22 2.7 Star Painter

Zhang Li returned to her room and closed the doors behind her. The candle lit room barely provided any lighting, but she still dexterously made her way around the furniture towards the back of her room. She opened a small door that was connected to her bedroom and walked inside.

A small room for painting came into her view. Canvases of all sizes were neatly stacked into shelves, some of the larger ones that couldn't fit on the shelves were placed either on the ground or hung on the walls. The right side of the room had three windows that were partially open, letting the moonlight shine through and illuminate the many canvases in the room.

In the center of the room was a small rectangle wooden table used for painting and storing several paints and paintbrushes. If one looked closely, most of the colors in the room were either dark purple or blue, particularly the cushions on the chairs and the overall colors of the paintings. Its seems like the painter liked to paint in these cool colors.

Zhang Li walked towards one of the walls that held one of the largest painting she had ever done. The painting depicted the night skies, dark blue with minimal number of stars, and a large mansion with a person standing outside of it looking forwards. She lifted her hands to lightly touch on that person's face, savoring the feeling of it beneath her fingers, almost like she was imagining that she was actually touching the actual person's face.

"Why, Cheng Da? I have always wanted to be your woman from the moment I met you. But why are you so cruel? Why must you love that Xiu Ying girl?!" She cried out her unresigned feelings.

"Haha, you know how happy I was to find out that you were the Leader of the Wang clan? You were my perfect lover; strong, handsome, and blessed with a strong background; you were perfect for me. I loved everything about you, but why were you always so cold towards me? Why must you choose her over me?!" She slammed her fist on the person's face in anger.

"Bang!" The painting on the wall couldn't withstand her strength and a fist sized hole was now seen where the person's face in the painting used to be.

Zhang Li's figure slumped down on the ground and her tears were spilling from her face.

However, after a while, her tears stopped and it was silent in the small room for a brief moment, but suddenly, her expression became warped and her eyes turned bloodshot.

"Haha, too late. Everything is too late." She shook her head as if trying to shake away the turmoil she felt. Her deranged laughter echoed in the small room while she slowly got up from the floor and looked down at the destroyed painting in front of her.

"Since you don't love me, then you can forget about living the rest of your life with your love." She used her foot to trample on the already destroyed painting, making the person in the painting disappear entirely.

…..

Tian He was currently staring at her half-brother's eyes that gazed back at hers. At first, she was about to struggle more from his grip on her, but she halted when she caught the pain and agony on his face. He was looking intensely at her with those eyes of his, those eyes that had once sprouted curiosity in her to solve its mysteries, but now, they were covered up by the immense pain it was displaying.

Why? Why is he looking at her with those kinds of eyes? What is causing him such pain?

She had an urge to call out his name, but he beat her to it.

"Xiu Ying, tell me please. Why do you want to leave me? Is there something that elder brother isn't doing right?" If she was still adamant about leaving him, then he could only resort to forcing her to stay with him. Even if she hates him later, at least, she would be with him. That's all that matters.

"Elder brother, I—" She didn't know what to say. Judging by what he said, he probably saw through her lies, but what was she supposed to say? She was indeed going to leave him eventually.

Damn it! Why is this person not easy to fool? She had totally forgot that this half-brother of hers has a stronger soul strength than her. She has learned a thing or two about soul strength since she summoned her painting to life, the stronger one's soul strength was, the more perceptive their senses are.

And she was a stupid enough to lie straight up in front of him. No, she needed a plan, or else she felt that this half-brother of hers would really continue harassing her.

Cheng Da looked into her eyes, noticing the small glint in them, he knew that she was thinking of the reasons for her leaving him. His eyes couldn't help but dim, is she so stubborn to leave him?

Why? He had treated very well, what is it that he was doing wrong?

Suddenly, his pained expression turned determined and he put away these distracting thoughts. He really didn't want it to start this way, but once she's been marked by him, she wouldn't dream of leaving him anymore.

"Xiu Ying." He used his right hand to hold her small chin, then slowly, he leaned down his head to gently connect his mouth with hers.

"Mmm." Tian He's eyes widen in shock, but she didn't get a chance to get over it when she felt his hand squeeze her mouth open and his warm tongue slipped into her mouth, catching her off guard while he ravaged it ferociously. She tried to move her tongue away, but his large tongue kept chasing hers, licking and entangling it every chance he got. Small drops of saliva were already slipping from her mouth and his continued actions was also starting to make it difficult for her breathe.

