Chapter 46 Extra 6

Xie Zhuo was determined to play dead. What could he possibly say? Answering would be admitting defeat.

He faced the wall with his eyes closed, intending to drive the person back with indifference.

Unexpectedly, this highly skilled military general, who should have had countless ways to make someone leave, was left with only such a pathetic escape in front of Ling Wei.

Just then, a soft rustling sound came from beside him, and the bed slightly sank – someone had gotten onto the couch.

Before Xie Zhuo could react, a warm and soft body gently pressed against his uninjured back, and he could even clearly feel the warmth of those legs on his side.

Xie Zhuo felt his blood rushing through his veins, and his voice trembled: "What are you doing?!"

Now it's Ling Wei's turn to ignore everyone.

After Ling Wei sat down, her fingertips lightly brushed the edge of his bandages, and she felt the back muscles beneath her instantly tighten.

The body below trembled slightly, and Ling Wei withdrew her hand: "Who told you not to answer my question?"

"Get down!" he barked in a low voice, utterly lacking any real threat.

"No, unless you answer me." Ling Wei crossed her arms, and they remained locked in a stalemate.

With a simple flip, she was thrown off. How easy was that, General Xie?

But this man seemed to have his vital point gripped by her, unable to move, and could only futilely retort with words: "Ha... I never knew that Lord Ling had become so... shameless."

Ling Wei remained unmoved. "Say what you will, I'm not going down."

"..."

Xie Zhuo closed his eyes briefly. "The injuries aren't serious."

"uh-huh."

"...Aren't you going down yet?!"

"You still have two questions for me to answer." Ling Wei leaned forward, placed her hand on his uninjured shoulder, and tapped lightly with her fingertips.

Xie Zhuo felt a tingling sensation on his skin, making it almost impossible to think. His whole body screamed with desire, wanting to pull the person he hadn't been close to for the past two years into his arms.

It takes immense willpower to keep yourself from breathing out loud.

On the other hand, the other side remained completely at ease.

He suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness, pressed his forehead against the pillow, and muttered, "Why come to the border... Can't the shrewd and calculating Lord Ling guess why?"

"Um?"

"Do you insist on hearing it from my own mouth before you'll be satisfied?"

His voice carried a sense of despair, like a trapped beast finally cornered at the edge of a cliff.

"Because... I simply can't let you go."

The thought that I will never see you again for the rest of my life fills me with anxiety.

What I fear most is that before I can even sort out these tangled thoughts, I will hear the devastating news that you have met with misfortune!

So here I am...

Are you satisfied with this answer, Lord Ling?

Every word and phrase reveals the truth.

Ling Wei was stunned, not expecting to get the truth out of him so easily.

But the person beneath him seemed to have opened a floodgate, unable to stop, their tone growing increasingly intense, tinged with self-mockery and sarcasm:

"The matter of the princess was nothing more than a transaction. She told me that she aspired to serve in the imperial court and wanted to take the exam to become a female official, but her family was doing everything they could to stop her. So she asked me to put on an act, pretending to be in love with me, and delaying the marriage."

The last time we went on a trip together was only because her family became suspicious, and we needed to put on another show for others.

"What else would you like to hear, Lord Ling? Why not ask all at once?"

Although it was a confession, it was more like a venting; his emotions were clearly out of control, and every word he uttered conveyed a sense of self-abandonment.

"Yes, I admit defeat."

I, Xie Zhuo, have never been able to let you go, and now I'm even more self-deprecating, chasing you all the way to this desolate border region.

May I ask what Lord Ling thinks at this moment?

Do you think I'm laughable, or pathetic?

After all, some people are like that...they travel thousands of miles just to be your dog!

His words became increasingly extreme, as if only in this way could he cover up the pain that was overwhelming him.

"Lord Ling need not feel troubled. In any case, the Xie family line depends solely on me, and I will never abandon my family to marry into the Xie family."

As for Lord Ling... isn't there already a rumor about him marrying into the family? When he gets here, he can take in one husband and three servants, which will surely make him a romantic and carefree man.

Why bother with my petty squabbles and persistent pestering…

Before anyone knew it, Ling Wei had silently gotten up and stood at the head of the bed.

Xie Zhuo buried her face deeply in the pillow, as if only by using this brief moment of suffocation could she resist the dull, tearing pain in her heart.

"...Now that you know, please leave."

For a moment, only the faint sound of wind and rain outside the window remained in the room, and silence flowed slowly.

a long time--

"I will not get married."

Ling Wei suddenly spoke, her voice calm, "With no one."

Xie Zhuo suppressed the surging bitterness and gave a self-deprecating smile.

He looked up at the figure by the bedside: "If that's the case, what are you still doing here, Lord Ling? You—"

"What are you doing?!" He almost staggered as he flipped himself up and grabbed her wrist tightly.

No wonder he looked terrified. Ling Wei, with her long black hair cascading down her back, had several scratches on her smooth skin below her collarbone and close to her heart, from which blood was clearly seeping and winding downwards.

She held a jade hairpin tightly in her hand.

He recognized it at a glance; it was the one he had given her many years ago.

Xie Zhuo hurriedly snatched the hairpin, only to see the other person looking at him with a puzzled expression, as if they were oblivious to the pain.

"What exactly do you want..." His voice trembled as he hurriedly got out of bed to find wound medicine.

A warm hand gently stopped him, cupped his face, and forced him to look at her.

Ling Wei's black hair cascaded down her back, her eyes clear and gentle. She spoke slowly, "I know you have deep feelings for me, and this love... is something I owe you, something I can never repay."

She gently pressed her forehead against his, their breaths mingling, each word clear:

"How could I remain unmoved by your loving heart?"

"Now I use my body as paper and my blood as ink to engrave your name in the place closest to my heart."

"From now on, you no longer need to worry that I will find another good person."

"I will repay your debt of love with the marriage I have for the rest of my life."

Her voice grew softer, almost a murmur, carrying with it solemnity and pity.

"Is this alright?"

Xie Zhuo stared at her blankly, as if frozen in place.

Ling Wei slowly withdrew her hand, intending to take the hairpin from his hand, but was suddenly pulled and spun around before being forcefully pressed down onto the bed.

A passionate, almost predatory kiss followed, silencing all her words.

Ling Wei was taken aback by this sudden intrusion and subconsciously pushed him away slightly.

But she felt warm liquid, one drop, two drops... falling onto her cheek.

"You...you really are..."

The man stepped back slightly, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice hoarse, as if he couldn't find the words to describe even a fraction of his emotions at that moment.

He could only grit his teeth and try to harass her in other ways.

...

In the middle of the night, Ling Wei slowly woke up from her drowsy state. The candlelight flickered, casting a warm, hazy yellow glow throughout the room.

She felt a slight chill on her chest. It turned out that the figure was sitting silently by the bed, using the dim light to apply ointment to her broken wounds with his fingertips.

His movements were extremely light and slow, as if he were handling a rare treasure, afraid of hurting her in the slightest.

Immediately afterwards, a soft, feather-like kiss landed on the wound, which still carried the scent of medicine.

...

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Mini-Theater 1:

Ling Wei: I will not get married, not with anyone.

Xie Zhuo (moved to the point of jumping): She did it all for me!! She loves me so much!

After Gu Qingyan sat down at the table.

Xie Zhuo: ...No, that's not right.

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Mini-Theater 2:

The system's response upon your return: You actually got a tattoo for a man?!

Ling Wei (shrugs): It's just a superficial wound. It would have healed by now if we had waited any longer.

To coax that stubborn person back, look how effective this is!

Women don't need to get drunk; they can act until you cry.

System: ...Respect!!!