In sharp contrast to Song Qingzhi’s recent gentle care.
The suffocating feeling of being pulled in two directions made her nearly unable to breathe.
She had to do something.
Biting her lower lip, Su Tiantian finally made up her mind.
She tidied her clothes, feigned nonchalance, and walked out of Jingxin Garden, slowly making her way toward the library.
In the front hall, Song Qingzhi was listening to a report from the senior elder, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest without realizing it.
For some reason, he felt uneasy.
“Handle this matter as usual.”
He interrupted the elder, standing up. “I have other important matters.”
The elder quickly bowed and agreed.
Song Qingzhi strode out of the hall, almost instinctively, his divine perception sweeping over Jingxin Garden again.
Empty.
His steps faltered slightly, and his brows unconsciously furrowed.
Where did she go?
The thought arose, but he immediately suppressed it.
Perhaps she had gone to stroll in the garden, or to look at the flowers.
He shouldn’t be… on high alert over everything.
The library was as quiet as ever.
Su Tiantian glanced around nervously, making sure no one was watching.
Then she hurried toward the familiar bookshelf.
Her heart pounded fiercely, and her palms were slick with cold sweat.
Time was short; she had to hurry.
Recalling the methods taught by Jin Chuan, she concentrated a faint, nearly imperceptible amount of demon energy at her fingertips.
She carefully traced the raised cloud pattern.
This time, she didn’t press directly, but used a special technique to lightly brush over several key nodes of the pattern.
Click.
A barely audible sound, and the previously smooth floor behind the bookshelf silently slid open, revealing a narrow passage just wide enough for one person.
A faint spatial fluctuation, carrying the scent of dust, emanated from the hole.
Su Tiantian’s heart leapt with excitement. She held her breath and peered inside.
A stone staircase descended into darkness.
Completely focused on the passage, she didn’t notice the faint footsteps behind her.
By the time she sensed something was wrong and spun around, Song Qingzhi was already standing not far off.
He simply watched her.
Watched her crouched in that strange position by the bookshelf.
His face showed no expression, but his gaze was so deep it was almost unbearable to meet.
Su Tiantian was terrified and instinctively wanted to stand and explain.
But her legs had gone numb from squatting too long, and she stumbled backward.
“Careful!”
Song Qingzhi’s voice, unusually urgent, snapped through the silence.
In a blur, he was at her side, extending his hand just in time to steady her wobbling body.
Su Tiantian, still shaken, leaned into his embrace, clearly feeling the warmth of his chest.
Yet at that moment, the warmth made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice pit.
It’s over… it’s all over.
Song Qingzhi held her steadily, his gaze fixed on the dark passage for a long time, saying nothing.
The library was eerily quiet, only the sound of their interwoven breaths.
After a while, he spoke, his voice calm, revealing no hint of anger or delight.
“This is not a place for you to come.”
His calmness was unsettling.
Su Tiantian leaned against him, her body stiff as stone.
She even held her breath.
Her mind raced, trying to find a reasonable explanation, but she realized she couldn’t even fabricate a decent excuse.
Desperately, she waited for judgment to fall.
Yet Song Qingzhi did not press the matter.
He guided her to sit on a nearby low couch.
Then he approached the passage, leaning over to examine it carefully.
His fingertips traced the air, and the passage quietly sealed, just as silently as it had opened.
The floor returned to its original, smooth state, as if nothing had happened.
Afterward, he turned to look at Su Tiantian’s pale face again.
“Are you hurt?”
His tone remained calm, betraying no emotion.
Su Tiantian shook her head, dumbfounded, but her heart pounded faster.
Why didn’t he ask? He clearly saw!
Why didn’t he question how she knew about this mechanism, or why she opened it?
Song Qingzhi came closer, squatted down, and brought his eyes level with hers.
His gaze was profound, as if he could see through all her thoughts, yet he revealed nothing.
“Some parts of the library are old and unstable. In the future, if you want to read here, have a maid accompany you.”
He lifted his hand and, as if naturally, smoothed down the strands of hair that had become messy in her panic, his movements gentle.
“Do not come to these secluded places Alone; it is unsafe.”
Su Tiantian stared at him, completely unable to read his intentions.
Was he warning her? Or… protecting her?
(System: Warning! Target behavior abnormal! Did not question as expected, instead exhibiting excessive protective tendencies. Logical analysis: possibility one extremely high trust; possibility two strong vigilance, choosing inaction. Currently indeterminable.)
“I… I understand.”
Su Tiantian lowered her head, afraid to meet his eyes, her voice barely audible.
“Let’s go back.”
Song Qingzhi stood and extended his hand.
Long, clean, well-formed fingers hovered in the air, carrying an unrefusable implication.
Su Tiantian hesitated briefly, then placed her hand in his.
His palm was warm, gently enclosing hers.
Then, holding her hand, he led her step by step out of the library, just as they had come.
On the way back, both remained silent.
Song Qingzhi’s steps were measured; he held her hand the entire way, never letting go.
Yet Su Tiantian felt as if an invisible barrier lay between them.
The more he didn’t ask, the gentler he was, and the more flustered she became.
That night, the atmosphere in Jingxin Garden was unusually delicate.
During dinner, Song Qingzhi still arranged the dishes for her as usual.
At bedtime, he naturally slept by her side, his arm habitually wrapped around her waist, holding her in his embrace.
Everything seemed as before, perhaps even more intimate.
Yet Su Tiantian could clearly feel that the consciousness shadowing her was denser and more focused than ever, almost inseparable.
It was a silent confinement.
He no longer asked where she had gone or what she wanted to do.
He simply ensured she remained firmly within his line of sight.
Su Tiantian lay in his embrace, back to him, eyes wide open, completely awake.