Watching Lin Jiayan nibble at a single piece of beef like a kitten, Chahar couldn’t help shaking his head.
She had been eating for ages, yet there was still almost a full bowl left.
“Even a one-year-old eats more than you do.”
He had already finished his own meal. Scooping up a spoonful of soup, he held it to her lips.
“Just leave it there. I’ll drink it myself.”
The wounds on her hands had mostly healed, leaving only a thin layer of bandages. She still wasn’t very skillful with chopsticks and had to use a spoon.
“By the time you finish that piece of meat, the soup will be cold.”
Chahar knew her too well by now and ignored her attempt to evade him.
“Open your mouth.”
Lin Jiayan obediently drank the soup.
“Ahem. Eating dinner, are you?”
A familiar voice suddenly sounded from the entrance.
Bule Humu had walked in.
Seeing the two of them in that position, he coughed awkwardly.
“Father.”
The pair quickly put down their bowls and stood to greet him.
“The Princess is still recovering. No need for formalities.”
Bule Humu casually found a seat and sat down.
“This time, you saved our tribe.”
He paused.
“As for the misunderstanding before… I’ve come to apologize.”
Lin Jiayan exchanged a glance with Chahar.
“There’s no need, Khan. The situation was urgent, and your suspicions were understandable. Since it’s already over, there’s no need to bring it up again.”
Bule Humu stared at her in surprise.
“The Princess is remarkably generous.”
He laughed.
“Now I feel like a narrow-minded old man.”
Then he stood.
“Very well. Once you’ve fully recovered, we’ll hold a celebration banquet in your honor and thank you properly.”
As he left, he glanced at Chahar and gave him a sharp kick.
“You brat.”
After Bule Humu departed, Lin Jiayan immediately narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Chahar.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
Chahar rubbed his nose.
She was about to continue interrogating him when he picked up the bowl of soup again.
“Finish eating first.”
Lin Jiayan’s face instantly fell.
She turned and attempted to escape.
Chahar’s arm shot out.
Before she could get away, he hauled her into his lap.
Half coaxed, half forced, she finished an entire bowl of soup and another half bowl of beef.
By the end, she was leaning limply against his shoulder, one hand pressed to her overly full stomach.
The question she’d wanted to ask was long forgotten.
Hearing her yawn beside his ear, Chahar helped her sit upright.
“Sleepy?”
Lin Jiayan rubbed her eyes vigorously.
Her lips puffed out slightly.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?”
He frowned.
Lately she’d been rubbing them constantly.
Taking her hand away, he gently pulled down her lower eyelid to examine it.
“They’re red.”
“Probably irritated.”
She replied absentmindedly.
“Just need some eye drops—”
She immediately stopped herself.
“What eye drops?”
Chahar’s eyes narrowed.
“Uh…”
Lin Jiayan scrambled for an explanation.
“Medicinal herbs. Cooling herbs.”
“A few drops and it’ll be fine.”
“You put medicine directly into your eyes?”
Chahar looked deeply suspicious.
“I’ve never heard of that.”
Then he stood up.
“What herbs? I’ll get them.”
Having accidentally talked herself into a corner, Lin Jiayan could only continue digging.
“No need. They’re common herbs. Cheren already has them.”
Following her instructions, Chahar crushed several herbs into juice, filtered the liquid through cloth, and collected it in a small bowl.
Cheren stood nearby clutching his notebook.
“Taiji, this treats eye disease?”
“Yes.”
Cheren immediately began writing.
“I learned something new today.”
Like a diligent student, he carefully recorded every detail.
“Stop standing there.”
Chahar kicked the back of his knee.
“Go get me some reed tubes.”
Soon, Chahar returned carrying a bowl of green herbal liquid and several thin reed tubes.
Lin Jiayan leaned over and sniffed it.
A cool minty scent rose from the bowl.
Refreshing and invigorating.
“So…”
Chahar stared helplessly at the tube in his hand.
“How exactly do I do this?”
“You suck up a little medicine and drip it into my eye.”
