Xiao Yan's pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes filled with disbelief, and his heart seemed to stop for a moment.
As the autumn wind suddenly rose, the two of them froze, motionless.
Light clouds veiled the moon, obscuring her blushing face.
It was as if a barrier had risen around the two of them, shielding them from the faint sound of the wind, the delicate fragrance of flowers, and everything else around them.
The eerie silence was broken by a bird's cry.
Shen Qiyin abruptly took a step back, turned around to face Xiao Yan, her fair cheeks flushed red, and her heart pounded so hard she could almost hear it.
What to do? What to do?
She took liberties with Xiao Yan...
He won't make her take responsibility, will he?
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Regardless, the attitude of admitting fault is very important, so Miss Shen immediately apologized: "I didn't mean to!"
I didn't know you were so close to me.
She regretted it as soon as she said it.
How is this any different from those scoundrels who take advantage of others but don't want to take responsibility?
Shen Qiyin lowered her eyes speechlessly, struggling to say, "...What I mean is, I really didn't mean to molest you."
"You..." she hoped for a fleeting moment, "Could you pretend this never happened?"
After she finished speaking, all that followed was silence.
Um?
She tentatively turned her head to the side and secretly glanced at it out of the corner of her eye, but she was stunned on the spot.
There was nothing behind him; Xiao Yan was nowhere to be seen!
They've left?
Shen Qiyin clung to the railing and looked around, but it was all dark and she couldn't see anything.
"Phew—" She raised her hand to cup her burning cheeks and breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, they're gone.
She didn't even want to think about how embarrassing it would be otherwise.
But then again, did I really kiss Xiao Yan?
Her fingertips gently traced her lips, and Shen Qiyin was stunned. The image of Xiao Yan's profile, which she had kissed, inexplicably appeared in her mind.
ah--
She squatted on the ground with her knees drawn up to her chest, curled up into a tiny figure. She looked somewhat cute, but also helpless, weak, and pitiful.
what to do?
what to do!
Just as she was lost in the awkward atmosphere, something suddenly tapped her head lightly.
She was taken aback.
Startled, she lifted her face from her arms and saw a small pink flower lying quietly on the ground in front of her.
It's Xiao Yan!
"You...you haven't left yet?!" Shen Qiyin stood up abruptly, feeling that nothing could be worse than this.
quiet--
Just as she began to doubt her own judgment and wondered if the flower had been blown away by the wind, Xiao Yan's voice came from outside the pavilion.
“…I’ll take you back and then I’ll leave.” His voice sounded very unnatural.
He hadn't originally intended for her to know he was still there, fearing she might feel uncomfortable. He planned to secretly escort her back to the Begonia Courtyard and then leave.
But to everyone's surprise, she showed no intention of going back to her room.
He feared that the night was deep and the frost and dew were heavy, and that she might catch a cold if she stayed any longer. After all, she had been sick before, and her throat was so sore that she couldn't speak. He had no choice but to pick a small flower and throw it at her to remind her that she should go back and rest.
But when Shen Qiyin heard him offer to take her home, she refused without hesitation, saying, "No need!"
"I'm not coming out."
“No need!” Shen Qiyin’s tone was slightly urgent: “I can do it myself.”
"It's late, you should go back and rest early."
After saying that, she didn't wait for Xiao Yan's reaction and hurriedly walked out.
But it was pitch black, without even a glimmer of moonlight, and unlike Xiao Yan, she didn't have excellent eyesight. As she went down the steps, her ankle accidentally hit a rock on the side, and she gasped in pain.
In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared before me.
She was thinking, "Something worse is coming."
Xiao Yan's eyes showed worry.
He instinctively bent down to check on her bumps and bruises, but then stopped himself, worried that she might feel offended.
"I……"
He wanted to ask if she was hurt, but when he looked up, he met Shen Qiyin's conflicted gaze.
His eyes even seemed to convey a sense of grievance.
She spoke, her tone somewhat pitiful: "Didn't you say you weren't going to come out?"
"...I thought you were injured."
"I'm fine."
"That's good."
Xiao Yan looked away from her face, not daring to look at her anymore.
I was afraid that if I looked at her, my gaze would uncontrollably drift to her lips.
He is still somewhat dazed.
She just now...
Did she really kiss him?
Just thinking about it makes my ears burn.
Xiao Yan abruptly closed her eyes, forcing herself to banish the chaotic and alluring thoughts from her mind.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw Shen Qiyin staring intently at his face.
His heart, which had finally calmed down, suddenly started beating wildly again.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he tried to keep his voice calm: "What's wrong?"
"Xiao Hanyu." Shen Qiyin looked into his eyes, her voice soft, gentle like the moon in this moonless night: "Are you...?"
"Yes." He stepped forward, his voice deep and resonant.
"...But I haven't finished speaking yet."
"Then you tell me."
"Do you...do you like..." Shen Qiyin's words suddenly stopped: "Achoo!"
She covered her mouth and sneezed.
Xiao Yan immediately said, "It's chilly at night, let's go back."
"We can talk about it tomorrow."
"I'll be waiting for you at Qiying Pavilion tomorrow."
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