Warm felt herself being lifted, a familiar sensation. Suddenly, her body stiffened. What time was it? Had Princess Xing Yue returned?
Had she been discovered?
"Warm, how could you take off the antidote?"
The familiar voice filled her with despair.
"What's wrong, Warm? Are you unwilling to speak even when you see me?"
Warm muffled, "Where did the little one go?"
Warm's body stiffened, and she grabbed his sleeve, burying her head in his chest.
He paused, then looked at Warm and asked, "Sister, are you willing?"
She raised her head. Though she couldn't see his face, she could feel his gaze fixed on her.
She nodded.
His heart leaped, and he scooped her up, walking towards the bed.
Soon, the bed creaked. A hand emerged from behind the curtains, tightly gripping the blanket.
"Sister, I like you. Will you be with me? You don't have to be a protector in this Qianjin Tower anymore. Can you be the Mistress?"
For a long time, Warm couldn't understand why Wen Ling harbored such feelings for her. In her heart, he had always been that傻乎乎 (silly) younger brother.
But the current Wen Ling was a clear-headed man with ruthless methods.
"Sister..."
She pushed him away.
Wen Ling paused. "Sister, you don't like it?"
Warm remained silent.
"Or is it that you're being so gentle with me for a hidden motive?"
Warm's heart sank. She had forgotten that the current Wen Ling was no longer the same. He was now a meticulous planner.
"Sister, why aren't you speaking? Did I guess correctly?" His voice deepened, carrying a chilling tone.
Warm's body stiffened, and she simply looked at Wen Ling. Wen Ling paused, then quickly went over and buried his head in her embrace. "Sister, I'm sorry. I forgot you can't speak. Forgive me..."
Warm slowly raised her hand and covered his face. His eyes lit up. "Sister..."
"Sister..."
He became lost in the warmth of her palm, slowly closing his eyes.
Xue Xing Yue breathed a sigh of relief and quickly entered.
To avoid being discovered by Uncle Hei, she practically crawled over. She reached Warm, took her hand, and gently wrote, "It's done."
Warm slowly curved her lips into a smile.
"Sister, how long have I slept?" Wen Ling asked when he woke up and saw Warm still sitting there.
After a long pause, seeing no response, he harshly slapped himself. "Sister, don't be angry. I forgot again. You can't speak."
"Uncle Hei, you've slept all night. What were you doing that made you so tired? To sleep for so long?"
Wen Ling stood up and grabbed Xue Xing Yue. "Where were you before?"
"I was here the whole time, under the bed. I heard the bed shaking and was terrified," Xue Xing Yue said, looking at Wen Ling. His expression was not good, and he seemed truly frightened.
Wen Ling's gaze gradually softened. "From now on, you can sleep in the room next door."
"But Uncle Hei, I'm afraid of the dark," Xue Xing Yue said with difficulty.
Wen Ling sneered. "If you don't want to sleep next door, you can sleep outside."
Xue Xing Yue gritted her teeth and said no more.
Wen Ling stood up, lifted Warm from the wheelchair, and said, "Let's go outside. You haven't been out in a long time."
Wen Ling carried Warm away, and Xue Xing Yue quickly followed.
"Sister, are you cold?" Wen Ling asked. Warm shook her head, as if to say she wasn't.
Wen Ling took off his black cloak and draped it over her.
Warm lifted her head, feeling the wind brush against her face. How long had it been since she felt this?
She didn't know. It felt like a very, very long time.
So long that she had forgotten she was once as spirited as a young man.
Now, in her current state, she was neither human nor ghost.
She smiled. She wanted to cry, but she knew tears would change nothing.
It was better to smile, to keep smiling.
Living this lingering existence was only for the sake of seeing the person she had fallen for at first sight one last time.
"Master, one of the pigeons on the rooftop is missing," a black-clothed man suddenly landed before Wen Ling.
Xue Xing Yue trembled. How were they discovered so quickly?
Wen Ling did not get angry or roar. He simply nodded calmly and waved his subordinate away.
He walked to Warm, leaned down, and whispered, "Sister, did you do it?"
Warm remained silent. She felt Wen Ling's hand slowly move to her neck. If he applied any pressure, she could be freed.
But he didn't. He just sighed. "The pigeon couldn't fly out..."
Xue Xing Yue was stunned. What did "couldn't fly out" mean?
Then, Wen Ling whistled. At first, it seemed normal. Soon, there was a fluttering sound, and a snow-white pigeon flew over, a slip of paper tied to its leg.
Xue Xing Yue had never felt such trepidation.
She watched Wen Ling extend his arm, the pigeon landing on it. She saw Wen Ling look at the paper on the pigeon's leg.
Then she watched Wen Ling remove the paper and slowly unfold it.
His expression immediately turned grim. Wen Ling roared, "Yu Xiao Yu, your death is deserved."
Xue Xing Yue was taken aback. This was different from her impression. She had expected Wen Ling to capture her immediately and torture her.
Wen Ling seemed to realize he was being overly agitated. He leaned down and said, "Sister, don't be afraid. I'm just very angry."
Looking at the mercurial Wen Ling, Xue Xing Yue could only hope that Uncle Wen would find them quickly and rescue them. She truly did not want to be with this unpredictable man every day.
That night, Xue Xing Yue was assigned to the adjacent room. Wen Ling had incapacitated her.
When she woke up, it was already bright. She quickly put on her clothes, got out of bed, and went to Warm's room.
"Auntie Nuan," she said, walking up to the bed and taking Warm's hand.
Warm wrote in her palm, "Don't act rashly."
"Don't worry, Auntie Nuan. I know." For now, they could only wait. Uncle Hei was unpredictable, and she would try not to provoke him.
They just had to patiently wait for Uncle Wen to rescue them.
"Auntie Nuan, we'll wait for Uncle Wen."
Warm's body felt somewhat stiff. Xue Xing Yue noticed the abnormality and couldn't help but ask, "Auntie Nuan, what's wrong?"
Warm shook her head and wrote, "I'm fine."
Xue Xing Yue seemed to understand, yet not. Auntie Nuan looked very worried, but she didn't know how to comfort her. Warm gazed into the distance. The person she once held dear, are you well?
"My lord, we are very close," Wen Yu said slowly.
Wen Yu Xi nodded. "Xing Yue is still waiting for me to rescue them."