The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 87

But you also need to know, protecting you is my responsibility, too.

The guards, led by Qu Ting, held their positions. Qu Ting dismounted from the carriage and saw the bandits¹ staring them down, making no move. Are they weighing their chances? he wondered. Trying to decide if they can take us?

They had only brought about fifty men, but every single one of those guards was a seasoned fighter, not to be trifled with. On top of that, they had several martial officers from Shoulin who had escorted the Qu family’s Second Uncle and Second Aunt.

Qu Ting studied the mounted bandits, his mind racing. After a moment, he walked forward with a few of his men.

The man who appeared to be the leader saw him approach and casually hoisted a heavy saber onto his shoulder.

“Greetings, brave heroes,” Qu Ting began, his tone even. “We are merely returning to our hometown for a sick family member to recuperate. We are not merchants carrying cargo, and we have nothing of value. Our numbers are about equal. Why must we fight until both sides are defeated and injured?”

It wasn’t that the Qu family couldn’t handle these men. But a fight would mean delays and inevitable casualties. And if anything happened to the people in the carriages, he would have no way to answer for it when he returned.

The bandit leader, a man with thick brows, wide eyes, and a ferocious expression, kept his gaze locked on Qu Ting. The men behind him, however, kept glancing toward the Qu family carriages in the distance.

Qu Ting followed their line of sight to the wooden chests on the wagons. He lowered his eyes for a second before speaking again. “How about this? I will give you all the silver we are carrying. Please, grant us safe passage and let my party leave.”

While Qu Ting stood there negotiating, Lin Xizhao lifted the carriage curtain and described the scene to Qu Sheng. After listening for a moment, Qu Sheng asked, “How many paths are there to get through this area?”

Lin Xizhao paused, recalling the terrain. She stuck her head out of the carriage, took another look, and said, “Two roads ahead, and only one behind us.”

“Tell Third Brother to stop negotiating. Attack now.”

Qu Sheng’s words caught Lin Xizhao by surprise. “Why? If we can get through this without a fight, isn’t it worth losing some silver?”

“The terrain here is open, but the east is a river and the west is a forest. With two roads forward, we can always get out. But if we keep delaying here and more men arrive from behind, we’ll be trapped.”

And that wasn’t even considering the possibility of an ambush up ahead.

Lin Xizhao didn’t question Qu Sheng’s logic. She thought for a brief second before calling for Feng Qi, who was standing guard outside. After hearing the message, Feng Qi nodded and hurried toward Qu Ting.

Qu Ting inclined his head, listening to the words Feng Qi relayed from Qu Sheng. He nodded, then whispered, “Protect the two Meimei.”

His offer of money had been met with complete indifference. Qu Sheng had to be right—they were stalling for reinforcements.

It seemed these men intended to leave none of them alive.

Qu Ting looked up at the bandits, who were still treating him—this seemingly frail, scholarly man—with dismissive contempt. Without another word, he drew the sword from the guard beside him. In a flash, he leaped forward, and the bandit leader’s head went flying from his shoulders. Instantly, the Qu family guards surged into action.

Qu Ting took a step back, watching the bandits’ expressions shift from stunned shock to furious rage as they fought back. It all happened in the span of a few heartbeats.

He turned and ran back toward the carriages as the two sides clashed in a chaotic melee behind him. He kept looking over his shoulder until he mounted a swift horse and led the carriages down one of the alternate paths.

This road was rougher than the one the bandits had blocked, and narrower by more than half. After the carriages had traveled for about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea², Qu Sheng had Feng Qi relay another message to Qu Ting: “Stop immediately.”

Qu Ting pulled hard on the reins, raising a hand to halt the column. Qu Sheng then gave her next order: have everyone turn back and charge straight through the bandit blockade.

Confused, Qu Ting spurred his horse and galloped toward their carriage. He had just reined in his mount when Lin Xizhao threw open the curtain. Qu Sheng leaned toward the opening and said, “There’s an ambush ahead.”

Qu Ting’s face was a mask of confusion.

Lin Xizhao quickly explained. “Even though a fight broke out back there, it’s not like there was zero chance for them to come after us. These bandits have plenty of men, yet none of them broke off to chase the carriages. They just kept fighting our guards.”

Highwaymen rob for money, but these men showed no interest in the wagons carrying their silver and supplies. They were only focused on killing the Qu family guards. Something was deeply wrong.

