Ling Xi gazed at her quietly, his lips unconsciously curling into a smile, only to be pushed away by her mercilessly the next moment.
"...You're blocking my view," Ye Ziling pushed the side of his waist with her hand, raising her eyebrows slightly, a smile of innocence blooming on her face.
The jade pendant and sachet hanging at his waist were tangled together by her, making a pleasant sound in the night.
"Let me watch a bit longer," she tilted her head, then chuckled softly, as if seeking his permission.
Ling Xi paused, then stood up, smiling gently, with a hint of flirtation and teasing.
Ye Ziling sat on the table, her gaze still directed outside the window, propping her chin as she continued to observe the scene.
Fleeting lights reflected in her glassy eyes, those beautiful eyes now sparkling, as if filled with crushed stars.
Ling Xi stood by her side, watching her intently, his smile growing more vibrant.
She was watching fireworks, and he was watching her.
Ye Ziling came back to her senses and gave him a sweet smile. Just as she was about to pull him closer, she noticed a corner of a letter peeking out from his waist.
Her interest was immediately piqued. Before he could notice, she reached out and gently tugged it, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
After examining it for a moment, she opened the letter.
An arm intruded into her vision, quickly snatching the letter from her hand. He took a few steps back, holding it high above his head.
He laughed heartily, his pupils rippling with light, and smirked provocatively at her, "What? Haven't had enough of the Spring Beauty Scroll?"
Ye Ziling's eyes flickered a few times, her swinging legs gradually stopping. She smiled, her gaze fixed on him.
Did he think she was a fool? The moment her fingertips touched it, several dense lines of text had materialized, no painting in sight.
"Is it a love letter from some charming little fairy? That's why you won't let me see it?"
Ye Ziling's eyebrows shot up, her gaze fixed on his cocky expression, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes.
Ling Xi leaned against the window, folding the letter and placing it in the pouch at his waist. He suddenly leaned closer to her, placing his hands on the table, bending down, and gently caressed her eyebrows with his finger, chuckling softly, "Unhappy?"
"As punishment, how about I write you a hundred?"
When love was unrequited, he had once written thousands of strips of red silk and hung them on the immortal tree in her courtyard, every word penned by his own hand. What were a hundred love letters?
Ye Ziling only meant to tease him, but seeing how nervous he was, she couldn't help but laugh a couple of times, "What can I do if people give them to you?"
The moonlight shone on Ling Xi's face, his pupils reflecting faint glints of light, the curve of his lips widening.
If she were so generous, she wouldn't be Ye Ziling.
As expected, after a moment, that cold and beautiful face suddenly leaned towards him. Her fingertips gently traced his chest, and she said to him with a smile, "If you receive another one next time, I'll chop off both your hands."
He took her hands as if to catch her, nodded slightly, and replied nonchalantly, "As long as you're willing, I'll let you."
"Then you'll have to serve me for a lifetime."
"No, for several lifetimes."
As he spoke, he had already captured her restless hands and pressed them against his chest.
"Didn't I let you stab me last time you did?" He met her gaze with an innocent expression, only releasing his grip when he saw the smile in her eyes gradually being replaced by an inexplicable emotion.
Ye Ziling suddenly froze, her eyelids fluttering, her long lashes obscuring the panic in her eyes.
She stared at his chest, feeling a pang of inexplicable tenderness.
Although that sword blow wasn't fatal, it must have hurt terribly.
The mist in her eyes gradually spread. He raised his hand and pushed aside his clothes, stopping only when he saw the old scar on his chest.
Indeed, there was a deep scar on his chest, but its width was slightly greater than her long sword, clearly indicating that after she had stabbed him, another sword had been thrust along the wound.
She suddenly remembered the Qingluan Sword she had personally forged for Qingbai. The width of the sword was about the length of her little finger, which fit perfectly.
Ye Ziling stroked the scar, a surge of inexplicable heartache washing over her.
She leaned closer to his chest, closed her eyes, and kissed the scar repeatedly.
Her curled eyelashes trembled from time to time, gently brushing against his chest, stirring his heartstrings.
Ling Xi was startled by her actions, his body stiffening as if electric currents were coursing through him.
Ye Ziling suddenly sat up, frowning, and tidied his clothes. She asked softly, "...Does it hurt?"
The power of the Qingluan Sword was several times stronger than her silver sword. This blow would have definitely pierced his back. She wondered how much pain he must have felt then.
Seeing her suddenly become melancholic, Ling Xi let out an untimely chuckle, then broke into laughter, "What? You dare to worry about me so openly now?"
He leaned close to her, pulling her down onto the table again. Unexpectedly, she felt a familiar warmth in her ear.
The next second, she felt a strangely familiar touch moving around her earlobe, and her body stiffened, not daring to move.
Just as she thought Ling Xi was about to do something bold, she heard a heartbeat from the person covering her.
Ah— this.
He was usually quite bold, but was he a pure boy who hadn't experienced much of romantic affairs?
She was caught between laughter and tears. At the most ambiguous moment, she broke the atmosphere. She wrapped her hands around his neck, pressed her cheek against his chest, and feigned ignorance, looking at him innocently and asking, "What sound is that... beating so loudly?"
The man stopped his actions, gazing at her defiant eyes, a spark seeming to flash within them.
Ling Xi pursed his lips, staring at her in exasperation, raising his eyebrows, "You saw through it but won't say it, you just like to play games, don't you?"
His angry eyes suddenly sharpened. He scooped her into his arms, lifted her by the waist, pushed aside the curtain, and walked towards the bed.
Moonlight streamed into the room through the window, illuminating their entwined figures, painting an enchanting picture.
The morning breeze blew, the window half-open, and branches full of pear blossoms extended into the room, scattering petals all over the table.
Ye Ziling rolled over and instinctively reached out to embrace someone, only to find the space beside her empty.
"Ling Xi... what's for breakfast?"
She groped around, unaccustomed to the emptiness, her hands searching all the way to the edge of the bed before she abruptly opened her sleepy eyes.
As expected, no one was beside her.
The previously disheveled floor had been tidied up, and clean clothes were folded by the table. She glanced at herself and realized she was wearing a thin garment, though she didn't know when it had been put on.
She was usually accustomed to sleeping alone, finding it uncomfortable when others slept beside her. Now, looking at the empty space, she felt an inexplicable chill.
She scanned her surroundings, the light in her eyes gradually dimming, a vague sense of loss creeping in.
As the wind blew, fallen flowers danced wildly in the room, the gauze curtains rustling, and her heart felt equally restless.
Strange, she had never felt this way before.
After finishing her wash, Ye Ziling walked out the door, intending to look for Ling Xi, but bumped into Mu Heng instead.
"Mu Heng, have you seen Ling Xi?" she asked urgently, afraid of missing his whereabouts.
"He finished breakfast half an hour ago and left with a team of subordinates to handle some business."
"Oh, right." Mu Heng suddenly seemed to remember something, his gaze shifting to the kitchen, and he said in a muffled voice, "Your breakfast is still being kept warm. Eat it quickly, or it will get cold."
"I won't eat for now." Ye Ziling had no appetite. She felt Ling Xi was acting strangely.
Last night, when she unfastened his belt, she saw that letter again. The moment her fingertips touched it, the words had flashed out. Just as she was about to read them, he snatched it back.
This time, his return from guarding Mount Nanyang was so fast, and his first action wasn't to claim credit from the Heavenly Emperor, but to rush to see her. She was sure he was hiding something from her.