And that “self” with the golden-patterned petal imprinted between her brows used her magical power to shatter the ropes, then slapped him hard across the face. A stern, resonant voice echoed through the cave: “How dare you.”
Yet the man merely covered his cheek, lowered his head, and curled his lips into a faint smile. The low chuckle that escaped his throat reached her ears: “Don’t be angry, my lord. It was I who upset you. I shall punish myself to appease your anger.”
Suddenly, the dagger in his hand plunged fiercely into his own heart.
Blood splattered, staining the golden-patterned petal between her brows and her pristine white robes, then dripped profusely down the blade.
He seized her hand and drove the dagger deeper together, his voice both lingering and maddened: “My lord, let’s carve it out and see. I never meant to anger you. Let’s see if this heart of mine is filled entirely with you.”
The “self” with the golden pattern glowing with golden spiritual power between her brows tried to pull her hand back, but he held it tightly, until blood flowed and covered their hands. “You’re insane! What do you want?”
With a forceful twist, blood splashed onto “her” face once more.
Amid the crimson haze, his voice, both smiling and deranged, reached her: “Isn’t it obvious… I want you, my lord.”
Shameless!
Madman!
A true lunatic!
In the dream, Wen Shuyu couldn’t free her hand at all. Her white robes were dyed red with blood, blurring her vision drop by drop.
Watching this continue, the heart was about to be carved out alive.
She struggled with all her might and abruptly woke up.
A gentle breeze outside the carved-gold window stirred the bed curtains before her. The calming incense on the purple sandalwood table wafted delicate smoke, and on the nearby cushion, the Kylin Beast lay sleeping soundly, drooling.
Thank goodness, it was just a dream.
Why would she have such a dream?
But, fortunately, it was only a dream.
She would never be with a madman like that, nor did she like that type. She preferred someone like Xiao Jingchen—gentle, refined, saintly, and scholarly, a noble gentleman with an immortal aura.
No matter what she did, Xiao Jingchen would never get angry, unlike that gloomy, kidnapping lunatic.
Wen Shuyu patted her chest and sighed in relief.
No, this dream was too terrifying. Where was Xiao Jingchen? She needed his masculine charm to calm her nerves.
Meanwhile, at the Bamboo Garden.
Fuling hurried to the palace entrance and urgently reported to the guard eunuch: “Quickly inform His Highness the Crown Prince! My young lady had a nightmare and has been murmuring His Highness’s name.”
Inside the room, Xiao Jingchen heard the commotion. Before the guard eunuch could report, he pushed open the door, threw on his cloak, and headed toward the Plum Garden.
At the Plum Garden, by the time Xiao Jingchen rushed over, Xiao Liu had already vanished to sleep elsewhere.
In the vast chamber, the dim candlelight flickered intermittently. A desolate cold wind blew in, and Wen Shuyu huddled on the couch, covering her ears with her hands, trembling as she lowered her head and sobbed softly, still shaken.
“Wen Shuyu?” Xiao Jingchen approached the couch, his voice soft and gentle as he called her name, his gaze tender.
Wen Shuyu lifted her tear-streaked face and immediately threw herself into his arms, her body trembling slightly, her voice choked with heavy sobs: “I had a nightmare… Brother Crown Prince…”
Xiao Jingchen let her hold him, asking gently and calmly: “What did you dream about? Don’t be afraid. Tell me. You’re usually so fearless—what could have frightened you like this?”
Wen Shuyu’s almond-shaped eyes were moist, a few teardrops clinging to her lashes finally fell. “I dreamed that I was useless, still a failure in cultivation… Crown Prince Brother still didn’t like me. In the end, you ascended to godhood, leaving me alone in the mortal realm to pass away…”
Her misty eyes sparkled, reflecting the vast, shimmering galaxy outside the window and the clear silhouette of the person before her. She gazed over, filled with hope and affection.
She said.
“Crown Prince Brother, could you like me, please?”
“Even if it’s only for a few years, after you ascend in the future, I would have no regrets even in death.”
“I really like you so much.”
At this moment, anyone looking into her eyes would likely find it hard to refuse.
Xiao Jingchen’s lips curved into a faint, gentle smile as he shook his head kindly and advised, “Being liked by me is not a good thing.”
“You should think carefully. The word ‘like’ cannot be spoken lightly. You would have to take responsibility for it, understand, A’yu?”
“If you don’t want to like me anymore now, you can still step back. But after some time, it will be too late.”
“You must think clearly…”
Each sentence felt like a rejection. Wen Shuyu’s gaze dimmed.
The second plan, failed again?
She released her hold on Xiao Jingchen’s waist, turned her head away, unwilling to acknowledge him, pulled the blanket over herself, and lay back down on the bed. “You may leave. I wish to rest.”
Yet Xiao Jingchen still spoke slowly with concern, “You’ve cried more these past few days than in the previous three years combined. If you keep crying, your eyes will turn into peaches. Your mischievous nature from before was better for your health.”
Who’s mischievous?
Who looks like a peach?
Wen Shuyu wanted to kick him flying in her heart, but she suppressed her resentful anger, muffling her voice under the blanket, “It’s all because I like you, and not being able to have you makes me so sad…”