Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

Chapter 213 The Cool and Alluring Dancer

An ancient town in Suzhou.

The group arrived at a house, dusty and weary from their journey. The door was slightly ajar, and a melodious zither tune drifted from inside.

Shen Moci took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the slightly ajar door.

The sound of the guzheng drifted out with the soft creaking of the door hinges, melancholic and sorrowful, just like the tune of "Floating Light".

As everyone stepped across the threshold, they were greeted by a small courtyard planted with a large expanse of pear blossoms.

A graceful figure danced under the pear tree, her white skirt fluttering with her movements, like a fairy descended from the moon.

Petals fluttered down, landing on her dark hair and shoulders, weaving together with her slender figure to create a beautiful yet desolate scene.

It is Liu Yunshu.

Shen Moci's breath caught in her throat, and her eyes suddenly reddened. Three years had passed since they last met, and she remained as aloof and beautiful as ever.

The three of them stood there, mesmerized, even unconsciously holding their breath.

As Liu Yunshu spun around, she suddenly saw several people at the door. Startled, she slipped and was about to fall heavily to the ground.

"Yun Shu!" Shen Moci roared and rushed over, almost instinctively pulling her firmly into his arms.

A familiar, cool fragrance wafted into my nostrils, carrying the delicate elegance of pear blossoms.

The touch he had longed for day and night for the past three years was now firmly in his palm, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

Liu Yunshu was so startled by the sudden hug that she froze. Just as she was about to struggle, her fingertips touched the thin, bony shoulders and back beneath the clothes.

She turned her head, her gaze sweeping over the haggard faces of the other two.

Gu Shichen's suit was wrinkled, and his usual sharpness was replaced by endless panic.

Lu Hengyan's eyes were red at the corners, and his figure was so thin that he was almost unrecognizable.

She sighed softly and patted Shen Moci on the back. "Sit down and let's talk."

Upon hearing this, Shen Moci stiffened, but still couldn't bear to loosen his grip.

He only slowly let go of her after Liu Yunshu gently pushed him.

His fingertips lingered on her sleeve, as if she would disappear again if he let go.

Several bamboo chairs were placed next to a stone table in the corner of the courtyard. Liu Yunshu was the first to walk over and sit down.

Li Wei quickly pulled Jeremy Lin to a corner to sit down, tactfully minimizing her presence and leaving the four of them alone in the courtyard.

Shen Moci sat down opposite Liu Yunshu, his hands clenched tightly, his knuckles white. A thousand words were stuck in his throat, but he didn't know where to begin.

Three years of longing, regret, and fear all turned into awkward silence when he finally faced her.

Gu Shichen stood still, his gaze fixed on Liu Yunshu.

The panic in his eyes was gradually replaced by suppressed ecstasy, yet mixed with a trace of barely perceptible timidity.

He feared that his approach would reignite her painful memories.

Lu Hengyan slowly sat down. He opened his mouth, but in the end only uttered three words: "I'm sorry."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunshu gently shook her head, her gaze sweeping over the three haggard faces, and said in a calm tone, "It's all in the past."

"No!" Shen Moci suddenly looked up, his eyes red and his voice hoarse.

"Yun Shu, I've been searching for you for three years. I think about you every day, and I regret it every day... If I could have trusted you a little more back then, if I could have found you sooner, you wouldn't be like this..."

He couldn't continue, and tears rolled down his cheeks without warning, splashing onto the stone table.

Gu Shichen walked over, sat down beside her, and took her hand in trembling hands. "Yun Shu, come back. Let us take care of you, okay?"

Lu Hengyan reached out and grasped her other hand, choking back tears, "We can't live without you. Yun Shu, please give us another chance, okay?"

Liu Yunshu's hands, which were being held by the two men, stiffened slightly, and she was about to pull them back.

Shen Moci got up and walked behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, rested his chin on her neck, and his hot tears instantly soaked her collar.

"Yun Shu, please don't push us away, please..."

His voice carried an extreme vulnerability, like that of a child afraid of being abandoned.

The temperature on her neck was so hot it was almost burning, and Liu Yunshu's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

Just as she was about to break free from the three people's hold, a little boy's curious voice came from not far away: "Mommy, what game are you playing?"

Then came a little girl's soft, sweet voice: "Brother, you're so silly! These three uncles must be pursuing Mom!"

Before the words were finished, two small figures ran in from outside, a boy and a girl, who looked to be about three or four years old.

The boy was wearing a dark blue shirt, and his features bore a resemblance to Lu Hengyan's handsome appearance.

The girl was wearing a pink dress, with round cheeks and her eyes crinkled when she smiled, bearing a striking resemblance to Gu Shichen.

The three of them stared blankly at the two adorable little ones, their minds going completely blank, and they even forgot to breathe.

