Chapter 43 I really hope that I can stay with you forever…
Chapter 43
With no one around, the two found a sheltered spot on the shore, surrounded by huge reefs on both sides, forming a small cave. The cave entrance faced west, a place where the sun could shine.
The sun is about to set, and the tide is receding; otherwise, falling into the sea would be extremely dangerous.
He Hansheng took off his outer garment and laid it out to dry, while Shen Suining, her clothes still wet, sat on a smooth, translucent rock washed by the sea. The fishy smell of the sea filled her nostrils. She remained silent, lost in thought.
He was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, "It's not far from where we just fell. I'll go get the horse."
Shen Suining hummed in response, finally asking, "Are you alright?"
"No." After saying that, He Hansheng stood there for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't say it.
Both of their luggage were on the horse. He Hansheng went to fetch the horse and returned, handing Shen Suining's bundle to her. "Change your clothes, don't catch a cold."
After saying that, he turned his back and went to find a place to tie up the horse. He didn't stop until Shen Suining finished changing her clothes and called out to him, "You should change too."
He Hansheng's body stiffened slightly.
Even though there was no one around, it was still quite difficult for him to change clothes in such an open place in broad daylight.
Seeing that he didn't move, Shen Suining seemed to guess that he was a little embarrassed, so she stood up and walked out, leaving him the spot surrounded by rocks. "Go ahead and change, don't be shy, it's not worth catching a cold."
He Hansheng responded softly and sighed.
The two spread their clothes on the stones to dry, while He Hansheng went to find some dry grass and firewood nearby, just in case.
The coastline here is quite vast, with no trace of human habitation. The two are exhausted and can only rest here for half a day.
Fortunately, the assassins who were chasing them have been dealt with, and now that the tide is receding, there is no danger here.
The two sat on the rocks not far apart, remaining silent for a long time. Finally, He Hansheng got up and came to Shen Suining's side. He knelt down in front of her and handed her the jade flute that had been wiped clean.
Shen Suining glanced at it but didn't move, seemingly sulking.
He Hansheng sighed softly, took her hand, opened her palm, and placed the jade flute in her palm, holding it back.
"You jumped into the sea just for this?" His anger from when he came out of the water had subsided, and his tone was now more playful and teasing.
Shen Suining glanced at him, neither answering nor denying, but only asking, "Then why did you jump? If I don't value my life, do you not value yours either?"
He Hansheng was silent for a moment, then said, "You know why I jumped."
"I don't know, and I don't want to know. I'm the kind of person who doesn't think before I speak or act; I just say whatever comes to mind, unlike Young Master He, who is very perceptive and can't guess what you're thinking."
Shen Suining's tone was somewhat agitated, probably because the emotions that had been building up since the day she left the capital had reached their peak.
Her eyes were red and swollen from the seawater, and she looked at He Hansheng as if she had suffered a great injustice. But she was always stubborn and only reminded him, "I've told you many times, you don't have to force yourself. There are plenty of people who want to marry into Shuyu Manor and become its young master, it doesn't make a difference if you're not one of them. You don't have to look like you're forced to do this. Once you leave the capital, no one will use the so-called imperial decree to restrain you. You can do whatever you want."
He Hansheng didn't speak, seemingly trying his best to suppress his emotions. He raised his hand, wanting to touch Shen Suining's cheek as usual, but she turned her head away. His fingertips stopped in mid-air, just like his current state of mind, caught in a dilemma.
"And what about you?"
After a long silence, he asked her softly, "Once we leave Huadu, will that imperial decree that binds us still be able to restrain you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you understand?" He Hansheng finally exploded. He reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to turn her face to look at him. He said, word by word, "I'm afraid you'll leave, afraid you'll disappear from my side, afraid you'll be like you were three years ago, using a fake identity and leaving, disappearing into the crowd, never to be found again."
“I admit, this idea is selfish, but Ningning,” He Hansheng gritted his teeth and calmly gazed into her eyes, “I really hope that the person who can stay with you forever is me.”
The waves rolled and crashed against the rocks on the shore, and the sea breeze whistled past my ears, bringing a faint chill of early autumn.
After receiving no response for a long time, He Hansheng slowly released Shen Suining, lowered his head and smiled self-deprecatingly, "I'm sorry to let you know about this extremely selfish idea. You don't need to feel embarrassed. I just don't want you to misunderstand me. I didn't mean to ask anything of you. If you want to leave, I won't force you to stay."
After another long silence, Shen Suining let out a soft breath and calmed herself down. "You should have just told me directly like this instead of playing guessing games in your mind and making both of us unhappy."
She looked up and saw the reef, which was several meters high. Thinking about how she had impulsively jumped off it, she chuckled and said with a hint of relief, "I was just thinking that you've been acting strange these past few days. You were fine before you left, but then you suddenly stopped talking to me. If I lost the flute you gave me now, you would probably be even more upset."
