The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 86: Kicking the Man Off the Bed

When Zhi Wan heard this, her sleepiness vanished. She looked at him guardedly. "Why are you asking about that?"

The man lowered his gaze to look at her, trying to see her clearly. But it was as if a layer of fog shrouded her face, and no matter how he tried, he couldn’t make it out.

Hearing the guarded tone in her voice, he paused, then shook his head. "It’s nothing. Just asking."

Zhi Wan inwardly sighed in relief. ’I thought he was trying to investigate me.’

The man glanced at her, then suddenly pulled her left hand up and lowered his head to examine it.

In the space between her index and middle fingers, there was a tiny red mole. Because it was nestled between her fingers, it was hard to spot unless her hand was open.

They had met in this dream so many times, yet he had never noticed this feature. If it weren’t for that little gesture she’d made last time, he still wouldn’t have found it.

When Zhi Wan saw him examining her hand, she didn’t think much of it at first. But when she saw the small mole between her fingers, she was instantly on alert.

She snatched her hand back and said nonchalantly, "What are you looking at?"

The man gave her a thoughtful look and said mildly, "This mole between your fingers is very unique."

"What’s so unique about it? Lots of people have them." Zhi Wan’s confidence wavered, afraid he would remember this feature and use it to find her in the real world, so she feigned indifference.

"But I’ve only ever seen it on your hand," Lu Zhan said, his gaze fixed on her.

Zhi Wan’s heart sank.

’How careless of me, letting him notice that.’

’If it were somewhere on my body, it would be fine. At least clothes would cover it. In the real world, he can’t just go around stripping people to check, can he? But one between the fingers is different. Anyone paying the slightest bit of attention would be able to see it.’

’If this man is also in the Capital City, and we happen to run into each other one day, wouldn’t he be able to recognize me easily?’

At this thought, Zhi Wan began to panic a little.

’From now on, I have to be more careful. I can’t let him find any more identifying features.’

She did not want to be recognized by him in the real world!

"Why do you seem a little nervous?" the man suddenly asked, pinching her chin and studying her with downcast eyes.

"Nervous? Why would I be nervous?" Zhi Wan forced herself to remain calm. Not wanting the man to probe her thoughts any further, she suddenly flipped over, sat up, and straddled his lap.

The man’s breathing hitched.

The girl had a lovely, faint fragrance about her. The way she leaned in now was like a siren, bewitching one’s mind.

The man, who was always calm and self-possessed, lost some of his composure. His long, dark lashes trembled as he lowered his head and kissed her eagerly.

Zhi Wan wrapped her arms around his neck, tilted her head back, and accepted his kiss.

A moment later, she seized the initiative, pushing the man down onto the bed. Then, with her slender, pale fingers, she gently caressed his jade-like chin and his bobbing Adam’s apple.

Next, she lowered her head and drew close, her red lips brushing against his ear as she asked in a sultry, captivating voice, "Are you enjoying yourself?"

A vein throbbed on the man’s temple. His fading sanity finally returned. He caught her mischievous, roving hand, gave her a look from the depths of his dark eyes, and suddenly flipped her over, pinning her beneath him.

"You’re so practiced at this. You’re certainly no proper lady!" His voice was hoarse with aroused desire, but his tone was serious.

The corner of Zhi Wan’s lips curled up, showing not a hint of anger.

She knew he was saying it on purpose, trying to provoke her.

’He thinks I’ll eventually be unable to stand it and reveal my identity just to clear myself of the stigma of being a Courtesan.’

’After all, no respectable woman could bear being labeled a Courtesan.’

Her fingers, as slender as spring onions, tapped lightly on his chest. "And what if I’m not? In any case, it’s not like you’re getting the short end of the stick, sir. At the very least, a trip to a Brothel would cost you a fee, but we’ve met so many times, and I haven’t asked you for a single coin."

Lu Zhan froze.

Zhi Wan smiled, her long, slender fingers hooking his sash and attempting to untie it. "I don’t want to know who you are, and you should stop asking about my identity. As long as we’re enjoying ourselves, isn’t that enough?"

The man’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. He was already used to her bold actions and shocking words.

He gripped her chin, a hint of restrained forbearance in his expression, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Just what kind of family could raise a woman as bold and fearless as you?"

Zhi Wan pouted, bored, and pushed him away. "You love getting to the bottom of things so much... you’re not an official, are you?"

The man stiffened.

"I don’t care who you are, but if you’re going to keep interrogating me, don’t bother coming to find me again." Zhi Wan rolled to the far side of the bed and pulled the covers over her head.

After a long moment, she suddenly heard the man’s low voice ask, "How much more silver do you need?"

"What?" Zhi Wan froze.

With the blanket over her head, his voice sounded muffled.

Thinking she had misheard, she pulled the blanket down and looked at him suspiciously.

"Didn’t you say before that you wanted to recruit a live-in husband?" the man asked, lying beside her, his voice faint.

Zhi Wan nodded. "I did say that. So what?"

"To recruit a husband, you’d have to buy your freedom first, wouldn’t you? How much more silver do you need?" the man asked.

Zhi Wan finally understood what he was getting at.

She propped herself up, her eyes full of amusement. "What, are you going to buy my freedom for me?"

The man looked at her mildly. "I have, after all, taken full advantage of you. And though it was consensual, I still feel I should take responsibility. Tell me how much more silver you’re short, and I’ll make it up to you."

Zhi Wan raised an eyebrow.

’Is this rogue trying to needle me about what I said earlier—about him not paying a fee?’

"And how do you plan on ’making it up’ to me?" Zhi Wan asked, intrigued.

"I don’t have any money on me this time. Next time, I’ll remember to bring a silver note. Or, if you leave an address, miss, I can send the money to you," the man said in a slow, deliberate manner.

Hearing this, Zhi Wan understood his intentions.

She shrugged. "No need. I enjoy myself with you, too. How could I take your money?"

"So, does that mean you’ve already saved up enough silver to buy your freedom? Or perhaps... you’ve already left that place," the man said, watching her thoughtfully.

Zhi Wan rolled her eyes. This man was truly relentless, always trying to trick her into revealing something.

Annoyed, she suddenly kicked out, trying to shove the man off the bed, but he was too quick and caught her by the ankle.

The man said mildly, "And where did you learn such brutish manners, miss?"

"Where I learned them is none of your damn business," Zhi Wan snapped.

"With a temper like yours, what Brothel would dare to hire you?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That’s no concern of yours! I’m a natural beauty; people are fighting over me!" Zhi Wan boasted shamelessly.

「Qingyun Residence.」

Lu Zhan’s eyes flew open. He found himself lying in his own bed and realized he had been dreaming again.

But the girl’s shouts still seemed to echo in his ears.

Thinking of what the girl had said, he raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose and looked down with a wry smile.

’Still, for her to be so confident, so spoiled and willful... could she really be, as she claims, a peerless beauty?’

’That would explain how a Courtesan could be so self-assured.’

’Considering the luxurious room she lives in, perhaps she’s the Oiran of some Brothel.’

At this thought, a glint flashed in Lu Zhan’s dark eyes.