The boy ran up to Lu Hengyan, looking him up and down curiously. "Uncle, you look just like me! Are you our dad?"

Lu Hengyan shuddered, his fingers tightening sharply, making Liu Yunshu's knuckles turn white.

The girl ran up to Gu Shichen, looking at him with smiling eyes, "Then you must be my dad!"

Gu Shichen froze, looked down at the small face that looked so much like his own, and tears rolled down his cheeks without warning.

He reached out, his hands trembling, and picked her up. "Yes, I am your father."

The girl was not shy at all when Gu Shichen held her in his arms.

Her little hand gently touched his cheek, and she asked softly, "Daddy, why are you crying? Are you sad because you can't find me and Mommy?"

Gu Shichen felt as if his heart had been shattered by that word "Dad," and his scalding tears fell even more fiercely.

He nodded vigorously, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Yes, Dad was wrong. Dad has been looking for you for so long."

On the other side, the boy shook Lu Hengyan's hand, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Uncle, what about you? Are you my dad too?"

Tears welled up in Lu Hengyan's eyes, and he reached out and carefully touched the boy's cheek.

"Yes, I am... Dad."

Shen Moci tightened his grip on Liu Yunshu's waist, lowered his head, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and his shoulders trembled violently.

"Yunshu, please forgive us for the sake of the child."

Liu Yunshu's body froze completely. She slowly closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling, concealing the complex emotions surging within them.

"Mom, please forgive Dad! Dad knows he was wrong, right, Dad?"

The little girl pinched Gu Shichen's cheek and winked at him.

When Liu Yunshu opened her eyes, she saw her daughter, who was being held in Gu Shichen's arms and smiling sweetly.

Then she looked at her son, who was holding Lu Hengyan's hand and looking at her with expectant eyes.

Shen Moci's embrace was still burning hot, and she could clearly feel the person in her arms trembling.

It was the collapse of three years of torment day and night, the ecstasy of regaining what was lost, and the fear that penetrated to the bone.

"Mother?"

Seeing that she hadn't spoken for a long time, her son let go of Lu Hengyan's hand, ran to her side, and gently tugged at her skirt.

Why aren't you saying anything? Are you angry?

Liu Yunshu slowly raised her hand and stroked her son's head. When her fingertips touched the soft hair, the calm she had been maintaining instantly collapsed.

Tears rolled down unexpectedly, landing on the back of the child's hand, burning him slightly.

"Mom cried!"

The daughter immediately wriggled out of Gu Shichen's arms, ran to her side, and clumsily wiped her cheek with her little hand.

"Mommy, don't cry. Niannian will be good, and Daddies will be good too. Please don't be angry, okay?"

Two children flanked her, one on each side, soothing her softly, their little faces full of anxiety.

Liu Yunshu thought to herself, "You are all such good children!"

She stroked the two children's heads and comforted them, saying, "Mommy's okay."

"Mom, can the dads stay and keep us company? Xiaohu and the others say we're children without a father..."

The little boy looked at her with a wronged expression.

The little girl started crying too, "Mommy, I want Daddy!"

Liu Yunshu looked down at her son's reddened eyes and her daughter's sobbing face, and her tears flowed even more fiercely.

Shen Moci felt her body trembling, and tightened his arms around her waist, his voice choked with sobs:

"Yunshu, I'm sorry, it's our fault for making the child suffer."

Gu Shichen knelt down and carefully pulled his crying daughter into his arms, his voice so gentle it could melt your heart:

"Don't cry, Niannian. Daddy will stay with you every day from now on and will never leave again, okay?"

Lu Hengyan also took his son's hand, hugged him tightly, and promised with tears in his eyes:

"If anyone dares to say that our child doesn't have a father, Dad will be the first to object."

The two children's crying gradually subsided, and they nestled tightly in their father's arms.

Her little hands clutched the hem of their clothes, as if afraid that if she let go, they would disappear again.

Looking at the scene before her, Liu Yunshu seemed to have finally given in.

"My children and I can go back with you, but I don't want what happened before to happen again."

"Yunshu, don't worry, from now on the three of us will take turns working, and we definitely won't make things difficult for you!"

Gu Shichen quickly expressed his agreement, his eyes filled with eager sincerity, afraid that she would change her mind if he hesitated even a second longer.

Lu Hengyan and Shen Moci nodded repeatedly.

Looking at the sincerity and fear in the eyes of the three people, Liu Yunshu chuckled inwardly.

Finally, I can eat meat again! It's been three years, and I've been craving it so much.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sometime after I returned home.

"Little sister, are you really going to mix alcohol into Mom's drink?"

"Of course! Otherwise, it would be so pitiful for fathers to be all alone in their wives' homes!"

"Yes, yes, we should help the dads!"

