My Arch-Nemesis is the R-Rated Male Lead - Chapter 32

Lu Rong’s face flushed crimson. “I don’t want to!”

[So embarrassing—what if someone sees?]

[No, no… he’s already seen.]

This time, Lu Rong was truly blushing all over, even her body tinged with red.

Zhou Li didn’t indulge her this time. “You’re afraid of pain. You won’t apply the medicine properly.”

“I will,” Lu Rong said softly. “You can’t look at a girl’s body.”

Seeing her practically bury her chin into her collarbone, Zhou Li asked, “Because I’m a demon?”

“No!” Lu Rong hurriedly denied it. She wanted to explain that men and women shouldn’t be so intimate, but they had already done things far more intimate than this.

“That’s because you hate me.” This time, Zhou Li wasn’t asking. He was stating a fact, his gaze carrying an unmistakable hint of desolation.

Lu Rong was going out of her mind. Seeing his expression, she finally said awkwardly, “No! Fine—then close your eyes and apply the medicine for me!”

Only after getting her permission did Zhou Li close his eyes and begin applying the medicine.

But Lu Rong immediately realised something was wrong. How was he supposed to apply it with his eyes closed?

He was bound to touch somewhere he shouldn’t. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Zhou Li grasp the outside of her thigh without the slightest deviation.

His broad palm left a pinkish-white mark against her fair skin, as though squeezing any harder would leave a deep imprint.

And his palm carried a faint coolness, making her sensitive nerves tighten instinctively.

She pressed her lips together and clutched the blanket, watching as he gently spread the ointment over the reddened area with his other hand—without the slightest impropriety.

Lu Rong’s tightly wound nerves finally loosened, and she quietly let out a breath of relief.

Zhou Li really wasn’t the type to take advantage of someone when they were vulnerable.

Her gaze fell to his tightly shut eyes, and only then did Lu Rong notice how long and straight his eyelashes were. Perhaps because she couldn’t see his eyes, all that remained of Zhou Li at this moment was his pure beauty.

And it was impossible not to be captivated.

After finishing applying the medicine to the inside of her right thigh, Zhou Li seemed to feel around for where her left leg was.

Lu Rong shuddered instantly. He… he had just touched…

“Sorry.” Zhou Li seemed to realise where his palm had brushed, and immediately moved his hand away.

When she was touched again, the comfort made Lu Rong let out a soft, involuntary hum. Zhou Li heard it. “What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing.” She replied awkwardly.

Zhou Li gave a quiet hum and simply held her left leg, resuming the application of the medicine with care.

For a moment, Lu Rong said nothing, only watching his fingers.

Although Zhou Li had lost control last night, she knew he had still forced himself to remain rational—he hadn’t crossed any truly excessive boundaries with her.

But his fingers were really long.

That electric-shock sensation from earlier sent her thoughts drifting.

The image that flashed through Zhou Li’s mind was exactly what she was imagining—his hand fully covering her, making her waist tremble as he bullied her with it.

She wanted more.

A barely noticeable curve appeared at the corner of his lips as he deliberately withdrew his hand without the slightest hesitation. “All done.”

Lu Rong hadn’t even processed it yet. “Huh?”

“Does it feel better?” Zhou Li asked without opening his eyes.

Only then did Lu Rong realise he meant her chafed leg. The medicine really did seem effective—the burning pain from before was gone, though the skin was still red.

She hurriedly pulled the blanket over herself. “Y-yes, it’s better.”

Her voice was soft, but Zhou Li heard it. He opened his eyes and saw her with most of her face buried beneath the blanket, only a pair of bright, dark eyes peeking out.

The two of them stared at each other in an oddly frozen moment, an inexplicable awkwardness settling in—like a newlywed couple, familiar yet shyly restrained.

Lu Rong couldn’t take the way he was looking at her. She yanked the blanket over her head, completely covering herself. “You should go!”

Seeing this, Zhou Li knew she was embarrassed. He didn’t tease her further, only said calmly, “Get some good rest. I’ll come back tonight to apply the medicine.”

With that, he disappeared.

Lu Rong let out a small cry. “You’re coming back tonight too?!”

On a dark, late night like that, she definitely wouldn’t be able to resist throwing herself at Zhou Li.

Her head started to ache. It seemed she really had developed a taste for it.

“That damn seductive man is totally baiting me!” Lu Rong fumed. Otherwise, why would she keep thinking about him having slept with her?

She rolled around on the bed a few times, wrapped tightly in the blanket, knowing full well she had to cultivate purity and restraint. She couldn’t let Zhou Li lure her into becoming a woman whose mind was dirty all day long.

She steeled herself, vowing to treat Zhou Li’s looks—his abs, his chest, and those two—as though they didn’t exist!

