body.

When she saw that he wasn’t stopping her this time, she grew even more daring.

Unfortunately, it was too dark within the bed curtains to see clearly, so she could only rely on her hands to explore.

His muscles were lean and firm, the lines of his waist and abdomen flawless. He felt incredible to the touch.

Just as her fingertips were about to venture lower, the man’s breathing suddenly grew heavy, and he swiftly grabbed her hand.

"Don’t go too far," the man warned, his voice husky.

Zhi Wan paused, her eyes instinctively darting downward.

A vein throbbed on the man’s temple. He suddenly seized her by the waist and flipped her over, pinning her beneath him once more.

Zhi Wan blinked, a little disappointed. ’So close.’

It was a pity her hurried glance hadn’t been enough to see anything clearly.

She lifted a pale finger and traced his Adam’s apple. "Aren’t you the one who’s going too far?" As she spoke, she pointed to her own lips, which were now red and swollen from his kiss.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. He suddenly pulled both of her hands high above her head, then untied her sash with his free hand.

Zhi Wan stiffened, then began to squirm. "Wh-what are you doing?"

"Returning the favor," the man’s voice was still husky.

Zhi Wan was speechless.

Her curled lashes trembled violently.

’Returning the favor... Doesn’t that mean he’s going to have his way with my body, too?’

GULP. She swallowed hard, her eyes wide as she watched the man slowly, deliberately part her robes.

In an instant, the green bodice she wore underneath was revealed.

Zhi Wan couldn’t help but blush.

She hadn’t felt embarrassed while exploring his body, but now that it was her turn, she felt a wave of bashfulness wash over her.

She tried her best to appear calm, but the man still noticed her tension.

He chuckled softly, his long fingers tracing the pattern on her bodice.

It was a white rose.

"The needlework is quite good," the man praised.

Zhi Wan felt a pang of guilt. Her own needlework was mediocre at best; the embroidery on her clothes was all done by Shuang’er.

"My maid embroidered it," she couldn’t help but explain.

The man glanced at her. "I could tell. You’re not one for needlework."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan bristled. "How could you tell?"

"You’re too spoiled and willful. You don’t have the temperament to sit quietly and do needlework," the man stated calmly.

Zhi Wan was speechless.

’Am I spoiled and willful?’

She recalled her various encounters with this man. It seemed she really was spoiled and willful most of the time.

"I’ve never met a well-bred young lady like you," the man suddenly added.

Zhi Wan immediately took offense. "What’s wrong with a lady like me?"

"Audacious and reckless, with none of the demureness a proper young lady should have," the man offered as a sharp critique.

Zhi Wan scoffed. "If I were demure, you wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of me."

"You’ve taken plenty of advantage of me as well," the man teased.

"Alright, so I’m not demure. But you’re no gentleman, either. That’s the pot calling the kettle black. Besides," Zhi Wan retorted, her tongue sharp, "I can see you’re clearly enjoying my lack of demureness."

The man faltered for a moment, then squeezed her chin. "Such a sharp tongue."

Zhi Wan rolled her eyes and tried to struggle out of his hold, but the man was too strong; she couldn’t break free at all.

Instead, her struggles only made her robe slip from her shoulder, revealing its smooth, white curve.

The man’s dark eyes deepened several shades.

He lay on his side beside her, his gaze blatantly sweeping over her alluring curves.

Zhi Wan’s face burned. "Don’t you dare look!" she snapped, her voice fierce to hide her inner panic.

His gaze lingered on her chest for a moment before he suddenly lifted the hem of her bodice.

Zhi Wan cried out in terror, "Don’t—"

The man shot her a look that was half a smile, and then his hand shot up.

"Ah—!" Zhi Wan shrieked. She snapped her eyes open, only to find herself lying perfectly fine in her own bed, in her own room. Her nightclothes were still on, completely undisturbed.

It had all been a dream again.

Thinking about everything that had happened in the dream, her mouth suddenly felt dry. She quickly got up, poured a cup of cold tea, and gulped it down.

"Miss, what is it?"

Shuang’er, who was sleeping in the antechamber, heard the noise and walked in, pulling a robe over her shoulders.

"It’s nothing." Zhi Wan shook her head, but as soon as she spoke, she realized her voice was hoarse.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Shuang’er asked with concern.

Zhi Wan avoided her gaze and nodded, feeling guilty. "Yes." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Don’t be afraid, Miss. The things that happen in dreams aren’t real," Shuang’er soothed.

"Yes... they aren’t real," Zhi Wan repeated in a daze.

"It’s almost dawn. Let me help you lie down and rest for a little while longer," Shuang’er said.

"Okay." Zhi Wan nodded.

After helping her lie down, Shuang’er tucked the blanket in around her.

"You go back to sleep for a bit, too," Zhi Wan said.

"Alright." Seeing that she was alright, Shuang’er returned to the antechamber.

Lying in bed, Zhi Wan found she couldn’t fall back asleep.

The more she thought about what had happened in her dream, the more troubled she became.

’Why do I keep having dreams like that?’