Chu Lingzhi smiled. "As long as you're healthy and happy, that's all that matters."
Fu Chunyan grinned from ear to ear. "Having you stay at my place makes me incredibly happy!"
The chirping of crickets outside sounded like a crisp, delightful melody, wonderfully pleasant.
Fu Chunyan held Chu Lingzhi's hand like a mother caring for her daughter, her tone unusually gentle. "Lingzhi, go inside and sleep now. Tomorrow, going up the mountain will be exhausting."
"Alright." Chu Lingzhi stood up. "You should head inside too. Remember to go get the medicine tomorrow."
"Okay, okay..." Fu Chunyan nodded, smiling as she watched Chu Lingzhi.
Chu Lingzhi walked lightly back to her room.
The moment she closed the door, she turned back to glance at Fu Chunyan.
Under the lamplight, she stood there smiling at her, looking so kind and amiable.
Chu Lingzhi's nose tingled, and she swallowed the lump in her throat. She gazed deeply at Fu Chunyan. "Sister Chunyan, Xibing's father hoped you could live healthy and well. He didn't want to see you lose your health from grieving over his passing. Xibing also needs your care and company."
Fu Chunyan froze at the words.
When Chu Lingzhi closed the door, her tears instantly streamed down—
Back in her room, Chu Lingzhi didn't go to bed.
She felt no drowsiness at all. Even lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
She stood by the window, gazing outside, lost in thought about many things, staring blankly into space.
Suddenly, a warmth enveloped her from behind, startling her.
She tried to turn around but found herself pressed tightly against that familiar, solid chest.
"Master Nangong, scaring someone can be fatal," Chu Lingzhi frowned.
"I called you, but you didn't answer," Nangong Yehen said, holding her from behind, his chin resting on the top of her head. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," Chu Lingzhi replied.
Nangong Yehen curled his lips. "Nothing? Then why didn't you hear me?"
Chu Lingzhi didn't answer him but asked instead, "How did you wake up?"
"You're not sleeping in my arms, so I wake up easily."
"..." Chu Lingzhi frowned, her heart stirred.
She couldn't let this continue. If it did, she'd fall for him.
She turned around to face him and removed his hands.
In the dim moonlight, his refined features were like a masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship.
"Go back to sleep," she said deeply. If she didn't sleep soon, dawn would come.
She walked past him, but after just two steps, he suddenly pulled her back.
He drew her into his embrace, one arm wrapping around her slender waist, the other gently stroking her hair.
"Chu Lingzhi, I know you're feeling down. If you want to cry, cry in my arms right now," the man's voice was low, tinged with a hint of authority.
The meaning was clear: after crying, she had to cheer up and stop dwelling on this.
"Crying loudly here would wake the baby."
"I'll go outside with you to cry." He took her hand, ready to leave.
Chu Lingzhi immediately stopped him. "I never said I wanted to cry!"
Even if she did, she wouldn't cry in front of him. And certainly not outside—it was the dead of night, and if anyone heard crying, they'd think she was a ghost.
"People who are heartbroken feel better after a good cry," Nangong Yehen said, looking at her.
Chu Lingzhi glared at him. "I've cried plenty of times already!"
"But your heart still aches."
"Your heart aches!" Chu Lingzhi refused to admit it in front of him.
Nangong Yehen's gaze deepened as he quietly looked at her. "My heart does ache."
"...Really?" Chu Lingzhi was stunned.
"Do you think I'm joking?"