Ma Bing felt as if an invisible giant hand had tightly clenched her heart, causing her unbearable pain.
How proud a person he was, yet he had lowered himself like this.
“What is the adult talking about? I…”
Before she could finish, Xie Yu interrupted her.
“Pretending to be ignorant and avoiding the issue won’t help either of us,” Xie Yu pierced through her last layer of disguise bluntly. “I don’t believe you haven’t noticed my feelings for you.”
He no longer wanted to let her evade using the same tactics.
Ma Bing’s heart pounded violently. Waves of hot blood rushed through her head, making her feel as if her fever had returned, leaving her body unresponsive.
Just as she was about to speak, Xie Yu asked, “Can you dare to look into my eyes and say that?”
Ma Bing’s fingertips trembled slightly.
She couldn’t.
Her conscience troubled her.
She felt like a helpless person backed up to a cliff, with the other insisting on an answer.
She had no way to retreat.
Yet, the other party had come this far, and seemed pitiable too.
For a moment, she almost felt both of them were like stray dogs without shelter on a rainy night—both proud, yet so humble before each other…
Most of Ma Bing’s body was hidden behind the window, her profile shadowed and indistinct in the heavy darkness.
Xie Yu watched her long eyelashes quiver intensely, clearly locked in a fierce inner battle. He felt a sharp pang of compassion.
But this girl was too proud and independent. If he didn’t force her a bit, he might never hear the answer in his lifetime.
After a long silence, Ma Bing finally spoke again, her low voice filled with helplessness. “My young lord, your status is noble. I… am not worthy of you.”
Xie Yu never expected her to come up with such a reason after hesitating so long. He was so angry that he ended up laughing bitterly.
“Not worthy? Did you ever ask me about that?”
He was furious that at this moment, she still refused to speak her true feelings.
Yet he also felt heartache, heartache for her having endured so much over the years.
Perhaps the sick were always a bit spoiled, or maybe there was too much entanglement in these words. Ma Bing’s head burned with emotion, and years of restraint collapsed in an instant.
“Whether you like me or not is your business. Whether I like you or not is mine. Do I have to be grateful and obedient just because you like me a little? Do I have to consult you about everything?!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Ma Bing regretted them.
Indeed, one shouldn’t speak when not calm.
These words hurt others and herself.
Sure enough, Xie Yu’s body stiffened, and the look in his eyes that lifted was full of hurt.
He gazed at Ma Bing for a long time. “You… have such a cruel heart!”
Hurting others isn’t cruel; hurting oneself is truly painful.
A sigh, “Why say such things? It’s not worth it.”
He understands me…
For some reason, Ma Bing suddenly felt an immense sense of injustice well up from the bottom of her heart. Her eyes welled up, almost unable to stop the tears.
She wasn’t afraid of his hostility, but she feared this kind of boundless tolerance and understanding the most.
Seeing her expression, Xie Yu sighed again, leaned the umbrella against the wall, and walked inside after opening the door.
In the years before, he had smooth sailing, but after meeting this girl, everything became difficult. The number of sighs he had let out in the past few months was more than in the previous twenty years combined.
“Come here.”
He opened his arms to her softly.
Ma Bing’s feet moved slightly but ultimately didn’t go to him.
“I’ve already taken ninety-nine steps. Can’t you even take that last one?” Xie Yu whispered.
Ma Bing tightened her grip on the window frame but finally loosened her fingers and slowly walked toward him.
Before she could reach him, Xie Yu pulled her into his arms, holding her carefully as if she were a fragile treasure.
Then, he slightly lowered his head and gently kissed the top of her hair.
“Sigh…”
Indeed, he had already become a responsible man.
His embrace was so wide, his body so warm. The coolness was quickly replaced by a continuous stream of warmth radiating into Ma Bing.
So hot, scalding her eyes and making her heart tremble. She couldn’t help burying her face in his chest.
Her whole body seemed wrapped in the scent of cool pine, distant and fresh, yet so close.
Can I?
Is it really mine?
Is this really something I can have?
She thought dazedly.
Xie Yu’s voice came from above. “You really don’t need to ask me, but I asked you, and you couldn’t even give me one honest word.”
Ma Bing slowly tightened her hands.
She could hear the sound of another heartbeat, as warm and sincere as her own.
Xie Yu couldn’t help but gently nuzzle her faintly medicinal-scented hair, feeling both fulfilled and forlorn.
“Now, I don’t even know your name.”
A cruel girl.
He even felt a bit pitiful himself.
Feeling her body stiffen suddenly, Xie Yu soothingly patted her back. “Forget it. What’s a name anyway? If you don’t want to tell me, you must have your reasons.”
Only then did Ma Bing realize belatedly that he had indeed never called her by her name.
“Miss Ma,” “you”… he had always cleverly avoided it.
Sigh, he really was an intelligent man.
Dealing with clever people, she both liked and disliked.
She liked that communication was effortless, but disliked the constant vigilance it required, which was tiring.
“Too smart men are not likable,” she almost said in a huff.
After saying it, she was surprised herself.
What was that?
Was that coquetry?
You’re mad!
Xie Yu was stunned, then a muffled chuckle rumbled from his chest.
Obviously, he had noticed the subtle shift in her tone.
This was good.
Annoyed, Ma Bing pushed him away, trying to free herself, but failed.
“Let go!” she snapped. “Coming to a girl’s room in the dead of night, what kind of gentleman are you?”
Xie Yu started laughing again, seemingly in a very good mood.
