Chapter 100
After dinner, Shi Mingyue put down her chopsticks and gently stroked the rim of her bowl with her fingertips.
She was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly looked up at Yun Zhan, her tone gentler than usual.
"The roses in the back garden are in bloom. Would you like to go and see them?"
Looking at Yun Zhan sitting obediently across from her, she felt a little uncomfortable... If Yun Zhan became cautious, timid, and insecure because of her, then that was not her original intention.
In the end, I guess I still dote on Yun Zhan. Seeing that Yun Zhan has been locked in her room all the time, I can't help but want to let her go out for some fresh air.
Upon hearing this, Yun Zhan's eyes lit up instantly, and he blurted out instinctively, "Okay..."
But as soon as she finished speaking, her gaze involuntarily drifted down and landed on the chains on her feet.
The metal chain clung to her ankle, its icy touch a stark reminder of her current predicament... yes... she was a liar who had abandoned Shi Mingyue...
The initial joy faded somewhat.
She pursed her lips, looked up at Shi Mingyue, and asked cautiously, "Could this chain... be a little longer?"
Upon hearing this, Shi Mingyue suddenly remembered that Yun Zhan was still bound by chains, and a sense of annoyance welled up in her heart.
She was so focused on making Yun Zhan happy that she completely forgot about this.
She paused for a moment, her fingertips lightly tracing the tablecloth, her brows furrowing slightly, but without the slightest hesitation, she said, "I'll untie it for you. Go out and get some fresh air."
As soon as she finished speaking, she got up and walked to Yun Zhan's side. She bent down, picked up the chain from the ground, and gently pressed her finger on the metal buckle. With a "click," the chain opened.
"Let's sleep like this tonight. I'm sorry... I've made you suffer these past few days."
The icy touch faded from his ankles, and Yun Zhan was slightly taken aback. He looked up at Shi Mingyue, only to see that she had already turned and walked towards the door.
Shi Mingyue turned around, her voice carrying a hint of deliberate casualness: "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, don't keep Roses waiting."
The next morning, a gentle breeze stirred up a few fallen leaves, carrying with it the sweet scent of roses.
Shi Mingyue and Yun Zhan walked side by side on the stone path in the back garden. The pebbles under their feet made a soft sound. They didn't say much to each other, but the tension of the past was gone, replaced by a rare sense of leisure.
After walking for a while, Yun Zhan suddenly felt a slight soreness in his ankle. He had been bound by chains for a long time a few days ago, and his skin still felt a little uncomfortable.
She subconsciously slowed her pace, wanting to bend down and look, but as soon as she slightly bent her knees, Shi Mingyue gently pulled her wrist.
Shi Mingyue noticed something was amiss before Yun Zhan could even squat down. She herself knelt down in front of her, the proud and aloof young lady kneeling at her feet, gently lifting Yun Zhan's skirt.
There were faint red marks on Yun Zhan's ankle. Shi Mingyue's fingertips hovered above them, not daring to touch them easily, and her eyes held a complex emotion.
"Is it because of the chains...?"
Shi Mingyue's voice was lower than usual, with a hint of barely perceptible hesitation. She paused for a moment before continuing, "I...I'm sorry."
The self-blame in her words sounded a bit awkward. Shi Mingyue's original intention was not to let Yun Zhan leave, but she still unintentionally hurt Yun Zhan.
Seeing her squatting in front of him, her eyes filled with guilt, Yun Zhan quickly reached out and took her arm, trying to pull her up, his tone gentle and submissive: "It's alright, it's what I should do..."
She lowered her head slightly, looked into Shi Mingyue's eyes, and softened her voice: "After all, it was my fault, this little thing is nothing."
Nowadays, Yun Zhan is almost completely obedient to Shi Mingyue. Not to mention the discomfort in his ankle, even if he has a lot of grievances, they will instantly disappear when he is in front of Shi Mingyue, and he will not have any temper at all.
The two walked along the stone path, and the fragrance of roses in the wind grew stronger.
Yun Zhan stopped and said softly, "Look at this one."
Shi Mingyue followed her gaze and saw a red rose blooming brightly under the flower stand not far away.
The petals are layered upon layered, like rouge that has been thoroughly dyed, with delicate curled edges, and glistening with morning dew. They shimmer in the sunlight, every inch exuding a fresh and tender vitality.
But looking further down, the emerald green flower stems are covered with fine, sharp thorns, each one distinct and gleaming with a cold, hard light, as if they are vigilantly guarding this beauty. If you are not careful, you will be pricked and bleed profusely.
This rose is dangerous yet alluring, much like a poison laced with sugar, making one want to get close, yet fearing being hurt all over.
Shi Mingyue stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixed on the rose, and she was unconsciously stunned.
She blinked, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. Her gentle expression, which had just been gentle, gradually became dreamy, as if she had been bewitched by the rose.
She took two steps forward, getting closer to the rose, her fingertips hovering in mid-air, but she didn't dare to touch it easily, only examining it carefully little by little.
From the vibrant red at the tips of the petals to the curve of each thorn on the stem, even the trajectory of the rolling dewdrops is observed with exceptional care.
She didn't know how long she had been looking at it when her thoughts suddenly drifted away. Her gaze remained fixed on the roses, but her mind unconsciously drifted to Yun Zhan.
She thought, "This rose looks just like Yun Zhan."
"Her eyes are brighter than these flower petals, and her smile is more delicate than a dewdrop..."
