Chapter 359 Will You Love Me? Don't Say No

Zhao Mingyan, despite his vast knowledge of strategy, couldn't fathom what Ji Qingwu was thinking.

Just like now.

She couldn't remember.

The scene depicted in the painting is a teahouse in Ninghe Town, where she is kneeling and administering acupuncture to the elderly and children.

No wonder she reacted so strongly. Zhao Mingyan lifted her chin and asked, "Who do you think it is?"

Ji Qingwu stared blankly.

She understood each word individually, but when they were put together, she couldn't understand them.

Is the girl in this portrait her? How could it be her?

She frowned and thought for a long time before looking up at him and asking hesitantly.

"What if you've made a mistake?"

Zhao Mingyan flicked her forehead and said firmly, "Do you think I'm that kind of foolish person who would never admit my mistake?"

Hearing the certainty in his tone, Ji Qingwu rubbed her temples and tried hard to recall.

Finally, a trace of this matter was found in the dusty memories.

Ji Qingwu would subconsciously hide sad and painful memories.

That was not long after she transmigrated. After she came down the mountain, she headed towards the border of Liang Kingdom, passing through dozens of small towns and counties along the way.

She discovered that the closer one got to the border between the two countries, the harder life became for the people.

Ninghe Town is the closest to the northern border, and also the place most severely affected by natural disasters and man-made calamities. The ground is littered with refugees who couldn't walk to escape, and most of them are women, children, and the elderly.

Ji Qingwu didn't have time to pay attention to where he was, whether it was a teahouse or a theater.

She didn't have time to worry about what posture she used to save people.

All she remembers is that feeling: widespread desolation, and how insignificant and overconfident she felt in the face of loss of life.

At this moment, Ji Qingwu turned her head and looked intently at the painting spread on the table, her gaze falling on the woman's hair that was being blown about by the cold wind.

So this is what she looked like back then; someone recorded everything.

In the eyes, in the paintings, in the heart.

She met Zhao Mingyan's eyes: "You were there too."

He added softly, "Right behind you."

It was there that Zhao Mingyan saw the most dazzling pair of eyes, and the tears that fell from them were the purest treasures in the world.

What he found unforgettable was that she possessed a kind of goddess-like compassion for humanity.

Ji Qingwu never imagined that their first meeting would be like that.

She completely dispelled the idea that Zhao Mingyan was attracted to her because of her beauty.

Because at that time, she was far from beautiful, and there wasn't a clean spot on her body. Her face was dirty and had frostbite, and her hands were frozen into little pig trotters.

As Ji Qingwu pondered something, her eyes darted back and forth, making her incredibly handsome.

"What are you thinking about?"

Zhao Mingyan pecked at the corner of her lips, wanting to share her thoughts as well.

Ji Qingwu chuckled and said, "I was wondering if you thought to yourself at the time, 'This person is so pitiful. He worked so hard, but he couldn't save a single life.'"

His fingers twirled a strand of her hair: "You want to know what I'm thinking?"

Ji Qingwu nodded.

Zhao Mingyan suddenly lifted her legs, securing them to his waist, and easily lifted her up by her hips.

Suddenly changing positions, with only his palms and forearms as leverage, Ji Qingwu had to tense her body, squeeze his waist and legs tightly around his waist, and wrap her arms around his neck to avoid falling.

But he didn't leave, nor did he move.

My gaze swept over the "she" kneeling to save people in the painting, and then returned to her face.

Ji Qingwu felt weak in the face from his deep and intimidating gaze, and her legs could barely hold his waist.

She pressed further, "You still haven't said what you were thinking at the time."

Zhao Mingyan's tone was casual yet tinged with arrogance: "A goddess should not only love the common people, but should love one person even more."

Ji Qingwu stared at him blankly, not understanding the meaning behind his words—what goddess...?

Zhao Mingyan loved this look in her eyes; she only had eyes for him and couldn't see anyone else.

"Lower your head."

Hearing his deep but gentle voice, Ji Qingwu bent his neck.

"Good girl."

He gave a thumbs-up.

Ji Qingwu looked at his excessively handsome face and slowly traced his face with her fingers.

"Are you referring to the story of King Xiang's affections, but the goddess's indifference?"

Zhao Mingyan didn't answer whether it was true or not. He swallowed hard a few times, then tilted his head back and kissed her.

First, they kissed very sincerely.

Like believers in a temple, hoping to receive rain from the goddess.

Ji Qingwu was thoroughly enjoying herself. She leaned on his broad, thick shoulders, her body surging with an unquenchable heat.

But soon, the kiss turned into a domineering one, just like his usual style.

After gaining her trust, he cornered her, leaving her nowhere to hide and forcing her to hand over everything.

Ji Qingwu quickly realized the inappropriateness of this posture. He was holding her, which meant that apart from him, she had nothing to hold onto or lean on.

Her hand made a grasping motion in the air, then curled back in frustration.

Ji Qingwu's eyes went unfocused; some of his senses became dulled, while others became more sensitive.

Zhao Mingyan gave her a chance to catch her breath, his lips touching her chin.

He asked, "Do you want to love me?"

Ji Qingwu lowered her eyes, half of her shimmering gaze hidden by her eyelashes.

Zhao Mingyan's voice was seductive, his deep voice enveloping her.

"Want it?"

Ji Qingwu felt like she was being burned by the heat of his body and his eyes.

His upturned eyes were tinged with a pale red, and his sharp eye shape now exuded a tender and alluring charm.

"To want it or not?"

After asking, Zhao Mingyan regretted giving her a choice.

"You are not allowed to say no."

They asked her if she wanted it or not, but there was only one option.

Ji Qingwu stroked his face, her lips red and moist, and said, "Then do I still have a choice?"

Zhao Mingyan raised an eyebrow and said, "Yes, you can only choose me."

Ji Qingwu smiled first, her eyes sparkling, and said, "I choose you."

Overwhelmed with excitement, Zhao Mingyan bounced her up a little higher, and Ji Qingwu realized that he had been deliberately holding her loosely before, without needing to grip his waist tightly.

She stopped his wandering hand.

"But not yet."

Zhao Mingyan's eyes were filled with dissatisfaction, incomprehension, and discontent...

Ji Qingwu felt a pang of pity seeing this, and she honestly revealed her thoughts.

“I always feel something is off about this, like it’s not legitimate.”

Zhao Mingyan's voice was muffled: "It's not like we haven't done it before."

Ji Qingwu choked, tapped his chest, and reminded him, "Last time, you were the one who almost died."

The time before that, she was on the verge of death and had no choice but to bite the bullet and break into his military tent.

It's quite a coincidence that they were all doing this to survive.

He straightened his back and held her even tighter, wanting her to feel his torment.

"But I'm not feeling well right now either."

Ji Qingwu said with trembling eyes, "No, not at least not now. Put me down first."