The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night

「That evening, in Yaoguang Pavilion.」

Because of the wound on her arm, Zhi Wan slept restlessly.

Just as she was drifting in a hazy sleep, she suddenly felt someone pull up her sleeve.

She awoke with a start.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the man sitting by her bed. His long, slender fingers were cradling her arm as he lowered his gaze to inspect the wound.

Zhi Wan was utterly stunned to see him.

The man’s words from last night were still ringing in her ears, and she hadn’t even figured out how to deal with him yet. She never expected to see him again so soon.

She instinctively tried to pull her arm from his grasp.

But the moment she moved, the man snapped, "Don’t move!"

Zhi Wan froze.

The man paused, then lifted his gaze to her. "Doesn’t it hurt anymore?"

Zhi Wan blinked and answered honestly, "It still hurts a little."

"Then why are you squirming?" the man asked, frowning.

Zhi Wan’s lips parted, but in the end, she changed the subject. "Why are you here again?"

"Am I not allowed to come?" the man retorted.

Zhi Wan was speechless.

’Of course I don’t want him to come. It would be best if we never saw each other again.’

’After all, this man is so domineering. Last night, he even said that my husband could only be him and told me to give him a chance.’

’He’s far too overbearing. I can’t afford to provoke him, and now, it seems I can’t even hide from him.’

’The man always appears without any warning. I have nowhere to run.’

’I secretly regret it now. I should have known better than to get involved with this man.’

’But it’s too late for regrets now.’

’All I can do now is placate him. If he really does something drastic, I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it.’

Thinking this, she changed the subject again. "Right, how did you know my arm was injured?"

At her words, the man paused. He lowered his eyes and said flatly, "When I arrived just now, I saw you weren’t sleeping soundly. I guessed."

Zhi Wan’s confusion vanished. "Oh, I see."

The man was still cradling her arm. His long fingers gently brushed against her wound, his handsome brows knitted tightly together.

Seeing him remain silent, staring at her injury with what looked like concern, Zhi Wan paused, then couldn’t help but say, "It’s not a big deal. It’s much better now." As she spoke, she used her uninjured left hand to prop herself up, trying to sit.

She was afraid of tearing the wound on her right arm, so the movement was a bit of a struggle.

Just then, the man’s warm hands suddenly slipped under her arms and lifted her into a sitting position.

Zhi Wan stiffened.

By the time she came to her senses, she was already sitting up, and a soft pillow had been tucked behind her back.

She paused for a second, then couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at the man.

She still couldn’t see his features clearly, but for some reason, she felt that in this moment, his eyes were steeped in gentleness.

Sensing her gaze on him, the man asked in a low voice, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing," Zhi Wan said, quickly looking away. But after a moment’s thought, her gaze returned to his face. "Who are you, really?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

The corners of the man’s lips curved slightly. "You want to know?"

Zhi Wan was about to nod, but after a moment’s thought, she shook her head. "No."

’Even though I’m curious about this man’s identity, at this point, it’s better if I don’t know.’

’This man is so overbearing. I have to find a way to get rid of him.’

"Why not?" the man asked slowly.

"I just don’t, that’s all. Why does there have to be a reason?" Zhi Wan shot him a glare, but inwardly she was deeply troubled.

’Last night, I made my position clear. To make him back off, I even made up that I was a courtesan from a brothel and had a foul disease, but it didn’t scare him away at all.’

’What on earth do I have to do to make this man despise me?’

Hearing this, the man said no more. He reached out, pulled her sleeve back down, and advised in a warm voice, "Don’t be so reckless next time. If something happens, don’t handle it yourself. Those servants aren’t just for show."

Zhi Wan looked at him in surprise. "You don’t even know how I got this injury. How can you call me reckless?"

"Have you forgotten? I’ve studied some medicine. I examined your wound just now. It’s clearly a bite mark, and judging from the teeth marks, it was from a child," the man said, calm and composed.

At this, Zhi Wan was actually a little impressed. She couldn’t help but reach out and poke his chest. "What exactly do you do? You know medicine, and you’re so perceptive."

"Guess," the man said, curling her fingers into his palm with a faint smile.

"You’re not a government official, are you? Do you work for the Ministry of Punishments, or the Ministry of Justice?" Zhi Wan hadn’t wanted to ask, but she couldn’t contain her curiosity.

"Would you prefer I was with the Ministry of Punishments, or the Ministry of Justice?" the man countered, raising an eyebrow.

Zhi Wan heard him and calmed down, curling her lip. "I don’t want to know."

The man paused, then looked into her eyes. "You mentioned the Ministry of Punishments and the Ministry of Justice specifically. Do you have a relative who works in one of those two ministries?"

Zhi Wan’s gaze flickered.

’I can’t reveal that my cousin is the Minister of the Ministry of Justice. He’d figure out my identity for sure.’

"I just said it because you’re so perceptive. It was a random guess," Zhi Wan said dismissively.

"Mm," the man grunted, not pressing the issue.

Zhi Wan breathed a silent sigh of relief. Smelling the strong scent of alcohol on him, she frowned. "Have you been drinking again?" Her tone was full of disdain.

The man didn’t speak, just raised a hand to press his temples.

"Why do you always drink so much?" Zhi Wan asked, watching him thoughtfully.

’So many times when we’ve met, he’s reeked of alcohol.’

’It can’t be a coincidence, can it?’

The man’s gaze deepened. He suddenly pinched her chin, lowered his head, and captured her lips with his.

"If you were a little more obedient, I wouldn’t have to drink..."

The words came out muffled as their lips and tongues intertwined.

Zhi Wan was completely baffled.

’What does my obedience have to do with whether he drinks or not?’

’This man must be drunk.’

Because of the injury on her arm, the man didn’t torment her this time. He only kissed her for a little while before letting her go. But when he rested his chin on her shoulder, his breathing was heavy, enough to make one’s face flush and heart race.

Seeing him like this, Zhi Wan knew he was aroused.

In the past, she definitely would have teased him a little, but now, not only was her arm injured, she also didn’t want to get any more entangled with this man.

After steadying herself, Zhi Wan gave the man a little push. "I want to sleep."

"Mm," the man said, his voice a bit hoarse. He pulled away and sat with his back to her.

Zhi Wan slowly lay back down. Looking at the man’s broad back, which now seemed to carry a hint of desolation, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of complicated emotions.

"Didn’t you want to sleep? Why aren’t you sleeping?" The man’s low voice pulled her from her thoughts.

She snapped back to reality and looked at the man, only to see he was now holding a fan and fanning her.

A cool breeze washed over her face. She thought she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, but before long, she had drifted off.