The moment he heard this, Qu Ting ordered the convoy to turn around. The Qu family guards coordinated their attack, carving a path for them.

Just as the carriages broke through the center of the bandit line, two new groups of masked men swarmed in from behind—one from the southwest road, the other from the direction they had originally come from.

Qu Sheng’s guess had been dead on. They had been lying in ambush the entire time. The southwestern road was a narrow pass, the perfect place to slaughter them all. The guard driving their carriage cracked his whip, and the two horses strained, galloping for their lives. But after only a moment, the carriage began to lurch uncontrollably.

Qu Sheng sensed something was wrong and immediately tried to go outside, but Lin Xizhao held her back. “Don’t move. I’ll go.”

Qu Sheng was blind. Even if something had happened to the guard, she couldn’t drive the horses.

“No. Call Feng Qi over,” Qu Sheng commanded, her voice sharp and serious.

The carriage careened wildly, veering off the path. The stones on the ground sent violent jolts through the cabin. Qu Sheng’s body was thrown off balance, but she instinctively wrapped her arms around Lin Xizhao, shielding her from the impacts.

Lin Xizhao steadied herself and glanced outside. Feng Qi looked like he desperately wanted to split himself in two, but he was fully occupied deflecting the arrows the masked men were firing at them from behind.

“Don’t worry. If I can ride a horse, I can drive one,” Lin Xizhao said, preparing to climb out.

Just as she tried to pull her hand free, Qu Sheng gripped her again, tighter this time. “You are not to go!”

Staying inside the carriage offered a sliver of safety for now. But if she went out, she could be shot down by those masked men, just like the guard must have been. Qu Sheng couldn’t let Lin Xizhao take that risk.

Lin Xizhao frowned, her voice strained with urgency. “The horses have no one controlling them! They’ll run wild!” It was worse than that. With the clash of swords and the spreading scent of blood, the animals’ sensitive noses would have already picked it up. They were probably terrified.

“No. You stay put. I’ll go,” Qu Sheng said, fumbling her way toward the front of the carriage.

Seeing this, Lin Xizhao pressed Qu Sheng’s hand down. It was dangerous for her to go out, but it wasn’t for Qu Sheng? Besides, she was blind. What difference would it make if she was outside or not?

“Please, listen to me. I’ll be careful,” Lin Xizhao pleaded, her voice almost a whisper.

“No. No, Xizhao.” A panic unlike any she had ever known seized Qu Sheng. “I can’t lose you.”

“Sheng’er won’t lose Jiejie. I’ll be careful. Please, trust me?” Lin Xizhao glanced outside again. The terrain was open here, but to the east was the river. Horses could swim, but one of them couldn’t see and the other couldn’t swim. If they ended up in those rushing waters, their chances of survival were slim to none.

Qu Sheng didn’t have time to curse her own blindness. She thought for a second and said, “We’ll go together.” Her eyes were useless, but her ears were sharp. If an arrow flew their way, she could at least try to block it for Lin Xizhao.

Lin Xizhao hesitated. In that instant, the carriage gave a massive jolt, nearly tipping over completely. As it tilted, Qu Sheng locked her arms around Lin Xizhao, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Qu Ting and the others were still fighting behind them, holding off the enemy. Their Third Sister-in-law had even joined the fray. The guards who had been flanking their carriage had been tied up by bandits during their charge.

The two of them clung to each other. Once the carriage righted itself, they prepared to move. But just as Lin Xizhao reached for the front curtain, she felt someone climb onto the driver’s seat.

Qu Sheng instinctively yanked Lin Xizhao back again. She listened intently to the sounds on the floorboards outside, her body tensed for a fight. But the person didn’t try to force their way in and kill them. Instead, the frantic horses seemed to regain their senses, gradually slowing to a stop.

“Xizhao? Little Sheng’er? Are you two okay?”

The horses came to a halt, and the person outside lifted the curtain.

The voice was familiar. Qu Sheng frowned in confusion for a second, just as Lin Xizhao cried out in delight, “Bingying!”

Xiao Bingying stood outside the carriage, smiling as she nodded. Seeing Qu Sheng’s defensive posture, she said, “Jiayu sent me. I brought a team with me.” She glanced into the distance. “That carriage that stopped up ahead should be your Second Uncle’s. The guards Zhao Jiayu sent with me have already gone to help.”

