Chapter 233 Does he really want her?
Yuwen Ye's heart sank slightly.
At this moment, Shang Ruyi was calmer and more clear-headed. She propped herself up halfway from under the covers, and although she was under him, she had the illusion of looking down at him.
She stared intently into Yuwen Ye's eyes and said, word by word, "I want you to answer me: is what we have real, and can it be real?"
"..."
"If so, then I can give you everything I have."
"..."
"But if it's not true, if what we have is ultimately just a transaction—then I will no longer have such delusions as I do today, nor will I have any romantic thoughts about you."
"..."
"And my body is not part of the transaction, so I cannot give it to you."
After saying the last word, she moved back a little.
Although it was only one point, it seemed as if an insurmountable chasm had suddenly appeared between the two of them. In a daze, Yuwen Ye even had the illusion that he couldn't touch her even if he stretched out his hand.
Suddenly, an inexplicable anger arose within him.
He gritted his teeth and said, "If you don't give it to me, who will you give it to?"
"...?!"
Shang Ruyi looked at him in surprise, never expecting such a response.
The next moment, she also got angry.
All I asked him for was an answer, or rather, a legitimate reason, but he just kept making a fuss. Is this the time to care about that?!
He frowned and said, "If it's just a transaction between us, then it's none of your business."
"...!"
Yuwen Ye's eyes suddenly blazed with fire.
He was already angry, angry that every word this young woman said seemed to be a threat to him, and a threat at that, using her body to threaten him. What made him even angrier was that he felt like he was actually being threatened by her! And now, she even said that it was none of his business!
Yuwen Ye reached out and scooped Shang Ruyi up, blanket and all, pulling her tightly into his arms. He gritted his teeth and said, "Tell me, is it any of my business or not?"
"you--"
Shang Ruyi was so angry that she tried to break free from him, but the anesthesia in her shoulder hadn't worn off yet, and she was too weak. She was also worried about his shoulder injury. If she exerted force now, she was afraid the wound would reopen. She was so anxious that she wanted to bite him. She spat out a few words through her teeth: "Is it so hard to say you want me?"
"...!"
Yuwen Ye was suddenly startled.
He looked down at the small woman he was holding tightly in his arms, unable to move. Her eyes were red, as if tears were about to well up, but she stubbornly stared at him with wide eyes, as if she would not give up until she got an answer.
Yuwen Ye's breathing became increasingly erratic.
Even more chaotic than before, when he was so eager to have her that he didn't even notice his wounds reopening and blood flowing freely.
Does he want her?
Does he really want her?
If she didn't want it, then what were those things he just did to her?
If he wanted it, but in his heart—
Yuwen Ye's gaze grew increasingly unfocused, unable to meet the tearful eyes in his arms, but Shang Ruyi stubbornly stared at him, not missing a single detail.
As a woman, and one who had been rejected by him once and was already ashamed beyond measure, she still dared to speak up because she knew all too well that the embarrassment was nothing compared to her desire for someone. Shang Ruyi might not be a particularly brave person, but for what she wanted, risk and injury were never obstacles.
If she can speak up, why can't he?
Thinking of this, she choked up, but said firmly, "That's how relationships are. If you give me a little room, I'll take a little step forward. If you have no feelings for me, I won't—I won't have the nerve to ask you for an answer anymore."
"..."
"Yuwen Ye, are you really unable to say it?"
As she relentlessly questioned him, Yuwen Ye felt waves of pain in his chest, so intense that his hands began to tremble.
In the silence, Shang Ruyi's gaze gradually turned cold.
He really couldn't say it.
No, perhaps it's not that he can't say it, perhaps it's just that his answer doesn't need to be said.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but give a bitter smile. But at this moment, she didn't feel ashamed at all. Having been so open and honest, feelings of shame were superfluous. She calmly looked at him for a while, and then, with the strength she had finally mustered, slowly, slowly broke free from his embrace.
"I see."
She struggled to move to the edge of the bed, sat for a while, and gathered her strength. With her head down, she chuckled softly, "Just pretend I never asked, and never came."
After saying that, he slowly stood up, preparing to leave.
But as soon as she stood up, she felt a weight on her wrist again. Without even looking down, she knew that Yuwen Ye had grabbed her wrist.
Shang Ruyi didn't look at him, nor did she give him any more chances. She simply used her other hand to forcefully pull his hand away, then stood up straight and turned to walk out.
