The Cannon Fodder Supporting Female Character is Still Alive Today - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Live Broadcast Site (14)

…she said, “That person is my Dark Guard. You don’t need to be afraid.”

She dragged both women onto a soft couch in front of Lie Ruyang, then raised her hand to pull the sheer curtain down. “Let me state this beforehand: doing this kind of thing, even if someone gets hurt, it’s a kind of pleasure, not harm.”

Lie Ruyang’s breathing hitched. She didn’t reply.

You Ruo said sternly, “If you are only here to protect my safety, you don’t need to come over. Just stand there… and watch.”

No longer waiting for an answer, You Ruo closed her eyes, forcefully suppressing her emotions, and said to the two women nearby, “I don’t need to teach you what to do, do I?”

“No, we will serve Your Majesty well.”

Now aware of Lie Ruyang’s identity, the two women had calmed down. Remembering how poorly they had behaved earlier, and now fortunate enough to be chosen by You Ruo, they immediately composed themselves and decided to perform well.

Lie Ruyang stood far away, listening blankly to the sounds of clothes rustling inside.

The You Ruo of today was truly too unfamiliar.

But upon closer reflection, it wasn’t just today. When she was disguised as the little eunuch, You Ruo was also different.

In the past, when she faced her, You Ruo always had an unending smile and endless interesting things to say. She constantly paid attention to her feelings, as if You Ruo herself became less important compared to her.

Because You Ruo treated her that way from beginning to end, Lie Ruyang gradually felt that perhaps You Ruo was naturally like that, treating everyone similarly.

But now, having experienced it firsthand, Lie Ruyang realized how different it was. Only now did she understand how much affection You Ruo had reserved only for her over the years.

Lie Ruyang used to feel that the days they met were pitifully few, and most of their communication was through letters with significant delays.

Furthermore, because of her own circumstances, she often subconsciously resisted and refused to acknowledge You Ruo’s feelings for her.

Yet, over these past few days, and up to this very moment, Lie Ruyang realized with such intensity that You Ruo’s affection for her was far more serious than she had ever imagined.

But…

Perhaps that was only in the past.

The You Ruo of now… seemed to be ready to put her aside and look ahead.

Lie Ruyang tightened her fingers until her knuckles were white. She heard a woman behind the curtain chuckle, “Your Majesty, you are truly beautiful.”

Light shone through the curtain. Lie Ruyang saw the undulating silhouette and saw the two women press kisses onto You Ruo’s cheeks.

You Ruo remained silent the whole time. She squeezed her eyes shut, secretly biting down on a piece of her lower lip, already tasting a faint metallic hint of blood.

Noticing that You Ruo’s face looked somewhat pale, the two women simply assumed she was nervous. However, You Ruo had already given the word, and unless she interrupted, this would continue.

“Don’t be nervous, Your Majesty. Smell this…”

Lie Ruyang stared intently at the curtain, seeing the two women take out a small box, then put it down and continue their actions. One hand settled on You Ruo’s shoulder with a gentle touch, then moved down along the curves, heading straight for the ultimate destination.

But before that hand could reach its goal, Lie Ruyang’s fingernails instantly pierced her palm. She surged forward without caring, hearing You Ruo’s broken, tearful voice at almost the exact same moment: “Stop!”

The two women suddenly froze. You Ruo turned away, crying, and frantically pulled at her clothes.

The next second, Lie Ruyang rushed onto the couch, quickly took off her outer robe, covered You Ruo with it, and silently wrapped her up carefully, then picked her up.

The women in the hall were momentarily silenced in fear. They watched the two leave the main hall, exchanging terrified glances, unsure of what they had done wrong.

Seeing the Emperor suddenly carried out by the Dark Guard, the palace staff waiting outside were stunned. They were about to step forward to ask questions when they heard Lie Ruyang say coldly, “Don’t follow.”

Faintly hearing the Emperor’s cries and seeing that the Emperor seemed to tacitly approve of the order, the palace staff stopped their steps and watched the two depart.

