The three siblings couldn't bear to watch any longer, so they said goodbye and left before Cheng Huaijin had finished eating.

Only Cheng Huaijin and Gu Yingxue remained inside the room, and the servant, being very considerate, went outside to wait at the door.

"Xue'er, I've finished eating. You should go and rest too," Cheng Huaijin said softly, watching Gu Yingxue carefully wipe her mouth.

"Yes, I'll watch you sleep, and once you're asleep I'll..." Gu Yingxue finally couldn't hold back anymore, and tears streamed down her face.

They were falling down in big, fluffy pieces, like they were free.

"Why are you crying? Don't cry." Cheng Huaijin raised his hand and wiped away Gu Yingxue's tears.

His fingertips were somewhat rough.

Although the apprentice had washed him before applying the medicine, Cheng Huaijin was a martial artist, and had lived in the West for so many years, so how could his hands be delicate?

"I won't cry, Brother Jin, don't move. Just lie still." Gu Yingxue grabbed Cheng Huaijin's hand, then wiped away her tears. "I don't know why I'm crying, I just want to cry. Seeing Brother Jin like this makes me feel so bad. I was just thinking, if I were the one who got injured in the competition, then Brother Jin wouldn't have to be in so much pain. Anyway, I'm fine all the time, and I can rest for a while and it won't be a big deal."

"You silly girl!" Cheng Huaijin was somewhat shaken.

No one ever told him, "I want to take away your suffering, and I feel so sorry for you."

Never.

He almost cried.

"Yes, I'm a silly girl. Silly me. When I see Brother Jin frown, I start overthinking; when I see him smile, I laugh along like an idiot. I don't know why I'm so silly, so easily swayed by others' emotions." Gu Yingxue's tears only multiplied as she wiped them away.

“I used to think that people who thought like that were the stupidest. Why let another person affect their emotions when they could be perfectly fine on their own? I didn’t understand before, but I do now. I used to secretly criticize others, but I won’t anymore,” Gu Yingxue continued.

The word "love" is truly complex.

She really doesn't want to understand.

"From now on, let's be happy together, and let's not frown or shed tears, okay?" Cheng Huaijin suddenly grasped Gu Yingxue's hand and said earnestly.

Gu Yingxue was stunned, then looked at Cheng Huaijin in disbelief.

"I'm serious. I've made up my mind. We'll be happy together from now on, and I won't hesitate anymore. The thought of you not being by my side one day, of turning around and not seeing you anymore, makes my heart ache. So, the best way is to keep you by my side. That way, you'll be happy, and I'll be happy too. So, Xue'er, are you willing? Are you willing to be by my side, willing to be happy with me?" Cheng Huaijin looked at Gu Yingxue with eyes full of sincerity. At this moment, he only had eyes for Gu Yingxue, nothing else.

"I..." Gu Yingxue wanted to say I was willing, but her tears just wouldn't stop. The tears that had just stopped started falling again in big drops, and she felt like something was blocking her throat, so she couldn't say anything.

Cheng Huaijin was completely dumbfounded.

He hadn't had much contact with girls; he'd mostly been around his younger sister and the Gu sisters.

The Gu sisters don't cry much; he's hardly ever seen them cry.

His sister did cry, but her crying wasn't like Gu Yingxue's. His sister just shed tears, and after a while, she would be fine after he comforted her.