"Lord Xin, there's no need to be so polite with us. Protecting Xuan'er is our due responsibility. Moreover," Ge Zian glanced at Ge Long'an with a meaningful look in his eyes, "Father and I have our personal guards stationed here on the border. We won't encounter any trouble. Please go back to the capital city with peace of mind, Lord Xin."
"Then I'll leave Xuan'er in your care."
Wei Shuxuan pouted and gave Xin Zizhao a look. Saying he was leaving her in their care made it seem as if he wasn't coming back. She didn't like the way Xin Zizhao had put it. "Alright, alright. Stop talking about this. Let's start having dinner."
Since they had finished dinner just now, Wei Shuxuan had been looking rather sullen. Xin Zizhao found it strange. They had been chatting amicably just a moment ago. How had she suddenly changed her expression?
Although Xin Zizhao was good at seeing through others' minds, there were times and places where his ability didn't work, like right now.
The candlelight flickered in the room. The warm, yellow light swayed gently, and the atmosphere in the room grew calm. Xin Zizhao followed Wei Shuxuan back into the room. Her discontent was clearly visible in the flickering light. Xin Zizhao sat down beside her and gently took her hand. "What's wrong? Did something make you angry?"
"Yes," Wei Shuxuan turned to look at him. "I don't like it when you say things as if you'll never come back after leaving. It makes me feel so uneasy."
Xin Zizhao was taken aback. The glistening in Wei Shuxuan's eyes was like a tiny needle, unexpectedly pricking at his heart, and a dull pain slowly crept up. The words he had said at the dinner table earlier flashed through his mind one by one. Suddenly, he caught a key phrase, and the hard lines of his handsome face softened.
"I'm sorry, Xuan'er. I didn't consider your feelings and said such things recklessly, making you feel uncomfortable. It's my fault."
"When you told me that the Emperor said he had something urgent and wanted you to go back, I had a bad feeling. I was so afraid that something would happen to you. I so hoped that my premonition was wrong."
"Sorry, it's my fault, Xuan'er."
Xin Zizhao guiltily pulled Wei Shuxuan, who was sitting beside him, into his arms. After feeling the warmth of Xin Zizhao's embrace, the uneasiness in Wei Shuxuan's heart dissipated a little.
"It's getting late. Let's go to bed early."
"Um..." Wei Shuxuan raised her head and looked at Xin Zizhao. "Let's chat for a while before going to sleep, okay?"
Looking at Wei Shuxuan's somewhat pitiful yet cute face, Xin Zizhao subconsciously nodded. "Alright, then let's chat for a while before going to sleep."
They chatted until late at night. Xin Zizhao looked at Wei Shuxuan's sleepy face, listened to her voice getting softer and softer, and finally felt the weight of her as she fell asleep in his arms. He looked down at her sleeping face and was determined that nothing would happen to him.
People are often afraid of things they know nothing about because they can't grasp the unknown.
Before dawn, Xin Zizhao got up. After washing up, he changed his clothes. Then he turned and walked to the bedside. He leaned over and gently kissed Wei Shuxuan on the face. In a daze, Wei Shuxuan felt a warm and familiar breath surround her. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Xin Zizhao's face looming large. She couldn't help but reach out and grab his clothes.
Caught off guard by Wei Shuxuan grabbing his clothes, Xin Zizhao lowered his head and was a bit stunned. Then he slowly squatted down and took Wei Shuxuan's hand. "Are you awake?"
"Are you leaving?" Wei Shuxuan's voice was tinged with the morning's languor and a hint of pitifulness.
"Don't worry. I'll come back for you."
Sleep still lingered around Wei Shuxuan. Xin Zizhao's voice became ethereal, floating through Wei Shuxuan's ears, gentle as if falling into soft cotton.
"It's almost time. I should go now."
Feeling the warmth in her hand gradually fade away, Wei Shuxuan subconsciously tightened her grip on Xin Zizhao's hand. She didn't want him to leave. Instantly, she drove away the sleep that had been hovering in her mind. Xin Zizhao thought for the first time that Wei Shuxuan could be so clingy. It was really rare to see this side of her.
Xin Zizhao took Wei Shuxuan's hand and walked to her side, letting her hug him. "I promise you that I'll keep in touch with you after I get back to the capital city. Don't worry, okay?"
"...Really?" Wei Shuxuan reached out and hugged Xin Zizhao's waist tightly.
"Really. You weren't so clingy before. Why are you acting like a spoiled child and hugging me now?" Xin Zizhao teased Wei Shuxuan.
"...Anyway, I just don't want you to go!" Wei Shuxuan raised her still-sleepy little face and coquettishly buried it in Xin Zizhao's arms, which made Xin Zizhao a bit at a loss.
In the room, Xin Zizhao finally managed to coax Wei Shuxuan. Then he walked out of the room. Wei Shuxuan followed behind him, looking reluctant. Xin Shang, who had been waiting outside for a while, saw Xin Zizhao walking out slowly with Wei Shuxuan beside him.
"My lord, shall we... take Miss Xuan back with us?"
"...Xuan'er, do you want to go back with me?" Xin Zizhao turned around and put his arm around Wei Shuxuan.
"...No," Wei Shuxuan replied in a muffled voice. "I just don't want you to go back."
"Since you're not going back with me, I should go now. Otherwise, we won't be able to get back to the capital city on time."
Hearing this, Wei Shuxuan finally obediently let go of Xin Zizhao's clothes. Xin Shang rarely saw Miss Xuan being so vulnerable. Usually, Miss Xuan was a very carefree person, and no one seemed to be able to arouse her enthusiasm.
"Xuan'er," Ge Zian's voice came from behind. Wei Shuxuan didn't turn around. "Alright, stop being naughty. Don't stop Lord Xin from going back to the capital city. If he's late, things might get even worse. You don't want that, do you?"
"I'm not that easy to be deceived, Zian. I'm not a brainless weak woman. But, forget it," Wei Shuxuan waved her hand. "I know that the matters in the palace are very important. It's just that... I haven't had enough fun yet, and you're already going back..."
Wei Shuxuan murmured in a low voice. Xin Zizhao couldn't help but find it a bit funny after hearing this. "I know. After I've taken care of everything, I'll go out and roam the world with you."
"Really?"
"I'll never go back on my word!"
"Then let's pinky swear on it!" Wei Shuxuan stretched out her little finger and hooked it with Xin Zizhao's.