Chapter 37 I'm unhappy that I fed you Mingjian.

As dusk filtered through the carved window lattice, dappled light and shadow fell upon the bed in the side room.

Inside the sheer curtains, two figures sat facing each other, their shadows, lengthened by the setting sun, overlapping on the brocade quilt.

"Hmm," Xiao Bumian tilted his head, his smile strangely gentle, and asked slowly, "So you mean you're getting married?"

Mingjian: "..."

"It's not a wedding, it's a fake wedding." He felt a chill run down his spine from that smile and hurriedly explained, "Princess Yunyue's original wedding date was next month, but the secret realm's formation can't wait that long..."

Xiao Bumian didn't quite understand, her fingertips gently twirling a strand of Mingjian's hair. "But why you? Couldn't it be Gu Zhi or Song Heyu?"

He doesn't understand.

Just mentioning this makes me angry.

He recalled what Gu Zhi had said that morning and reluctantly repeated it to Xiao Bumian: "Gu Zhi said that because my cultivation level is the lowest, I am the most suitable to be the bait. They will make their move after I lure out the Wedding Dress Demon."

"is that so?"

Xiao Bumian smiled.

“Yes, yes,” Mingjian pouted, explaining in a rambling manner, “What they said makes a lot of sense. Compared to them, my cultivation is indeed inferior. We were originally thinking of asking Princess Yunyue to move the wedding date forward, but when we asked, we found out that the prince consort is not in the city recently.”

Xiao Bumian nodded slightly, a gentle smile in his eyes, "So you agreed to marry her."

“A fake marriage,” Mingjian emphasized.

"Alright, since you've already agreed, then go ahead." After a long while, Xiao Bumian suddenly relented, his tone unusually light.

Mingjian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and carefully observed Xiao Bumian's expression.

Her eyes and brows were smiling, and even the curve of her lips was just right, showing no sign of anything amiss.

I should be fine.

If Xiao Bumian had shown even the slightest displeasure, he might have reconsidered. But since the yandere looked perfectly normal at the moment, she should be fine.

The main problem is that this person's temperament is unpredictable; if he gets angry again, it's very difficult to appease him.

Seeing that Mingjian was relieved, he tentatively asked again, "You're not angry, are you?"

Xiao Bumian tilted his head slightly, looking puzzled. "Why would I be angry?" His voice was as soft as willow catkins brushing against the water.

Of course, I'm afraid you'll get jealous and go crazy.

Mingjian muttered to himself, but smiled and said, "It's good that you're not angry."

It seems this madman can still distinguish between important and trivial matters.

"Will anything change between us?" Xiao Bumian asked with a light laugh.

Mingjian thought for a moment, "Probably not."

Xiao Bumian was very considerate, "That's fine then."

—

In the days that followed, the entire princess's residence was bathed in a festive red glow.

The pillars throughout the mansion were draped with auspicious silk, and red lanterns under the eaves swayed gently in the wind, casting shimmering shadows on the ground. Mermaids and maids carried brocade boxes adorned with luminous pearls as they moved through the corridors, preparing for the upcoming wedding.

Princess Yunyue was very easy to talk to. When she learned that their purpose was to lure out the Wedding Dress Demon, she agreed to the task without hesitation.

The people of the city, unaware of the true situation, assumed that Princess Yunyue's wedding date had been moved up, and spontaneously hung red lanterns in front of their homes. As night fell, thousands of lights poured down like a galaxy, illuminating the entire city as if it were daytime.

Xiao Bumian, dressed in a light blue long robe, strolled alone down the street. He casually entered a teahouse and sat down at a window seat.

The waiter poured him tea with great enthusiasm, saying, "Sir, you are very fortunate. To celebrate Princess Yunyue's wedding, all teahouses in the city with the seal of the Mermaid King will offer free tea and a 30% discount on all other dishes. We only hope that our Princess and her husband can live in harmony."

Xiao Bumian lowered his long eyelashes slightly, smiled gently, and a strange, inexplicable light appeared in his eyes, "...A harmonious union?"

But Mingjian told him it was fake, a fake marriage, so how did they become a match made in heaven?

"Huh?" The waiter didn't hear clearly. "What did you just say, sir?"

Xiao Bumian responded indifferently, "No."