In the end, she recalled the sensation in her palms from the night before, buried her face, and before long fell fast asleep.

In truth, Zhou Li hadn’t left at all.

He heard every word she said from within the room, amusement glinting in his eyes.

Then let’s see how long she can hold out.

***

Lu Rong was truly exhausted.

That afternoon, her father came to see her. When he found her still burrowed under the blankets, fast asleep, he asked Xue’er with some concern, “Why is Rong’er still sleeping?”

“Maybe she stayed up late drawing,” Xue’er replied. She had no idea what Lu Rong had gone to do with A’Ling the night before and could only make something up.

Lu Wen didn’t ask further. He simply reached out and gently patted Lu Rong through the blanket.

“Wake up,” he called.

Lu Rong groggily opened her eyes. Still half-asleep and thinking it was Zhou Li, she murmured, “Don’t mess with me anymore.”

As she spoke, she turned onto her side and hugged the blanket, exposing the back of her neck.

At a glance, Lu Wen saw the red bite mark there.

His expression changed instantly. He was a man—he naturally knew exactly what that mark meant. “Lu Rong!”

His voice rose sharply, startling Lu Rong awake. She jolted, snapping her eyes open, only to meet her own father’s questioning gaze. A chill ran down her back.

“Dad… why are you here?” she asked cautiously.

“Get up.” Lu Wen stared at her face, as though searching for guilt in her eyes.

“Oh.” Unsure what exactly her father was angry about, Lu Rong obediently sat up.

Lu Wen’s gaze drifted instinctively back to her neck. Seeing no other marks, the deep furrow between his brows eased slightly. “You were bitten on the back of your neck?”

Lu Rong reached up to touch it, her heart sinking. Zhou Li didn’t seriously leave a mark there too, did he?

He had already helped clear the marks on her body, she hadn’t expected one to slip through.

“Zhou Li bit me,” Lu Rong lied calmly. “I went to see him yesterday. He might’ve been poisoned. When I was applying medicine to his palm, he suddenly bit my neck.”

She even went so far as to ask deliberately, “Dad, do I need to take some antidote? Did he bite me because he wanted to pass the poison to me?”

Lu Wen was left completely speechless.

He reached out and pressed a hand to her forehead. “I think there’s something wrong with you.”

Lu Rong snorted. “Dad! You’re still taking his side! Anyway, he bit me—I’m never going to see him again!”

That way, she could avoid any further contact with him—and prevent herself from pouncing on Zhou Li again.

“He was poisoned by the tree demon because of you,” Lu Wen said helplessly, seeing how utterly at odds she and Zhou Li were. “How is he now?”

“He won’t die,” Lu Rong replied casually.

She thought about it—he was very well fed now, after all. Besides, last night he had worked her from dawn till dusk. Clearly, the poison hadn’t been much of an issue.

“I told you to take the medicine to see him, but you didn’t go,” Lu Wen sighed softly.

“You go yourself. I want to sleep,” Lu Rong said, tossing the medicine back and pulling the blanket over herself.

Lu Wen probably noticed the dark circles under her eyes and didn’t press the issue, letting her continue sleeping.

Once her father left, Lu Rong immediately sent Zhou Li a message.

[Lu Xiaorong: You animal. Why did you leave a bite mark on the back of my neck?]

A reply came quickly.

[Zhou: Is that not allowed? Demon kind always leaves a mark.]

Lu Rong stared at the message, completely at a loss for how to respond.

Another message followed.

[Zhou: Is it because I’m a demon?]

Lu Rong: “……?”

[Lu Xiaorong: None of it is allowed!]

The next second, Zhou Li initiated a video call. His miniature projection appeared in front of her.

Seeing him holding his sword, Lu Rong guessed he had just finished practising.

“Then these aren’t allowed either?” Zhou Li asked, pointing to the bite mark she had left on his Adam’s apple.

Lu Rong froze in embarrassment and blurted out, “Hurry up and get rid of it! My dad is going to see you!”

Zhou Li gave a low hum of acknowledgment and immediately cut off the jade link.

“Hey—!” Lu Rong exclaimed a couple of times, wanting him to erase it in person.

But Zhou Li had run off far too quickly. Lying on the bed, Lu Rong touched the faintly aching spot on the back of her neck and murmured, “So… this was something he deliberately left for me?”

Just then, Xue’er came in carrying food and called for her to get up and eat.

Lu Rong sat up and asked curiously, “Xue’er, what does it mean when demons bite the back of someone’s neck?”

“Seeking mating,” Xue’er replied.

“Then what if there’s a mark left behind?” Lu Rong asked again.

“That means a mark has been made. It becomes that demon’s possession — no one else is allowed to touch it.”

