"Master Nangong, thank you."
Chu Lingzhi buried her face in his clothes, inhaling the faint herbal scent on him.
Nangong Yehen smiled faintly. "What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for being with me when I was at my lowest."
Nangong Yehen's gaze deepened. "That great fire—that was the hardest time of your life, wasn't it?"
"Pain, fear, grief, helplessness..."
"But I wasn't by your side then."
"It's enough. Having you by my side now is enough." Chu Lingzhi sobbed.
"Silly woman, let the past be the past. Don't hurt anymore. Listen to me, stop crying."
Nangong Yehen stroked her hand, trying to offer her comfort and warmth.
"I'm crying because I'm moved."
"Why are you so moved?"
"You're too good to us. I feel like I don't recognize you anymore."
Nangong Yehen raised an eyebrow. "I'm good to you, and you don't recognize me?"
"Before we came here, you were still that proud, noble, and aloof Master Nangong. Now, you seem like a good man."
Nangong Yehen glared in displeasure. "Chu Lingzhi, I've always been a good man!"
"I didn't think so before."
"Whether someone is good or not isn't judged by appearances, nor by what others think."
It's about understanding with your heart, seeing clearly who they are—whether they're good or bad will naturally reveal itself.
Isn't there a saying: A long road tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart?
"..."
Chu Lingzhi said nothing. Right now, she didn't care if he was a good man or a bad man; she just needed his shoulder to lean on.
Nangong Yehen suddenly curled his lips, a hint of teasing in his tone. "I'm so good to you—how will you thank me?"
"What do you want me to do?"
Wasn't treating his injuries for free every day enough?
"Give yourself to me."
"I've already done that a few times." Chu Lingzhi's face flushed as she scolded playfully.
"Have I?" Nangong Yehen thought back. Wasn't it only twice?
"Our son is five years old—what do you think?" Chu Lingzhi said angrily, suddenly pulling away from him.
Nangong Yehen moved quickly, turning around and pulling her back into his arms.
Chu Lingzhi was startled. He wasn't really thinking of asking her to give herself to him right now, was he?
Seeing her flustered and shy, Nangong Yehen smirked, his smile wicked. "Our son is five. I've forgotten what it felt like five years ago. How about we relive it now?"
"No!" Chu Lingzhi refused. Not only was he not fully recovered, but even if he were, she wasn't in the mood.
Nangong Yehen looked at her with amusement in his eyes, then suddenly leaned in and kissed her fiercely.
Chu Lingzhi, afraid he might actually go through with it, struggled.
"Master Nangong, this is Sister Chunyan's house."
Nangong Yehen reluctantly let her go, his voice low. "I know."
His kiss left Chu Lingzhi's heart pounding like a deer in headlights. She turned her face away, unable to meet his deep, tender gaze.
The look in his eyes made her heart race and even stirred something in her... a flutter.
It was like a magnetic whirlpool—she feared that if this continued, she'd drown in it.
"When do you want to leave?" Nangong Yehen pinched her chin, staring into her eyes.
"When do you want to leave?" Chu Lingzhi countered.
If it were up to her, she'd want to stay here longer to spend time with Grandpa Hu.
He was different—he had a million things to do. A few days here probably meant losing out on billions.
"Whenever you want to leave, I'll leave then." Nangong Yehen smiled.
They were living happily here, and with Mo Chen handling things in T City, he wasn't in a rush to go back.