"Mmmh!" She tried moving her mouth away, but his strong hand held her chin in place while his large warm tongue continued to plunder her mouth. Her breathing was coming out fast now and she was struggling harder to escape his grasp. Suddenly, she felt his knee that was between her legs move up towards her belly area, nudging at her core area rapidly with its roughness. Her body couldn't help but feel that it was electrocuted. Her heartbeat sped up even more and she struggled even more fiercely.

No! She didn't want this!

Steeling herself, she drove her teeth straight into the large tongue that was in her mouth.

Feeling the pain and tasting the blood, Cheng Da finally took his tongue out of her mouth while licking the spilled drops of blood and saliva from around his lips as he looked enticingly at her. Her skin was even more flushed thanks to his earlier actions and her small nipples could be seen pointing out from her thin undergarments. It was wonderful site to behold. However, when he looked into her eyes, he caught the anger and subtle hate that was beginning sprout from them.

"Elder brother! Stop! Do you even know what you're doing to me?! If you continue on like this, I will hate you!" She had really thought that this elder brother of hers was good since he treated her well, but now, she couldn't help but feel hate towards him.

Looking at her angry face, he once thought that it looked cute, but now that it was inlaid with hate against him, it felt very uncomfortable just looking at it. His heart was in distress, he didn't know what to do. If he didn't take her, she'll leave him, his reasoning was telling him to let her go but his heart was telling him to hold on.

Suddenly, he took one of her hands that he gripped until now and placed its palm on top of his heart.

"Xiu Ying, can you feel my heart? Can you feel how pained it feels? Tell me Xiu Ying, why do you want to leave me? Why are you making me feel this way?" He was desperate for her honest promise.

Feeling the strong heartbeat and listening to his low pained voice, she was stumped. Could this half-brother of hers like his own half-sister in 'that' way? Even if she was ten times slower than this, she still understood what his words meant and combined with his actions just now, she was almost sure that he had those kinds of feelings for his own half-sister.

How did this happen? The details that was given to her didn't mention at all that this Wang clan's leader was actually in love with his own half-sister!

No, that shouldn't be it since he had always neglected the original owner, it was one of major reasons why she was bullied all this time, it was probably also the reason that she was framed and arrested before. The original owner's half-brother didn't bother putting elite guards in her courtyard and never checked on the security for her. It was only after she came that he helped her changed her guards around her courtyard.

But that was only because she actively sought for his help and 'casually' mentioned about wanting to know the strength of her guards, he would have still consented to her request if the original owner also actively sought his help because he was still technically her elder brother, right?

She was confused. If he really did love the original owner before, then why did he neglect her? When did he start having feelings for the original owner? Was it just before she took over her body?

Or after?

Looking at her confused face, Cheng Da was waiting. If she still lied to him, then he would immediately take her. This was her last chance.

"Elder brother, I have to confirm something." She needed to find out when he started to develop feelings for the original owner.

Seeing her stance, he nodded slightly for her to continue.

Taking a deep breath, she asks, "Elder brother, when did you start having these feelings for Xiu Ying?" There was no way she would believe his actions were just based off his lust, those pained filled eyes and fast heartbeat told her everything she needed to know. Now it all comes down to when he fell in love with the original owner, if it was before she came then that was alright, but if it was after, she wouldn't know what to feel.

After all, she was leaving eventually, she really wasn't going to love someone that she was probably only going to see for a small amount of time. It would be too painful for her.

Listening to her question, he sunk into his thoughts. Could he tell her that he wanted her from the moment he saw her today?

It was actually from the moment he saw those clear bright eyes of hers and smelled her sweet honey scent, he knew what his heart wanted from then and there. It was absurd now that he thought of it, but he couldn't ignore the pleasant feeling that she gave him in his heart, it was too comfortable and pleasurable to stop, it made him unconsciously relax around her.

"Xiu Ying, would you believe me if I told you that it just started today? It was when I first saw your beautiful clear deer-like eyes look at me, my desire to possess you only continued to grow the longer that I was with you. Did you know you emit a nice sweet honey scent? It's too intoxicating to me. And your hidden fighting spirit and sometimes mischievous attitude, your pleasant smile, your cute charming self when you interact with me, all these things are just the beginning. My heart has wanted you from then and still does now."

He laid out everything that was constantly in his mind about her while watching her intently.

The second she heard that he fell in love with her today, she was shocked. As he continued his speech, her face grew paler, he actually grew feelings for her, not the original owner!