After drinking a cup of tea, Xiao Bumian originally wanted to hear the storytellers say things like, as before, that it was an ominous sign that marriage was not advisable.

It would be even better if others joined in the commotion.

No, the teahouse was filled with joy, everyone praising Prince Yunyue's benevolence and wishing the marriage a long and happy life together. The storyteller spoke animatedly about how handsome the prince consort was, and how he and the prince were a match made in heaven.

Xiao Bumian felt a tightness in his chest again, and the teacup in his hand cracked open with a "crack".

The warm tea dripped through his fingers, but he seemed oblivious, staring only at the row of glaringly red lanterns outside the window.

That's strange.

Xiao Bumian patted his chest.

Why should he be upset about getting married?

Mingjian was still his cat, nothing had changed.

He rose from his seat, a gentle, jade-like smile still playing on his lips. The ribbon binding his hair fluttered lightly in the wind, making him appear as if he were an immortal.

On the way back home, the streets and alleys were filled with blessings for the wedding.

He frowned slightly, but his expression softened involuntarily when he saw the roadside stall selling candied hawthorns. He recalled how Mingjian's cheeks were bulging from eating them last time, and how even his kisses were filled with the sweet scent of sugar frosting. Just thinking about it made him feel a surge of joy, so he went up and bought two skewers.

But when it came time to pay the pearl, the old woman selling candied hawthorns refused, saying, "Young man, in five days it will be the wedding day of Princess Yunyue and her husband. I cannot accept this money. Consider it a prayer for the princess's well-being."

Several children nearby jumped around, holding candied hawthorns, and shouted in their childish voices, "Wishing Your Highness and the Prince Consort a long and happy marriage!"

The smile on Xiao Bumian's lips gradually faded.

He insisted on placing the pearl in the old woman's palm, his voice so soft it sounded like a sigh, "No, this time I'm going to keep it."

It's clear that she won't be with that prince for long, let alone live happily ever after.

It's not too late to offer our blessings when that prince gets married next time.

Holding two strings of crystal-clear candied hawthorns, Xiao Bumian turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Upon returning to the princess's residence, they encountered Mingjian as soon as they entered.

"Xie Hanwei?" Mingjian saw him, walked up and asked, "Where have you been again? I looked for you when I woke up this morning and couldn't find you."

“Hmm,” Xiao Bumian smiled, “just browsing around.”

Mingjian looked at him suspiciously, not believing that he was so well-behaved, and wondered to himself if he had gone out to look for something again.

However, he had other things to do and didn't take it to heart, nodding and saying, "Alright then."

In the distance along the corridor, Gu Zhi urged, "Mingjian! Shall we try on the wedding dress?"

"Coming right away!" Mingjian hurriedly replied, then turned to Xiao Bumian and said, "Then I'll head over first."

Before he finished speaking, he had already run several steps away.

Xiao Bumian stood quietly under the corridor, his eyes lowered, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the bamboo skewer of the candied hawthorn, and remained silent for a long time.

As night falls, the faint blue light from the seabed pours down like a thin veil, enveloping the entire city in tranquility.

Mingjian forced himself to stay awake and yawned.

I'm so sleepy.

As I turned the corner of the corridor with unsteady steps, I suddenly bumped into a figure, and a faint scent of agarwood wafted towards me.

"Feel sorry."

The voice was clear and cold, like shattered jade. Before he could even look up, the other person had already brushed past him.

Mingjian seemed to want to say something, but in the end he didn't and continued walking towards the side room.

After walking for a while, he suddenly remembered something and asked the system, "Was that Xie Linzhao just now?"

The system paused for a moment, then exclaimed: 【Yes, host】

Why didn't you remind me?

The system seemed a little guilty: [I forgot]

Mingjian: "..."

He took a deep breath as he watched Xie Linzhao's departing figure.

This lousy system always fails at crucial moments.

Mingjian was so angry that his teeth itched, but he continued to drag his tired body toward the side room.

He suddenly remembered something, frowned slightly, and looked at the newly scabbed wound on his arm. He couldn't help but recall what Shi Lian and Xue Ci had said when he last met them.

Didn't Shi Lian say that Xie Linzhao was seriously injured?

But just now, Xie Linzhao's steps were steady and his breathing was calm.

Has his injury healed?

