The deep, enigmatic gaze of the phoenix eyes locked with the unwavering eyes of Zhuo Qing. She couldn't fathom what Lou Xiyan was thinking, but she desperately hoped that he could feel the persistence in her heart and the confidence she held in accomplishing this task. The prolonged stare almost made Zhuo Qing feel as though she could not sway him, when suddenly, Lou Xiyan lowered his head slightly and let out a quiet, self-assured laugh.
Zhuo Qing furrowed her brow. "What are you laughing at?"
Gently holding her hand, damp with nervous sweat, Lou Xiyan smiled. "Leave tonight's arrangements to me. In just ten days, we will be married. I don't want a wedding without a bride."
Zhuo Qing's eyes widened in disbelief. "You agreed?"
Lou Xiyan gave a cold, helpless snort. "Would it matter if I didn't agree?"
"Of course it would!" Seeing that he had already agreed, Zhuo Qing finally felt at ease enough to joke. She laughed awkwardly. "But I would be terribly sad, heartbroken even, with no sense of self-worth, no goals in life—"
"Stop. After all that, could I still refuse?" If she continued, he might just become the villain of the story.
He gently pulled her into his embrace. During the time she had once fallen into the water, he had silently vowed never to let her face danger or suffer harm again. But this time, under her insistence, he had compromised because in her eyes, he saw the true meaning of "I want to stand by your side." She had her own thoughts, her own will. What he could do for her was not to bind her but to protect her.
Suddenly remembering something, Zhuo Qing lifted her head and asked, "Did you say that our wedding is in just ten days?"
Is it really only ten days? Time passes so quickly, it felt as if an entire month had gone by in the blink of an eye.
Lou Xiyan raised an eyebrow, his smile gentle. "What? Is it too soon?"
Oh, the long-missed fox smile returned. Zhuo Qing quickly shook her head and responded earnestly, "No, I think—it's too slow!"
Lou Xiyan chuckled. This girl was getting better at reading him.
Leaning against him, listening to his steady heartbeat, Zhuo Qing couldn't help but smile. A man like him, if she didn't grab him now, that would be truly foolish. She eagerly anticipated their wedding in ten days.
At the hour of the Tiger, the General's Manor was nearing dawn. The room and the manor were unusually silent, even quieter than usual. The moonlight was exceptionally bright tonight, streaming through the open window, illuminating the room. Lying in bed, Zhuo Qing slightly closed her eyes but could still discern the layout of the inner room.
Worried that distant help would not be timely enough, Lou Xiyan had arranged for Mo Bai, dressed in black, to lie in wait on the rafters, while Ao Tian concealed himself behind the newly placed wardrobe. Outside the room, there were ambushes set by Ye Mei, Qian Jing, and the Ministry of Justice personnel.
Gu Yun insisted on entering the room. Lou Xiyan vowed that he would never let her face danger again, but this time, under her persistence, he had compromised. In her eyes, he saw the true meaning of "I want to stand with you." She had her own thoughts and will, and what he could do for her was not to constrain her, but to guard her.
Suddenly, Lou Xiyan turned to Zhuo Qing and asked, "You said our wedding is in ten days?"
"Only ten days?" Time passes so quickly. In the blink of an eye, almost a month had passed.
Lou Xiyan raised an eyebrow, his smile tender. "What? Is it too soon?"
Oh, that familiar fox smile returned. Zhuo Qing shook her head quickly, replying seriously, "No, I think... it's too slow!"
Lou Xiyan laughed. This girl was really learning how to read him.
Snuggling against him, hearing the steady and soothing rhythm of his heartbeat, Zhuo Qing felt a deep sense of calm. A man like him—if she didn't seize him now, she would truly be a fool. She was eagerly looking forward to the wedding in ten days.
As the night deepened, the General's Manor was silent, and the moonlight outside was unusually bright. The room was quiet, with the faint light of the moon illuminating everything within. Zhuo Qing lay in bed, eyes slightly closed, yet still able to discern the room's layout. Lou Xiyan had already planned for any potential threats, arranging for Mo Bai to wait on the rafters in black, while Ao Tian hid behind a wardrobe, and the rest of the team lay in ambush outside the room.
Gu Yun insisted on entering, but Lou Xiyan had made his vow: to ensure her safety, to protect her from harm. Yet, under her insistence, he had relented, finally understanding the meaning of her words—"I want to stand by your side." She had her own will, her own determination. What he could offer was not to restrict her, but to guard her steadfastly.
Suddenly, Lou Xiyan remembered something and turned to Zhuo Qing, asking, "You said our wedding is in just ten days?"
"Only ten days?" The passage of time was swift, almost a month had passed in the blink of an eye.
Lou Xiyan raised an eyebrow, his smile soft and teasing. "What? Is it too soon?"
Her gaze sparkled with affection, and Zhuo Qing shook her head, speaking earnestly. "No, it's... too slow."
Lou Xiyan chuckled. This girl was becoming ever more perceptive.