Lie Ruyang rushed toward the sleeping quarters, her heart in turmoil as she listened to the sobs of the person in her arms.

She didn’t know why You Ruo was crying. She only assumed the women were responsible, and for a moment, she wanted to stop and go teach them a lesson.

She carried You Ruo all the way into the sleeping quarters. As soon as they were inside, You Ruo said, “If I hadn’t said ‘Stop’… would you really have watched the whole thing?”

Lie Ruyang was startled, vaguely realizing that You Ruo thought she only intervened because of the word “Stop.”

Hearing You Ruo’s voice, hoarse from crying, Lie Ruyang felt a wrench in her heart. She opened her mouth to explain, but You Ruo spoke first: “I know it’s you. Go.”

You Ruo called her name: “Lie Ruyang.”

When she received that farewell letter, You Ruo thought she had been completely rejected by Lie Ruyang. She cried herself to sleep with the letter under her pillow, believing everything was over.

However, in the following night, she smelled the same scent as the one on the letter in her room.

The scent came from her new Dark Guard.

Then, certain details that had been overlooked due to overwhelming sadness finally surfaced.

The little eunuch from a few days ago seemed to have the same scent.

Suspecting it might be a common fragrance worn by people in the palace, You Ruo carefully checked the next morning and finally confirmed that the scent was unique.

The little eunuch, Lie Ruyang’s letter, plus the Dark Guard.

The answer became perfectly clear.

So, when she went to court again, You Ruo agreed to the minister’s earlier proposal.

You Ruo wanted to gamble, to find out why Lie Ruyang had returned.

But the answer she received, despite being prepared for it, still made her terribly sad.

Hearing You Ruo call her name like that, Lie Ruyang was momentarily stunned.

It had been too long since You Ruo had called her that since their first meeting.

Every time they met, it was a cheerful “Yangyang,” and the letters were filled with various affectionate terms.

It had been a long time since she had been called by her full name in such a cold tone.

Lie Ruyang placed the person on the bed, forcing a smile. “You… you recognized me again?”

But not with the usual joy, You Ruo replied coldly, her voice thin, “Go. I’m begging you, alright?”

“You are completely free now. You can go live your wonderful life. Why sacrifice yourself and stay by my side in this manner?”

Lie Ruyang sensed that You Ruo was angry.

This was also the first time You Ruo had been angry with her. Lie Ruyang felt helpless. She then thought the conflict was primarily due to her previous farewell letter.

Lie Ruyang said, “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have lied to you.”

Too many confusing emotions and some finally-recognized feelings were tangled up inside her, making her unable to articulate herself properly.

Then she said an even more wrong thing: “It’s what I owe you.”

On that drunken night, although she was guided by You Ruo, she had indeed done something inappropriate to You Ruo.

Lie Ruyang was about to say something more, but You Ruo was completely ignited by that single sentence.

“Lie Ruyang! My demand for you to take responsibility before was just something I said casually! It’s not like I really can’t live without you! Besides, that night was just an accident after drinking!”

You Ruo was trembling with anger. “Do you think you’re particularly noble for doing this? But I don’t need it! I wish you wouldn’t appear by my side like this!”

You Ruo was angry that Lie Ruyang wouldn’t accept her, but she was even angrier that Lie Ruyang was self-deprecating herself this way.

The current Lie Ruyang was not the same as before; she had a great life ahead of her. If she didn’t love her, why waste her time here?

She wanted to have her, but she never wanted to be a shackling cage. She clearly gave her the freedom to choose.

And Lie Ruyang made the choice that was the hardest for her to accept, and the one that hurt her the most.

Listening blankly as You Ruo finished her words, Lie Ruyang stood rooted to the spot, completely bewildered.

She had never imagined that one day, You Ruo would push her away and tell her to leave.

Nor did she know what she should do when all this was happening.

But seeing You Ruo so angry, Lie Ruyang felt even more like she was causing trouble. She retreated quickly in a panic, thinking she should let You Ruo cool down before talking. She said, “Okay, okay.”

