Chapter 117: A Bond Sealed (5)

That kiss was both tender and inevitably tinged with desire. By the time they parted, both were slightly breathless. Qi Yin realized it wouldn’t do to continue like this, so he turned his face away, forcing himself not to look at the girl who appeared especially enchanting after the kiss. In a hoarse voice, he said, “You… does your wrist still hurt? Should I apply some medicine…”

It was truly an awkward attempt to change the subject.

Young Master Qi had been personally selected as a top scholar by the emperor at the age of thirteen. Even in his youth, he had never lost a debate or literary discussion. Yet, at that moment, he stumbled over his words, repeating the word “you” twice, and what he said was abrupt and unnatural. Anyone listening would have realized he was so deeply in love with her that he had lost his usual composure.

Only Shen Xiling failed to notice.

She was immersed in their intimacy, her heart brimming with endless emotions she wanted to convey through that kiss. She longed to be closer to him.

But his clumsy attempt to change the subject carried a clear sense of distance, plunging her back into an icy abyss. She immediately recalled the day of her coming-of-age ceremony when he told her to marry someone else. At that time, she had been filled with enthusiasm, only to be met with his cold rejection. Though she had never told anyone, every night afterward she had nightmares, dreaming of him rejecting her with indifference.

Under normal circumstances, even if Shen Xiling felt hurt, she could endure without showing it. But today, she had experienced too much—swinging between grief and joy—and her emotions were unstable. At that moment, just because of his clumsy remark, she felt an overwhelming sense of委屈, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

Qi Yin had been looking away, silently blaming himself for his inappropriate remark. After a while, when he didn’t hear the girl respond, he found it strange. Turning back, he saw her crying, her sorrow and heartbreak evident.

He was startled and momentarily at a loss, feeling for the first time as though every move he made could lead to blame. He fumbled awkwardly to comfort her. Despite always understanding her, he couldn’t grasp her thoughts at that moment and had no idea why she suddenly cried so bitterly.

Before he could figure out how to ask her, he heard her sobbing question, “… Have you changed your mind again?”

Qi Yin didn’t understand. “What?”

Shen Xiling’s beautiful eyes were filled with tears, her expression a mix of grievance and heaviness. “Are you regretting it? Do you want me to marry someone else again?”

With those words, Qi Yin immediately understood. He realized his clumsy attempt to change the subject had caused the girl to misunderstand. She was sensitive and prone to keeping things bottled up inside. Though she hadn’t mentioned the events of her coming-of-age day since then, it didn’t mean the wound in her heart had healed.

He had hurt her, and the wound was far from closed.

Seeing this, Qi Yin’s heart ached and felt heavy. He quickly pulled her into his arms, softly comforting her. “No, I haven’t changed my mind, and I will never let you marry anyone else…”

But Shen Xiling didn’t believe him. The shadow of his coldness that day was too deep, leaving her heart uneasy. She always felt he might change his mind at any moment, even if he was gently soothing her now, he might turn cold the next.

She couldn’t read him.

As she cried, she scrutinized him, her eyes clearly reflecting distrust. Qi Yin noticed and knew it was all because of what he had done that day. It was impossible to make her truly feel at ease with just a few words.

This was his debt to her.

Qi Yin sighed inwardly, feeling helpless. Fortunately, they still had many days ahead to be together. If words were insufficient, he would use time to prove his sincerity.

He had indeed decided to stay with her.

However, he had to find a way to resolve the current situation. Otherwise, if the little girl continued crying like this, it would hurt her eyes. He thought for a moment and decided to bring up another matter to distract her. After some deliberation, he said, “I really won’t. In a few days, I’ll go home and talk to Jing’an, to let him give up the idea of marrying you.”

At the mention of Qi Ning, Shen Xiling’s crying stopped immediately. Her beautiful eyes blinked, adding a touch of cuteness.

Sniffling, she said, “You should talk to Third Brother… His sudden notion caught me off guard that day. I didn’t know what to say…”

When discussing specific matters, her words naturally revealed her dependence on him, accompanied by slight complaints and coquettishness.

Seeing this tactic work, Qi Yin smiled inwardly, but his expression remained serious. He continued along with her topic, “Mm, he was indeed rather reckless.”

Shen Xiling nodded, then furrowed her brows, saying to him, “You think it’s reckless, but why did you agree at that time?”

Qi Yin was caught off guard and immediately coughed. Feeling guilty, his voice dropped, somewhat muffled as he said, “I made a mistake at that time…”

“Made a mistake?” Shen Xiling raised an eyebrow, clearly dissatisfied with this answer. “What did you think at that time, Master?”

Although she still addressed him as “Master,” the tone of her speech had subtly changed. Gone was the previous childlike reverence for an elder; instead, there was a woman’s playful reproach toward a man.

Qi Yin noticed the subtle shift in their relationship but didn’t find it unpleasant. On the contrary, he found it amusing, especially the fierce way the little girl was questioning him, which made him smile.

Nevertheless, his guilt towards her remained heavy. He looked at her with deep eyes, silent for a moment before saying, “At that time, I thought I could endure.”

I thought I could endure falling for you.

I thought I could bear to see you marry someone else.

It was a half-spoken sentence, its meaning unclear, but the love in his eyes was unmistakable, making his already captivating phoenix-like eyes appear even deeper. Even an unrelated person could discern the weighty affection within.

Of course, Shen Xiling understood even more.

