Chapter 455: Why, Can’t I?
"Yun Ji? What are you doing here?"
Qian Mou stared blankly, his face flushing faintly under the pristine moonlight. "Shuishui, you lied to me."
Qiao Xixi opened her mouth. Thinking of what she had done to him when she lost control, she really wanted to slap herself.
"I’m sorry, Yun Ji. I shouldn’t have... I almost hurt you."
Qian Mou’s gaze locked onto her. Listening to her words, the hurt in his eyes could no longer be hidden. "Why? Why can’t it be me?"
He lowered his gaze, his voice soft. "You said you wanted me to stay with you always, always. But now, you’re pushing me away."
Qiao Xixi had never seen him like this. In her clearer memories, Yun Ji had always been a sacred, inviolable existence.
But now, the man before her was like an injured cub, helplessly and sorrowfully accusing her, ’Why did you abandon me?’
A heavy feeling settled in Qiao Xixi’s chest, and in that instant, the Yun Ji before her seemed to transform into the boy he once was.
The young Yun Ji was holding a large bouquet of pale blue flowers. They were blooming beautifully, but Qiao Xixi felt they were no match for the brightness of the boy’s eyes.
The boy carried the flowers to the water’s edge. Usually so fastidious, he plopped right down on the bank, leaning halfway over the water.
"Shuishui, look what I brought you! It’s Wisteria. They say Wisteria has purifying powers. I’ll put the flowers in the water for you."
The fresh petals fluttered down. Qiao Xixi could almost smell the faint floral scent, making her whole body feel cleansed and comfortable.
She wanted to move closer to the boy, but her body felt incredibly tired, as if being dragged down by a heavy weight.
"Yun Ji, I feel so awful..."
"Shuishui, don’t be afraid. I’ll find a way to purify you. Wait for me."
The boy’s brow furrowed with worry, but his gaze grew even more determined. He turned and left quickly.
The boy’s face gradually morphed into Yun Ji’s current appearance. She could barely stand his accusatory gaze.
"Yun Ji, I’m sorry..."
Yun Ji averted his gaze. Qiao Xixi saw a single, crystalline tear roll from the corner of his eye.
Qiao Xixi’s heart clenched, and her breath caught in her throat.
With great difficulty, Yun Ji spoke. "Fine." The hoarse word fell from his lips, and he turned to leave.
"Yun Ji."
Reason told Qiao Xixi she should let him go, but her body moved faster than her mind. Before she knew it, her hand had already grabbed hold of his feathered robe.
She looked up at his tense profile. The moonlight spilled across his face, shrouding him in a cold, lonely aura.
"What I mean is, you’ve forgotten so much because of your missing Beast Soul. It wouldn’t be fair to you for either of us to make any decisions right now."
Qiao Xixi pressed her lips together and said with determination, "After I find the source of the Dark Primordial Stone, successfully purify it, and release your Beast Soul, you’ll regain all your past memories. At that point, whatever you decide, I won’t have any objections."
Yun Ji turned back in astonishment. "Any decision? At all?"
"Yes!"
The gloom in his eyes vanished in an instant, and his features relaxed. Qiao Xixi stared, dumbfounded. ’He’s truly more beautiful than any Wisteria.’
"Okay."
"It’s late. You should go back and rest."
"Mm."
Only after Yun Ji’s figure disappeared from the palace did Qiao Xixi let out a breath. She turned around to see Jin Ling leaning against the doorframe.
Qiao Xixi’s expression froze, the awkwardness of being caught red-handed washing over her.
She walked over to Jin Ling and leaned gently into his arms.
"Jin Ling."
Jin Ling held her close, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
"Xixi, my heart aches, too."
Qiao Xixi pressed her lips together, her arms around him tightening slightly.
Jin Ling let out a breath. He carried her back to the stone house, closed the door, and carefully laid her on the bed.
His gilt-gold pupils gazed deeply at her.
Qiao Xixi couldn’t help but reach out and gently stroke his brow.
Jin Ling took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly.
"Whether it’s Sunxiao, Feiyan, Sangze, or Xijing, this is difficult for me."
Qiao Xixi lowered her eyes and leaned against his chest, listening to the strong, steady beat of his heart.
"I’m sure Sunxiao and the others feel the same way I do. But we all know that if any one of us tried to have you all to himself, he wouldn’t be able to fully protect you and the children."
"Between possessing you and protecting you together, we all tacitly chose the latter. Because in this world, nothing is more important than you living well and happily."
"So, I’ll tell you the same thing you told Yun Ji: from now on, whatever you decide, I won’t have any objections. We weren’t there for your distant past, so let’s walk together into the future."
Qiao Xixi clutched the front of his shirt, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Jin Ling..."
"Don’t cry. It breaks my heart."
His scorching palms cupped her small face, his gentle kisses tasting the tears as they fell, one after another.
In the night-shrouded courtyard, Qiao Yi stood alone. He gazed at the moon and sighed softly.
"Silly children."
「The next morning.」
The first thing Qiao Xixi did upon waking was grab the parchment. When she saw the dot that had appeared where the lines intertwined, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.
The pattern was finally complete. Now, the only thing missing was the color sequence.
She wanted to see if it would work without having formed a pact with Yun Ji.
Qiao Xixi was about to get out of bed when Jin Ling wrapped his arms around her from behind. She let out a soft cry as she fell back into his broad, searing embrace.
"Awake already?"
His morning-rough voice sounded by her ear, reminding Qiao Xixi of their frenzy the night before. ’He really poured all of his love for me into his performance,’ she thought. ’As if he wanted to drown himself inside me.’
"The pattern is complete. I want to go try it right away."
Jin Ling grunted in acknowledgment, throwing back the fur blanket and getting out of bed.
The bright light illuminated his tanned skin, making every contour of his body exceptionally clear to her.
Qiao Xixi stared, mesmerized. Even after being intimate countless times, her body still had an immediate, primal appreciation for his.
As if completely unaware, Jin Ling casually picked up his leather clothes and put them on. His every move exuded the potent aura of a sated male.
After getting dressed, he picked up a clean fur tunic and returned to her side, dressing her with meticulous, gentle care.
"Why is your heart beating so fast?"
Jin Ling looked up, meeting her dazed blue eyes, and chuckled. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Qiao Xixi blinked, snapping back to reality. ’Jeez, Jin Ling’s been corrupted! He’s actually learned how to seduce me!’
’Hmph.’ Qiao Xixi’s nimble fingertips traced his V-lines, her tone deliberately mischievous. "That’s right, I’m feeling unwell. Can you cure me?"
His gilt-gold pupils darkened. He surrendered, gently grasping the hand that was playing with fire.
"I’ll go make you breakfast first."
Qiao Xixi and Jin Ling left the stone house to wash up. While Jin Ling was busy in the backyard, Qiao Xixi took out the parchment to study it.
But while she waited, an unexpected visitor arrived at Feather Palace.