"Then I acted impulsively and jumped. The height looked alright from up there, but the fall almost knocked my brains out," Shen Suining said, turning her gaze to He Hansheng's eyes. "He Hansheng, I'm not made of stone either. You've risked your life for me, and I hope to make you happy too."
He Hansheng pursed his lips, remaining silent for a moment.
After a moment, he spoke in a hoarse voice: "It's just a flute, I'll give it to you later."
"I just want you to know that even if I can't promise you a lifetime together right now, at least when I'm with you, I cherish you with all my heart."
He Hansheng's pupils contracted, as if he could hardly believe it. He looked at her, and the huge weight that had been pressing on his heart for days slowly lifted. Like a believer who had been pardoned by God, he finally showed a bit of warmth from the bottom of his heart.
He reached out again, wanting to touch her face. This time, Shen Suining did not dodge, letting his fingertips slide across her cheeks, his thumb gently tracing the slightly red corners of her eyes, which were still wet with seawater.
"Then you..." He Hansheng paused for a moment, seemingly trying to calm himself, "At least for now, you still want to be with me, right?"
Shen Suining hummed in agreement, looking at him without any hesitation. "Although I don't know what kind of emotions I'm having when I'm with you, at least at this stage, you are someone I would cherish with my life, just like Feng Yu and Sister Miao. Even if it's just for a while, I hope you can stay by my side like they do."
Before she could finish speaking, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace and held tightly. "That's enough."
He murmured softly, repeating over and over, "Ningning, that's enough."
Shen Suining finally breathed a sigh of relief and gently hugged He Hansheng back.
On the distant horizon, the fiery sun slowly descended, bringing away some of the daytime heat. Before the sun completely set, He Hansheng started a fire and used firewood to build a frame around the still-damp clothes, creating a temporary shelter along with the rocks behind him.
The two ate some dry food to fill their stomachs, and there was still plenty of water left in their water bottles. This place was enough for them to stay until the tide came in again.
Shen Suining fell asleep on He Hansheng's lap. The rock they had chosen was large enough, and it had been washed by the sea day and night. Its surface was smooth and wet. The warmth of the sun was still there earlier, but now that it was completely dark, it gradually became cool. Even through her clothes, it felt as if it had seeped into her skin, making Shen Suining half-awake from the cold.
She was covered with He Hansheng's outer garment, and the campfire was not far away, but it was no use; the chill was seeping in from underneath.
Shen Suining had no choice but to sit up, leaning against He Hansheng, muttering as she tried to clear her head.
"Aren't you going to sleep a little longer?"
Shen Suining shook her head and rubbed her face vigorously. "I'll stay here. You should rest for a while. We still have to travel tomorrow."
He Hansheng responded, added firewood, and then lay down behind her.
Shen Suining stared at the firelight for a long time in a daze. After she finally came to her senses, she covered He Hansheng's outer robe with it. When she saw his sleeping face, she suddenly lost her mind.
Perhaps because they were used to seeing his noble and gentle demeanor, the young marquis, who was usually pampered and spoiled, looked somewhat haggard in the desolate wilderness after a long journey. There was even a faint stubble on his clean jaw. Compared to his previous noble air, he had become more rough and wild, which made him seem more approachable.
It was as if he was no longer the high and mighty Marquis He, who was confined to the capital and had the blood of the imperial family flowing through his veins. He was just an ordinary man in this world, an ordinary man who was about to follow Shen Suining back to Shuyu Manor and become her young master.
Shen Suining stared at him for a long time, and a strange joy suddenly welled up in her heart. She couldn't help but reach out and touch the stubble on his chin.
It was a bit prickly, and Shen Suining subconsciously withdrew her hand, but her hand was suddenly pressed down to stop her. He Hansheng's eyes were not open, and his brows were slightly furrowed. "Ningning, stop fooling around."
Shen Suining calmed down for a while and stopped bothering him. He Hansheng's hand quickly relaxed, and she withdrew her hand, turning her head to add some firewood to the fire.
It's so boring to keep watch alone these nights. Shen Suining wondered how He Hansheng had managed to pass the time, since he had been keeping watch for much longer than her these past few days.
After being well-behaved for less than fifteen minutes, Shen Suining once again reached out her wicked little hand.
"Ningning." He Hansheng pushed her hand away again, his hoarse voice carrying a warning tone.
Shen Suining, in a playful mood, climbed onto the reef and knelt down next to He Hansheng.
The firelight flickered, and the bright moon slowly rose from the sea to the sky. She looked at him for a while, then suddenly leaned down and gently kissed his lower lip.
He Hansheng suddenly opened his eyes.
A moment later, Shen Suining pulled away from his lips, her eyes still holding a knowing smile.
“You’re different from Feng Yu and the others,” she said, just as a huge wave crashed onto the rocks not far away. “They’re good to me, and even if they treat other people the same way, I won’t care. At most, I’ll feel a little unhappy. But you can’t.”
“He Hansheng, I am a very possessive person. I want you to belong to me completely. If you treat anyone else even a tenth as well as you treat me, I will kill you without hesitation.”
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