Ming Yi nodded, impressed by his maturity at such a young age: “You’re a good man.”
Situ Ling smiled, slowly turning to look at the not-so-good man: “Oh, Lord Ji is here too?”
Ji Bozai replied with a half-smile: “As it happens, I’m about to return to the Yuan Shi Academy with Yi’er. I hope I’m not interrupting your reunion with your sister.”
“Not at all. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Lord Ji too,” Situ Ling said with a smirk. “Half a year apart, and you’re as charming as ever. No wonder the city is full of ladies admiring you.”
“You flatter me, young lord.”
Situ Ling squinted his eyes in a smile, then turned back to Ming Yi: “But having too many flowers around isn’t always good. For a stable life, it’s better to choose someone more dependable.”
Ji Bozai: “…”
He turned to look at Luo Jiaoyang, noticing that they all seemed unperturbed by Situ Ling’s words. He wondered if his prejudice was too deep.
But then Situ Ling continued: “Sister, you’ve gotten thinner. It’s concerning. If I could enter the Yuan Shi Academy freely, I’d make sure to prepare good meals for you.”
The corner of the low table Ji Bozai was holding made a cracking sound. He narrowed his eyes at Situ Ling.
It wasn’t his imagination—this person was targeting him with every word. As if he hadn’t been feeding Ming Yi well in the Yuan Shi Academy? He’d sent plenty of exquisite dishes these past days. If her appetite was small, what could he do?
And why did he need to lean so close to talk? Was he hard of hearing?
Talking was one thing, but Situ Ling kept glancing at him. What, did he find Ji Bozai’s presence bothersome?
Too bad, even if he did.
As the beast-drawn carriage rolled on, Ming Yi and Situ Ling chatted happily. Just before they were about to disembark, Situ Ling looked back at Ji Bozai and paled: “Lord Ji, what’s wrong? Have I offended you somehow?”
Ming Yi was startled and turned to look. She saw Ji Bozai sitting there with a stony face, exuding a menacing aura.
This expression seemed normal to her, but Situ Ling, unable to sense Yuan Power, was inevitably frightened. So she softly called out: “My lord?”
Was she scolding him for someone else’s sake? Ji Bozai laughed bitterly, stepping past them to exit the carriage. He strode into the Yuan Shi Academy, his robe nearly whipping Situ Ling’s face.
Luo Jiaoyang and the others were also startled by his sudden anger. They followed him out, looking confused: “What happened?”
“Nothing happened just now, did it?”
Situ Ling waved his hand: “Sister Ming, don’t worry about it. Lord Ji has disliked me for a while now.”
“Who does he like?” Ming Yi dismissed it. “You should head back now.”
“Call me if you need anything, sister,” Situ Ling smiled, showing his canine teeth. “Whenever you need me, I’m always available.”
“Alright.” She smiled, watching him board the carriage behind them.
Ji Bozai sat silently in the room, his back a gloomy silhouette that no one dared approach.
Ming Yi entered and called out: “My lord?”
“Why are you here?” he said glumly. “Finished catching up already? It’s still early. Half an hour is hardly enough.”
His tone was so sour it could rival Fuling’s freshly pickled vegetables.
Ming Yi knocked on the carved door, reminding him patiently: “This is my room.”
If he wanted to be angry, he should go back to his courtyard. What was he doing in hers?
His back stiffened, and then he turned around. His usually cold eyes now held a hint of resentment: “My mistake. I came here out of habit.”
Then, annoyed: “Why don’t you ever come to my courtyard on your own? Especially when you see me this upset.”
“What are you angry about?” Ming Yi sat down calmly. “That Situ Ling is more sensible than you, or that he’s more considerate?”
“I’m angry that you’re gentle with him, even smiling, but as soon as you see me, you put on this indifferent face.” He grabbed a bronze mirror and angrily placed it in front of her. “Look for yourself. Is this the same person who was just smiling and laughing?”
Ming Yi was at a loss for words. She pushed the mirror away: “He’s my sworn brother.”
Some sworn brother. His gaze was not that of a brother looking at a sister.
Taking a deep breath, Ji Bozai looked into her eyes: “You can’t be warm to everyone else and cold only to me, refusing to let me get close.”
Let him get close? Ming Yi lowered her eyes.
Before, she had dared to, thinking it was a harmless experience, a chapter in life. But now…
Ji Bozai was too clingy. Whenever she was present, his eyes were always on her. When they were alone, she could feel the veins on the back of his hand tense up as he tried to restrain himself from getting closer. Every day, he sent things to her courtyard, from gold and jewels to meals and snacks.
She had never been treated like this before and didn’t quite know how to handle it. Even knowing he often used these tactics on women, she couldn’t help but wonder: was it possible that this time he was serious about her?
Especially now, with his jealous look, urgent and upset, truly like a young man experiencing his first love.
Ming Yi dared not look at him. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to; she was afraid of being fooled. That would make her even more foolish than those girls who fell for his tricks. They at least didn’t know there was a trap; she would be jumping in knowingly.
Ji Bozai suddenly sneezed.
Ming Yi snapped back to reality, realizing he had taken off his cloak at some point. He was wearing only the thin cyan misty robe underneath.
She didn’t want to care. After all, unlike Situ Ling, he had Yuan Power and could shield himself from the cold.
But it was extremely cold today. Even wrapped in fox fur, her fingertips were freezing. If he caught a cold, their training would be delayed for days.
After hesitating for a while, she stood up and went to the cabinet to get a cloak for him.
However, as soon as she reached out, he grasped her wrist and pulled her forward with a sudden force.
She felt his warm breath by her ear as Ji Bozai sighed softly, like a man who had been parched for a long time and finally tasted water. His throat moved: “You still care about me, don’t you?”
Her heart sank. Ming Yi tried to push him away, but his arm was incredibly strong. Though he wasn’t restraining her, he didn’t let her break free either. “The poison in your body is cold. You fear the winter most. So why do you still reject me?”
“Doesn’t my lord know the reason?” She suddenly bit her lip, frowning slightly.
Ji Bozai stroked her long hair, one stroke at a time: “Ming Yi, trust me this once. I won’t let you down.”
“…”
“Yi’er, trust me.”
The starry sky was brilliant, its light falling onto the windowsill, making the embroidered flowers on the brocade quilt shimmer slightly.
Ming Yi opened her eyes to find Ji Bozai’s arm still wrapped tightly around her, as if afraid she might sneak away in the middle of the night.
Compared to their first time together, Ji Bozai now seemed more like a man in love rather than someone simply using her.
The poison in her body had been neutralized, so she should live longer now. Perhaps spending the rest of her life with someone by her side wouldn’t be so bad?
Turning to look at the sleeping face beside her, Ming Yi’s eyes gradually brightened.