In the capital, Yan Xiu woke up that day feeling both self-loathing and a desperate craving for her body. He knew perfectly well that her body was filthy, yet he could not understand why he still felt such a compulsion to touch it. Every time he tried to leave the house, Xiao Qing'er would fight tooth and nail to keep him there.
Lately, the reputation of the shops he ran with Chu Tunan had been steadily declining as word of mouth shifted. Their beauty boutique had been squeezed by Luo Fanchen until it was nearly out of business. Other ventures, including their properties and food businesses, were being suppressed one by one, all falling into debt. Chu Tunan had invited him out numerous times, but for nearly a month, he hadn't been able to leave. No matter what tricks Yan Xiu tried, Xiao Qing'er always managed to make him end up collapsing onto her bed for the entire day.
Yan Xiu suspected he had been drugged, but when the imperial physician came to check his pulse, he found nothing abnormal. Could it be that he was so unable to find satisfaction with Nan'er that he now craved her filthy body instead? He resolved that today, his willpower must remain firm; if he didn't go out, Nan'er would surely be heartbroken.
Chapter 401