Hearing Xiao Bingying’s words, Qu Sheng visibly relaxed, though her brow remained tightly furrowed.

“They’re cleaning up the rest. Don’t worry,” Xiao Bingying added. She had brought a squad of archers from the Zhao Family.

Lin Xizhao nodded, about to say something more, when she noticed Xiao Bingying’s gaze was fixed intently on Qu Sheng, scanning her from head to toe.

Lin Xizhao followed her gaze and looked at Qu Sheng too. “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Bingying noted the fine beads of sweat on Qu Sheng’s forehead. “Sheng-meimei,” she asked gently, “are you hurting somewhere?”

Lin Xizhao’s mind flashed back to a moment ago, when the carriage had tilted. She had fallen completely onto Qu Sheng. The seats in the carriage were built with a hard frame. If she remembered correctly, Qu Sheng’s side must have slammed right into it.

“Sheng’er!” Lin Xizhao’s voice was laced with sudden panic as she moved to check Qu Sheng’s body.

“I’m fine,” Qu Sheng said, but her face was pale.

Xiao Bingying didn’t ask again. She stepped forward and gently pressed a spot on the side of Qu Sheng’s chest. “Does it hurt here?”

The light touch made Qu Sheng’s body tremble in pain, but she clenched her jaw and didn’t make a sound.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’ve fractured a rib.” Xiao Bingying knew this pain all too well; her own ribs had only recently finished healing.

“It’s nothing,” Qu Sheng insisted, but Lin Xizhao was already frantic with worry.

“You two wait here. I’ll get some medicine to dull the pain.” From Qu Sheng’s reaction, it was likely just a minor fracture. It would heal with a few days of rest.

As Xiao Bingying left the carriage, Lin Xizhao carefully helped Qu Sheng sit down.

Her face was etched with concern. A few moments later, Qu Ting and the others arrived. He stood outside the carriage, his voice urgent. “Xizhao-meimei, how is Sheng-meimei?”

Lin Xizhao heard his voice and opened the curtain. Qu Ting was covered in bloodstains, his expression anxious. “Bingying said she might have a broken rib,” she replied.

Qu Ting’s brow furrowed. He took a few steps forward and climbed directly into the carriage.

The carriage swayed as he entered. He saw Qu Sheng sitting to one side, her brow creased in pain, while Lin Xizhao gently wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. The anger simmering inside him boiled over. “I’m going to kill them all,” he bit out through clenched teeth.

Outside, the situation was under control. Between the reinforcements Xiao Bingying had brought and the fact that the Qu family guards were never at a disadvantage to begin with, the attackers had been routed and were now fleeing in all directions.

Everyone now knew that Qu Sheng was injured. The wounded guards were being tended to by a doctor on the spot.

When Xiao Bingying returned, she was leading a horse. She stopped beside their carriage and lifted the person off the horse’s back. “Wait here for me,” she said in a soft voice.

Xiao Bingying climbed into the carriage, gave Qu Sheng the medicine she’d brought, and then used a cloth bandage to bind her torso. “You can’t move around too much…” she instructed.

“It’s nothing. I can manage.”

Xiao Bingying wanted to suggest they delay their trip to Haichao Kingdom for Qu Sheng’s sake, but Qu Sheng had already guessed her thoughts and made her decision clear.

Xiao Bingying glanced at Lin Xizhao beside her, considered for a moment, and said nothing more.

An hour later, the group was reorganized and ready to move. They had notified the yamen in the nearest county town to send men to clean up the site. The most seriously injured of the Qu family guards were left behind, while the rest continued their journey.

It was only as they were about to depart that Lin Xizhao looked outside and realized Chengxi had come along as well. She was riding on the same horse as Xiao Bingying. When Chengxi saw Lin Xizhao looking, she gave a small nod.

“Why don’t you two come into the carriage with us?” Lin Xizhao offered. She didn’t know why Chengxi was here, but she guessed Xiao Bingying hadn’t wanted to leave her behind in the capital and had brought her along for safety. The carriage was spacious enough for four, and with Xiao Bingying close by, she could better tend to Qu Sheng’s condition.

Xiao Bingying didn’t refuse. She dismounted, lifted Chengxi down, and then helped her into Qu Sheng’s carriage.

