At noon, the sun blazed fiercely, without a trace of wind, the leaves drooped, and the cicadas screeched loudly.

In the back room of the County Government Office's courtyard, warm sunlight streamed through the windowsill, covering the table and causing many fine dust particles to dance chaotically in the light, making one feel drowsy.

Xia Zhining stood in front of the wardrobe, just having opened it, she took off her dress and was about to change into her underwear, when the door of the room suddenly swung open, and a figure walked in.

Instinctively, Xia Zhining let out a scream, covering her chest with her hands, and then, realizing what was happening, frantically picked up the clothes on the ground.

And that figure strode over.

Upon seeing who it was, Xia Zhining's face turned pale with shock, her heart in disarray: "You... what are you doing?"

Before she could finish speaking, she saw the person coming closer, reaching out to restrain her.

In her moment of stupefaction, the young man scooped her up and threw her onto the soft couch.

Xia Zhining's heart tightened in panic, struggling desperately against the boy's arms, lowering her voice in angry rage, she said, "Bastard, you wretch, being rude to me again."

But Chen Mo couldn't hear anything anymore, he felt the power of the Purple Sun Turtle coursing through his veins, surging into his flesh and making his breathing like a bull's, he directly leaned down and kissed Xia Zhining's sweet lips.

Xia Zhining's eyes widened in shock, only feeling a strong masculine scent assaulting her senses, making her heart race, leaving her with no will to resist.

Just as she thought to react and bite hard, to break Chen Mo's lips, she couldn't help but let out a soft groan, her jade-like face changing slightly, her delicate brows furrowing as she went limp in Chen Mo's embrace.

Regaining some clarity, Chen Mo was also surprised, he hadn't expected this time...

Chen Mo, familiar with the routine, revisited old haunts, greedily savoring Xia Zhining's fragrant lips; this young lady was exquisitely beautiful, but of a fiery temperament, he had wanted to kiss her properly last time, but unfortunately, he suffered greatly; this time, given her cooperation, he had to savour it to the fullest.

Though it came late, Chen Mo soon tasted the salty flavor of blood in his mouth, the pain prompting him to release Xia Zhining and coldly whispered by her ear, "Are you a dog?"

"I'll kill you." Xia Zhining gritted her teeth.

"Hmph." Chen Mo sneered, then said softly, "I think you're just saying one thing but your heart wants another, your body betrays you, you wanted this as much, otherwise it wouldn't have come to this... don't you agree?"

Chen Mo almost gnawed Xia Zhining's ear as he spoke haltingly.

Xia Zhining's heart skipped a beat, as if her scandal had been exposed, her snow-white cheeks blushed slightly; after all, the dream she had during her nap was exactly this scene, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of humiliation and shame, cursing, "You bastard, wretch, shameless bastard, go to hell."

"Then I'll take you with me, not to hell, but to... heaven."

As Chen Mo finished speaking, Xia Zhining's body tightened, her back arched, and her head tilted back.

A quarter of an hour later.

"See, I told you so, but you still won't admit it." Chen Mo looked at the limp, weak Xia Zhining, soft as silk.

This exquisite beauty had her breath softly stirred, her long, piercing eyes opened slightly into slits, her brows and eyes filled with charming rhyme, her snow-white face flushed like rosy clouds, her temples and forehead covered with a fine sheen of sweat, her jade-like neck also glistened with sweat, washing away her makeup, soaking through her close-fitting clothes.

Seeing this, Chen Mo couldn't help but kiss Xia Zhining's lip corner.

Xia Zhining turned her head away, at this moment, she had no strength left, not even wanting to utter a single word.

While Xia Zhining had reached the end, his race wasn't over yet; he scooped up the beauty and placed her on the table, one hand restraining Xia Zhining, the other lifted the teapot and poured a cup of tea.

Xia Zhining initially thought the tea was poured for Chen Mo himself, but unexpectedly it was brought to her mouth.

Xia Zhining was stunned, always bullied by him, never had she felt a trace of tenderness from him, yet at this moment, seemingly touched by Chen Mo's courtesy, an indescribable strangeness surged in her heart.

Chen Mo, holding the teapot, blew on its spout, said, "By the way, where's your sister?"

Although the two women were twins, they weren't entirely identical, but rather eight-tenths alike, easily distinguishable.

To Chen Mo, it was even easier to distinguish them, he only had to look at the numbers on their foreheads, the younger one stronger, the older one weaker.

Listening to the young man bully her while mentioning her sister, Xia Zhining suddenly felt an inexplicable rage rising within, shouting, "You wretch, I'll kill you."

After yelling, she was frightened by her own behavior.

Just at that moment, she felt angry because he mentioned her sister.

Chen Mo patted the grindstone, telling her not to move recklessly, said, "It's always the same line, have something new for a change."

Speaking, under Xia Zhining's angry glare, he reached out to pinch her pretty yet cold face.

Xia Zhining's face shifted, her gaze obscure, she knew this time there was no chance to kill him, resisting was futile, she simply closed her eyes and said nothing.

"Have you resigned yourself?"

Chen Mo caressed Xia Zhining's cheek, his eyes flickered, as he glanced up, suddenly realizing the room door was still open, a thought arising in his mind, he picked up the beauty and was about to close the door.

"Ah..."

