The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class
Chapter 396

Xu Wan lay on top of him, her hands unsure where to rest. After a brief pause, she gently patted his shoulder, only to be pulled into a tight embrace by Zong Zhao, who rested his chin on her shoulder and closed his eyes.

"Madam, dinner is ready—" Cui Zhi entered and immediately saw the two sitting on the chair, locked in an embrace. Xu Wan’s back was turned, so her expression was unclear, but Zong Zhao’s face looked unusually tense.

Realizing the awkwardness, Cui Zhi quickly set the food down, turned around, and retreated, closing the door behind her.

Xu Wan held him like this for a long time, feeling his restless emotions gradually settle. Only then did she whisper, "Are you feeling better now? Let’s go eat something, or you might have trouble sleeping later."

Zong Zhao reluctantly released her but immediately took her hand instead. He remained silent, neither agreeing nor refusing—just visibly reluctant.

Xu Wan lifted their joined hands and asked again softly, "Shall we go? I’ll keep you company while you eat."

In a hoarse voice, he replied, "Okay."

The tall man followed her like an obedient cat, letting her lead him to the dining table. The dinner spread wasn’t simple, but Zong Zhao only picked a bowl of lean meat porridge, holding Xu Wan’s hand with one hand and a spoon with the other.

He ate quietly, not saying a word.

Xu Wan watched his profile, occasionally glancing at their intertwined hands, her heart softening. He was so clingy, like a child who couldn’t bear to be apart from her.

What happened next only confirmed her thoughts.

After he finished dinner, she went to bathe. Instead of waiting in the bedroom, he sat right outside the bathing room, as if leaving her side would make him uneasy.

When Xu Wan came out and called him in, he hesitated before muttering, "I don’t feel like bathing today."

Xu Wan: "..."

That excuse was painfully transparent.

It was clear he just didn’t want to go in alone, but Xu Wan couldn’t exactly accompany him either. Scratching her head, she tentatively suggested, "Should I wait here for you?"

After a few seconds of hesitation, Zong Zhao finally obeyed and went in.

Xu Wan couldn’t help but laugh. He was really...

So different from his usual self.

At night, the two lay in bed, still in separate quilts, facing each other. Xu Wan wanted to talk to him, to cheer him up.

Before she could speak, he asked first, "Can I hold you while we sleep?"

Xu Wan was momentarily speechless but nodded. "Sure."

The next moment, Zong Zhao bundled her up, quilt and all, pulling her close like she was a giant kangaroo.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‍move made Xu Wan burst out laughing. "Does holding me like this even work?"

Zong Zhao mumbled, "Yes."

He just wanted to hold her.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Wan wriggled out of his embrace. Under Zong Zhao’s dejected gaze, she slipped into his quilt instead.

Her face suddenly appeared inches from his, catching Zong Zhao off guard. His heart skipped a beat.

Xu Wan draped an arm over his waist, tilting her head up with a glow about her. As his heart pounded violently, she asked, "Isn’t this way of holding much better?"

She wasn’t entirely sure why she did or said it—only that she wanted to.

The initial awkwardness and discomfort from Zong Zhao’s sudden return had long since faded, dissolving like mist after days and nights of living together.

Zong Zhao’s hands trembled as he wrapped them around her.

In the quiet of the night, undisturbed and unable to clearly see each other’s expressions, their direct physical contact bridged the gap between them, bringing them closer in both body and soul.

Xu Wan, held like this, grew drowsy.

In her half-asleep state, she thought she heard his raspy voice murmur, "I’ve liked you... for so, so long."

Too sleepy to open her eyes, she nuzzled against him and instinctively replied, "I know. I’ve always known."

Zong Zhao stiffened slightly, his large hand stroking her hair as he whispered, "You don’t... It’s been longer than you think."

So long that the colors of memory had faded. So long that... because of his hesitation, she had never truly known him—or even remembered him.

Xu Wan, eyes still closed, mumbled incoherently, "How long ago? In a past life?"

He didn’t answer.

Maybe he had fallen asleep.

Xu Wan chuckled drowsily. "Just ignore my nonsense..."

Morning came, and Xu Wan woke up from the heat.

Early autumn shouldn’t have been this warm. When she opened her eyes, she found the source—Zong Zhao’s chest, clad in white sleeping robes. Her brain short-circuited for a few seconds before piecing together last night’s events:

Zong Zhao had been in a bad mood and held her all night.

They had shared the same quilt.

And she had been the one to initiate it.

Nights made people sentimental, but mornings brought clarity—especially when the man in question, who never slept in, was still there.

Xu Wan quietly scooted back, trying to escape the warmth. The weight on her waist lifted as Zong Zhao withdrew his arm, and she quickly rolled toward the wall, fanning herself to cool down.

Rustling sounds came from behind as Zong Zhao got up and dressed. Soon, his voice reached her: "I’ll go wash up first. Your clothes are on the side table."

"Oh, okay." Xu Wan sat up, watching his retreating figure before swiftly grabbing her clothes and putting them on.

The clingy Zong Zhao from last night seemed like a fleeting illusion. Awake, he had reverted to his usual self—proper, restrained.

Xu Wan smiled faintly. Truthfully, she found the clingy version more amusing. Though he acted like a child, as if he couldn’t live without her, his eyes and body yearning for closeness...

The feeling of being so intensely needed wasn’t bad at all.

By the time Xu Wan finished washing up, Zong Zhao had already had breakfast brought in.

She sat down, accepting the spoon he handed her, and asked casually, "Not going out today?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Zong Zhao had already gathered the evidence—all that remained was settling the score with the other two.

Zong Zhao took a sip of porridge and replied flatly, "No rush. One at a time."

Xu Wan gulped. Right—Old General Zhao had just passed yesterday. The funeral would surely last days.

She ventured another question: "Do we still need to go?"

Zong Zhao said, "Originally, yes."

Xu Wan prompted, "But?"

He handed her a pair of chopsticks and said calmly, "But I might not resist the urge to smash his coffin while I’m there."

Xu Wan: "..."

When it came to calmly unhinged remarks, no one did it better than him.

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