Oh, my goodness. What was she going to do now? She obviously couldn't reciprocate his feelings because she only had good feelings towards him as her elder brother, she didn't have those kinds of feelings towards him. Most importantly, she wasn't the real Xiu Ying, so eventually she was going to leave and there was no way she was going to force the real Xiu Ying to love her own half-brother. That would be too cruel for the both of them.

But if she didn't, judging by his current actions, she was almost certain that he was going to force himself onto her, just to get her to stay with him. His attitude told her that he wouldn't suddenly change his mind about that.

No wonder he looked so pained when she lied that she wasn't going to leave him, he didn't want his love to leave him.

Looking at how she didn't know what to say, he relaxed a bit. He thought that she would be disgusted by his feelings for her, after all, he was her elder brother, even if only in name. He was also afraid that she would immediately turn him away since he had neglected his care towards her all this time.

He guessed that this is good too. He could see that she liked him, but she still didn't possess the same feelings he had towards her. However, as long as she promises not to leave him, he'll immediately apologize for his earlier actions and treat her well until she accepted him, after all, they were still young, and he had time to pursue her.

"Elder brother, I don't know how to answer you, I have never been in love before, so I don't know what it feels like to love someone." This was her honest answer, she had never fallen in love with anybody, even back in her own world.

"Xiu Ying, it's alright. Elder brother has also not loved anyone before he met you. As long as you tell me that you won't leave me, I'll immediately stop, but if you can't promise me, then I don't know what I will do to you." His heart would bleed if she wanted to escape his hold, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from imprisoning her here.

When she heard her brother's threat, she grew cautious and fearful. She couldn't lie to him without him figuring out, her acting skills did not prepare her for people who had strong soul strength, this was basically just forcing her to accept him.

Seeing her uneasy expression, his heart grew cold and painful, so in the end, it has come to this. He untied his sash from his waist and placed her arms together so that he could tie them up above her head and put them in place by connecting the sash together with the bedpost.

Tian He was too slow to respond to his fast actions, she tried to break free from the bindings, but they were so tight that it was hurting her wrists. Suddenly, she felt him take off her undergarments on her chest and bottom and she struggled even harder, even trying to kick him away with her legs. She was desperate now, there was no way she wanted him to continue, but she couldn't tell him that she wouldn't leave him either since he could see right through her lies.

She was in a tight spot. What to do?

Cheng Da finally took off all her clothes and threw them all the floor. Her pale white skin was starting to flush a nice pink from all the kicking she was trying to do to him. He cupped her cheeks with his right hand and turned her head to his direction so that she'll look directly at him.

"Xiu Ying, since you want to leave elder brother, then I have no choice but to make sure you stay with me. You can hate me as much as you want after this, but elder brother cannot stand you leaving me, my heart will break once you're gone. Forgive me for being selfish, Xiu Ying." His low sad, pain filled voice spoke to her while looking at her nervous expression.

Oh, my goodness. He really has fallen in love with her. She was still trying hard to accept this fact because she never had anyone confess to her before or love her like a lover, but she was conflicted, there was no way she could promise to stay with him, it would only end up hurting the both of them.

Seeing that she didn't say anything, he masked his expression and looked down at her naked body before him. Her pale white skin was gorgeous and did well to enhance the beauty of her supple breasts. He resolutely used both of his hands to start massaging her perky breasts, squeezing and moving them together, occasionally flicking his finger on her nipple, causing them to grow even harder. His hands started to move faster and harder as he saw her face flush even more, suddenly, he leaned down his head to bite onto her left nipple.

"Ah!" No, his bites hurt too much. She was clenching her fists and teeth to endure everything, but she couldn't help calling out when he bit her.

He didn't stop there as he switched nipples and bit down on her right nipple, sucking and kissing it with his mouth afterwards while he kneaded her breasts with his large hands.

"No!" The sensations of her body were starting to get to her, she could feel that with every knead and bite of her breasts he did, the heat source in her belly would increase, she didn't like this feeling, it felt too weird. She tried kicking him away, but her legs were trapped outside due to his knees being in the middle of her. All she was kicking was the bedpost and the wall to her right.

Before she could start swearing at him, his mouth plastered itself onto hers and she felt his large warm tongue go inside of it. He licked her gums and entangled with her small tongue, exploring every nook and cranny of her mouth, suddenly, she felt him extend his tongue deeper into her mouth. Her body couldn't help responding to it by increasing the heat she felt underneath her belly.

