Chapter 63

After receiving the tender information from the Russian Navy, the Royal William Shipyard sent specialized personnel to St. Petersburg to discuss specific matters with the Russian Navy. These people were several times more knowledgeable about warships than Qing Ying, an amateur enthusiast. No one knew what they said to the Russians, but after a series of exchanges, the old Russian, Leschenko, drooled all over the floor; a few hours later, he signed the contract with great enthusiasm and stamped it with the official seal of the Russian Navy.

The matter of selling warships to Russia was temporarily concluded.

What surprised Qing Ying was that since the day the old butler Truchenko caught him in an intimate scene with Sonya, the girl had never pinched his body again. Even when she was happy, she only pinched his face into various shapes, much gentler than her previous pinching and twisting, like a cat whose nails had been trimmed by its owner. Later, the girl no longer acted like his aunt, but instead displayed the unique vitality and liveliness of a 15-year-old. Whenever she had free time, she would pester Qing Ying to tell her everything about the Berlin Palace and the events that occurred between him and Sherry in the Far East.

Seeing Sonya's sudden change, Qing Ying was quite puzzled, but it was a good thing. As he spent more time with Sonya over the past few days, his resentment towards her gradually disappeared. After all, his soul was that of a young adult, and he couldn't really compete with a 15-year-old girl. Seeing the girl finally turn over a new leaf, Qing Ying was naturally pleased. He put aside his past grievances and told the girl, who had grown up in the palace, about the unique customs and human emotions of the outside world.

Although Qing Ying's eloquence was not particularly good, his personal experiences gave his stories a unique charm. Sonya's curiosity about new things and her subtle fondness for Qing Ying, her nominal nephew, often made her stay in Qing Ying's room all night, until dawn. Thinking about the beautiful and dazzling world outside, Sonya would dreamily yearn to pester the old butler Truchenko and her cousin, Tsar Nicholas II, to cry and beg for a world tour. But thinking about the nearly half-year-long, tedious journey, the girl would hesitate. For some reason, seeing Sonya's pouting and aggrieved expression, Qing Ying felt a sense of pity and tenderness.

Time flowed like water, and the days passed like shuttles. Before he knew it, Qing Ying had been in St. Petersburg for nearly 10 days, and it was time to prepare to return home. On the morning of June 18th, a 10,000-ton cruise ship, the "Sapphire," would depart from St. Petersburg for Kiel. The old butler Truchenko brought an order from Wilhelm II for Qing Ying to return and a first-class ticket for the ship. When Sonya saw the date on the ticket, her bright blue eyes lost their luster.

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It was deep into the night, and almost all the lights in the Winter Palace had been extinguished, leaving only the glass lamps on the stone paths emitting a golden glow. The stars twinkled, the sky was vast, and unknown insects chirped softly in the grass and trees, filling the air with a fresh scent of earth and grass.

Qing Ying stood by a crystal window, letting the cool night breeze caress his face. The summer evening breeze was refreshing and gentle, dispelling all the heat. Looking up, the sky was clear, the moonlight was cold, and a colorful aurora shimmered like a silver tapestry, undulating and dancing in the northern sky, creating a dazzling spectacle. Under the moonlight and the aurora, St. Petersburg had a bright night unlike any other city in Europe. The clear, silvery light bathed the entire city, making it look like dawn.

Light footsteps and a fragrant breeze, Sonya quietly pushed the door open and entered. She wore a silver-white silk nightgown and held a silver-white mink pillow. With her fair, smooth skin, she looked like a fairy from the moon. Hearing the sound behind him, Qing Ying slowly turned around and saw her clear, watery eyes fixed on him. Seeing Sonya dressed like this, Qing Ying was momentarily stunned. She no longer had her usual willful and spoiled air but was instead calm, serene, and elegant, like a lily quietly blooming in a distant valley.

Qing Ying stood there, almost petrified, completely taken aback by Sonya's transformation. He never imagined that Sonya, in her silver nightgown, would be so breathtakingly beautiful. After a while, he finally heard himself say, "You look so beautiful tonight!"

Sonya smiled gently, her fair face blushing slightly. The beauty she displayed at that moment made Qing Ying's heart skip a beat. She walked gracefully to Qing Ying's bed and sat down, her long, white legs playfully poking out from under her nightgown, swaying in the air. Qing Ying then noticed that she wasn't wearing shoes. Her delicate, snow-white feet, stepping on the rosewood floor, had an indescribable lightness and elegance. Her toes were long and round, like amber, and her skin was as smooth as crystal.

"You... why did you come to my room?" Qing Ying, seeing Sonya sitting on his bed, was a bit dazed and asked in confusion.

"I couldn't sleep, so I came to find you," the girl said softly, her voice tinged with a melancholy and gentleness he had never heard before. She wrapped her arms around the pillow and smiled, "I can't sleep now. No matter what you do, you have to make me fall asleep. Tomorrow, you won't be my free labor anymore, and I'll have to squeeze every bit of use out of you."

Hearing Sonya's last words, which sounded like a pout, Qing Ying realized that the girl was a bit reluctant to let him go and wanted to spend more time with him. His heart warmed, and he almost instinctively replied, "If Sonya orders it, how can I refuse? You can sleep here tonight. But I don't know what method will help you fall asleep."

