Qiao Zhao wasn’t saying this purely for comfort—for patients, an optimistic mood was very important.

“Mm, I also think it will get better soon.” Shao Mingyuan smiled faintly.

Qiao Zhao stared at his face.

Living in complete darkness was more despairing than losing hands or feet, yet even at a time like this, he was still comforting her instead?

Qiao Zhao couldn’t describe the feelings in her heart. She sighed: “Shao Mingyuan, if your eyes still haven’t recovered when we return to the capital, you won’t have to lead troops into battle anymore, will you?”

Would you feel very regretful in your heart?

Shao Mingyuan curved his lips in a shallow smile: “Yes, no more battles.”

For some reason, when his eyes were surrounded by darkness, the girl’s appearance became even clearer in his mind, inexplicably giving him the desire to confide: “Actually, this is fine too. I never liked fighting wars to begin with.”

“You don’t like fighting wars?”

“That’s right, I don’t like fighting wars.”

“You’ve been fighting in the Northern Territories since you were fourteen.”

“Back then, my father had fallen ill in the Northern Territories, and the marquis’ residence was in grave danger. I was originally just an idle young master, but when disaster struck, I thought at worst I would die, so I might as well go to the Northern Territories and fight for it. I never expected that once I reached the Northern Territories and saw the Tartars acting like wolves and jackals, with the northern people living worse than death, the sword I raised never came down again…” Shao Mingyuan slowly told his story with a calm expression, as if speaking about someone else.

Qiao Zhao quietly listened to him finish, then smiled: “Shao Mingyuan, you’re lying again.”

His blindness might partly be her responsibility, but that didn’t mean either of them had to be devastated by it. What hardships in this world couldn’t be overcome? If he never recovered, she would just take care of him for the rest of her life.

After all, she did have feelings for him.

Simple affection made her reluctant to give up her long-desired freedom, but with responsibility added, the weight on this side of the scale was enough.

Shao Mingyuan, in the end, you’ve won.

Qiao Zhao let out a long sigh in her heart.

“I’m not lying.” Shao Mingyuan was completely confused.

Apart from wanting to hide his blindness, why would he lie to her?

“How come I’ve never heard that you used to be an idle young master?”

If he had truly been idle, how could he have traveled a thousand li to save his father at fourteen and, from then on, become the backbone of the Northern Territory soldiers?

Shao Mingyuan hadn’t expected Qiao Zhao to be referring to this. His eyelashes trembled slightly as he said bashfully: “Apart from time spent studying and practicing martial arts, spending entire days wandering the streets with Shixi and the others, causing trouble and getting into fights—doesn’t that count as being idle?”

Qiao Zhao smiled sweetly: “As long as you didn’t molest innocent, beautiful young ladies, it doesn’t count as being idle.”

Both of them understood the implications of Shao Mingyuan’s blindness, but by tacit agreement neither dwelt on it.

Hearing Qiao Zhao’s words, Shao Mingyuan was slightly stunned.

Why did he feel… that Zhaozhao was teasing him?

She had clearly said before that she had no feelings for him whatsoever, that she would be the same way with any other man who had been her husband, yet why did Zhaozhao’s attitude now have such a subtle change?

Could it be that because he was blind, Zhaozhao pitied him?

At this thought, Shao Mingyuan smiled bitterly to himself.

If his eyes were fine, even if Zhaozhao didn’t have much romantic feeling for him, whether it was pity or some other emotion, he would marry her first and worry about the rest later. He believed he wasn’t so hopeless that Zhaozhao wouldn’t gradually develop feelings after spending time together.

But now he was blind with an uncertain future. What right did he have to drag his beloved girl into the mire again? Especially because of her pity.

Seeing Shao Mingyuan fall silent, Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together.

She knew exactly what this fool was thinking.

Did he think she pitied him?

There were plenty of pitiful people in the world—could she take care of them all?

“Brother Shao isn’t speaking. Could it be you did molest innocent young ladies?”

“I didn’t—” Shao Mingyuan hastily denied it, but halfway through his words, his confidence suddenly faltered.

There was that. He seemed to have molested Zhaozhao many times.

But that was because in his heart, Zhaozhao was his wife, not someone else’s young lady…

“That’s good then.” Qiao Zhao looked at his anxious expression and smiled charmingly. “When I was living in Jia Feng, I was always curious about what kind of person could make Grandfather willing to argue with Grandmother just to choose him as a grandson-in-law. If you had been so reckless in your youth, Grandfather would have been disappointed.”

Shao Mingyuan was quite surprised.

He hadn’t expected that Zhaozhao had also been curious about him.

So had she also imagined what he looked like? Had he disappointed her?

At this thought, Shao Mingyuan’s heart tightened.

Continuing to think like this was too dangerous—he was afraid he might impulsively do something foolish again.

Shao Mingyuan remained silent, while Qiao Zhao just gazed steadily at him.

He probably didn’t know that his eyes were the most beautiful among all the people she had seen.

Or rather, his type of eyes happened to be exactly what she liked most.

In this world, the most irresistible things about people and events were often these “coincidences.”

Though her heart was unwilling, she was content.

The girl’s gaze lingered too long on the man’s face. Though he couldn’t see, he could feel it and couldn’t help turning his face to avoid her line of sight.

Qiao Zhao didn’t mind the man’s evasion and said with casual ease: “Tingquan, if your eyes can’t be healed, would it be alright if I became your eyes in the future?”

Shao Mingyuan’s whole body shook, his heart pounding like thunder.

Did Zhaozhao’s words mean what he understood them to mean?

Her willingness to be his eyes—did that mean she was willing to marry him and spend their lives together?

But soon, the burning flame that had risen in Shao Mingyuan’s heart was covered by ice and snow again, leaving only bitterness.

If Zhaozhao had said these words to him two days ago, he would certainly have been overjoyed, but now, no matter how much happiness there was, it could only be empty.

“Tingquan, if you don’t speak, I’ll take it as your agreement.” Having made up her mind, Qiao Zhao no longer tormented herself with hesitation, nor would she allow the fool before her to retreat in the slightest.

He had stirred her heart and her feelings—just because his eyes were blind, did he want to flee?

She hadn’t agreed to that!

“Miss Li, please don’t joke around.” Unable to continue pretending to be deaf and mute, Shao Mingyuan spoke with difficulty.

If Zhaozhao continued saying such things, he would soon be unable to resist the temptation.

Spending their lives together was what he dreamed of.

“I never joke around. I’m very serious—I’ve always been straightforward, saying what I mean.” Qiao Zhao repeated words she had said before.

Shao Mingyuan’s heart tightened.

After Zhaozhao had said these words to the man they rescued from the ship, she had ordered Ye Luo to throw him into the sea. Now, Zhaozhao was saying these words to him…

“Why has Miss Li changed her mind?” Shao Mingyuan asked.

Qiao Zhao curved her lips.

She knew this fool would still struggle to the end!

She didn’t answer, so Shao Mingyuan continued: “Is it because of my eyes? Do you think it was because of what you said to me that stimulated me into blindness, and you feel responsible for me?”

Before he could finish speaking, the girl’s soft lips pressed against his.

Miss Qiao thought to herself: To hell with responsibility!