Chapter 49 I like you very much. I like you very much. ...
Lou Wanqiao's mind was blank for those few seconds, yet seemed very colorful.
Almost uncontrollably, every detail of their past few days played out in my mind like a kaleidoscope.
There is his back with a long sword in hand and his clothes fluttering, there is his profile standing with his hands clasped behind his back, drinking alone under the moon, and finally it is fixed between his indifferent brows.
Wen Xuechi looks like a very calm person, as if he doesn't care about anyone among the countless people in the world, but he does things for all living beings.
Great love is to have no love in your heart.
But now something seems to be different.
Ripples appeared on the clear lake surface, and for the first time, a person was reflected under the bright moon.
Even the embroidered spring sword in her hand was shining brightly.
Looking into his eyes, Lou Wanqiao swallowed unconsciously. He had seemed so casual when they first met, like a casual passerby in the mundane world, a common encounter. After that, everything seemed normal, yet he seemed so unusual, often doing things with her that shocked the world.
Wait, what did he just say? What did that mean?
What does it mean... "with her"?
Lou Wanqiao's mind was a little confused for a moment. He felt that he had said a very ordinary sentence, but it also felt that this sentence contained thousands of words and was filled with endless friendship.
Lou Wanqiao couldn't understand it.
"We..." she stammered, "We are originally from the same group... Yan Gui, I have always treated you as a very good person..."
"Don't be friends." Wen Xuechi suddenly interrupted her. His voice floated lightly in the silent night and then fell heavily. "Don't be friends."
He stared straight into her eyes, the flickering candlelight reflected in her pupils, illuminating the night brightly.
His eyes were so open and pure, and the candlelight reflected the bright love in them, almost burning her so much that she couldn't take her eyes off him.
It was too intense, too obvious. Even a fool could understand what was in his eyes at this moment.
If not friends, then what?
"Zizhao, I know you were once alone on this journey, and then someone came to help you. You've been on a difficult journey, searching for a solution to the suffering of all beings," Wen Xuechi said slowly. "I want to be with you because I want to stand by your side from now on, as close as possible to you, to help you and care for you. I want to protect you, or be protected by you. I want you to achieve your wishes and have a smooth journey ahead."
He leaned closer: "Liu Wanqiao, you are a very good person. I like you very much."
Lou Wanqiao's heart seemed to be struck by something in an instant. She raised her eyes to look at him, and saw herself reflected in his eyes. Many thoughts flashed through her mind at once.
She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a word.
This was the first time in many years that someone had openly said "liked" to her. The last time was her family.
Over the years, what she heard the most were vicious curses. Some people called her as heartless as a snake and scorpion, some called her unkind, and some called her a ghost-faced devil who would go to hell after her death.
She had heard so much that her ears were callused, and she no longer cared about what others said.
What about love? There were also those who verbally expressed "love." Some people sent beauties to win her over, and some people even gave themselves to her to gain power. They kept saying "love" and "liking", saying that the Dali Temple Shaoqing was a tall and handsome man and they were willing to marry him.
Those so-called worthless "loves" later died under her sharp sword.
But it was the first time she heard someone say love and like in such a situation, and say "you are a very good person".
Wen Xuechi had no ulterior motives. He did not need her power or her protection. If you really asked him what he wanted.
"You don't have to rush to give me an answer. You don't even have to give me an answer. You don't need to promise me anything." Wen Xuechi's voice was gentle, his face reflected in the candlelight, calm and gentle. "I won't ask for anything from you, nor will I ask you to do anything. I just hope... that when you need help, you can think of me first, okay?"
His words were clear, but they sounded a bit ethereal to Lou Wanqiao. Her fingers began to tremble unconsciously as they touched the warmth in her palm. Wen Xuechi's fingers gently circled her palm, and the hot breath he exhaled sprayed on her ear, making her hair itch.
Lou Wanqiao looked him straight in the eye without blinking. After staring at each other for a long time, it seemed as if she were in that lake, with soft spring water caressing her skin and spring breeze with willow branches brushing her cheeks.
It was his palm, stroking along the side of her face little by little. There was a layer of calluses on his palm, and there was a subtle touch when he stroked it. He carefully explored bit by bit, but it did not make people feel intrusive.
She thought about it and imagined the future in her mind.
It seems... it's pretty good to be with Wen Xuechi?
For decades, driven by the need for a decisive outcome, she had lived solely in the present, making no plans for the future. Illness and injury wouldn't affect her path to revenge; she never imagined she'd make it past thirty. She'd either die on the path to revenge, or one day, avenge her grievances and reunite with her family.
But now, what will happen next?
She suddenly felt curious.
So he held Wen Xuechi's hand in return. He was afraid of hurting her wound and wanted to pull it away, but she held it even tighter.
"Hey!" He was startled and quickly put up his other hand, but she grabbed it as well.
