Just when Song Ning thought he was about to let go, the man pressed her head onto his shoulder and buried his face in the side of her neck.

Just as Song Ning was about to struggle, a voice rang in her ears: "Don't move."

His face was flushed red; if Song Ning saw it, she would probably laugh at him.

"Xie Linzhou, don't push your luck."

"I......"

Noticing the hand around her waist loosen, Song Ning quickly scrambled off him and kicked him, saying, "Xie Linzhou, have you no shame?"

She's still a virgin; this world isn't a place where you can just hug someone whenever you want.

"I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to."

Xie Linzhou's voice was filled with grievance and helplessness, which made Song Ning even angrier.

"What are you complaining about? I haven't complained at all."

"I...I really didn't mean it, I didn't mean to harass you." He thought he was dreaming...

"If it weren't for the fact that you were injured, I would have smashed a big rock down on you already."

He dared to take advantage of her, and he regretted ever having that thought.

Xie Linzhou lowered his head, as if he knew he was wrong, but actually the corners of his mouth were almost turned up to the sky.

Thinking I was dreaming, I didn't think about anything and just hugged him.

Although he felt it was inappropriate afterward, he had put his arm around Song Ning's waist and touched her face, things that only married couples would do.

Thinking about this, her ears turned almost blood red.

He looked at his hands; they had just been resting on Song Ning's slender waist, so delicate that he couldn't bear to let go.

Seeing that she quickly admitted her mistake, Song Ning didn't press the matter further and instead asked, "How did you end up here?"

Xie Linzhou smiled and said, "I heard you fell down, so I came down to find you."

You came to see me?

The girl on the other end nodded obediently: "I ran into Mu Xueyun at the foot of the mountain. She said you fell down, so I came looking for you right away."

Song Ning turned to look at the cliff not far away and asked, "Is that where you came down?"

"yes."

Song Ning frowned and stared at him for a long time before finally concluding, "Xie Linzhou, are you out of your mind?"

That place has a steep slope above and a cliff below. If you fall down there, you'll be crippled even if you don't die.

Last time in Yuanzhou, he shielded her from stones, and now he's risking his life to come down and look for her again late at night. Isn't that just being a bit dim-witted?

We should at least wait until daytime.

Xie Linzhou didn't care about any of that. The thought of wolves in the mountains at night, and the inability to see anything below, meant that even if he didn't die from falling, he would be eaten by wolves.

"I was just worried about you." His voice was low and husky, and his words were as gentle as a refreshing spring rain.

Song Ning was stunned for a moment, then couldn't bring herself to curse anymore and sat down next to him.

"You really like me that much?"

She had never loved anyone in her past life and always thought she would die alone. Although she came here thinking about getting married, she never thought about finding someone she liked.

As long as it's suitable, that's fine.

Even if two people don't have feelings for each other, they should at least have common topics and common goals.

She had also thought that if the other person found someone else they liked in the future, as long as they didn't lie to her, she would let them go.

Men are all the same, aren't they?

All she wanted was a child, to take her surname, so that she could be filial to her parents and let them experience the warmth of having their children and grandchildren around them.

But Xie Linzhou... was indeed beyond her expectations.

This high and mighty person risked danger for her time and time again. I don't know if he truly liked her or if what he couldn't have was always the best.

"Song Ning, you should understand my feelings." Xie Linzhou's eyes were full of seriousness, and Song Ning couldn't help but become serious as well.

She had never looked at Xie Linzhou so intently before, and something in her heart suddenly felt relieved.

"Xie Linzhou, have you ever considered what if I never liked you?"

"It's okay, as long as you don't like other people."

......

They seem to have a good mindset.

"...Actually...it's not impossible."

"What?"

"I'm saying, it's not impossible for you and me."

All you need to do is have a child with her and have the child take her surname.

Xie Linzhou didn't react for a moment, and then he heard his heart pounding in his chest.

ah?

"You... you agreed?"

"Um."

Song Ning isn't the type to be coy; once she's thought things through, she won't get caught up in anything.

"Really?" Xie Linzhou still found it hard to believe.

"Really, I always keep my word. You want to like me, right? I don't have anyone I like either, so it's fine."

Xie Linzhou was a little at a loss, thinking that Song Ning would definitely have to test him first.

He felt it was unreal that he agreed so readily.

"Since you've agreed, you can't go back on your word."

"I don't regret it, but..."

There's something I'd like to ask you.

"you say."

"Would you be willing to have children with me... and have them take my surname?"

This matter needs to be made clear beforehand, otherwise it will be troublesome if Xie Linzhou is unwilling.

Unfortunately, Xie Linzhou blushed when he heard the first half of her sentence and stood up abruptly, completely ignoring the second half.

Xie Linzhou is now unable to listen to anything else; all he can think about is Song Ning wanting to have a child with him.

But Song Ning is still young. Isn't it too early to talk about this issue so soon?

Although he also wanted to have a child with her, he wasn't prepared for anything yet, so wasn't it a bit too hasty to say that they should have a child?

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!