063. Secret, Devotion

There were only twenty pieces of the peach blossom cake left from last time. Jing Qingxin brewed a cup of herbal flower tea for Gao Shen, sat with him, and together they ate three pieces of the cake; the rest found their way into Gao Shen’s stomach. Jing Qingxin sat quietly beside him. Though her eyes watched Gao Shen savoring the cakes, her mind was preoccupied, pondering how to tell him about the secret of the Flowing Light Brocade.

When their mother passed down the Flowing Light Space to her and her brother, she had explained that aside from the four of them, only two kinds of people in the world could be told about it; no one else was to learn even a hint of its existence. The first could be the lover whom she and her brother each acknowledged as their intended for life, because when they shared a bloodline with someone, that person could enter the Flowing Light Space with them. So, they could be honest with their chosen partners. The second was their children, since she and her brother had inherited the space from their mother, but their mother had warned them that inheritance was a matter of fate, and she could not guarantee that their own children would be able to inherit it; they must let nature take its course.

At that moment, Jing Qingxin was certain of her feelings for Gao Shen. The recent upheaval had only made her realize the depth of her emotions, and she sensed that Gao Shen felt the same. Resting her cheeks in her hands, her gaze fixed on him, she blurted out without thinking, “Gao Shen, do you like me?”

“Pfft—”

Gao Shen, caught off guard, choked on his tea, spraying it out. His deep eyes stared at her in surprise, and whether from the tea or shock, he began to cough violently, his face flushing red.

Seeing this, Jing Qingxin hurriedly patted him on the back, feigning indignation. “Is what I said really so frightening?”

Gao Shen had truly been startled by her directness; among their people, not to mention women, even the men were rarely so bold as to speak of love so openly. Everyone preferred to be reserved, their words veiled and subtle.

“What, you don’t like me?”

When Gao Shen didn’t answer, Jing Qingxin raised her voice and pressed him, then stood up, pretending she was about to leave.

Gao Shen, still reeling, thought she really was angry. He quickly reached out and, with a deft tug, pulled her into his arms. Jing Qingxin landed squarely on his lap.

The sudden intimacy left their bodies pressed close together, breaths mingling, the air charged with closeness. Gao Shen froze, having only meant to keep her from leaving, not expecting such a result. Now, with her sitting on his lap, he felt his face and ears burning, unsure what to do. Rigidly, he managed in a soft tone, “I was just surprised, that’s all. Don’t be upset! It’s late—where do you think you’re going?”

“Where else would I go? To the main room, to sleep in my own bed, of course,” Jing Qingxin replied with a straight face, though a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.

Gao Shen paused, realizing he’d misunderstood. He’d thought she was leaving for good, and the mere idea filled his heart with a bitter ache, as if his chest were blocked, making it hard to breathe.

The hand that held Jing Qingxin immediately slid around her waist, and he gazed at her with utmost seriousness, tenderness welling in his eyes, his voice tinged with sorrow and gentle earnestness. “Don’t go! Qingxin, stay by my side, will you?”

The words sent a tremor through Jing Qingxin’s heart. She could feel the chill of his loneliness, as if he were a solitary unicorn, cut off from all the world.

She hadn’t meant to tease him so deeply—she had only wanted a bit of fun. She knew he liked her, but never imagined his feelings ran so deep or that he was so afraid of losing her.

Shifting slightly, she wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her chin lightly on his broad shoulder and whispered softly, “I’m not going anywhere. I won’t leave. I’ll stay right here with you.”

Gao Shen’s body trembled, and he hugged her all the tighter. In that moment, he felt as though he possessed the entire world.

For a long time, Jing Qingxin thought they might embrace like this until dawn, when suddenly a low, magnetic voice sounded in her ear, sending a flutter of joy through every part of her being.

“Jing Qingxin... Qingxin... I have long since given you my heart.”

By the time he finished, Gao Shen’s ears were burning scarlet, but the curve of his lips betrayed his elation.

Almost at once, a clear, bell-like laugh sounded by his ear, like a babbling brook—warm, sweet, and flowing straight into his heart.

Gradually, Gao Shen became aware of subtle changes in his body, his eyes growing darker. He knew he could not keep holding her like this; even he could no longer trust his self-control.

He gently released Jing Qingxin and said softly, “It’s getting late. We should rest.”

“Alright,” Jing Qingxin replied with a bright smile, nimbly turning and climbing toward the inside of his bed.

“You—” Gao Shen was at a loss for words.

Jing Qingxin blinked playfully, her lips curving in a gentle smile. “Didn’t I just say I’d stay by your side? I’m just keeping my promise.”

“But you...” Before, sharing a bed had been a necessity, but now, without giving her a proper status, it would harm her reputation, and he couldn’t bear for her to suffer any slander or injustice.

“Oh, you’re being so fussy! There’s only the two of us here—who would know? Or... do you not want me to stay with you?” Jing Qingxin put on a stern face, feigning displeasure.

Seeing this, Gao Shen said no more. In truth, he longed to be by her side every moment. The day and night of waiting had been agony, and he did not want to endure that worry and fear again.

He lay down calmly on the outer side of the wooden bed. In this life, he had made his choice—his partner could only be Jing Qingxin.

Whatever the future might hold, for the two of them, what mattered most was cherishing the present.

Jing Qingxin saw him settle in as she wished, and her lips curled with happiness. She snuggled up beside him. In truth, she was afraid as well; after what had happened, she had no idea what the future might bring.

Feeling her reliance, Gao Shen no longer cared for reputation. All he wanted was to treasure every moment with her.

He smiled faintly, his strong right arm drawing her close to his chest. At once, he felt her arms tighten around his waist, and his smile deepened.

Gao Shen: With her here, everything is perfect.

Jing Qingxin: Like this, all is well.

—End of Chapter—

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