Chapter 167: Chapter 167: "I Won’t Bully You Like This Anymore.

"Is that so?"

Xie Jinbai lifted her chin, a faint, teasing smile on his lips as he looked down at her. "Don’t deny it, Yaoyao. You just think I overdid it, not that you don’t want me at all."

"..." Cui Lingyao was speechless. Her eyelashes trembled as she stammered, "Don’t say another word."

She wasn’t as thick-skinned as he was and had no desire to discuss this topic with him.

The woman in his arms had flushed cheeks, and her long, thick eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly’s wings. Her eyelids were slightly red and swollen.

He had been too rough with her this afternoon, and it seemed she had cried for a while when she was cursing him.

’She’s not a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl anymore. How can she still be so delicate...?’

Xie Jinbai’s heart softened. He felt that no amount of kindness toward her would ever be too much.

He lowered his head to kiss her eyes, coaxing her softly, "I won’t bully you like this in the future."

’Once she’s a bit older, and her body is a little stronger...’

Cui Lingyao didn’t know what he was planning, but she found the sound of his coaxing voice exceptionally pleasant.

A noble, aloof man, his eyes now filled with tenderness, stooping to soothe someone—few noble ladies in the entire Capital City could have resisted that.

Cui Lingyao was no exception.

The little anger she had felt began to fade away.

Besides, he had suffered through three long years of abstinence. His being a little rough seemed forgivable.

With that thought, the last of Cui Lingyao’s anger vanished. She wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and nuzzled him gently. "How is the Hundred Diseases Pill working?" she asked softly. "Are your wounds any better?"

’All that time they spent... it didn’t affect his injuries, did it?’

She was still worried about him.

Her own back ached and her legs felt like jelly; he had completely exhausted her. Just moments ago, she had been angry, but after a few comforting words from him, she easily let it go and began to worry about him instead.

This was the first time in all these years that Xie Jinbai had felt loved by her.

Love could forgive anything.

Its most direct expression was concern.

Xie Jinbai knew this from personal experience.

During those six months when he was consumed by insecurity, realizing she might not love him.

He had hated her for toying with his feelings, yet he couldn’t help but be soft on her.

There were countless ways he could have brought her to heel.

But he couldn’t bear to use a single one of them on her.

That cup of wine... was the stupidest thing he had ever done.

Xie Jinbai had regretted it instantly. He had rushed back in a panic to coax her, only to find her smiling, perfectly at ease and carefree. That was what had completely shattered his composure.

He was pathetic. His every emotion—his joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness—was at her command.

If she ever wanted to play with him, she could wrap him around her little finger completely.

And now, this unyielding, iron-willed woman was actually starting to show him concern.

It was like a flower of hope blooming in a barren, arid land.

Xie Jinbai’s throat felt tight. He lowered his head and carefully gathered her into his arms. "Yaoyao..."

"...Hm?"

His voice was choked with emotion. Cui Lingyao froze, trying to lift her head to look, but he held it firmly against his chest.

He wouldn’t let her see.

Cui Lingyao grew anxious and twisted her head in his embrace. "If you’re going to cry, don’t do it in secret! Let me see."

Xie Jinbai: "..."

He remained silent, his hand still pressing her head down.

Cui Lingyao couldn’t break free no matter how she struggled. "Have you forgotten what you promised me?" she said, exasperated.

He had said that as long as she was alive, if she wanted to see him cry, he would cry for her every day!

Xie Jinbai: "..."

The woman in his arms struggled so fiercely, like a wriggling fish that he couldn’t hold down.

He was at his wit’s end. The hand on her head slid down to her nape, and he gripped it to lift her out of his embrace.

Their foreheads touched, their eyes met. Xie Jinbai gritted his teeth. "Look!"

The rims of his eyes were faintly red, his pupils wet and shimmering.

It was especially...

Cui Lingyao was instantly struck dumb, her expression dazed.

"Is it a pretty sight?" Xie Jinbai lowered his head to kiss her lips, asking irritably, "Where did you pick up such a strange habit?"

"Does seeing me cry make you happy?"

What kind of wife had a strange quirk like hers, enjoying the sight of her own husband crying?

"...Not really," Cui Lingyao blinked, wrapping her arms around his neck. "My heart ached for you a little," she whispered.

Xie Jinbai snorted. "Do I look like I believe you?"

"It’s true. Back when I was a ghost, I saw you crying for a long time, and it left a bad taste in my mouth."

Cui Lingyao didn’t hide it from him. "The night you kept vigil over Pei Shuyao’s body, I was sitting right beside you."

That time, he had shed tears in silence, making her so anxious she had jumped up and down, screaming for the System.

The shadow of his loss was too heavy. Hearing her mention being a ’ghost’ sent a wave of panic through Xie Jinbai. "You were there the whole time? For those two days?"

"Mhm!" Cui Lingyao said. "From the moment I left Pei Shuyao’s body, I was with you in spirit form."

She wanted to tell him that she had never left him alone.

And that this time, they hadn’t truly been separated.

Xie Jinbai replayed his actions from those two days in his mind, frame by frame. His expression slowly darkened.

"That day, I went to the torture chamber first, and then I met with Shen Tingyu. You were following me the whole time?"

"..." Cui Lingyao’s eyes slowly widened.

She finally realized what he was talking about and was struck dumb.

Before she could try to weasel her way out of it, Xie Jinbai lowered his head, staring at her. "Was it a good show?"

Cui Lingyao didn’t dare meet his gaze and hurriedly shut her eyes. "I didn’t go in! I didn’t see anything."

The moment the words left her mouth, she was so annoyed she could have bitten her own tongue off.

How was that any different from a confession?

The tent fell silent.

The silence was terrifying.

Cui Lingyao was the first to break under the pressure. She opened her eyes, only to meet his, just inches away.

She pressed her lips together and explained in a small voice, "I didn’t mean to look."

"Is that so," Xie Jinbai said, his gaze unwavering as he stared at her. "What did you think? Is he handsome?"

"..." Cui Lingyao felt a splitting headache coming on. She considered her words for a moment before forcing herself to say, "Not as handsome as you."

’She’s actually making a serious comparison!’

Xie Jinbai felt a torrent of jealousy explode in his chest, and a murderous rage began to build.

The look in his eyes suddenly turned vicious, startling Cui Lingyao. She rushed to placate him. "I didn’t even get a good look at him! My eyes are only for you. You’re the most handsome. No one is more handsome than you."

Xie Jinbai stared at her. "You two went through life and death together. He was so gravely injured protecting you. Did you feel even a flicker of attraction for him?"

"No!" Cui Lingyao didn’t dare hesitate for a second. "Not at all," she said unequivocally. "I only love you."

"Is that so?" Her answer was decisive, but Xie Jinbai felt no relief.

He swallowed the bitterness rising in his throat and murmured, "If you don’t like him at all, then why did you kiss him?"

That day, when he heard she and Shen Tingyu had jumped off a bridge to survive, he had jumped in right after them. When he finally caught up, rushing along the river, he saw her kneeling beside that damned man, tears streaming down her face as she lowered her head again and again...

He had been standing in the water, his overwhelming panic at finally finding her not yet faded, when he witnessed it with his own eyes: the woman he cherished more than anything crying as she kissed another man.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.