Though she understood, she still wanted to hear him say it aloud. Pretending not to comprehend, she pursed her lips and asked, “… Endure what?”

She asked, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he gazed at her for a moment, his expression serious and earnest.

He had always been a serious person, and at that moment, he appeared even more so. Additionally, there was a gravity and determination she had never seen before, making her heart flutter until he leaned in and gently kissed her, bringing her peace.

That kiss was stripped of all desire, as if they were merely touching and sensing each other, exchanging promises within that kiss.

I will cherish you for life.

The restlessness and unease in Shen Xiling’s heart slowly settled during that kiss, gradually dissipating. When he gently pulled her into his arms again, she completely calmed down.

“Wenwen,” she heard him say, “Give me some more time.”

His voice was very low.

At the time, Shen Xiling didn’t fully understand what he meant. She didn’t know what he needed time for, what he wanted to do, or why he needed her to give him time. But she no longer wanted to ask.

His silence convinced her, making her believe that this man before her was the only one in the world who would never hurt her.

He made her feel safe.

So she stopped crying, obediently leaning into his embrace, responding vaguely to him, and then quietly began to enjoy the time spent cuddling with him. Perhaps because everything was so peaceful, or perhaps because she was too tired that day, she soon felt drowsy.

Qi Yin gently patted her shoulder, soothing her. After a while, he said, “I’ll probably be quite busy these few days and may not have time to accompany you. Once the spring examinations are over, I’ll come back immediately.”

Shen Xiling neither pouted nor threw a tantrum, like a sleepy kitten nestled in his arms. She nodded and said, “Mm, I understand.”

He kissed her soft hair, paused, and then said, “You’ve been tired recently. Rest well at home for a few days. Put business aside for now. I’ll handle it.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Xiling became more alert, lifting her head to look at him with slightly furrowed brows. “You’re talking about Yang Dong’s matter?”

At the mention of Yang Dong, a flicker of darkness passed through Qi Yin’s eyes, but he lowered his eyelids to conceal that emotion, simply nodding faintly. “Mm.”

Shen Xiling pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and said, “Business matters… they are ultimately my responsibility. You’re already so busy. Don’t trouble yourself with these small matters. I can handle them myself.”

She seemed to be trying hard to prove her reliability to him. Qi Yin noticed her intention, smiled, but there was no real amusement in his eyes. He simply said, “If it were just friction in business dealings, then it would indeed be your matter, and I wouldn’t interfere. But now he has touched you, and that makes it my matter.”

As he spoke, the warmth in his demeanor faded, and the imposing aura of someone accustomed to authority surfaced imperceptibly.

After all, Young Master Qi was just an ordinary person, susceptible to the seven emotions and six desires. Though he usually disliked using power to oppress others, at his core, he was protective. It was just that he didn’t show it as prominently under normal circumstances.

If the guild had merely bullied Shen Xiling a bit in business transactions, he could consider it part of her training. In the commercial world, everyone relied on their abilities, and he wouldn’t say anything. But Yang Dong’s actions that day had far exceeded his tolerance limit. He had to set an example, making it clear to everyone that his girl was untouchable by anyone.

The change in his aura was immediately felt by Shen Xiling. She knew he was truly angry and realized she couldn’t dissuade him regarding this matter. Meanwhile, his blatantly obvious protection also made her feel sweet inside.

After some thought, she decided to accept his kindness and nodded again, saying, “Then… I’ll listen to you.”

Her docility seemed to please him, causing the coldness around him to gradually dissipate.

He gently kissed her eyelashes, softly saying, “Sleep.”

Shen Xiling was indeed so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open. Leaning against him, she mustered the strength to ask, “What about you?”

Qi Yin smiled and said, “I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”

In fact, Qi Yin had hardly slept in recent days. The events of her coming-of-age day had not only saddened her but also tormented him internally, leaving him sleepless. By now, he was extremely exhausted. However, seeing Shen Xiling’s unease today, he felt it was better to stay by her side. He concealed his fatigue, letting her lie down to sleep first.

Shen Xiling lay down, but instead of resting her head on the pillow, she rested it on his knee, quietly placing her hand in his palm.

Even as her eyes struggled to stay open due to sleepiness, she still remembered to ask, “I’m sleeping in your bed. Where will you sleep later?”

Qi Yin sat at the head of the bed, gently patting the back of her hand. “There’s a bed in the outer room. You don’t need to worry about me—sleep.”

His voice was low and pleasant, seemingly having a hypnotic effect. At that moment, she was surrounded by his presence, making her feel secure and safe. Sleepiness overwhelmed her, and soon she fell into a deep slumber.

After she fell asleep, Qi Yin lingered for a long time.

Sitting at the head of the bed, he gazed at her beautiful and peaceful sleeping face, feeling a sense of tranquility. But afterward, endless worries and heaviness surged within him, causing his brows to gradually tighten.

In the end, he couldn’t resist. He ultimately gave in to her and to his own feelings for her—they were like two intertwined trees, their roots and branches entwined, inseparable from each other.

But his decision to keep her made the current situation even more difficult.

He had to quickly find a way to satisfy both sides—not betraying his country and family, and not hurting her.

The night was deep, the thunderstorm gradually subsiding, as if everyone had fallen into a deep sleep.

Only Qi Yin remained awake, his eyes holding countless storms, dark and indistinct. Only when he lowered his gaze to the girl sleeping on his knee did a flicker of tenderness pass through his eyes.

At that moment, he heard the helpless voice in his heart: You love her deeply.