Oops! My Inner Thoughts Are Ruining The Plot

Chapter 88: Chapter

The morning light crept through the wooden lattice of the window, casting a warm, golden glow across the quiet room.

Su Yueqing blinked her eyes open, her body feeling strangely weighed down and completely immobile. It took her three full seconds to realize why: she was trapped.

Wenzhe’s massive arm was thrown heavily across her waist, pinning her down like a steel beam. His broad chest was pressed firmly against her back, radiating heat like a furnace, and his face was tucked deeply into the crook of her neck, his steady, warm breaths puffing against her skin.

[System... tell me I am hallucinating,] Su Yueqing shrieked in her head, her face flushing crimson within seconds. [Why am I still being held hostage by this giant heated blanket?!]

[Ding! Scan confirms you are very much awake, Host,] Nine’s cheerful voice sounded off in her mind. [The Target’s fever has broken completely, thanks to your shared thermal conduction and his absurdly strong warrior constitution. You are welcome.]

[Thermal conduction my foot!] Su Yueqing snapped internally.

She turned her head slowly, trying to slip out from under his heavy grip, but as soon as she moved, Wenzhe stirred. His dark eyes fluttered open, initially hazy with sleep before clarity slammed into him like a freight train.

He froze. He looked down at his arm wrapped tightly around her waist, then up at her furious, blushing face only inches away.

In a split second of pure, unadulterated panic, the great General of the Northern Border scrambled backward so fast he nearly rolled right off the edge of the mattress, pulling the blanket up to his chest like a startled maiden.

"I... you..." Wenzhe stammered, his hoarse voice cracking as a deep, bright red flush spread from his neck all the way to the tips of his ears. "Wife, I did not mean to—"

"Save it, Master Xi," Su Yueqing growled, sitting up and violently smoothing out her rumpled clothing, her eyes glaring daggers at him. "You used me as an extra blanket all night. If you complain about a cold today, I’ll personally throw you off a cliff."

Wenzhe swallowed hard, clearing his throat awkwardly as he stood up, adjusting his dark robes with stiff, rigid movements. "My fever is gone," he muttered quietly, looking anywhere but at her face. "I... thank you."

"Save your thanks," she huffed, standing up and stretching her sore back. "Now get out of here before your little brother wakes up and asks why his scary big brother was sleeping on the floor like a stray dog."

Wenzhe gave a quick, silent nod, slipping out through the door this time instead of the window, leaving Su Yueqing alone in the quiet room to finally catch her breath.

Meanwhile, in Lanyin’s courtyard, the atmosphere inside the dressing room was warm, filled with soft laughter, rustling silk, and a heavy dose of playful excitement.

Lanyin sat comfortably in front of a grand bronze mirror, trying to keep a straight face as her little sisters, Gu Yue and Qianqian, leaned over her shoulders to admire her outfit. Fine cosmetics and sparkling jewelry were scattered across the vanity table.

"Oh, Sister Lanyin, that hairpiece looks so pretty on you!" Qianqian sighed, lightly trailing her fingers along the embroidered sleeves of Lanyin’s formal gown. She pouted, her shoulders drooping slightly. "I wish we could go too. The Governor’s Youth Banquet sounds like so much fun!"

"You know the rules, Qianqian," Gu Yue teased gently, nudging her cousin’s arm. "Neither of us has had our official coming-of-age debut yet, so we have to sit this one out until next year."

Lanyin chuckled softly, turning around in her seat to look at both of them. "Don’t worry, your turn will come before you know it. Besides, all the eyes in the banquet hall won’t even be on me today."

Gu Yue raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. "Really? Who else would they be looking at?"

"Sister-in-law, of course," Lanyin said smoothly, adjusting her silver wrist bangles with a light smile. "It’s Su Yueqing’s first grand outing with Big Brother since everything happened. Everyone in the capital is dying to see her."

"True..." Qianqian admitted, before a mischief-filled glint suddenly flashed in her eyes. She leaned in closer, nudging Lanyin with a giggling whisper. "But wait, isn’t Young Master Zi Han going to be there too? Didn’t he specifically ask you to be his escort for the evening?"

Lanyin’s cheeks instantly flushed a bright pink. "Qianqian! Quiet down!"

"Oh! She’s blushing!" Gu Yue gasped, clapping her hands together with a delighted laugh. "He really asked you! Sister Lanyin, you have to tell us everything when you get back tonight!"

"There’s nothing to tell!" Lanyin insisted quickly, though she couldn’t hide the sweet, shy smile breaking across her face as she turned back to her mirror to hide her burning cheeks. "We’re just attending as friends!"

Just then, a maid walked into the room carrying a small wooden tray with a steaming cup of ginger tea, its strong, spicy aroma drifting through the air.

Gu Yue paused, looking at the tray in confusion. She turned to the servant and said, "Wait, no one asked for ginger tea, did they?"

Lanyin panicked slightly, her eyes widening as she quickly interjected, "I did! I asked for it." She waved her hand dismissively at the maid, trying to hide her sudden nervousness. "You may go now."

The suspicious maid blinked, looking between the girls, but nodded respectfully and left the room without another word.

Before Gu Yue or Qianqian could question why Lanyin suddenly wanted hot ginger tea on a warm morning, little Anran came sprinting into the room, his small shoes squeaking on the floorboards as he panted for breath.

"Sister Gu Yue! Sister Qianqian!" Anran shouted eagerly, pointing back toward the hallway. "Your governess is here!"

Gu Yue and Qianqian exchanged a long, miserable look, both letting out a unified, heavy sigh. Their fun morning of dressing up and teasing Lanyin was officially over.

"Well, duty calls," Gu Yue groaned, smoothing down her robes. "We have to go for our daily etiquette classes now, or she’ll make us stand with books on our heads for an hour."

"Have fun at the banquet, Lanyin!" Qianqian called out, waving as both girls reluctantly dragged their feet out the door following little Anran.

Immediately after they left, Lanyin stood up, setting down her hairbrush, and walked briskly back into her main bedchamber.

She stood near her table, her heart thumping against her ribs in quiet anticipation. A moment later, a trusted maid walked in carrying a small tray with a fresh cup of tea. She set the teacup down on the table with a soft clink, making sure to arrange the lid in a specific, tilted direction before giving Lanyin a subtle, knowing nod.

It was their hidden signal.

Lanyin let out a long breath, her fingers tightening around her silk handkerchief. The tea wasn’t just a morning drink it was her coded notification that he was already here, waiting for her in secret.