But she also has her own "thorns." Her resolute departure and the occasional aloofness she shows when facing herself are all sharp edges hidden beneath her gentleness, making her both love and fear her. This is the "danger."
Yet, this gentleness tinged with sharpness is irresistible to her. Even knowing she might be "hurt," she still wants to hold him firmly in her grasp—that's what makes him "charming."
Her gaze on the rose deepened, her fingertips lightly touching the edge of the petals before quickly withdrawing them, just like her feelings for Yun Zhan. Even though she had him by her side, she always felt that this possession was "temporary."
She knew Yun Zhan's goodness, knew that her gentleness and intelligence were rare treasures, just like the beauty of this rose, which would eventually be seen by others.
The thought that others might also covet this "beauty," that someone might be attracted to Yun Zhan's "danger and charm" like she was, and want to take her away from her, made Shi Mingyue's heart feel like it was being tightly gripped, and even her breathing became somewhat tight.
She turned her head and glanced at Yun Zhan beside her. He was looking down at the dew on the petals, his profile appearing exceptionally gentle in the morning light.
A complex mix of emotions gradually crept into Shi Mingyue's eyes: a longing for Yun Zhan, a fear of losing him, and a possessiveness hidden deep within her heart that she was unwilling to express.
She gently clenched her fist. The confusion she had felt earlier because of the rose was gradually replaced by this heavy feeling of care. There was only one thought in her mind: this "rose" could only be hers.
The wind carried the scent of roses as it swept by. Before Shi Mingyue's panic had subsided, her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, and then, as if possessed, they reached out and firmly grasped Yun Zhan's hand.
The moment their palms touched, she snapped out of her daze, but she couldn't bear to let go. Instead, she gripped his hand tighter and tighter, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the back of Yun Zhan's hand.
She didn't know why she was thinking so much...
Acting like a child, it's really childish...
But she couldn't help herself...
Shi Mingyue was somewhat annoyed, her delicate brows furrowing slightly...
She turned her head and looked directly into Yun Zhan's eyes.
The haze caused by the roses had long since faded, leaving only stubbornness and obstinacy in his eyes, with even his eyebrows showing a hint of barely perceptible anger and a touch of petulant grievance.
She was both angry at herself for always worrying about losing him and angry that Yun Zhan's goodness was too easily seen by others.
Her throat bobbed, and Shi Mingyue lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty and barely concealed panic: "You really won't leave? Even if... you meet someone better in the future."
She feared that Yun Zhan's compromise was only temporary, and that one day someone would appear who understood her better and could give her more freedom, and Yun Zhan would turn around and leave again, leaving her alone in the same place.
Perhaps, he encountered some new mission and then abandoned her again.
Yun Zhan could clearly feel the strength of Shi Mingyue's palm and understand the unease in her eyes.
She gently grasped Shi Mingyue's hand in return. After hearing Shi Mingyue's words, she remembered the thorny rose from earlier and, following that thought, spoke earnestly.
"If you think I'm a rose with thorns, you can pick me and cut off all the thorns."
“It’s okay. I stayed because of you, not because you forced me to stay. It was my own choice.”
"If I were this rose, I would personally gather up its thorns so you could pluck it..."
Yun Zhan paused, his eyes softening even more: "If you're worried, you can cut off the thorns, and I won't accidentally prick you again, nor will I think about leaving. As long as you're willing to keep me by your side, I will only ever be your rose."
These words were like a reassuring pill, causing Shi Mingyue to gradually loosen her grip on Yun Zhan's hand.
She stared into Yun Zhan's eyes, as if confirming the truth of his words. After a long while, she softly hummed in agreement, but quietly pulled Yun Zhan's hand closer to her.
A gentle breeze blew across the flower stand, carrying the sweet scent of roses around the two of them.
Seeing the gradually softening emotions in Shi Mingyue's eyes, Yun Zhan suddenly had an idea.
She gently pulled her hand away from Shi Mingyue's, took a small step forward, and walked to the rose that was in full bloom.
Carefully avoiding the thorns on the stem with her fingertips, she slowly grasped the area below the petals and, with a slight effort, plucked the entire rose.
The dewdrops on the petals swayed gently, but did not fall; they remained clinging to the delicate petals.
Yun Zhan turned around and walked back to Shi Mingyue, holding the roses in both hands and gently handing them to her.
Her gaze was fixed firmly on Shi Mingyue's eyes as she said, word by word, "This is yours, and I am yours too."
Her gaze was exceptionally earnest, her clear eyes reflecting Shi Mingyue's figure, devoid of any pretense, revealing only complete honesty and a sense of belonging.
Shi Mingyue's hand holding the rose trembled slightly. The soft touch of the petals came from her fingertips, mixed with the weight of Yun Zhan's words, making her heart warm slightly.
Before she could respond, Yun Zhan continued, his voice even softer than before: "Roses should be picked when they are in full bloom, so as not to waste their beauty."
She paused, leaned closer to Shi Mingyue, and said in a gentle, dependent tone, "Me too. I'm willing to be controlled by you for the rest of my life. As long as I can stay by your side, anything is fine."
These words, when they reached Shi Mingyue's ears, were like a warm breeze that dispelled her earlier unease.
She looked down at the rose in her hand, then looked up at Yun Zhan's serious expression, the stubbornness and obstinacy in her eyes gradually being replaced by tenderness.
"I remember what you said... Yun Zhan, you can't lie to me anymore. From now on... you can only be mine."
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