Suddenly, an exclamation sounded from outside the room, a woman in a white dress stepped in, then a scream followed.

Xia Zhiqing originally just wanted to find a place to hide the painting.

But then she thought, since it's almost finished, she might as well finish it outside and go back.

She found Chunhong and at Chunhong's place, finished the painting, then gave it to Chunhong, instructing her to give it to Chen Mo.

After giving instructions, she headed back to where she was staying.

Arriving outside the room, she found the door was open, with curiosity, she stepped inside, only to see Chen Mo embracing her sister, looking stupefied at her.

After her scream, Xia Zhiqing's jade-like face immediately flushed red, instinctively running away.

Outside, she took a deep breath, calming her turbulent emotions, but her mind was filled with the earlier scene, her gaze under her delicate brows unfocused, her blossom-like face red and white.

But soon, she remembered the promise to her sister, her slender jade-like fingers clenched into pink fists, returning to the room.

By then, the room door was already closed, she opened it, and the young man was already lifting his waistband, her sister curled like a wounded kitten on the soft couch, clutching a thin blanket.

"You... didn't you promise me, to be gentle to Zhining, how could you..." Xia Zhiqing bit her cherry lips, summoned the courage to say.

"I'm very gentle, you can ask her yourself. This time, I didn't even spank her butt..." Chen Mo said.

"Bastard, I'm definitely going to kill you, ah ah ah..." Xia Zhining, who had previously calmed down, suddenly erupted in a furious shout.

It turned out that the bastard's gentleness just now was entirely because of her sister.

She thought that lowlife had changed a bit...

But this feeling only made her more angry.

Chen Mo ignored her and looked at Xia Zhiqing, asking, "Is the painting I asked you to do finished?"

Xia Zhiqing's eyes paused, and she looked towards her sister. Sure enough, the latter was watching her, seemingly asking, "What painting?"

Xia Zhiqing bit her lip, a trace of inexplicable blame appearing in her eyes, blaming him for mentioning this in front of her sister.

With a slight frown, Xia Zhiqing said, "I gave it to Chunhong to hand it over to you, and please don't forget what you promised me before."

"I said it, I keep my word." Saying that, Chen Mo gave her a look, signaling her to talk outside.

Xia Zhiqing hesitated for a moment, but eventually followed him outside.

Lying on the chaise lounge, Xia Zhining watched the two of them walk out one after the other, her expression momentarily dazed.

Since when did these two become so close?

Why was her sister painting for him?

She had been with her sister all the time, so when did her sister paint this?

Was her sister treating her like an outsider now? Not even telling her.

Xia Zhining's heart ached for a moment.

Chen Mo led Xia Zhiqing to the Government Office Main Hall, where Sun Meng came in to report and was momentarily stunned upon seeing Xia Zhiqing.

As the former commander of the Defense Army, he certainly knew who Xia Zhiqing was.

Unexpectedly, they were really caught, without a word of news leaking out, it seems...

The thought flashed through his mind, and Sun Meng placed a food box on Chen Mo's desk, then whispered in his ear, "County Magistrate, this Peach Blossom Cake was sent by Miss Yi by her servant, she said it was made by her own hands. Please be sure to taste it."

After speaking, Sun Meng stepped back.

Since the day they set the concubinage date, Yi Shiyin had been sending delicious food every day.

Chen Mo thought that if not for the fact that it was not appropriate to meet before officially entering the house, Yi Shiyin would probably deliver it in person.

He looked at Xia Zhiqing, "Zhiqing, you can compose music, right?"

"Zhiqing?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhiqing was taken aback, a blush appearing on her face. Why was he calling her that?

"You... you mustn't call me that." Xia Zhiqing said bashfully.

"One lash less." Chen Mo said.

"In... in Zhining's presence, you mustn't call me that."

"Two lashes less."

"No... no way."

"Ten lashes less." Chen Mo said.

Xia Zhiqing didn't speak, clearly acquiescing. After a few moments of silence, she said, "What exactly do you want to say?"

Chen Mo opened the food box, picked up a piece of Peach Blossom Cake to taste, then pointed to the paper and pen on the table, "I wrote a poem last night, and I would like you to compose a tune for it.

If you compose it, ten lashes less."

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhiqing raised her eyebrows, somewhat surprised. She sat down behind the table and picked up the brush to dip it in ink, "Please recite it."

Chen Mo lifted the teapot, poured a cup of tea, sipped it, and began to chant animatedly:

"Guan guan cries the osprey, on a sandbar in the river."

Xia Zhiqing recorded every word with her brush.

"A gentle and graceful lady, a gentleman longs for her."

"Sundry and scattered the water plants, left and right are taken up."

"A gentle and graceful lady, kept in waking and sleeping thought."

"Sought without finding her, waking, sleeping, seek and think."

"..."

Xia Zhiqing recorded every word, becoming increasingly amazed as Chen Mo recited more.

Especially upon hearing the line "A gentle and graceful lady, bells and drums made music for her," she felt an unusual sensation, sensing that it was written especially for her.

"How long will it take to compose?"

After reciting, Chen Mo glanced at it again to check if Xia Zhiqing had made any mistakes, and asked.

Xia Zhiqing thought for a moment, "...Seven days."

"Alright, you have seven days."

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