◎The heart sees autumn night like a curtain, wind entwines flowers blooming on branches◎

That was just his jealousy.

Xie Heng lowered his head to kiss her.

He kissed very gently, very carefully, suppressing all dark thoughts and desperately maintaining the beauty that belonged uniquely to Cui Heng, afraid of the slightest disturbance.

He feared she would ask more questions, and he didn’t dare say more himself.

He knew she had never hoped for anyone to remove the parasite for her.

The parasite was given to her by Li Guiyu, so she drugged Li Guiyu.

Liu Xiniang wanted to fight on her strength.

She wanted to fight Li Guiyu one-on-one to the death, relying on herself alone.

If she had a choice, she would never be willing to let him interfere in any of her battles.

She needed no mercy from opponents, nor help from anyone. She just wanted to be alone with one blade, giving her all to complete each of her fights.

Especially when that opponent was Li Guiyu.

But he was unwilling. He was jealous.

He was jealous of Jiang Shaoyan, jealous of Li Guiyu, even jealous of Cui Heng.

Why was only Xie Heng struggling alone in darkness, where even a word of concern required conspiracy and scheming?

Why was only Xie Heng alone high in the clouds, where every protection and every touch required thousands of excuses and exhaustive plotting?

That jealousy was like ever-growing vines, wrapping around his heart, gnawing at him day and night.

He had no outlet, no path forward. He could only desperately restrain those unspeakable thoughts, kissing and caressing her over and over again.

He uncontrollably moved his hands from beneath her to climb, crossing over her back, like interlocking chains, locking her entire being in his embrace. He held her up to sit on him, tilting his head back as he pressed her to lower her head and kiss him.

His movements were very slow, seemingly without force, but she couldn’t break free – like an airtight net using soft yet resilient silk to bind her tightly.

All her struggles seemed like illusions, with only her breath being constantly seized in a domineering yet slow manner.

His kisses were gentle yet passionate. Though he said not a word, uttered not a sound, Luo Wanqing still felt that his every fingertip, every strand of hair, every entanglement was telling her:

He wanted her.

He desired her.

He desired her to the point of madness.

Luo Wanqing sat on him as he held her deadly tight, making her feel like she was coiled by a cold white python. Her whole body trembled, and Xie Heng’s breathing grew heavier. Feeling that continuing would only be drinking poison to quench thirst, he finally slowly released her, moving his hands back to her waist, holding it lightly as he looked up at her.

Luo Wanqing’s breathing was somewhat rapid. By moonlight, she looked down at the youth before her who was excessively beautiful, feeling his large hands gripping her waist, seeing a hint of pleading in his clear, cold eyes: “Do you understand now?”

She didn’t speak immediately, only breathing lightly, hands resting on his shoulders as she looked down at the person before her.

She looked at his eyes that did not attempt to hide desire, at his intense, heavy gaze. She vaguely understood his intention but didn’t dare touch it.

The person before her was like fire – so burning she didn’t dare approach.

And he knew this shouldn’t be normal, so he locked all movements at her waist, in his eyes.

Neither dared speak, neither dared move.

The two quietly gazed at each other’s breathing. Luo Wanqing desperately controlled her emotions and desires. After a long while, she finally raised her hand to caress his brow and eyes during her panting, speaking hoarsely: “Cui Heng.”

“It’s me.”

“Why pretend to be Young Master?” After calming down for a long time, she found some rationality. She looked down at him, fingers touching the raised area of his mask in his hair, asking in confusion.

Hearing this, Cui Heng chuckled softly, raising his hand to grasp hers and kiss it, but asked: “I came to execute a mission that you shouldn’t have known about.”

“Then I…” Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt apologetic. “Did I interfere with you?”

Supervision Department missions were independent. Cui Heng was not telling her was naturally, because this mission shouldn’t be revealed to her.

Luo Wanqing belatedly realized she had been forcing the issue, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Hearing this, Cui Heng looked up at her, suppressing some laughter in his eyes: “Why did you want to interfere with me?”

Luo Wanqing was stunned. Her face showed nothing, but her heart became flustered.

In the past, she never interfered with him.

She rarely played the flute he gave her.

She never asked who he was.

Never asked where he went.

She always just waited because she knew they each had their paths. So when Cui Heng came, she waited; when Cui Heng left, she saw him off.

This was the first time she had exploratory thoughts. Being pointed out by Cui Heng, her heart couldn’t help but tremble.

