Rain pattered against the roof, and candlelight cast flickering shadows inside. Xin Suiyun's embrace was as fleeting as an illusion; he quickly released her, reverting to his usual aloofness.
"It's late, I'll escort you back to your residence." He stood up, his brow furrowing slightly at the injury on his shoulder.
Qi Yue remained seated, looking up at him: "Before you take me back, can you answer one question for me?"
Xin Suiyun stopped in her tracks without turning around: "What's the problem?"
"Have you ever harbored any resentment towards me?" Qi Yue asked softly, her heart pounding in her chest.
Silence fell in the room, broken only by the patter of rain. After a long while, Xin Suiyun slowly turned around, looking at her with a complicated expression: "If I said it never happened, that would be a lie."
Qi Yue's heart sank.
“But those resentments have long been replaced by other emotions,” he continued, his voice low. “Watching you grow up carefree in the Qi family, seeing your kind and innocent nature, how could I possibly harbor resentment?”
Qi Yue stood up and walked towards him: "What emotion has replaced resentment?"
Xin Suiyun avoided her gaze: "That's not important."
“It’s very important to me,” Qi Yue insisted. “Is it because I’m your cousin that you’re protecting me? Or is it because…”
"Why?" Xin Suiyun finally looked at her, a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
Qi Yue mustered all her courage: "Is it because you have feelings for me that go beyond brotherly and sisterly affection?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Xin Suiyun's eyes instantly turned cold, and the temperature in the air seemed to plummet.
“You shouldn’t have asked that question,” he said curtly. “I’ll take you back to your residence.”
Qi Yue stood still: "Why shouldn't it be like this? Is it because my feeling is wrong, or because you're afraid to admit it?"
Xin Suiyun turned around abruptly, her eyes burning with a flame she had never seen before: "Qi Yue, you don't understand what you're saying at all. I am the Crown Prince's secret guard, my hands stained with blood. And you, you are the daughter of Minister Qi, pure and innocent. There is a chasm between us, and there can be no future for us."
"So you're not oblivious, you just think we're impossible?" Qi Yue's heart raced as she caught the deeper meaning in his words.
Xin Suiyun seemed trapped by his own words. After a moment of silence, he sighed, "Yue'er, don't force me. Some boundaries, once crossed, can never be crossed back."
Qi Yue took a step closer, raindrops dripping from her hair: "What if I said I was willing to cross those boundaries?"
Xin Suiyun's gaze deepened. He raised his hand, seemingly wanting to touch her cheek, but stopped mid-air: "You don't understand what this means. Once our relationship becomes known, what kind of criticism will you face? How will the Qi family's reputation be affected?"
"I don't care what others think," Qi Yue said firmly. "I just want to know your feelings."
In the candlelight, their shadows intertwined on the wall. Xin Suiyun gazed at her, the icy layer in his eyes gradually melting, revealing a rare tenderness and struggle.
“Yes,” he finally admitted in a low voice, “I do have feelings for you that go beyond brotherly and sisterly. It started a long time ago, and by the time I realized it, I was already hopelessly in love.”
Qi Yue's heart leaped with joy, but Xin Suiyun's next words plunged her into despair.
“But that’s precisely why I can’t get close to you.” He said in a heavy tone, “My world is full of darkness and danger, and I can’t drag you into it. You deserve a better life, a bright and carefree future.”
Qi Yue shook her head: "You shouldn't decide for me what I deserve. What if I'm willing to accept your world?"
Xin Suiyun smiled bitterly: "You are too naive, Yue'er. My world is beyond your imagination. Today's assassination is just the tip of the iceberg. The Northern Di people will not let this go, and countless eyes in the court are watching me. If you get involved with me, you will never have a peaceful day."
"I'm not afraid," Qi Yue said firmly. "More than danger, I'm afraid of never knowing your feelings and living with guilt towards you forever."
The rain outside gradually subsided, and moonlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds. Xin Suiyun looked at the stubborn girl before her, and her last line of defense crumbled.
He gently held her hand, his fingertips slightly cool: "Even if I tell you that some of the blood on my hands wasn't from justice? Even if I tell you that I did unspeakable things to protect the Crown Prince?"
Qi Yue grasped his hand in return: "I believe your heart is kind. Otherwise, you wouldn't have saved me time and time again, wouldn't have silently protected the Qi family, and wouldn't have chosen to remain silent after learning the truth about your origins."
Xin Suiyun's gaze softened, and he raised his hand to gently stroke her cheek, his movements awkward yet tender: "You're too naive, Yue'er. Things in this world aren't simply black and white."
“Then teach me.” Qi Yue looked up at him. “Teach me to understand your world, so that I can face it together with you.”
Under the moonlight, the two figures drew closer. Just as their lips were about to touch, a series of hurried footsteps sounded in the distance.
Xin Suiyun immediately shielded Qi Yue behind her, her hand on the hilt of her sword. A moment later, Xin Rui's voice rang out from outside the door: "Suiyun, is Yue'er here with you? The Qi family sent someone to look for her, saying it's urgent."
Qi Yue and Xin Suiyun exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat lost. The warmth they had shared just moments before had been interrupted, and the heavy weight of reality had returned.
"I should go back now," Qi Yue said softly.
Xin Suiyun nodded and opened the door for her. Under Xin Rui's surprised gaze, he said in a low voice, "Please consider carefully what I just said. Don't ruin your life because of a moment of impulse."
Qi Yue looked at him, her eyes shining with determination: "My life should be decided by myself. And my decision is that, no matter what, I will not give up on you."
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