The road leading to the Celestial Palace wound through the mountains, weaving between ancient pine trees whose shadows stretched across the ground like dark fingers.
The sky was clear.
Brilliant.
A shade of blue almost too pure for the tension trapped inside the carriage.
Chen Yue sat on one side, her back perfectly straight, her fingers tightly gripping a small book she was pretending to read in an attempt to calm herself.
In the muted light filtering through the curtains, her lips occasionally moved.
Yet she wasn’t truly reading.
Not really.
Not since they had left.
She turned the pages mechanically.
Without retaining a single word.
Focus.
Focus on the book.
Anything.
Just…
don’t think about him.
Because her mind.
Her heart.
Her entire being.
Was still trapped…
In last night.
Those three words.
Words that had exploded through the darkness.
Words that had seized her heart.
Words that still echoed like thunder inside her chest.
“In that case…
marry me.” He was insane.
Completely insane.
Or perhaps she was still dreaming.
A dream that refused to end.
A dream that followed her even while awake.
How can he ask something like that?
As if it were simple.
As if…
She inhaled slowly and forced her gaze back onto the page.
But every time she looked down, the memory returned.
Wei Ran’s hand wrapped around her waist.
His burning breath against her skin.
And that voice.
That voice capable of shattering everything she thought she knew about him.
Her face heated instantly.
Far too much.
Stop thinking about it.
Stop.
STOP.
She snapped the book shut.
As though she could crush the feeling itself.
And naturally— As if some invisible thread connected their minds— Wei Ran lowered his own book at the exact same moment.
He closed it slowly.
Silently.
With infuriating elegance.
His fingers brushed the cover.
Then he looked up.
And looked directly at her.
Chen Yue immediately turned toward the window.
As though the passing scenery had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in existence.
Unfortunately, her heart wasn’t nearly as cooperative.
It pounded.
Fast.
Far too fast.
Like a panicked drum.
And him…
He could feel it.
Wei Ran didn’t need to touch her.
Didn’t need to speak.
Didn’t need to move closer.
He sensed everything.
Every emotion she emitted.
Every small tremor.
Every change in her breathing.
And her heart.
That heart.
It fluttered like a trapped bird desperate to escape.
She’s nervous.
Because of me.
A smile appeared on Wei Ran’s lips.
A genuine smile.
Small.
Almost invisible.
When had he last smiled?
One hundred years ago?
Two hundred?
Perhaps even longer.
Yet this heartbeat— The one she couldn’t control.
The one racing wildly because of three thoughtless words he had spoken— That heartbeat made him want to smile.
Not mockingly.
Not cruelly.
No.
It was something else.
A gentle amusement.
Curious.
Almost tender.
And surprisingly unfamiliar.
When did I start caring about how she feels?
At the front of the carriage, the coachman raised his voice.
“Young Master.” “Miss Chen.” “We will arrive at the palace in five minutes.” Chen Yue jumped slightly.
Wei Ran didn’t move.
Five minutes.
So this is it.
Instead, he closed his book completely and set it aside.
Then he stood.
The carriage rocked gently beneath him.
And he walked toward her.
Chen Yue instinctively pressed herself against the wall.
Staring at him in disbelief.
“W-What are you doing?” Her voice barely emerged.
Wei Ran didn’t answer.
His eyes remained fixed on her.
The intensity in them was almost tangible.
Yet strangely calm.
Controlled.
It wasn’t the anger from yesterday.
Nor his usual coldness.
It was something entirely different.
A strange mixture of authority.
Quiet gentleness.
And a possessiveness he wasn’t even trying to hide.
Then he took her hand.
The instant his skin touched hers— Chen Yue’s fingers tightened.
Her pulse exploded.
Her breathing caught.
“Wei Ran…?” He was no longer a reasonable distance away.
He was close.
Far too close.
Why is he…
She felt it before he even moved.
His warmth.
His faint scent.
The tension hidden within his muscles.
His silent determination.
Gently, he took hold of her wrist.
As though it were the most natural thing in the world.
As though he had done it a thousand times before.
Meanwhile, Chen Yue felt her blood racing beneath her skin.
Wei Ran reached into his sleeve.
And withdrew a small case.
Round.
Dark.