Seeing her unease, Cui Heng embraced her waist and smiled, only saying: “I know you were worried about me.”

Being told this, Luo Wanqing immediately remembered her original intention and hurriedly asked: “How are you now? Is the child parasite still in your body?”

“Already dead.” Xie Heng smiled. “My blood naturally restrains parasites. When breaking the formation, I used true qi to crush it in my meridians. Cui Junye just helped me expel it.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused, then understood Cui Heng’s reason for forcibly crushing the parasite when breaking the formation.

However, she deliberately avoided that name, only checking his pulse and saying with lowered eyes: “Earlier, when you went out, was it to find Lord Cui to expel the parasite fragments?”

“Mm.”

Cui Heng let her check his pulse, responding absently.

Luo Wanqing felt his pulse. It was too strange – she couldn’t understand it at all and could only ask directly: “How long do you need to recover?”

“About ten days.”

Cui Heng wasn’t very concerned.

Luo Wanqing looked up at him. She seemed to want to say something, but after holding back for a long time, finally only asked: “When did you arrive?”

“What you saw in Jiangnan was already me.”

“Young Master didn’t come to Jiangnan?” Luo Wanqing confirmed again.

Cui Heng nodded: “Naturally. Young Master is still in Eastern Capital. I just needed to impersonate him to do some things.”

“I understand. If you need help, tell me.”

“What I need now is to see Xie Minsheng,” Xie Heng pondered. “See him, ask clearly about Xiang Sizi’s location, and… what kind of people are really on his island?”

“The people on his island have problems?”

Luo Wanqing immediately caught the issue in Xie Heng’s words. Xie Heng nodded, recalling the guards he saw when entering the island today: “Most of the guards here are soldiers.”

Luo Wanqing was startled. Xie Heng rubbed his jade, saying slowly: “Soldiers receive training year-round. Their stance and gait differ from ordinary people. Today’s island guards mostly had northwestern accents.”

Why would Northwestern soldiers appear on Liufeng Island in Jiangnan?

Luo Wanqing immediately realized something was wrong and hurriedly said: “If there are problems with all of Liufeng Island’s guards, we need to call for reinforcements.”

“I already did.”

Cui Heng smiled: “Earlier, I had Zhuisi send word to Zhuque, mobilizing all Supervision Department Inspectors in Jiangnan Circuit. If necessary, even the Inspector will be requested from Eastern Capital.”

“Can Zhuisi do it?” Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised. They had such difficulty getting in – could Zhuisi get out?

“Zhuisi knows the route,” Cui Heng explained. “Flying creatures are always simpler.”

Knowing Cui Heng had arranged everything, Luo Wanqing felt more at ease.

She looked down at the person before her, thought for a long time, and finally said: “Then… let’s go to bed and rest together.”

With that, she got down from the small couch and walked toward the bed.

Xie Heng sat motionless on the small couch. Luo Wanqing looked back at him, seeing he seemed to be thinking about something, and immediately became assertive: “Do I need to come carry you?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Xie Heng knew she was someone who did what she said. He didn’t argue with her, getting down from the couch himself and following her to bed.

Luo Wanqing stood by the bed without moving. Xie Heng glanced at her and understood her meaning, nodding: “I understand. I’m the wounded, delicate, and weak, needing Inspector Liu’s protection.”

With that, Xie Heng lifted the blanket and rolled to the inner side, smoothing his mostly dried hair and placing his hands behind him, saying happily: “A big bed is still more comfortable. Time to sleep.”

Seeing him close his eyes, Luo Wanqing also lifted the blanket and lay down.

The two lay quietly on the bed, but Luo Wanqing couldn’t sleep.

She repeatedly thought about Cui Heng’s words. She knew some things couldn’t be touched, but she felt many things changing, becoming unpredictable.

She thought quietly for a long time before finally speaking, mentioning that person: “Today Li Guiyu used the mother-child parasite, didn’t he?”

Xie Heng paused, knowing what she wanted to ask. He closed his eyes, somewhat unwillingly saying: “Mm. He fought you with full strength, but couldn’t bear to deliver a killing blow.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing.

They both understood that for Li Guiyu, if he held back, that was Li Guiyu’s affection for Luo Wanqing.

But if he gave his all, that carried another meaning.

He treated her as an opponent, he fought with all his might, he acknowledged her growth and accepted who she was now.

Luo Wanqing might not understand, but Xie Heng knew clearly that for Li Guiyu, fighting her was harder than sparing her.

If he spared her for a day, she remained Luo Wanqing in his heart for a day.