Lin Jiayan leaned back in her chair and tilted her head upward.
“I’m ready.”
Chahar held the tube above her face.
Looking down, he suddenly found his reflection in her wide eyes.
His fingers trembled.
The medicine missed completely and landed on her nose.
“Hey!”
Lin Jiayan wiped it away.
“Don’t be nervous.”
“Stop looking at me.”
“If I don’t look at you, how am I supposed to get it into your eye?”
She laughed.
Chahar took a deep breath and tried again.
But every time he lined up the drop, she started laughing.
Her eyelashes trembled.
The dimples in her cheeks deepened.
He couldn’t aim at all.
Finally, he used one hand to hold her eyelid open.
“Stop laughing.”
“Stop moving.”
The drop slipped again.
This time it landed on her cheek.
“Taiji.”
She grinned.
“Are you washing my face?”
The sight of her smile hit Chahar harder than expected.
The candlelight flickered softly.
Two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks.
He had never been this close to her while she laughed.
Warmth spread through his chest.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Quieter.
The candlelight swayed.
His eyes darkened.
Without thinking, he leaned forward.
And kissed her.
The contact lasted only an instant.
A light brush of warm lips.
Yet the sensation shot through him like lightning.
Lin Jiayan froze.
The smile was still lingering on her face.
She hadn’t even had time to put it away.
Her mind went completely blank.
Staring at him in shock, she forgot to breathe.
Fortunately, Chahar withdrew before she could react.
“Didn’t I tell you not to laugh?”
A smug grin appeared on his face.
“And not to move?”
His eyes sparkled mischievously.
“If you keep laughing, I’ll kiss you again.”
Lin Jiayan sat there speechless.
Her lips still tingled from the unexpected touch.
Her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Chahar seized the opportunity.
While she was still stunned, he accurately dripped the medicine into her eye.
“Mm!”
The cool liquid entered her eye.
Instinctively she squeezed it shut.
Medicine streamed from the corner of her eye.
Taking advantage of the moment, Chahar quickly treated the other eye as well.
Soon, two trails of green-tinted tears ran down her cheeks.
Her eyelids fluttered from the irritation.
After a moment’s thought, Chahar removed the band from his forehead and tied it gently over her eyes.
“What is this?”
Lin Jiayan touched the silk covering her vision.
“Keep your eyes closed.”
He caught her hand before she could pull it away.
“Rest.”
Silence settled between them.
Unable to see, Lin Jiayan felt strangely nervous.
The atmosphere had become… different.
“Ahem.”
She cleared her throat.
“Chahar?”
“Hm?”
His voice sounded very close.
Too close.
The warmth of his breath brushed her face.
Her heart immediately began pounding.
“You…”
The rest of her sentence vanished.
Because Chahar kissed her again.
This time, there was no playful restraint.
One hand supported her jaw.
The other rested behind her head.
Slowly.
Patiently.
He deepened the kiss.
Warmth flooded between them.
“Mm…”
Lin Jiayan’s breathing grew uneven.
Her thoughts dissolved into chaos.
She pushed weakly against him.
The gesture carried almost no strength.
At last, sensing she was nearly out of breath, Chahar finally pulled away.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
The desire in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Lin Jiayan’s lips were flushed and slightly swollen.
She gasped softly for air.
“You…”
Embarrassed and annoyed, she punched him lightly.
“Why do you always take advantage of people?”
Chahar caught her hand.
Then pressed it against his chest.
Drawing her gently into his arms, he spoke softly.
“Yanyan.”
“When you’re fully recovered…”
He hesitated.
“Will you drink the wedding wine with me again?”
At the time of their marriage, he had resented the arrangement.
They had never properly shared the ceremonial cup.
Looking back now, it felt like a regret.
A missing piece.
Beneath the blindfold, Lin Jiayan smiled.
“This time…”
Her tone carried a trace of teasing.
“You’re not going to throw me out afterward?”
Chahar looked at her lips as she spoke.
And suddenly found himself wanting to kiss her all over again.