Once inside, Chengxi nodded to Lin Xizhao again, her expression filled with self-reproach. “This is my fault. If I hadn’t suggested you go to Doctor Liu, none of this would have happened.”

Chengxi had witnessed the entire bloody affair from a distance, mounted on her horse. While the gore had been unsettling, she hadn’t shown any fear, and Xiao Bingying had already comforted her.

“How could this be your fault?” Lin Xizhao said matter-of-factly. “You only gave us a direction. The decision to go was ours. If anything, we should be thanking you for recommending a doctor.”

They had known something like this could happen before they even left. They had made thorough preparations, but they hadn’t expected their enemies to dispatch so many assassins, even colluding with bandits.

And they still couldn’t figure out which faction was behind it. The Imperial Noble Consort certainly hated them enough, but to be able to mobilize bandits for her own use showed a level of influence that was truly extraordinary.

Then again, it might not have been the Imperial Noble Consort at all. Qu Ming’s death last month was connected to the investigation into the death of their eldest brother, Qu Ce.

One thing was certain: both of these factions wanted them dead.

Once Xiao Bingying and Chengxi were settled, the carriage began to move again. The delay meant that dusk was already settling by the time they reached the city.

Qu Ting announced his identity at the city gates, explaining that they had been attacked by assassins and bandits. The local prefecture immediately dispatched a contingent of soldiers to protect them.

Because of her injury, Qu Sheng couldn’t bathe properly, so Lin Xizhao could only help her by wiping her down. The warm towel and gentle motions made Qu Sheng’s skin tingle, and though the pain in her side remained, a different kind of itch began to stir in her heart.

But with her injury, she could do nothing. As Lin Xizhao’s towel moved to other places, Qu Sheng’s face began to burn.

Though she was blushing crimson, she didn’t make a sound. After Lin Xizhao had finished, she had their meal brought in.

Lin Xizhao blew on a spoonful of hot congee, her mind drifting back to what Qu Sheng had said in the carriage today.

She can’t lose her.

Stirring the bowl, Lin Xizhao felt more certain than ever that Xiao Bingying’s warning had been right. If she hadn’t acted when she did, Qu Sheng’s condition would have only gotten worse. Qu Sheng’s mood had been stable these past couple of days; it was clear that she herself was the source of Qu Sheng’s “heart sickness.”

“Sheng’er, have some congee.”

The rest of the Qu family had already come to see her, but Qu Sheng had remained on the bed, silent and unresponsive. Lin Xizhao could feel the helplessness that had gripped Qu Sheng in the carriage earlier.

Qu Sheng cared for her, and she cared for Qu Sheng. If their positions were reversed, she wasn’t sure she could have done as well as Qu Sheng had. Within the confines of that carriage, within the limits of her ability, Qu Sheng had protected her perfectly.

Lin Xizhao sat on the edge of the bed, watching Qu Sheng’s tightly closed eyes. She could guess why her mood was so low right now.

Instead of calling her name again, Lin Xizhao set the bowl aside and slowly leaned closer.

She pressed her lips to Qu Sheng’s, which were pale at the moment. The soft, gentle motion made Qu Sheng’s eyes flutter open. Though she couldn’t see, she could sense the dark shadow of the person in front of her.

After a moment of gentle suction, Lin Xizhao felt Qu Sheng respond. She slipped her tongue past her lips, easily entering the warm, soft territory within. It was a place she used to shy away from, but now, she found it utterly addicting.

Swept up in Lin Xizhao’s passion, Qu Sheng soon raised a hand and gently pushed her away. She turned her face to the side, taking a shaky breath to compose herself.

Qu Sheng hadn’t spoken a word on the way back. When their Second Uncle, Second Aunt, and even their Third Sister-in-law, Qian Shuangying, had come to visit, she had ignored them completely. Qu Sheng was always polite and kind to her family; treating them like air could only mean she was lost in her own dark thoughts again.

“Was I completely useless today?” Qu Sheng finally asked, her voice filled with a profound lack of confidence. If Lin Xizhao hadn’t kissed her just now, she might have stayed silent forever. She had imagined a crisis like this before. In the past, she would never have been so helpless. She had let Lin Xizhao be terrified alongside her, and had nearly forced her into danger.