The two secretly mixed most of a bottle of red wine into Liu Yunshu's usual beverage.

Liu Yunshu pretended not to see it and drank the entire bottle of beverage in one gulp.

As soon as Shen Moci and the other two came downstairs, they saw Liu Yunshu leaning against the sofa, her collar slipping down to one shoulder, revealing her slender collarbone.

Her cheeks were flushed with a captivating blush, and her usually aloof eyes were now veiled with a misty haze.

When she looked at them, the corners of her eyes were slightly upturned, revealing a hint of unwitting allure.

"Mo Ci~ It's so hot~"

"Yunshu, what did you drink?"

Shen Moci's voice was barely perceptible as he walked towards her step by step.

Liu Yunshu squinted at him, a faint smile playing on her lips, tinged with a hint of drunken languor.

"I just...had a drink."

She raised her hand to fan herself, but her movements became sluggish due to the alcohol, and her sleeves slipped down further, revealing the delicate skin on her shoulders.

Gu Shichen could no longer restrain himself. He strode over and reached out to help her adjust her collar. His fingertips had just touched the fabric when she gently pressed them down.

She looked up into his eyes, the corners of her eyes flushed red, like rouge: "Shi Chen, are you hot too?"

When those warm fingertips touched the back of his hand, Gu Shichen froze.

He felt a surge of heat spreading from the back of his hand to his entire body, making his mouth and throat dry.

Lu Hengyan walked to the other side of the sofa, bent down to look at her, and spoke in a voice so gentle it could melt your heart:

"Yunshu, are you drunk? Shall I help you back to your room to rest?"

"No~"

Liu Yunshu gently shook her head, her head feeling slightly heavy.

She unconsciously leaned closer to Shen Moci, her nose brushing against his arm, carrying a faint smell of alcohol.

"I'm not sleepy, I want to play with you guys..."

Shen Moci naturally wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling the soft body of the person in his arms, his heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest.

He lowered his head, his nose almost touching her forehead, his voice deep and seductive: "What do you want to play?"

Liu Yunshu blinked, reached out and hooked her arm around Shen Moci's neck, tilted her head back and gently pecked his chin, then rubbed against him like a kitten.

"Playing...who loves me the most~"

This was like lighting a fuse.

Gu Shichen suddenly gripped her wrist, his grip gentle yet firm, a fierce desire surging in his eyes, his voice hoarse and barely audible:

"I love you the most."

Before he finished speaking, he lowered his head and gently placed a kiss on the scar on her other wrist, with reverence and tenderness.

Lu Hengyan leaned down and whispered in her ear, his breath hot: "Yun Shu, I love you too, more than anyone else."

His fingertips gently traced her cheek, with a careful tenderness.

Liu Yunshu felt hot all over under their burning gazes, and the effects of the alcohol rose in her body.

She broke free from Shen Moci's embrace, staggered to her feet, and her skirt swept across the three men's legs, carrying a fragrant breeze.

"Then... whoever makes me happy, I'll... reward them~"

She tilted her head and smiled, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the three of them with undisguised flirtation.

The desire in Shen Moci's eyes was almost overflowing. He stepped forward and pulled her back into his arms.

She lowered her head to kiss him, but Gu Shichen stopped her with his hand.

"Don't rush," Gu Shichen said, looking at Liu Yunshu's drunken state with possessiveness in his eyes, "It's my turn."

Lu Hengyan was not to be outdone, so he reached out and put his arm around her waist, his voice tinged with urgency: "I'll go first."

The three men surrounded her, their eyes burning with intense passion, and the air was thick with an ambiguous yet tense atmosphere.

At the corner of the stairs, two small figures were clinging to the railing, peeking down.

Xiao An whispered, "Little sister, Mom seems really drunk. Will Dads bully her?"

Niannian blinked, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Silly boy, this is called romance! You don't understand, you'll see when you have a girlfriend!"

After saying that, she pulled Xiao An along, tiptoed back to her room, and gently closed the door behind her, muttering to herself:

"Let's not bother Mom and Dad anymore; let's give them some space."

In the living room, Liu Yunshu leaned against Shen Moci's chest, looking at the three men in front of her with fire in their eyes, a triumphant smile curling at the corner of her lips.

The intoxication was real, but seven-tenths of it was feigned.

Having endured three years of hardship, she was now ready to "enjoy" her prey when it came to her.

She reached out and hooked her hand around Gu Shichen's tie, pulling him closer, her lips almost touching his: "Stop arguing... let's do it together~"

As night deepened, the lights in the living room were quietly turned off, leaving only the hazy moonlight filtering in from the window, illuminating the room in a beautiful ambiance.

The desires and longings suppressed for three years erupted completely at this moment, weaving together into a lingering nocturne.