Seeing Qing Ying's immediate agreement, Sonya felt a sweet satisfaction. She smiled and said, "You're sensible. If you dared to disobey, I would pinch every bit of flesh on your body." She glanced around and pointed at the black piano beside the bed, saying, "That's it. Stupid Eitel, go play a piece for me! Maybe you'll make me fall asleep. I heard from the butler that you play the piano very well."

Qing Ying smiled, showing his white teeth. In his previous life, he had been quite skilled at the piano, and after being taught by the master Wilhelm had hired, he had improved even further. He walked to the piano and placed his hands on the keys. Just as he was about to play, he hesitated and said, "But it's already 11 o'clock. Playing the piano now might disturb others. You know, the volume of a piano can't be turned down."

"Ah, stupid, stupid, stupid!" Sonya, seeing Qing Ying's hesitation, was displeased. She swayed her feet and pouted, "My cousin and his wife, and the old butler, went to the royal village this afternoon. In the Winter Palace now, I am the biggest authority. Just play the piano."

Qing Ying thought about it and nodded. He took a deep breath, placed his hands on the keys, and began to play.

The music was melodious and pleasant, like raindrops falling on lotus leaves, creating a gentle and elegant tune. It was like a bright moon in the sky, with stars dancing, and a stream in the mountains, with fireflies flying in the grass. The music was pure and joyful, soft and soothing, with a hint of nostalgia and melancholy, evoking a sense of loneliness and sorrow. Under the moonlight and the dancing aurora, Qing Ying felt as if all his words and emotions were expressed through the music, his heart soaring and feeling incredibly refreshed. The light melody was filled with hope, longing, and determination, a piece of久石让's most moving light music, "With Me."

When the piece ended, the lingering melody continued to resonate. Sonya was entranced, and after a while, she whispered, "Did you write this piece? It's so beautiful. What's its name?"

Qing Ying stood up and walked to her side. After silently apologizing to Mr. Joe Hisaishi, he smiled and said, "I composed this piece in my free time. Its name is 'With Me.' How do you like it, Sonya?"

"With Me, With Me..." Sonya murmured, her beautiful face showing a mix of emotions: melancholy, longing, moved, and sad. Her heart was stirred, and she couldn't calm down. She took a deep breath, as if making a decision, and said softly, "Eitel, do you know? You can forget about that girl in the Far East and start a new life."

Hearing Sonya's words in a tone he had never heard before, Qing Ying's heart trembled. Looking at her exquisite face, he instantly understood her feelings. Although he had developed a liking for the girl over the past few days, it was only a superficial fondness, very different from his deep love for Sherry. Giving up Sherry for Sonya was something he could never do. Qing Ying reached out and gently stroked her soft, golden hair, smiling, "Sonya, I already have her. You should forget about me and start a new life. Isn't that a good thing?"

Before he finished speaking, Sonya suddenly leaned in and sealed his lips with hers.

The world spun, and his vision blurred. Her smooth, tender tongue entered his mouth, bringing a fresh and elegant fragrance. The sweet, clear liquid flowed from her tongue into his mouth, a sweetness different from Sherry's. Being kissed by the beautiful Sonya, Qing Ying's mind buzzed. He greedily sucked on her soft, tender tongue, as if trying to drink all her saliva. Feeling Qing Ying's response, Sonya trembled with excitement, her body wrapping around him like a snake, their tongues entwining passionately. After a long time, when they both ran out of breath, they reluctantly parted.

"Nonsense, your words don't match your actions. You must still like me, right? Otherwise, why would you respond to my kiss?" Sonya's face was flushed, her lips curved into a smile, her beautiful eyebrows forming a bright crescent. Qing Ying looked at the girl, her beautiful face and long, white body, feeling a mix of emotions. What kind of feelings did he have for this girl? Could it be that he had a hidden M attribute, making him feel some affection for this queen-like girl?

"Sonya, we... we are related by blood, and it's absolutely not allowed..."

Before Qing Ying could finish, Sonya pouted and interrupted loudly, "Why can't people who are related by blood fall in love? My cousin Nicholas's wife is his cousin, and there are many cases of close relatives marrying in European royal families. Besides, our blood relation is very distant. Why can't we be together? I gave you my first kiss, and you responded. I don't care; you have to take responsibility for me."

Qing Ying opened his mouth, feeling a mix of emotions, and didn't know what to say.

"Just now, I only wanted to use that kiss as a final farewell. Who made you respond to my kiss? I immediately changed my mind and decided to make you my husband." The girl magically pushed a box into his arms, saying, "This is the only photo I took this year. I'll leave it to you as a keepsake. When you go back, you have to think of me 100 times a day, say 'I love Sonya' 100 times a day, and write me a letter every day! If I don't receive a letter one day, I'll take a fast cruise ship from St. Petersburg and pinch all the flesh off your body, got it?"

Seeing Qing Ying's stunned expression, the girl giggled. A mischievous look appeared on her face, and she whispered, "Whatever I, Sonya, set my eyes on, I always get. One day, I'll make you forget her and willingly be my slave..." Sonya's soft, white hand caressed his cheek, and she wrapped her arms around him like a pillow, closing her eyes in satisfaction.

The moonlight was cold, and the aurora danced. Sonya lay on Qing Ying, breathing softly and evenly.

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