Lu Rong: “……”

Zhou Li really was a dark bastard.

He even left a mark to monopolise her!

After thinking for a moment, Xue’er added, “There’s another reason too.”

She hesitated, clearly embarrassed. “It could also be leaving a scent… so that next time they mate, they can quickly find each other.”

Lu Rong: “???”

Then wouldn’t Zhou Li be even more terrifying?

So he wanted to find her quickly next time and toss her around again, right?!

A sense of danger rose in her—like her small body was being eyed by a wild beast.

Seeing her ask this, Xue’er looked worried and asked, “Rongrong, why are you asking about this?”

“It’s nothing. I got bitten by a dog,” Lu Rong said, then went to wash up.

Xue’er: “???”

Do dogs bite the back of the neck?

After Lu Rong finished eating, Qiu Ling came strolling over.

“Well, you’re finally awake,” Qiu Ling teased.

Lu Rong rested her chin on her hand, looking utterly drained. “Why are you so free? Isn’t your father making you cultivate anymore?”

“Cultivate what? Our sect took first place in the grand competition this time. My father is very pleased.”

Qiu Ling sat down beside her and poked her cheek. “Why do I feel like you’ve got that completely-drained-by-someone kind of exhaustion?”

Lu Rong thought to herself—well, of course. Zhou Li really did drain her dry.

But she caught the important part. “Your sect took first place? That’s amazing!”

Qiu Ling had never won first before. “No wonder Elder Qiu let you wander around.”

“We took first place,” Qiu Ling said with a smile. “Of course, we were all riding on Venerable Jian’s coattails.”

“We?” Lu Rong was a little surprised. “So I wasn’t last place either?”

Qiu Ling nodded. “Your father didn’t tell you?”

“No. My father just wandered around here for a bit, then went to find Zhou Li.” Lu Rong was overjoyed, her eyes lighting up.

It was the first time she had ever taken first place in the sect competition.

“Then your father didn’t tell you about the banquet my father and yours are hosting tonight to celebrate?”

Lu Rong shook her head. “A banquet? Who are they inviting?”

Zhou Li wouldn’t be coming too… right?

“Us, Senior Brother Lin, my father and yours. Not sure whether Venerable Jian will come.”

Zhou Li definitely wouldn’t come. He never gathered with others.

That evening, Qiu Ling took Lu Rong straight to the banquet venue. As soon as they arrived, Lu Rong spotted Zhou Li sitting there quietly.

The mark on his Adam’s apple hadn’t faded at all.

Lu Rong covered her face in agony, thinking, how could he be so shameless, going out with a kiss mark like that? What on earth was he thinking?

Remembering she still had a cheat ability she hadn’t used, Lu Rong hurriedly told the system, “I want to see Zhou Li’s inner-thought barrage.”

[Alright, host. Valid for forty-eight hours.]

As the system’s voice faded, Lu Rong looked up and saw the heart above Zhou Li’s head turn yellow.

Ah! What did a yellow heart mean now?

“It’s the male lead’s desire value. Five hearts means he wants to thoroughly ‘do you.’”

Lu Rong: “???”

What kind of bizarre setup is this?

Lu Rong slowly walked over, looking at the lone yellow heart above his head.

Thankfully, it was only one. That meant he didn’t have any thoughts yet, and she was safe.

When Lu Rong and Qiu Ling sat down, Qiu Ling instinctively chose the seat farthest from Zhou Li, leaving only two seats, both on Zhou Li’s right.

Lu Rong was about to sit one seat away from him. Before her butt even touched the seat, the single yellow heart suddenly shot up into three, faintly on the verge of breaking into four.

So terrifying?!

Startled, Lu Rong hurriedly sat down in the seat closest to him. The three yellow hearts immediately dropped back to one.

She secretly let out a sigh of relief, cursing inwardly. This bastard really is a gloomy, possessive freak.

As she was thinking this, she noticed Zhou Li looking at her. Her mind froze, and she hurriedly asked her father, “When are we eating? I’m hungry.”

“Your Senior Brother Minhui hasn’t arrived yet. Wait a bit,” Lu Wen said with a smile.

Speak of the devil, and he appears.

“Master, I’m late.” As soon as Senior Brother Minhui finished speaking, someone sat down beside Lu Rong.

Lu Rong subconsciously turned back and asked worriedly, “Senior Brother Minhui, are you alright now?”

“I’m fine. Thanks, Rongrong.” Senior Brother Minhui patted her head.

Lu Rong didn’t think much of it. Seeing that he looked fine, she relaxed. “That’s good. Sit down, Senior Brother.”

After speaking, she turned back. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Zhou Li’s cold, handsome profile.

She lifted her head slightly, and her pupils shook in shock.

How… did it suddenly jump to five?!

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