That kiss was tender, lingering, and inevitably tinged with desire. When they separated, both were slightly breathless. Qi Ying felt that continuing like this wouldn’t be good, so he turned his face away, forcing himself not to look at the little girl who appeared especially charming after the kiss. In a hoarse voice, he said to her: “Your… does your wrist still hurt? Should we apply some medicine…”

This was truly a clumsy attempt at changing the subject.

Young Master Qi had been named top scholar by imperial decree at thirteen. Even as a youth debating classics and literature, he had never been defeated. Who would have expected that at that moment he would be tongue-tied, repeating the word “your” twice, and his words were extremely abrupt and unnatural. Anyone hearing them would realize that he loved her so deeply that he had lost his usual composure.

Only Shen Xiling was unaware of this.

She was immersed in their tenderness, with endless feelings in her heart that she wanted to convey to him through that kiss. She longed to be even closer to him.

But his interruption clearly conveyed a sense of distance, making her suddenly feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave. She immediately remembered the matter of him wanting her to marry someone else on her coming-of-age day. At that time she had also been full of passionate feelings, only to have cold water thrown on them by him. Though she had never told anyone, after that day she had nightmares every night, all of them filled with his cold rejection of her.

Under normal circumstances, even if Shen Xiling would be sad about this, she could endure it without showing it. But this day she had experienced too much—with sudden sorrows and joys, her emotions were very unstable. At this moment, just because of his one interruption, she felt unbearably wronged, and tears immediately welled up.

Qi Ying was still facing away, silently regretting his obviously inappropriate words. After not hearing the little girl respond for a while, he found it strange. When he turned back, she was crying, and crying so pitifully and sadly.

He was startled and felt somewhat at a loss for a moment, experiencing for the first time a feeling of being unable to do anything right. He could only try to comfort her without any real plan. Though he had always understood her, at that moment he couldn’t guess her thoughts at all, completely unaware of why she had suddenly started crying like this.

Before he could figure out how to ask her, he heard her sob and ask: “…Are you changing your mind again?”

Qi Ying didn’t understand and asked: “What?”

Shen Xiling’s beautiful eyes were full of tears as she looked at him with a grieved and heavy expression: “Are you having second thoughts and want me to marry someone else again?”

As soon as she said this, Qi Ying immediately understood. He knew that his clumsy interruption had caused the little girl’s misunderstanding. She had a sensitive nature and liked to keep things hidden in her heart. Though she hadn’t mentioned the coming-of-age day incident again today, it didn’t mean the knot in her heart had been untied.

He had hurt her, and that wound was far from healed.

Seeing through her thoughts, Qi Ying felt both pain and suffocation in his heart. He quickly gathered her into his embrace, consoling her in a low voice: “No, I don’t regret it, and I will never let you marry someone else again…”

But Shen Xiling didn’t believe him. His coldness that day had left too deep a shadow, making her deeply uneasy in her heart. She always felt he might change his mind at any moment—even if he was gently coaxing her now, he might turn cold again the next moment.

She couldn’t understand him.

She cried while scrutinizing him, the distrust in her eyes very clear. Qi Ying saw it and knew it was all because of what he had done too excessively that day. Now he naturally couldn’t make her truly feel at ease with just a few words.

This was what he owed her.

Qi Ying sighed inwardly, feeling helpless in his heart. Fortunately, they would have many days together in the future. Since words were inadequate, he would prove himself to her with time.

He had indeed decided to stay with her.

However, he had to find a way to resolve the current situation, or the little girl would hurt her eyes if she continued crying like this. After thinking for a moment, he felt that only bringing up another matter could divert her attention. After deliberating briefly, he said to her: “It really won’t happen again. In a few days I’ll go home and tell Jing’an to give up his thoughts of marrying you.”

At the mention of Qi Ning, Shen Xiling indeed stopped crying. Those beautiful eyes blinked, adding a bit of charm.

She sniffled and said: “You do need to tell Third Brother… His idea came too suddenly. I didn’t know what to say that day…”

When speaking of specific matters, her words again showed dependence on him, along with small complaints and coquetry.

Seeing this method work, Qi Ying smiled inwardly, though his expression remained proper. He agreed with her words: “Mm, he was indeed too absurd.”

Shen Xiling nodded, then frowned and said to him: “If you think it’s absurd, why did you nod at the time?”

Qi Ying was caught out by her and immediately coughed, probably feeling guilty. Even his voice lowered, saying somewhat vaguely: “I was thinking wrongly at the time…”

“Thinking wrongly?” Shen Xiling raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with this answer. “Then what was Young Master thinking at the time?”

Though she still called him “Young Master,” the tone in her words had subtly changed. She no longer had the awe a child shows to an adult, but more the reproach of a woman toward a man.

Qi Ying also noticed the subtle shift in their relationship, but he didn’t find it objectionable. Instead, he found it interesting, especially the little girl’s current fierce questioning, which made him smile.

Even so, his guilt toward her remained heavy. He looked at her with deep eyes, silent for a while before saying: “I thought I could bear it at the time.”

I thought I could bear being moved by you.

I thought I could endure you marrying someone else.

It was a half-spoken sentence with unclear meaning, but the love in his eyes was extremely distinct, making those beautiful phoenix eyes appear even more profound. Even an unrelated person could see the heavy affection within.

Shen Xiling could naturally understand even better.

Though she understood, she still wanted to hear him say it personally. She pretended not to understand, pressed her lips together, and asked: “…Bear what?”