However, she was too weak, and every step was so difficult, as if each step was stepping on her own heart, causing her back to bend slightly, her breathing to become heavy, and even a little breathless. She desperately wanted to get out of the tent and return to a space where she could be alone, so that she could suffer to her heart's content.
But just as she reached the door and touched the tent flap, she suddenly heard a series of hurried and heavy footsteps behind her.
The next moment, she was hugged tightly.
"...!"
Shang Ruyi trembled, staring blankly at the heavy tent flap in front of her. After a long while, she looked down at herself again.
A pair of hot, strong arms, like iron clamps, tightly wrapped around her body, pulling her close to a chest that was heaving violently, as if suppressing a rapid heartbeat that almost slammed against her back, causing her breathing and heartbeat to become disordered.
Shang Ruyi opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.
After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a hoarse voice: "You—"
"You're not allowed to leave!"
Yuwen Ye's deep voice rang in my ears. He almost gritted his teeth, speaking with a fierce tone, saying each word clearly: "You are not allowed to give it to anyone else!"
It's that kind of talk again...
At this moment, Shang Ruyi felt that she had already cried all the tears she needed to shed, and she had no strength left to argue with him. She could only give a bitter smile and try to pry his hands off.
But Yuwen Ye's hands held her even tighter, as if he would rather break her than let go.
Then, he whispered in her ear, "From childhood to adulthood, I have never thought that I would get married. I only want to establish my career and achieve great things. Marriage and romantic relationships have never been in my plans."
Shang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat.
This is the same phrase again. It's not the first time I've heard it. Yuwen Ye has never cared about personal feelings; he only wants to achieve his own great cause.
Her mind suddenly went blank, but before she could think it through, she heard Yuwen Ye's hoarse voice continue speaking—
"I really don't understand."
"..."
"I don't understand what love is, nor do I understand why some people would risk their lives for love, let alone the feeling of being infatuated with someone and even forgetting oneself."
"..."
Shang Ruyi could only manage a bitter smile.
Yuwen Ye, as the second son of the Duke's mansion, was pursued by the young ladies of the two capitals and was even called "unparalleled in the world" by the important officials in the court. How could he be completely ignorant about love?
Seeing his mother willing to risk her life for her husband, didn't he understand?
So, what about Princess Crescent Moon?
But then Yuwen Ye said, "But I... I can't allow you to give it to someone else."
"..."
"If you dare—I will kill, I will kill that person!"
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's breath hitched.
At this moment, she suddenly realized that saying these words was probably the limit for Yuwen Ye.
She struggled for a long time before finally turning around from his embrace to face him.
Yuwen Ye's face was even paler than before, but his eyes were as solemn as a rock, unwavering.
Meeting his eyes, Shang Ruyi asked earnestly, "So, this time, I wasn't just being presumptuous, was I?"
Yuwen Ye nodded slightly.
Shang Ruyi added, "I haven't offended our relationship, have I?"
Yuwen Ye nodded again.
His gaze softened, especially when he looked at the young woman's firm and persistent eyes. It melted the rock-solid emotion in his heart into tenderness, and even the hands that held her became gentle.
They just wouldn't let go.
Shang Ruyi added, "So, your feelings for me are also—um!"
Before she could finish speaking, her lips were sealed with a kiss once again.
Yuwen Ye lowered his head and accurately captured her lips. Unlike his previous eager kisses and nibbles, this time he was extremely gentle, lightly caressing and rubbing her lips, as if he wanted to clearly perceive every line on her petal-like lips, and even more so, to sense every tremor and every heartbeat in her body.
The sudden kiss made Shang Ruyi stiffen slightly, but she quickly softened.
A pair of hands even gently climbed onto his shoulders.
Just as he was about to go deeper, Shang Ruyi finally regained a sliver of reason, moved her lips slightly away, and said with burning breath, "No, the doctor said we shouldn't have sex..."
Yuwen Ye gently bit her lip and mumbled, "This is not sexual intercourse."
"..."
"It's one month from now."
"...!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's face flushed bright red.
His words suddenly made her think of a certain possibility, and even the image flashed through her mind for a moment, just like what they had just done—she was so embarrassed that she trembled all over. She quickly turned her head away, completely avoiding his insatiable lips, pressed her face against his shoulder, and whispered, "Then, let's talk about it again in a month!"
"..."
Yuwen Ye was taken aback for a moment, then laughed as well.
Despite his resistance, feeling the soft body pressed tightly against him, so compliant, he pulled her even closer, whispering in her ear, "You promised..."
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