“Sheng’er protected Jiejie very well today. How could you say you were useless?” Lin Xizhao said, disagreeing completely.

Qu Sheng heard the comforting tone in her voice and knew she was trying to console her. She gave a bitter smile. “If we run into something like this again, we might not be so lucky.” If Xiao Bingying hadn’t arrived in time, she might have truly let Lin Xizhao walk into danger.

That kind of risk was something she should have taken on herself. But because she was blind, she had no choice but to let Lin Xizhao do it.

“Sheng’er, I know you want to protect Jiejie, and I know you see that as your responsibility. But you also need to know, protecting you is my responsibility, too. No one is meant to be protected all the time. We protect each other.”

“But it was too dangerous,” Qu Sheng whispered. The carriage was bucking, the horses were on the verge of stampeding, and assassins were firing arrows at them. The slightest misstep and Lin Xizhao could have been killed. Guilt washed over her, and she felt trapped by her own powerlessness, unable to escape.

Lin Xizhao heard the childlike helplessness in Qu Sheng’s voice.

She didn’t feel that being with Qu Sheng meant she was the one who had to be protected. In the past, Qu Sheng had protected her, and she had accepted it because she trusted in Qu Sheng’s abilities. But now, compared to her, Qu Sheng was the one who needed protection. She had failed to protect Qu Sheng today. If anyone should feel guilty, it should be her.

Lin Xizhao gazed at Qu Sheng’s averted face, then leaned down and brushed a light kiss across her lips. Her voice was gentle. “Sheng’er, Jiejie knows what you’re worried about. But one person can only do so much. Just like how I couldn’t protect you in that situation. You already did so well. And thanks to your protection, I’m completely unharmed. When your eyes are healed, Jiejie believes you’ll be able to protect me even better.”

When she heard the words “healed your eyes,” a sharp pain pierced Qu Sheng’s heart. She had pinned her hopes on that traveling doctor, but what if he couldn’t cure her? What if she was blind for the rest of her life?

Lin Xizhao finished speaking and watched Qu Sheng’s face. She saw panic, helplessness, and shame flicker across her features. Then, she heard Qu Sheng ask, her voice trembling with fear, “What if my eyes can’t be cured?” She had asked this question before, but back then, she had been resigned to losing Lin Xizhao. This time, she wanted to selfishly keep her by her side.

Lin Xizhao let out a soft, low laugh. “Then that’s even simpler. From now on, we’ll just stay in our little courtyard and never go out.”

No matter how she phrased it, Qu Sheng couldn’t seem to untie the knot in her heart.

“Won’t you get bored?” Qu Sheng didn’t believe Lin Xizhao could stand it. Being stuck with a blind person would surely be even more stifling.

Lin Xizhao chuckled softly. “How could I? When has our courtyard ever been quiet?” Zhao Jiayu was a restless soul who ran over every few days, sometimes three or four times in a single day, always managing to scrounge a meal. If she had children in the future, Lin Xizhao worried Qu Sheng would find it too noisy.

“In our free time, we can play chess and listen to music. If we get bored, we can have Bingying and the others come over. Besides, we still have Jiayu, don’t we?”

Zhao Jiayu was a handful. She probably wouldn’t settle down much even after having a child. By then, the threshold of Qu Sheng’s little courtyard would likely be worn smooth by her and her daughter—or son.

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s soothing words, Qu Sheng felt a stir of emotion in her heart. But time could change a person’s mind. She was blind. How long could Lin Xizhao’s feelings for her really last?

Still, after Lin Xizhao’s reassurance, much of the gloom that had settled over her began to dissipate.

Lin Xizhao fed Qu Sheng the rest of the congee, then bathed and went to bed with her. Qu Sheng’s injury prevented her from moving much, but Lin Xizhao was perfectly fine.

Today had been more than just a scare; it had woven a new web around Qu Sheng’s heart. On the road to Haichao Kingdom, Lin Xizhao was determined to help her unravel it. And after they arrived and she received treatment, if her eyes weren’t cured, she would make Qu Sheng believe that she would never leave her. She had to preemptively stop her condition from worsening again.

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More than half a month later, Qu Sheng’s party arrived at the Shoulin Fiefdom.

The injury to her ribs had noticeably improved. Xiao Bingying’s diagnosis of a minor fracture had been correct; it would have healed in a few days, but their constant travel had prolonged the pain.