She asked, but he didn’t answer. He only gazed at her for another moment with serious and earnest expression.

He had always been a serious person, and at that moment he appeared even more so. Additionally, there was a kind of solemnity and certainty she had never seen before, making her heart flutter with nervousness. Only when he approached her and gently kissed her did her heart become peaceful again.

That kiss was stripped of all desire, as if they were only touching and feeling each other, making mutual promises in that kiss.

I will cherish you for life.

The anxiety and unease in Shen Xiling’s heart slowly settled in that kiss, then gradually began to dissipate. When he gently gathered her into his arms again, she completely calmed down.

“Wenwen,” she heard him say, “give me a little more time.”

His voice was very low.

Shen Xiling didn’t actually understand what that sentence meant at the time. She didn’t know what time he needed, didn’t know what he wanted to do, and didn’t know why he needed her to give him time. But she no longer wanted to ask.

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

He gave her peace of mind.

So she stopped crying and obediently leaned in his embrace, mumbling a response to him, then quietly began to enjoy the time snuggling with him. Perhaps because all this was too comfortable, or perhaps because she was too tired today, she soon became drowsy.

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

Shen Xiling didn’t pout or make a fuss. Like a sleepy little cat, she nodded in his arms and said: “Mm, I understand.”

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

At these words, Shen Xiling became much more alert. She looked up at him from his embrace, brow slightly furrowed: “You mean Yang Dong’s matter?”

At her mention of Yang Dong, a flash of darkness passed through Qi Ying’s eyes, but he lowered his eyelids to conceal such emotions, only nodding lightly: “Mm.”

Shen Xiling pressed her lips together, thought for a moment, then said: “The business matters… are still my affairs after all. You’re already so busy—don’t trouble yourself over these small matters. I can handle them well myself.”

She seemed to be trying hard to prove her reliability to him. Qi Ying saw through her thoughts and smiled, though there was no smile in his eyes. He only said: “If it were just business friction, then it would indeed be only your matter, and I wouldn’t interfere. But now that he has touched you, this has become my matter.”

As he spoke, the warmth on him faded, and that sense of威严 from long holding high position invisibly surfaced again.

In the end, Young Master Qi was just a mortal with the seven emotions and six desires. Though he generally didn’t like using power to pressure others, he was fundamentally protective of his own. It’s just that usually he didn’t show it so obviously.

If the guild had simply bullied Shen Xiling a bit in business dealings, he could treat it as training for the little girl. People in commerce each relied on their own abilities—he wouldn’t say much. But Yang Dong’s behavior today had far exceeded the limits he could tolerate. He had to kill one to warn a hundred, letting everyone see clearly that his little girl was untouchable.

As his aura changed, Shen Xiling immediately felt it. She knew he was truly angry and realized she couldn’t dissuade him in this matter. At the same time, his obviously protective intent made her feel sweet inside.

After thinking it over, she decided to accept his kindness, nodding and saying: “Then… I’ll listen to you.”

Her obedience seemed to please him, causing the coldness around him to gradually recede.

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

Shen Xiling was indeed too drowsy to keep her eyes open. Leaning against him, she struggled to ask: “What about you?”

Qi Ying smiled and said: “I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”

Actually, Qi Ying had barely slept these past few days either. The coming-of-age day incident had not only made her sad—he had also been tormented inside, unable to sleep well. Now he was extremely exhausted too. But he could see that Shen Xiling felt uneasy today and thought it better to stay by her side. So he forced himself to hide his weariness and let her lie down to sleep first.

Shen Xiling lay down but didn’t rest her head on the pillow. Instead, she pillowed her head on his lap again, quietly placing her hand in his palm.

She was so drowsy her eyes could barely stay open, yet she didn’t forget to ask: “If I sleep in your bed, where will you sleep later?”

Qi Ying sat at the head of the bed, gently patting the back of her hand: “Wangshi also has a bed. You don’t need to worry about me—just sleep.”

His voice was low and pleasant, seeming to have a hypnotic effect. With his scent all around her, making her feel secure and safe deep inside, her drowsiness became even more overwhelming. Before long, she fell into deep sleep.

After she fell asleep, Qi Ying didn’t leave for a long time.

He sat at the head of the bed looking at her beautiful and peaceful sleeping face, also feeling peaceful inside. But after this, endless worry and heaviness surged up, gradually making his brow furrow tight.

In the end, he hadn’t been able to resist. He had been defeated by her and by his own feelings for her—they were like two trees that had grown together, their roots and branches long intertwined. No one could truly separate from the other.

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

He had to quickly find a way to achieve both goals—neither disappointing his country and family, nor breaking her heart.

The night was very deep, the thunder and rain gradually ceasing. It seemed everyone had fallen into deep sleep.

Only Qi Ying remained awake, with storms hidden deep in his eyes, dark and unclear. Only when he lowered his head to gaze at the girl sleeping on his lap would a trace of gentle light flash across the depths of his eyes.

At that moment, he heard the helpless voice from the bottom of his heart: You love her to the extreme.

Author’s Note: I saw angels asking about the second male lead~ He’s actually coming out soon (especially after I planned to delete a plot section, it’ll be even sooner hh)

Also about the car… honestly still considering it… and JJ’s lane is so narrow, actually… (((btw hoping the previous flag of controlling word count to 70w+ won’t fall (though I can already feel the pressure of the flag, but still boldly want to write a bit more of their TLA… sigh, is this what being stubborn means…