The moment he saw her as an opponent, she became one step closer to Liu Xiniang in his heart.

“He loves you more than you imagine.”

Xie Heng’s tone was flat.

Luo Wanqing fell silent. After a long while, she said softly: “So you lured the parasite for me.”

Not only because he worried about her, but because he wanted to interfere in her life, interfere between the two of them.

Hearing her tone, Xie Heng suddenly realized what she wanted to say.

He pressed his lips together silently, turned to face away from her, and said quietly: “This is my business.”

When these words came out, sourness suddenly surged in his heart.

He knew that, for Luo Wanqing, all she wanted was Cui Heng.

That person who only appeared in nights, without any burdens, more like a fleeting romance with her – she didn’t even know his face or name, and they would part ways sooner or later.

She didn’t want his deep feelings. She only dared accept his casual “follow your heart.”

He didn’t know why he suddenly felt afraid, saying quietly, “Luring parasites isn’t a big deal for me. I’ll be fine in a few days. Don’t take it to heart either.”

But the more he spoke, the more he felt he was trying to cover up. He forcibly stopped explaining, turning away from her, feeling somewhat cold inside.

Suddenly feeling tired, he didn’t care about the outcome anymore.

He lay quietly with his back to her, waiting for her judgment. After a long while, he finally heard her speak: “Cui Heng. I just hate him.”

Cui Heng paused, feeling Luo Wanqing embrace him from behind.

“One day, I will kill him, kill Zheng Pingsheng,” she pressed her forehead against his back, as if dreaming, whispering, “When the future comes, when Young Master achieves great things, when the Cui clan’s injustice is cleared. Cui Heng,” Luo Wanqing closed her eyes, “then I’ll be able to see you walking in sunlight.”

Cui Heng said nothing. After a moment, he chuckled softly but still asked: “Will killing him make you forget Jiang Shaoyan?”

Luo Wanqing’s movements paused slightly. Cui Heng looked at the wall, speaking calmly: “Xiniang, what I care about is never whether he lives or dies, but whether I’m the most important person in your heart.”

“I just hate…”

“That’s also very important.”

Cui Heng interrupted her, closing his eyes wearily: “Xiniang, I’m very greedy. I not only hope you have me in your heart, but hope your heart contains only me. When you can choose me over killing him, perhaps then I’ll be satisfied.”

But he knew she wouldn’t choose that way.

Perhaps he wouldn’t live to see that day either.

Just thinking this way made sourness spread through his heart.

He closed his eyes silently. After a long while, he suddenly heard the person behind him sit up, hair falling on him as she spoke with a smile: “Then let’s make a bet.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng looked back in surprise, opening his eyes to see the woman’s clear, smiling face crash into his vision.

“If there’s ever a day when I can choose that way,” Luo Wanqing reached out her hand, gently touching the raised area of the human skin mask in Cui Heng’s hair. She looked at him seriously, saying carefully, “Could I see who you are?”

Xie Heng said nothing.

He instantly understood her meaning. If she saw his face, they would no longer be people who could part without a word and never meet again.

They would have a future, have expectations.

His heart trembled slightly, looking at the treasure-like person before him as she said: “Guanlan, is that alright?”

He gazed into her eyes. After a long while, he spoke as if joking: “Alright.”

With that, Xie Heng turned over to lie facing Luo Wanqing, pillowing his hand under his head and smiling: “But if you see my face, you can’t abandon me.”

“Alright.” Luo Wanqing agreed immediately without hesitation.

Xie Heng smiled without speaking. He knew she didn’t understand.

She didn’t understand who he was, much less what she was agreeing to.

Thinking this, he couldn’t help but start making up all the demands he had ever thought of: “Then you can’t dislike me, can’t say I’m bad, can’t leave me, can’t seek new love. You can only have me in your heart. Whether love or hate, I must be the most important one. You must live with me, die with me, share one pillow, lie in one coffin…”

Hearing him speak, Luo Wanqing’s smile grew brighter. When he finished, she couldn’t help saying: “Cui Heng, you must be very handsome.”

“How can you tell?” Xie Heng raised an eyebrow.

“People who aren’t good-looking,” Luo Wanqing smiled, “don’t have this kind of confidence.”

This made Xie Heng laugh. He thought for a moment and couldn’t help asking: “Have you ever wondered what kind of person I am under the mask?”

Luo Wanqing was startled by his question. She didn’t know why, but Xie Heng’s face instantly flashed through her mind.