Covered in ancient carvings.
He opened it.
Inside rested a bracelet.
White jade.
Pure beyond belief.
Threaded with delicate veins of gold.
Each segment appeared hand-carved by a divine artisan.
Sunlight filtering through the carriage window caught the jade.
Soft reflections danced across Chen Yue’s skin.
Almost mystical.
For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
It’s beautiful…
But why…
Wei Ran lifted the bracelet.
And slid it gently onto her wrist.
The jade felt cold at first.
Then— Warm.
Very warm.
As though it were alive.
As though it recognized her.
Chen Yue shivered.
“W-What is this…?” She looked up.
Wei Ran slowly pulled back his sleeve.
Revealing his own wrist.
An identical bracelet encircled it.
The same white jade.
The same gold engravings.
The same ancient design.
Chen Yue’s stomach tightened.
We have matching bracelets?
“Why…” Her voice softened involuntarily.
“Why are you giving this to me?” Wei Ran looked at her for a long time.
Silence settled between them.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Then slowly— He leaned closer.
Closer.
Until only inches separated them.
Until she could feel his breath brush her cheek.
Until her heart lost all control once again.
He tilted his head slightly.
And when he spoke, his voice dropped into a deep, resonant whisper.
A voice that vibrated through her very soul.
“Because…” His gaze never left hers.
“…you belong to me.” The world stopped.
He wasn’t shouting.
He wasn’t demanding.
He wasn’t forcing anything.
But in his eyes…
In his posture…
In the slow, deliberate way his fingers brushed the bracelet now resting on her wrist…
There was no hesitation.
No uncertainty.
No shame.
Only absolute certainty.
Ancient.
Instinctive.
Unshakable.
A truth he no longer bothered hiding.
Heat rushed into Chen Yue’s face so violently she nearly became dizzy.
“I…” Her breath trembled.
“I don’t belong to anyone!” “You’re only saying that to annoy me!” Wei Ran remained silent.
His gaze slowly traveled over her.
As though reading every reaction.
Every heartbeat beneath her skin.
She’s lying.
Her heart says otherwise.
Then he straightened.
Enough to let her breathe.
Not enough to break the tension burning between them.
Outside, the coachman abruptly halted the horses.
“We have arrived.” The carriage stopped.
The sound of hooves vanished.
Now they could hear the crowd.
The palace guards.
The ceremonial trumpets announcing arriving guests.
Then Wei Ran did something even more surprising.
He smiled.
A quiet smile.
Brief.
Almost imperceptible.
But unmistakably real.
He opened the carriage door.
Fresh air rushed inside.
Carrying with it the scent of the palace.
Then, without looking at her, he spoke calmly.
The same calm tone that always disarmed her.
“Remember what I just said.” And he stepped out first.
Chen Yue remained frozen.
Her wrist still burned where the jade touched her skin.
Unable to move.
Unable to think.
Unable even to speak.
She pressed a hand against her chest.
Her heart was still racing.
Slowly, she looked down at the bracelet.
The jade glowed faintly.
As though alive.
What exactly have I agreed to by wearing this?
Outside, she heard Wei Ran speaking to the guards.
Calm.
Authoritative.
She drew a deep breath.
Come on.
You can do this.
It’s only a tournament.
It’s only a palace.
It’s only…
him.
She stood.
Adjusted her robes.
And stepped out of the carriage.
I have to go.
I have to be strong.
I can’t show weakness.
The sunlight blinded her momentarily.
Then she saw it.
The Celestial Palace.
Massive.
Majestic.
Intimidating.
Its towers seemed to pierce the heavens.
Golden rooftops glittered beneath the sun.
Red and gold banners danced in the wind.
Hundreds of people had already gathered.
All dressed in their finest attire.
Couples.
Everywhere.
Hand in hand.
United.
Comfortable together.
And me…
I’m here with him.
Pretending to be…
Her fingers nervously touched the bracelet.
The jade remained warm.
Pulsing softly against her skin.
Like a heartbeat.
Then she looked up.
Wei Ran stood before her.
His hand extended.
Waiting.
Waiting for her to take it.
His face remained expressionless.
But his eyes…
His eyes said everything his lips did not.
Take my hand.
Trust me.
I will protect you.
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