Chapter 116: I’ll Wait Right Here For You To Come Back
“Sigh!” Mo Ziyuan also felt worried for her. Although he hadn’t investigated to verify it, he felt that things were most likely just as he had guessed. As for why the Imperial Consort from back then had arranged for the person to be here, it should be for the same reason that the Crown Prince had them lie low in this place.
“You have to keep this a secret for me, okay?” Lin Xin urged him.
“Don’t worry, I don’t want this matter to come out any more than you do!”
“Forget it, we’ll get through one day at a time. We’re just holed up in this little ravine—who could possibly find us? Besides, this is all just your guess. Maybe the truth isn’t like that at all! Right?” Lin Xin rubbed her face and looked at Mo Ziyuan as she spoke.
“You’re right! I’ve only seen that jade pendant once at the Crown Prince’s place too, so it’s possible I remembered wrong.” Mo Ziyuan went along with her.
The two of them comforted themselves like Ah Q for a bit, then glanced at each other and burst out laughing with a “puchi.”
“What’s meant to come will come. There’s really no need to worry unnecessarily right now.” Mo Ziyuan took Lin Xin’s hand, lowered his head, and looked at her seriously. “No matter what happens in the future, I’ll stand by your side. Believe me.”
Lin Xin looked at their clasped hands and nodded silently.
Over these three years, her relationship with Mo Ziyuan had become a bit more ambiguous. She believed in his feelings for her, but she had no confidence at all about their future. She knew full well how difficult it was for two people from mismatched backgrounds to be together.
“Just leave everything to time!” she thought, burying her head like an ostrich.
In the following days, Lin Xin indeed stopped bringing Lin Tao out in public, and even saw Lin Nan less often.
“Sis, have you stopped wanting me?” Lin Nan looked at her tearfully, pouting as he asked.
“How could that be? Who did you hear nonsense from?” Lin Xin pulled him into her arms like she did when he was little and patted his back as she asked.
“But Nan Nan hasn’t seen Sis for a long time.” Lin Nan finally couldn’t hold back and burst into tears. Lin Tao stood to the side, staring curiously with wide eyes. After thinking for a bit, he came forward and used his chubby little hand to wipe his uncle’s tears. “Little Uncle, don’t cry!”
Lin Nan’s feelings toward Lin Tao were complicated. Before he showed up, he had been the only little treasure of his sister, whom she always kept by her side no matter what she did. But ever since Lin Tao arrived, he was the one clinging to Sis, while he himself had started spending all day with Master and the others.
He always felt like Lin Tao had stolen his sister, and that he should really dislike him. But for some reason, whenever he looked at him with those big black grape-like eyes, he always had the impulse to fetch him the stars from heaven even if it meant setting up a ladder.
“Then will Sis spend more time with Nan Nan from now on, okay?” Lin Xin felt her shoulder’s clothes slowly getting wet and suddenly wanted to slap the self she’d been avoiding these past few days.
She had truly gone mad wanting to be a salted fish, grinding away all her fighting spirit. So what if their background was real? If someone really meant them harm, could she, a triple supernatural ability user, not protect herself and a little brat?
“Really? Sis isn’t lying to me?” Lin Nan asked her tearfully, seeking confirmation.
“Of course. Sis was wrong before. Sis absolutely won’t make that mistake again!” Lin Xin promised seriously.
“Mm, then pinky promise!”
“Pinky promise!” Her soft little finger hooked with her sister’s fair slender finger, then a short plump little finger stretched over too. “Tao Tao wants to pinky promise too!”
“Okay, we’ll all pinky promise!” The three fingers tangled together awkwardly.
“Yo, what’s up with Nan Nan? How’d he turn into a little crybaby?” Gao Yong happened to come looking for Lin Xin and saw Lin Nan with red eyes buried in his sister’s arms. He was shocked—to think Lin Nan trained in martial arts with Mo Ziyuan and never cried even when covered in bruises—so he quickly came over to ask.
“I’m fine.” Lin Nan shyly buried his face in his sister’s arms and answered softly.
“Brother Gao, are you here for me? What’s up?” Lin Xin quickly changed the subject to help her brother out.
“Right, I almost forgot the serious matter.” Gao Yong slapped his forehead. “A letter from the capital says His Majesty isn’t doing well. We need to head to the capital as soon as possible. Zi Yuan sent me to ask if you want to come with us or stay in the village.”
“Are you starting the preparations?” Lin Xin asked.
“Mm,” Gao Yong dropped his usual playful demeanor and nodded seriously. “Yes, His Highness has made full preparations. Just in case, we need to go provide support.”
“Is everyone going?”
“Old Cui isn’t, Yi Chen is staying too. Everyone else is going.”
“Then I won’t go. Wishing you all success in advance!”
“This… alright! I’ll go tell Zi Yuan.”
Gao Yong hesitated to speak as he looked at Lin Xin, but even when he left, he didn’t say what he wanted to.
That night, Lin Xin was sleepless. She tossed and turned on the kang, unable to fall asleep no matter what.
Suddenly, there was the sound of very light footsteps outside the door. She did a carp jump off the bed, opened the window a crack, and sure enough, saw that familiar figure standing quietly under the moonlight.
“Xin’er!” Seeing the window open, Mo Ziyuan supported himself with one hand on the windowsill and jumped into the room.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m heading back to the capital tomorrow. Wanted to say goodbye to you.” Mo Ziyuan gazed into her eyes and answered in a lowered voice.
“You…” Lin Xin felt like she would be burned by his blazing gaze and involuntarily lowered her head, but soon her chin was captured by him, forcing her to lift it again.
“Xin’er, if I… if this trip succeeds in the big matter, would you be willing…” Lin Xin hurriedly covered his mouth. “Ask me that question after you come back safe.”
A bright light suddenly flared in Mo Ziyuan’s eyes. He couldn’t help pulling Lin Xin into his arms, lowered his head, and chased her gaze as he asked: “Xin’er, you… do you mean what I’m thinking? Xin’er?”
“I don’t mean anything. Hurry back and rest early!” Lin Xin felt her face must be burning hot and quickly used a clever move to break free from his arms, standing to the side as she told him.
By the moonlight outside the window, Mo Ziyuan could clearly see her flushed pretty face. He felt like there was a lively little rabbit in his heart, thumping “pound, pound” non-stop, jumping faster and faster, about to leap out of his mouth.
“Xin’er, I will definitely come back. You’ll wait for me here, right?” Mo Ziyuan swallowed hard, suppressed his racing heartbeat with effort, and looked at her seriously, seeking a promise.
“Okay, I won’t go anywhere. I’ll wait right here for you to come back.”
Looking at his sparkling eyes that held only her reflection, Lin Xin nodded firmly.
Mo Ziyuan smiled, a bit silly. He made a hand gesture toward Lin Xin that she didn’t understand, then jumped out the window and flipped over the wall, disappearing.
Thanks to Luoye Zhiqiu-Ad, Goat’s Song and Eyes’ Story, Free as the Wind, and Peace-aD for the votes. Thank you all for your support, thank you!