"Mmmmh." His advances with his tongue was making it hard for her to breathe. His hands that never stopped kneading her breasts while he kissed her was making her mind dizzy, her struggles were starting to get weaker because she was running out of strength.

Suddenly, she felt that he removed one of his hands from her breasts and couldn't help but feel relieved, however; her heart that was about to calm down, sped up again because she felt him flick his large rough finger on her core area. Her body naturally shuddered in response and she immediately renewed her efforts to break free from the sash's bindings, she was tugging at it so hard that she could feel it sink deeper into skin, it was painful.

"Mnnnn!" She suddenly felt his tongue sink even deeper into her mouth and his hand used more strength to knead her breasts. When she wanted to move away her head, she felt him grab her jaw and stilled her moving head while his tongue continued to ravish her mouth. She was trying to shake off his hold, but he just squeezed her breasts harder in response, sending shivers down her spine.

Finally, he removed his mouth from hers and she could breathe again. After breathing hard for a moment, she looked up at him with her moist eyes, begging him to stop. She was sorry for him but at the same time, she didn't want their relationship that just started to end this way. She knew that it would hurt not only her, but him as well.

Since she was going to leave him, she couldn't respond to his feelings. She was familiar with the painful feeling of having one's love not be reciprocated, her imperial mother was the perfect example, but it would be even more painful for the both of them if they actually fell in love because she had to eventually leave, and they would never see each other again.

She suddenly felt so lost and a bit sorry for herself, since she had closed her heart long ago and didn't trust anyone easily due to what she experienced in the imperial palace, she doubted she could ever love anyone. She didn't know how to give love and trust to the other party because she knew all too well how hollow she was inside. After all, she has been surviving on fake feelings to get this far, other than feeling excited for learning new skills, she realized she never felt excited about anything else. It would have been fine if they stayed friends because she could leave with comfort knowing that the original owner will continue that friendship, but love was different, it was a feeling that required the heart and soul to accept.

Cheng Da saw her tearful expression and he paused in his movement to look at her. She was looking at him with such sad, sorrowful eyes. Why? Is she sorry that she had to leave him? Why does she want to leave him so badly? He really didn't understand.

He lifted his right hand from her breasts and used his finger to gently wipe away the tears that had fallen on her cheeks. He cupped her cheeks with his hands and looked directly at her who was crying so sadly.

"Xiu Ying, please tell me, let me understand the reason for you wanting to leave me. Tell me why you are making such a sad expression." Her clear bright eyes told him that there was a story behind her reasons and he was determined to find out.

She looked at him, but she didn't know what to say, so she just shook her head and cried even more.

Seeing this, he couldn't bear to continue his actions. He realized he was weak against those sad tears of hers. In the end, he was the one that folded. He lifted his hands from her face and started untying the sash on her wrists, after seeing the red marks from her struggles, his heart felt even more distressed, he lightly touched them before gently bringing them down.

Tian He was crying silent tears while looking at his actions, she didn't struggle against his gentle touch on her hand, she didn't know whether it was because she was bewildered, or she just didn't have the strength to, so she just let him slowly place them down.

Suddenly, she felt him lift up her body and place it in his embrace. Her right cheek was on his firm chest and his warm strong arms were wrapped around herself, gently patting and soothing her on the back and head. She was surprised but soon, his gentle actions caused the last straw to break and like a dam that fell loose, she loudly cried out her feelings, her hands were now gripping hard onto his front shirt, trying to the hold onto the warmness of his embrace.

"Xiu Ying, I'm sorry for my actions. I won't force you again. Please don't cry anymore, I promise I won't do anything to hurt you again." He was anxious to calm her down.

"Xiu Ying, my Xiu Ying." He gently spoke to her while using his hands to softly rub her back in hopes of calming her down.

"Sniff, sniff. Elder brother." She grips even tighter onto his shirt.

Her chest was feeling stuffy and she was having a hard time controlling herself, the heavy feeling in her heart was causing her tears to drop non-stop. She couldn't help but hate herself, his gentleness was wasted on her. She just realized what a pathetic person she was, her cries were only because she felt sorry for herself, but it looks like he mistook it as his fault for forcing her.

She couldn't help but think if it was alright for her to be selfish and enjoy his warmth and gentleness for just a moment. His honest genuine feelings towards her was something she had never felt before, her cries were evidence that she was craving for something like this for some time now but was too afraid to try because she knew herself all too well, she was selfish, and her heart was empty.

How could anyone love someone who had an empty heart?