She hurriedly suppressed this thought, looking at the person before her and thinking: “I… I guess you should be like Lord Cui Junye.”

“Oh?”

“You should be an official, usually not very serious, a good person with many friends, the center of attention wherever you go.” Luo Wanqing described what she imagined was Cui Heng’s best form, saying gently, “Many girls like you, and you probably have some female confidantes…”

“Now you’re just talking nonsense.”

Xie Heng heard her getting more and more outrageous and quickly interrupted: “I don’t have any female confidantes.”

“Then, who was that unused lip rouge for?”

Luo Wanqing blurted out.

Xie Heng hadn’t expected her to ask this question. After being stunned for a moment, he couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

Seeing him laugh endlessly, Luo Wanqing stiffened: “What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?”

“You’re right. I was indeed preparing to give it to my female confidante.”

Cui Heng nodded. Luo Wanqing’s expression stiffened as she said: “See, I told you, you are…”

“But my female confidante – is she Miss Luo,” Cui Heng interrupted her, unable to help moving closer with a seductive tone, “or Inspector Liu?”

Luo Wanqing was stunned, finally understanding he was joking.

“Every day when I see something suitable for you, I carry it with me,” Cui Heng explained with a smile. “When Zhuisi comes, I will give it to Zhuisi to deliver to you. I bought that lip rouge on the Yangzhou streets. If I hadn’t given it to you that day, Zhuisi would have brought it to you the next day.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked at him quietly. Her heart felt like it was soaking in warm water, opening up warmly.

“Why do you always give me things?” Luo Wanqing asked in confusion.

“Because I want to.”

Cui Heng gazed at her.

Seeing her confusion, he reached out to touch her lips: “Look, your lip rouge was given by me.”

Luo Wanqing’s breathing caught as she felt his fingertip move down, hooking out the marriage tablet at her neck: “The marriage tablet you wear was given by me.”

With that, his hand under the blanket slid along her shoulder to her wrist. Her breathing became increasingly chaotic as he smiled and touched the somewhat warm Qianji: “The Qianji on your hand was given by me, and the bracelet too.”

“Your blade, your clothes, your anklet, every inch of your meridians, every bone,” he caressed all the places he had hoarsely mentioned, finally reaching around her waist and climbing inch by inch up her smooth spine, “to make everything about you intimately connected with me. Tell me, how could I not want that?”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t speak. She looked into his eyes.

Xie Heng gazed at her, couldn’t help moving his throat, but finally smiled and gently patted her shoulder, saying warmly: “Sleep.”

With that, he released her and moved back, curling up and closing his eyes as if extremely tired.

Luo Wanqing watched him close his eyes, but couldn’t fall asleep.

She stared at his face, even though this was Xie Heng’s face.

Actually, before saying “let’s bet” earlier, she hadn’t wanted to say that.

She had only wanted to escape.

Cui Heng gave her too much; she couldn’t repay it.

But at the moment of speaking, she discovered she simply couldn’t escape.

She feared Cui Heng would be sad, and she felt heartache herself.

Thinking that if one day in the future, like this time in Jiangnan, he was injured right beside her, but she didn’t know – she simply couldn’t accept it.

She knew what Cui Heng wanted. She suddenly wanted to fight once for Cui Heng, to see if she could walk out of Li Guiyu’s world.

She looked at his brow and eyes, reluctant to look away for a long time. For the first time, she so strongly realized she wanted him.

She stared at his brow and eyes, tentatively reaching out under the blanket. Just as she was about to touch him, Xie Heng suddenly grabbed her wrist, saying hoarsely, “Qingqing, sleep.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. She only moved forward to embrace him, raised her head to gently kiss his throat, and bit lightly.

Xie Heng’s will instantly collapsed, his hand immediately losing strength, letting her fall downward.

The moment she grasped him, his entire body trembled, groaning muffled.

He panted and raised his eyes, looking at the woman with clear, transparent eyes gazing at him.

In the extreme sensation, with light and shadow interweaving, he felt his heart see autumn night like a curtain, wind entwining flowers blooming on branches.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater] Luo Wanqing: “Can I see your face?” Xie Heng: “If you see it, you have to marry me, my demands are 1/2, 3/4…” Luo Wanqing: “Damn, you must be really beautiful, otherwise how dare you make such demands?” Li Guiyu: “What if he’s just confident? Miss, you shouldn’t bet. Look at me – my real face, definitely handsome.” Xie Heng: “Bah!!”