"I heard it's Eldest Cousin's birthday tomorrow, I want to..."
"Princess Jiu, do as you wish. This Song manor has no place that can restrain you," Song Xiuyuan said coldly without lifting his head.
"Xiuyuan Gege, I..."
Before Princess Jiu could finish, Song Xiuyuan turned his head to look at Xue Xingyue and asked, "Are you done eating?" Xue Xingyue was startled, but seeing the gentle gaze in Song Xiuyuan's eyes, her heart stirred slightly. She couldn't help but recall what had happened in the secret room yesterday.
She felt her heart beating rapidly and instinctively wanted to leave. "I'm done eating, I'll take my leave first." She stood up to leave, but she had forgotten that Song Xiuyuan was still holding her hand.
"My wife, what's the hurry?" Song Xiuyuan held her hand, looking at her. His eyes were like starlight, twinkling and softening the vast expanse of the starry sea, finally converging and emitting a brilliant glow.
She was taken aback. Suddenly, a sharp gaze fell upon her. She knew without looking that it was Princess Jiu.
"Xiuyuan Gege, she is merely your fiancée, not yet your wife." Princess Jiu's sharp gaze turned pitiful when she looked at Song Xiuyuan.
"She will be," Song Xiuyuan stood up, holding Xue Xingyue's hand, his voice gentle. "Let's go!"
Xue Xingyue couldn't shake off Song Xiuyuan's hand, so she had to leave with him. She even forgot to bow to Princess Jiu. It was only after they left Jinghe Garden that she remembered, her heart skipped a beat. She had truly offended Princess Jiu this time.
"Can you let go now?" Xue Xingyue turned back and asked Song Xiuyuan.
"My wife, why are you so fierce to your husband? You weren't this fierce earlier," Song Xiuyuan looked at her with piercing eyes.
Those brilliant starry eyes and his exceptional demeanor gazed at her, and her heart beat faster and faster. She took a deep breath and looked at Song Xiuyuan. "What you did will make Princess Jiu see me as a thorn in her side. My days ahead might not be easy."
"So, are you planning to abandon me?"
She was stunned. She hadn't expected Song Xiuyuan to say such a thing. She instinctively looked at him; his expression was the same as before, but she vaguely sensed a hint of sadness.
"I..."
"Don't you believe I can protect you?" he asked again, his deep voice somewhat muffled. For a moment, she felt an unprecedented sense of oppression, like someone slowly licking their wounds in the darkness.
"I... I don't know." She shook her head. She truly didn't know. Ever since she was betrayed by Meng Jiangming and then by Qi Yuze, she seemed unable to trust any man easily. Even if this person was her savior, she couldn't fully trust him. So she didn't know, didn't know how to believe.
She stood there, a gentle breeze blowing. She felt a chill. She remembered how she had spent her days and nights after rebirth in regret and self-reproach.
Therefore, could she still trust anyone completely?
Suddenly, she was pulled into an embrace. Although it carried the coolness of the wind, when she was fully embraced, she realized it was warm, not the initial scorching heat, but a gradual warmth. "Can you trust me?"
She was startled, her eyes becoming a little moist. "Can you trust me?"
His deep, magnetic voice echoed in her ears again and again, so melodious.
It gently stirred her dormant heart, and her once cold heart seemed to be melting bit by bit.
"Trust me, I won't let you be hurt again, no matter when!"
This was clearly impossible to achieve, but for some reason, she wanted to believe him.
Perhaps she wanted to be protected. Perhaps he had protected her before?
"Okay," she said softly.
Her forehead hair was suddenly lifted, followed by a moist, slightly cool touch. Her body stiffened, and she froze.
"My wife, what's wrong?" Song Xiuyuan noticed the person in his arms had become stiff.
She pushed him away, flustered and at a loss. "I... I'll go back first." With that, she fled in a panic.
Watching the somewhat flustered figure, he smiled, his eyes suddenly dazzling. He touched his lips and sighed, "When will you truly belong to me? My little princess?"
Xue Xingyue fled back to her room as if escaping. Qin Erniang, who had returned earlier, saw her flushed face and couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Miss, what did you put on your face? Why is it so red?"
"I... I'm fine, my face is just hot." Saying this, she threw herself onto the bed and covered her face with the quilt, preventing Qin Erniang from seeing.
"Miss, what's wrong? Should Qin Erniang call a doctor to take a look?" Qin Erniang asked.
"No, no, you go out! I want to rest!" she said from under the quilt.
"Are you really alright?" Qin Erniang asked with concern.
"It's nothing, nothing."
"Then if you need anything, call me," Qin Erniang said after a glance, and then left.
Hearing the door close, she poked her head out from under the quilt. Even after returning to her room, she could feel her heart pounding violently. Why was she so nervous?
Her heart was beating uncontrollably, making her feel weak all over, as if she were suffocating.
However, she couldn't deny the burgeoning feeling in her heart.
In her memory, Meng Jiangming had also kissed her forehead like this. Although she had been happy then, her heart had never beaten so uncontrollably as it did today. This joy was indescribable.
"You've fallen for him." A voice suddenly appeared in her mind. She froze.
She... she had fallen for Song Xiuyuan. She quickly shook her head. No, no, it was just because she rarely met men, especially excellent ones like Song Xiuyuan, so... so...
Was it?
She felt completely overwhelmed. Had she really fallen for him?
Recalling his tender gaze, his deep voice echoing in her ears.
Her heart, which had calmed down, began to race again.
"I'm going to die, I'm going to die," she covered her face.