This was Lin Xizhao’s first time at the Qu family’s ancestral lands. Nanting Courtyard, the estate here, was countless times larger than their residence in the capital. It was the place the Qu family had guarded for generations, and it was where Qu Sheng had been born.

Lin Xizhao helped Qu Sheng to her personal courtyard, a place that was quiet but not remote. Feng Qi had grown up here and knew it like the back of his hand. He led them into the courtyard, and after seeing Lin Xizhao get Qu Sheng settled, he guided Xiao Bingying and Chengxi to the guest wing.

Throughout the journey, Xiao Bingying and Chengxi had ridden in their carriage. Worried about another attack, they had requested to share a single room for safety. Now that they had arrived, Feng Qi followed the same arrangement and had only one room prepared for them.

After settling them in, Feng Qi returned to Qu Sheng’s courtyard to report.

“Miss, Miss Chengxi is the princess of Haichao Kingdom. If she goes to Haichao Kingdom…” Feng Qi wanted to suggest they leave Chengxi in Shoulin for the time being.

He trailed off, but his concern was clear. He worried that once Chengxi was back in her home country, she might refuse to leave again. She was traveling with the Qu family; if she suddenly vanished within Haichao Kingdom, someone could easily blow the incident out of proportion and frame them for colluding with a foreign power, a crime tantamount to treason.

If handled properly, the Qu family would be unharmed even if Chengxi chose to stay. But the younger generation of the family had been targeted repeatedly. The forces behind these attacks were far from ordinary.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” Qu Sheng said, unconcerned. Lin Xizhao had discussed this with her before. Their conversation hadn’t been about Chengxi refusing to return, but about how the ruler of Haichao Kingdom would react when they arrived with her in tow.

The messengers sent to summon Liu Wuxiang had already returned—he refused to leave his home. Bringing Chengxi along wasn’t strictly necessary, but since she knew him personally, it would surely motivate him to give his utmost effort in treating her. This was likely what Zhao Jiayu and Qu Yu had intended all along; otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent Xiao Bingying to catch up to them with Chengxi.

Feng Qi had said his piece and didn’t press the matter. He wasn’t a talkative person, but just before they left, Qu Jinian had spoken with him privately. With Qu Sheng blind and her moods unstable, Qu Jinian had asked him to keep a close eye on her and offer guidance when needed.

After Feng Qi left, Lin Xizhao had someone prepare hot water. After a long day of travel, and with Qu Sheng being injured, she needed to rest properly now that they were home.

These past few days, aside from the occasional kiss initiated by Lin Xizhao, Qu Sheng seemed to be deliberately restraining herself.

Lin Xizhao helped Qu Sheng bathe, gently scrubbing her smooth, pale back. Qu Sheng’s eyes were open, but her mind was lost in a spiral of self-doubt. Lin Xizhao’s words had helped, but her blindness was the root of her illness. The closer they got to Haichao Kingdom, the more sensitive she became.

Every move Lin Xizhao made, every word she spoke—if Lin Xizhao paused for even a second before replying, she would immediately imagine she was growing impatient with her.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “My body hurts, my heart hurts, my head hurts. I need Jiejie’s kisses and hugs to get better.”

Lin Xizhao: “Keep waiting.”

Qu Sheng’s illness is depression. This illness makes people overthink things in ways they can’t control, unless they can figure it out for themselves and eliminate the source of the illness.

Chinese medicine can help to a certain extent, but it only serves to temporarily regulate the body and prevent emotional distress from causing physical harm. (Purely my personal understanding.)

The reason Qu Sheng is still holding on now is because of Lin Xizhao’s companionship. The moment Lin Xizhao leaves, her inner world will collapse, and she will have self-harming and suicidal tendencies, which is why Lin Xizhao is so attentive.

Zhao Jiayu: “See? This is the fate of a love brain³. Never make another person your entire emotional support system. Rely on a mountain, and the mountain will crumble. Rely on a person, and the person will run.”

Qu Sheng: “Easy for you to say. It’s an inescapable fate⁴, you know? How could I not fall when she’s so wonderful? She moved right into my heart-ba⁵ and now I can never pull her out.”

Qu Yu: “So cheesy.”

Qu Sheng: “……”

The previous chapter wasn’t locked. It’s the original flavor.

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