With a “snap,” the book in Leng Xuepiao’s hands landed on the bed.

She got out of bed, pulled on her long boots, grabbed her cloak and put it on, and walked out.

From start to finish, she didn’t glance at the two other women in the room even once.

Qingqing and Xiao Tian watched her leave without the slightest hint of annoyance.

They were all mentors and friends to one another, and everyone hoped Leng Xuepiao would get better and live happily.

With a creak, Leng Xuepiao pushed open the door of the room.

Yu Jingfeng, who had been muttering to himself with his back to the door, spun around at once.

Seeing who had come out, the corners of his mouth instantly lifted into a delighted smile.

“Xuepiao, why did you come out?” the man asked, tripping over his own words.

Leng Xuepiao rolled her eyes at him, took hold of his hand, and started walking.

She held onto his uninjured hand and led him forward.

The sudden touch and concern left Yu Jingfeng feeling warm inside.

His somewhat stiff thumb curled around her small hand, and he followed along.

Yu Jingfeng didn’t ask any questions either—the girl ahead kept walking, so his own footsteps didn’t stop.

And so, Leng Xuepiao led Yu Jingfeng out of the courtyard, down the street, and before long, into another courtyard.

“Xuepiao, why did you bring me back here?” Yu Jingfeng asked softly.

Yu Jingfeng, inwardly: Still saying she doesn’t like him—then why hold his hand, and hold it so tightly?

Still, the little girl’s grip was so weak that no matter how hard she held on, it wouldn’t hurt him at all.

Leng Xuepiao still said nothing, leading Yu Jingfeng to his own room and pushing the door open.

With another creak, the door opened, and the two walked in, one after the other.

“Careful now.” Once inside, Yu Jingfeng remembered to turn and close the door.

Fortunately he moved quickly, or the little girl might already have pushed him onto the bed.

Thinking of that day, when she had sat astride him, Yu Jingfeng felt heat rise all through his body.

Why had the weather suddenly turned so warm?

Sure enough, the little girl really did lead him toward the bed.

Reaching the bedside, Yu Jingfeng looked at the woman before him with great anticipation.

But Leng Xuepiao didn’t look up at him—she only glanced at his body once, then pushed his uninjured arm, making him sit down on the bed.

Yu Jingfeng didn’t mind at all. If his lady told him to walk, he’d walk; if she told him to sit, he’d sit.

“Xuepiao, you…”

Just as he sat down and reached out to take Leng Xuepiao’s small hand, she pushed him away, dodging his touch.

“Hurry up and rest. Your body hasn’t healed—why are you running around?”

“Xuepiao, what I mean is, you’re…”

Before Yu Jingfeng could get out the words “worried about me,” Leng Xuepiao spoke again.

“Making me run all the way here for nothing—what a waste of my time.” Leng Xuepiao tossed out the line, turned, and left.

A familiar scene—the only difference was that her clothes had changed.

Yu Jingfeng didn’t want the little girl to leave. Tomorrow they would set out, and their pace would surely be faster than hers.

Even if everyone was headed in the same direction, Yu Jingfeng had no idea when he’d get to see his little girl again.

“Xuepiao.” Yu Jingfeng went over and, with one arm, pulled Leng Xuepiao into his embrace from behind.

“Don’t leave! I can’t bear it.”

His gentle words, carrying his warm breath, brushed against Leng Xuepiao’s neck.

As she turned, she pushed the man embracing her away.

“Yu Jingfeng, what exactly are you trying to do?”

“I want to marry you.” Yu Jingfeng took hold of the small hand of the girl now facing him.

“Xuepiao, didn’t I already say it? I want to marry you. I want to marry you.”

“I’m ill.” Leng Xuepiao rolled her eyes at Yu Jingfeng. “If Jiu’er hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t even know I was ill.”

“I can’t get married. I can’t become someone’s burden. Besides, I really never intended to like you.”

“Xuepiao.” As Leng Xuepiao moved, Yu Jingfeng tightened his hold on her.

“Don’t go!”

He took a deep breath and gently turned her to face him.

“I just want to ask you one thing. If I died on the battlefield, what would you do?”

Yu Jingfeng had thought it over for two days and still believed the little girl liked him.

How could she not like him? He couldn’t explain why—he just liked her, that was all.

Leng Xuepiao looked up, staring unblinking at Yu Jingfeng.

Just as she was about to shake her head, Yu Jingfeng held her small head still with one hand, not letting her shake it.

“Don’t say you don’t know. Never mind that—I want you to tell me how you truly feel.”

He withdrew his other hand and pressed it against his own chest.

“If Jian Yi’s sword pierced through me here, I wouldn’t be able to come back.”

“If I couldn’t come back, would you be sad or not?”

Yu Jingfeng had spent two days planning this, determined to use this method.

But the moment he asked “would you be sad,” he suddenly grew nervous.

Little sister Xuepiao—wouldn’t she just shake her head? Or tell him flatly, “I wouldn’t”?

Leng Xuepiao stared into Yu Jingfeng’s eyes, and he stared back at her without blinking.

He was so worked up! And her—so calm.

Yu Jingfeng didn’t move, and neither did Leng Xuepiao, which made him so tense his heart barely dared to beat too fast.

Time seemed to stretch on for half a century. Just as Yu Jingfeng was almost struggling to breathe, a pair of small hands suddenly wrapped around his waist.

She hugged him, pressing her head against his chest, holding on tightly.

“You mustn’t not come back.”

“You mustn’t not come back.”

“You can’t not come back.”

“You promised you’d come back.”

Leng Xuepiao suddenly seemed possessed, clinging to Yu Jingfeng and murmuring the words over and over.

Overjoyed, Yu Jingfeng finally came to his senses and hugged the person in his arms back, his face full of tender concern.

“I’ll come back. I’m back now—Xuepiao, aren’t I back right now?”

He looked down at her, but she didn’t lift her head, still holding onto him, murmuring.

“You can’t not come back. You promised.”

“You mustn’t not come back.”

“You said you’d come back. You can’t go back on your word.”

“Xuepiao.” Yu Jingfeng held her by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. “Xuepiao, look at me. I’m back.”

“You said you’d come back. You can’t break your promise.”

“You said…” Leng Xuepiao even began to tremble.

Yu Jingfeng hated himself so much. He meant this much to her, so why had he tried to scare her?

He gently patted Leng Xuepiao’s back, held her, and brought her to the bedside to sit down.

“Xuepiao.” Half-crouched by the bed, Yu Jingfeng looked at the woman who still hadn’t come back to herself, his heart aching terribly.

“Look closely. I’m Yu Jingfeng. I’m back.”

“I’m not dead. I’m back. I was joking.”

Yu Jingfeng took Leng Xuepiao’s hand and pressed her palm against his own face.

Looking at the girl’s pale little face, he wished he could slap himself.

“Xuepiao, look at me. I’m fine. I’m back.”

“I promise you, I won’t get hurt again. Xuepiao, do you see me clearly now?”

“I’m your husband. I’m Yu Jingfeng.”