"Wen Xuechi." She called his name softly, the three words being carefully ground between her lips and teeth, making his heart tremble. "Even if my future is uncertain, even if I don't know whether I will live or die tomorrow, will you still choose me?"
"I've already said that I hope to protect you, or be protected by you. In other words," he raised his face and looked at her seriously, "I will live and die with you. I will use everything I have to help you, as long as you need it."
With this sincere promise, he tied his interests and life firmly to hers.
Lou Wanqiao's mind shifted, and she gently tapped her finger on his lips. Her gaze remained calm. "No need to mention those vows. I'll watch your every move. Now... Wen Xuechi, I'm willing to let you walk with me, walk my path, accept my protection, stand in the only place you have, and walk shoulder to shoulder with me."
Those two words were too heavy for her, so Lou Wanqiao didn't dare to say them out loud for the time being.
But for Wen Xuechi, this is enough.
His eyes lit up and he thought, this is great, Zizhao did not reject him, and even accepted him, which is something that no one else can achieve.
Wen Xuechi was very satisfied and happy.
Looking at the dazed look on the face of the man in front of her, Lou Wanqiao couldn't help laughing. She rubbed his cheek with her fingers and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Zizhao!" Wen Xuechi came over cheerfully, then cautiously extended his hand, gently holding her in his arms with her tacit consent. He lowered his head and buried his cheek in the crook of her neck, rubbing it flatteringly, "Zizhao, I like you so much..."
He was like a floodgate that had been opened, and he talked endlessly. This intimate behavior made Lou Wanqiao's ears red. She freed a hand and patted his back: "Alright, alright, I hurt my hand, not my ear. I can hear you..."
"Zizhao..." His voice was muffled, "Can I call you by your real name? When no one is around..."
Lou Wanqiao was stunned.
It had been a long time since anyone had called her real name. Now, along with his words, the dusty memories were revealed, bringing with them decades of worldly affairs.
"Is there any difference?" Lou Wanqiao raised an eyebrow. "No matter which name it is, it's pronounced the same way as Wanqiao. If you don't call out your last name, no one will be able to recognize you."
"...That seems to make some sense," Wen Xuechi fell into deep thought. After a while, he thought, "Then I'll call you A-Qiao from now on. No one will know anyway..."
Her family always calls her Jiaojiao, and her classmates and friends often call her by her name, but few people call her that way.
"If you don't find it strange, then I'm fine." Lou Wanqiao scratched his head; he was the first to feel awkward. "It's getting late, and you must be tired after guarding me for so long. Why don't we..."
Wen Xuechi's eyes lit up: "Okay!"
"Okay...what?" She was stunned, unable to keep up with Wen Xuechi's thoughts.
The next second, he climbed onto the bed and leaned beside her, propping his head up with one hand as he looked at her with a smile: "Rest. Qiao, I'll be with you—Okay, okay, rest."
Lou Wanqiao looked at him with wide eyes and felt a headache: "No, you, you..."
"What's wrong, Qiao? Are you not feeling well?" He immediately looked at her with concern, holding her fingertips and pinching them gently.
"I'm a little uncomfortable with you doing this." Lou Wanqiao stuttered, as if she had just met him for the first time. She felt that Wen Xuechi was very different tonight.
If you want to tell me what is different...
The root cause is a change in the relationship! How come this person suddenly changed his personality?
Facing Lou Wanqiao's suspicious gaze, Wen Xuechi seemed to realize that he had been a bit too impatient. He quickly lowered his head, clenched his fist, placed it on his lips, and coughed twice: "A-Aqiao, your injuries haven't healed yet. I'm afraid you might have a fever at night. After thinking it over, I think it's best for me to stay here with you!"
She was skeptical: "Well, that's fine."
Lou Wanqiao was helped by him to lie down on the bed. As soon as her head sunk into the soft pillow, she began to doze off. Wen Xuechi tucked the corner of the quilt for her: "By the way, Qiao."
"Um?"
"That question just now..." He leaned close to her cheek and sniffed her neck, "Li Yulan... where else did he touch you? Left hand? Right hand? Where else? Once I break this poison, I'm going to chop him up..."
His voice unconsciously grew colder. Lou Wanqiao turned around and caught a glimpse of a gloom in his eyes that hadn't yet been completely extinguished. It was hidden well for a moment, and the fleeting glint was immediately replaced by a warm and gentle smile. "I was just saying this casually. Get some rest."
Lou Wanqiao was silent for a moment, then raised her hand to caress his cheek, her voice growing colder: "Wen Yangui, do you think I'm a kind person?"
Under Wen Xuechi's gaze, she slowly uttered the second half of the sentence: "You don't have to tell me, I will chop him up and feed him to the dogs. Okay, thank you for your hard work these days."
She used a little force on her wrist to lower Wen Xuechi's head, and then kissed the corner of his lips lightly: "Yan Gui, you are also a very good person. Good night."
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