Cheng Muyun held Xu Zhuohua in his arms, his arms so tight that it was as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

His movements carried an almost pilgrimage-like devotion. His chin rested on the top of her head, and the faint fragrance of her hair lingered around his nose, a scent that strangely calmed his chaotic mind.

He knew this feeling all too well; it was a deep concern etched into his heartbeat, a longing that seeped into his very breath.

The slight furrowing of Xu Zhuohua's brows and the hint of loneliness in the corner of her eyes felt like needles pricking his heart.

He couldn't bear to see her even slightly sad, not even for a fleeting moment; it was enough to make him restless.

If it could bring a smile to her face, he thought, he would not hesitate to offer her the precious treasures others might regard, or even the vast world and the boundless land.

Only now did Cheng Muyun suddenly understand King You of Zhou, who was ridiculed and scorned by the world a thousand years ago.

So what if I played the feudal lords with beacon fires? So what if I spent a fortune to make them smile? As long as I can bring a smile to the face of the person in my arms, what do those so-called rules, reason, and the opinions of others matter?

He even felt that he was worse than King You of Zhou. For Xu Zhuohua's happiness, he was capable of doing anything, not to mention outrageous things.

"Zhuohua, shall we make a contract?" His voice rang out in the quiet air, carrying a hint of barely perceptible probing.

Xu Zhuohua had been lying relaxed on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, as if she were nestled in the most secure harbor.

But the moment she heard those words, her body stiffened abruptly, as if she had been frozen in place.

She understood all too well what he wanted to say; the topics she dared not touch upon would eventually have to be brought to the forefront.

She instinctively snuggled deeper into his arms, burying her face in the warmth of his neck, her arms around his back tightening suddenly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

She said nothing, only resisting with silence.

Cheng Muyun sensed her resistance, sighed helplessly, raised his hand and gently stroked her back. The warmth of his palm seeped through the thin fabric, carrying a soothing meaning.

"Sweetie, can you let me finish?" His voice softened, like a spring breeze rippling across a lake.

Xu Zhuohua hugged him even tighter, gently shaking her head in his arms. Her dark hair brushed against his neck, bringing a slightly itchy sensation that made him feel a dense, tingling pain in his heart.

The night outside the window grew darker and darker, like spilled ink spreading silently, gradually swallowing up the light in the room, leaving only the sound of their intertwined breaths, which were exceptionally clear in the silence.

Cheng Muyun gently grasped Xu Zhuohua's shoulders, using a little force to pull her out of his embrace. His gaze was firm, not allowing her to escape any further. "Zhuohua, look at me."

Xu Zhuohua was forced to look up, her eyes meeting his deep gaze.

What it held was an unwavering affection, like a night sky filled with countless stars, gentle yet dazzling. She had to admit that she loved Cheng Muyun's eyes to the core, hopelessly so.

“Zhuohua,” he gazed into her eyes and said, word by word, “I feel it’s very important for me to make things clear to you.”

Because of what Xu Zhuohua said to Chen Hede, Cheng Muyun felt a sense of crisis. He was afraid that if he failed and was killed, Xu Zhuohua would be foolish enough to commit suicide for love.

The idea of ​​dying for love is a legend, and almost no one follows it.

But Cheng Muyun had heard those legends before, the resolute farewell of the King of Chu and his concubine, the death of Jiao Zhongqing and Liu Lanzhi. But legends are just legends. In reality, he dared not take any chances.

He knew Xu Zhuohua too well. She seemed gentle, but deep down she had a stubbornness that would destroy everything.

He knew perfectly well that, given her temperament, she might not actually go that far, but as long as that one in ten thousand chance pierced his heart like a thorn, he couldn't rest easy every night—he couldn't afford to gamble, much less lose.

Xu Zhuohua pursed her lips, her slight grievance hanging softly on her face like downy feathers dampened by rain.

She looked up at him, her beautiful eyes, once brimming with starlight, now veiled by an impenetrable mist. Sadness, like water seeping through a crack, trickled silently from the corners of her eyes, impossible to hide. "Cheng Muyun," her voice trembled slightly, "we won't go that far."

Cheng Muyun slowly shook his head, his fingertips unconsciously stroking her hair, his tone carrying an undeniable seriousness: "Zhuohua, life is unpredictable. Whether the future holds smooth sailing or dead ends, we must prepare a backup plan in advance, mustn't we?"

Xu Zhuohua frowned, her stubbornness slowly crumbling under his calm gaze. She seemed to have exhausted all her strength, and sighed softly, her voice as low as dust falling to the ground: "Fine, go ahead and say it."

Cheng Muyun took a deep breath, feeling a tightness and pain in his chest, as if something was blocking it.

He knew how cruel the next words would be; every word would be like ice, piercing both of them until they bled. But he had to say them.

The most painful thing in this world is not direct harm, but knowing that the ending may be tragic, yet still having to tear the truth out in front of her with your own hands.

“Zhuohua,” his voice was a little tight, “If what I’m about to do succeeds, we might be able to escape and find a place where no one knows us to live a peaceful life; but if we fail…” He paused, looking at her with a deep gaze, “we have to be prepared for the worst.”

Almost the instant his words fell to the ground, Xu Zhuohua's tears welled up without warning.

It wasn't a loud wail, but rather large drops of tears fell, landing on her clothes and leaving a small, dark stain.

Just hearing the word "failure" felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart, causing her so much pain that she could hardly breathe, and even her fingertips were trembling slightly.

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