Qiqi watched Rong Yi scrubbing away like a picture-perfect wife, and she was about to lose it. "Rong Yi, stop washing."
"It's fine, just wait for me. One incense stick's time, and it'll be done." Rong Yi turned back, flashing her an incredibly indulgent smile. To Qiqi at that moment, that smile was deeply unsettling.
She practically scrambled and crawled her way out into the courtyard.
Rong Yi had a problem—there was definitely something wrong with him. Could it be that after she forcefully kissed him, he'd gotten traumatized too?
One incense stick's time was about fifteen minutes. Gu Qiqi sat dazed under the locust tree, racking her brain for a plan.
She knew that the demon realm Rong Yi used to live in was somewhat similar to the ancient human world, especially in the upper echelons of demon society, where there were strict hierarchies and feudal codes. So, in Rong Yi's eyes, that kind of intimate contact between them counted as crossing the line of "men and women should not touch hands," right? Was that why he was so shaken, acting so abnormally? That proposal—was it just a casual remark?
Damn it, why did the demon realm have to have so many rigid rules?
Rong Yi finally emerged from the kitchen, a gentle smile on his face.
Before he could sit down, Qiqi quickly blurted out, "Rong Yi, I'm sorry about tonight. I didn't mean to."
Rong Yi paused slightly. "Qiqi, what do you mean?"
Qiqi lowered her head, her face flushed red. "I mean, what happened tonight was really due to circumstances. You don't need to take it to heart at all..."
It was just a kiss, after all. For a man, it shouldn't mean much, right?
But a trace of melancholy flickered across Rong Yi's face, as if he'd been hurt. "You can brush it off, Qiqi, but I can't."
He looked into her eyes and said seriously, "Qiqi, I need to take responsibility for you."
"No need, really..."
"I want to marry you."
"You can't be serious?"
"Then... you take responsibility for me."
"What?"
"I said, Qiqi, you need to take responsibility for me."
As if he'd found Qiqi's weak spot, Rong Yi stepped closer, leaning down to meet her gaze. "I know what happened tonight was because of the aphrodisiac, and you couldn't control yourself. But since you've already kissed me, you have to marry me."
Ahhh... Qiqi was completely petrified.
Whoosh, a few black crows flew overhead, cawing "caw caw" as if echoing Qiqi's chaotic inner turmoil—crazy, this man had truly gone crazy...
Time seemed to stretch on for as long as an incense stick's burn.
Finally, Qiqi grimaced. "Rong Yi, you're joking, right?"
A strange expression crossed Rong Yi's face, impossible to tell if it was joy or sorrow. Then he quickly turned his back to her, his voice muffled. "What if I'm serious?"
Qiqi was dumbfounded, flustered, at a loss for how to respond.
Just then, Rong Yi's broad shoulders began to tremble slightly, followed by a stifled, snorting sound from his chest—was he really angry?
Qiqi murmured softly, "Rong Yi, I'm sorry, okay? I really didn't mean to force you..."
Before she could finish, Rong Yi suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter, so joyful it seemed every pore was opening wide. "Haha, I was just joking with you. Why are you so scared? Hahaha..."
So that trembling and snorting earlier was all because he was laughing, holding it in.
Qiqi wiped her brow and shot him a speechless glare. "Rong Yi, that joke wasn't funny at all."
"Who told you to reject my proposal?"