Mingjian looked back again, but only caught a glimpse of a fluttering hem of clothing disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Inside the room, red candles flickered, casting a dim and intermittent light.

Mingjian pushed open the door and entered. The room was so quiet that one could hear the faint sound of a candle wick popping.

Mingjian had a vague sense of foreboding.

He walked around the screen and was startled by Xiao Bumian sitting in front of the bronze mirror.

"Xie Hanwei?" Mingjian called out tentatively, "You're still awake?"

Xiao Bumian turned to look at him, her eyebrows curving upwards, and she chuckled softly, "I've been waiting for you."

Mingjian: "..."

He wanted to say something to ease the tension, but he had a feeling that Xiao Bumian was angry.

My gaze fell on the string of candied hawthorns on the table. The glistening sugar coating had melted a little, leaving a small patch of sticky sugar stains on the porcelain plate.

"These candied hawthorns..." he asked casually, "when did you buy them?"

Xiao Bumian walked slowly closer, the candlelight casting flickering shadows in his eyes. Without saying a word, he suddenly leaned down and hugged him, burying his head in Mingjian's shoulder.

Ming noticed his body stiffen slightly, and he felt a slight itch on the side of his neck. "What's wrong?"

After a long silence, Xiao Bumian finally said in a low voice, "I bought it this afternoon."

Mingjian suddenly recalled the fleeting glimpse he had made in the corridor that afternoon, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily: "Was it bought back then?"

"Hmm." Xiao Bumian's lips brushed lightly against his neck, sending a slight shiver down his spine. "I bought it for you, but you left with Gu Zhi."

"I don't know why, but I'm not happy."

He didn't want to suffer alone; he wanted Mingjian to know what he was thinking.

Xiao Bumian's voice was soft and gentle, "Junior Brother, why is this?"

It was clear that his brain was thinking at lightning speed.

He's been too busy lately and has neglected Xiao Bumian's feelings.

He forced a smile and explained, "Maybe he's sick."

Xiao Bumian suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."

Mingjian breathed a sigh of relief.

That reaction should have been a way to get by, right?

Mingjian tried to change the subject, "Can we eat candied hawthorn now?"

“No, that’s not allowed,” Xiao Bumian said softly.

Mingjian: ? ? ?

Xiao Bumian smiled and said, "I'll feed you."

Mingjian remained silent.

But Xiao Bumian was unusually excited. He released Mingjian, turned around, and picked up the string of candied hawthorns. The melted syrup stretched into thin threads, gleaming with an ambiguous luster in the candlelight.

Mingjian looked at the candied hawthorn being offered to his lips: "Can I refuse?"

"Can't."

Mingjian: "..."

All right.

As Mingjian bit into the hawthorn, he suddenly pulled the bamboo skewer back, watching the other person's subconscious forward-leaning chasing motion, a satisfied chuckle escaped his throat.

Mingjian's tongue was numb from the sweetness, and the sugar coating stuck in his throat. Just as he was about to turn his head to find some tea, Xiao Bumian's fingertips touched his chin, gently turning his face back: "You haven't finished eating yet."

Mingjian had no choice but to resign himself to taking another bite.

Xiao Bumian couldn't help but laugh when she saw him chewing, her eyes and brows softening.

Mingjian felt something was off, but thankfully he finished eating in no time.

This bizarre and prolonged torture finally came to an end.

"Are you done eating? Can you go to sleep now?"

Xiao Bumian slowly raised his eyelids, nodded slightly with lingering interest, and said, "Okay."

At midnight, the sound of the night watchman's drum could be heard from afar.

Xiao Bumian stepped out of the bathhouse, the steaming water vapor swirling around him. On the bed, Mingjian was already curled up asleep in the brocade quilt, his eyelashes casting a small shadow in the candlelight.

He tiptoed onto the bed, his arms encircling her slender waist, pulling her completely into his embrace. His lips pressed against Mingjian's, kissing her without restraint.

"Hmm..." After a long while, Mingjian unconsciously hummed softly in his sleep.

Xiao Bumian reluctantly stepped back a little and murmured softly, "Don't come back so late tomorrow."

A warm palm was placed on Mingjian's dantian, and a wisp of spiritual energy was quietly transferred in. "Otherwise... I will kill you."

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Author's Note: A boyfriend who desperately needs a sense of security [Please!]