Mid-laugh, Ma Bing suddenly felt herself lifted off the ground.
What was this?! What was he doing!
For the first time, she was genuinely flustered.
“You… put me down…”
Her voice trembled.
With his long legs, Xie Yu took a few steps and gently laid her down on the bed. “After all this fuss, aren’t you tired? Go to sleep.”
Ma Bing blinked. “Who was fussing?! I was perfectly fine, I don’t know who came running over here on purpose to act pitiful…”
Seeing Xie Yu’s look of disbelief, Ma Bing quickly grabbed the quilt and wrapped herself up like a cocoon, leaving only the top half of her face exposed. “I’m tired. I’m going to sleep. You leave.”
Xie Yu: “…”
He was so amused he couldn’t help but laugh.
What was this?
Discarded after use?
The young lord looked at her with mixed emotions, wanting to say something, but she had already shut her eyes tightly.
The flickering candlelight cast large shadows on her face, highlighting how thin she had become.
Xie Yu obediently closed his mouth again and awkwardly stretched out his hand to tuck the quilt around her.
Ma Bing held back again and again, but in the end, he couldn’t help saying, “If you don’t know how to do it, just stop. You’re pulling my hair out.”
That hurts.
Xie Yu obediently withdrew his hand, only to hear the other person suddenly say, “I’m sorry.”
I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that just now.
Xie Yu was slightly taken aback, then felt his heart melt completely.
As he grew up, he realized that adults seemed to have lost the ability to admit their mistakes face-to-face. Pride, dignity—anything could take precedence over honesty.
But now, there is a proud girl who dares to face her own mistakes—isn’t that truly admirable?
Xie Yu felt his heart brimming with an indescribable joy and contentment.
“Take a good rest, I’m leaving.”
Even so, his feet didn’t move an inch.
“I’m leaving.”
He said it again.
Then, the quilt began to squirm slightly, and after a while, a few pale, delicate fingertips peeked out from its edge.
The fingertips were like small nocturnal creatures cautiously foraging for food, carrying a hint of barely perceptible shyness and timidity, inching bit by bit out from beneath the quilt.
Several times he paused, even thought of turning back, but in the end, he stopped.
Xie Yu raised an eyebrow and shifted his gaze upward, letting it rest on the other person’s face.
Hmm, the patient still has their eyes closed. Although their eyeballs are moving rapidly beneath the eyelids, they’re clearly asleep.
Those fingers curled slightly upward, as if inadvertently revealed, yet also feigning composure as though waiting for something.
The corners of his mouth curled up high as he gently rested his hand against it.
The moment their skin touched, the fingertips peeking out from under the blanket flinched as if scalded, but soon mustered the courage to reach out again.
Xie Yu gently squeezed her hand, his fingertips lightly caressing her fingers for a moment, his heart filled with tranquility.
The road ahead may be tough, but as long as our hearts are united, what challenge can’t we overcome?
“It’s late, time to sleep.” Xie Yu reluctantly tucked her hand back under the blanket.
Ma Bing pursed her lips, “Um… that candied fruit, put it on the table.”
Xie Yu raised an eyebrow as he looked at the face still feigning sleep. “I heard someone doesn’t like eating it anymore.”
Ma Bing’s face burned with heat, so she simply stopped pretending and glared at him.
Xie Yu chuckled, leaned in to gently smooth her hair, and said, “I’m leaving.”
It’s not good to stay in someone else’s house for too long.
After stepping out, he gently tapped on the window again. Ma Bing turned her head and saw that the small package of candied fruits had indeed been placed neatly on the table.
The rain continued to fall, seemingly no different from a few hours ago, but Xie Yu’s mood had undergone a dramatic change.
He thoughtfully closed the windows and doors for his beloved girl, stood under the eaves for a while longer, and only then did he turn to leave.
As soon as I looked up, my eyes met Wang Heng’s, who had gotten up in the middle of the night to pass the time when he couldn’t sleep.
Wang Heng: “…”
What did I see!
Why did you come out of a girl’s room in the middle of the night!
Xie Yu: “…”
Oh this…
I slept soundly without dreaming.
Ma Bing hadn’t slept so soundly in a long time.
After waking up, she felt refreshed and clear-headed, even thinking she had already recovered!
Great, the rain has stopped!
She feels better!
When she said this to Wang Heng, she noticed a strange expression on his face, as if he was holding something back—clearly eager to speak, yet unable to say it.
Ma Bing repeated once more, “Old Wang, I’m really all better now. There’s no need to take any more medicine.”
The mere mention of the word “medicine” magically brought back that intense bitterness in her mouth. A deep-seated fear from the depths of her soul overwhelmed her, causing her to shudder involuntarily.
Such bitter medicine, it’s truly terrifying!
“Illness strikes like a mountain collapsing, but recovery is as slow as pulling silk thread,” Wang Heng finally found words to say, grumbling. “Whether to take medicine or not is up to the doctor.”
As the two were locked in a stalemate, they saw the light-footed Xie Yu stepping in from outside, bathed in the morning glow.
He was also carrying a large food container in his hand, and even with the lid on, a rich aroma still wafted through the gaps.
After last night’s incident, the relationship between Ma Bing and Xie Yu had significantly improved, and there was a noticeable difference when their eyes met.
However, at this moment, Wang Heng’s faint voice came from the side: “Exercise some restraint…”
Suddenly recalling the encounter with Xie Yu last night: “…”
No, the truth is not what you think!
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