You Ruo watched Lie Ruyang turn around and leave so quickly. She froze for a moment, and tears immediately streamed down her cheeks again.

Lie Ruyang stayed outside the door for a while. Other Dark Guards came to switch shifts and said that Qin Shu was looking for her.

Entering the hall, Qin Shu asked her, “Little Yang, what happened today?”

Lie Ruyang was silent for a moment, then asked, “Aunt Qin, I remember You Ruo said she really likes people who are beautiful.”

Lie Ruyang asked, “Then would she like people who are ugly?”

Qin Shu was stunned. “This… why do you ask that?”

Lie Ruyang didn’t answer. She reached up and tore off the mask covering her face.

In their previous encounters, Lie Ruyang was either disguised or wearing a veil. This was the first time Qin Shu had seen Lie Ruyang’s original appearance.

Lie Ruyang’s eyes were very large, slightly upturned at the corners—clear and spirited eyes.

Aside from her eyes, her other facial features before Qin Shu were also extremely delicate and beautiful.

However, amidst those delicate features, there was a scar on the side of Lie Ruyang’s face. The scar looked deep, having apparently remained for years without healing, running straight across half of her face.

Qin Shu was startled by the scar, frowning with heartache. “Little Yang, this… does it still hurt now?”

Lie Ruyang shook her head. “It’s actually much better now. It used to be scarier than this.”

When the residual poison had slowly started to surface, half of her face was stained with blue-black vein patterns. She couldn’t even look at herself in the mirror.

In the previous months, she bathed every day in medicine concocted by Si Qingyu and Li Shanfeng, took various detoxifying medications, tried countless prescriptions, and endured many days before finally snatching her life back from the King of Hell.

Qin Shu was unaware of this. She asked, “How did this happen? Was it when you were an antu?”

“Before that.” Lie Ruyang took out a veil and put it on. “It was cut by who used to be my best friend.”

Qin Shu urgently asked, “Who was that? If she was your best friend, why would she do that to you?”

“Don’t worry, Aunt Qin. Actually, what I did was worse.” Lie Ruyang smiled, saying softly, “I killed her.”

Part Five: Yang Ruo

From the time she could remember, Lie Ruyang was an orphan.

She was part of the number one assassin organization, one of many trainees.

Being a trainee essentially meant being one of a group of children confined in a brutal prison.

They had no freedom, no entertainment. They faced training and fighting every day. They had to defeat others in combat to gain enough food to fill their stomachs.

As the fighting progressed into the later stages, it was no longer just a light contest but escalated into a survival-of-the-fittest selection process where fights could only end in death.

In those final days, people died every day. In the end, at most only about ten people survived and grew up.

Among those children, Lie Ruyang was one of the few females, yet she was also one of the best.

Initially, their fights were not segregated by gender. Many girls failed because of this. Some starved to death early, others died in the life-or-death matches. Lie Ruyang fought her way through, eventually becoming an existence feared even by the boys.

At that time, the young Lie Ruyang didn’t know right from wrong. She only knew to rely on instinct, eliminate all obstacles, and ensure her own survival.

Until the girl, slightly older than her, started approaching her.

At first, she was always by her side, then gradually there was contact, until the girl started sharing her food and helping her treat her wounds.

Lie Ruyang vaguely understood that everyone here, both on the training ground and off, feared her. Even the people watching over them often showed surprise and fear in their eyes when they looked at her.

As if they were looking at a monster.

And that girl became the only exception.

Lie Ruyang was initially wary, but then realized that the girl only quietly treated her well and never asked for anything in return.

Once, Lie Ruyang was injured and had a high fever at night. The girl stayed awake all night taking care of her. The next day, Lie Ruyang had mostly recovered and successfully won, but the girl nearly died in her match.

Lie Ruyang helped the seriously injured girl down, assisted in treating her wounds and applying medicine, and then, copying what the girl had done before, shared the meat from her meal into the girl’s bowl.

From then on, the girl became her first, and at the time, only friend.

That was what Lie Ruyang believed.

Until many days later, as more children died in the life-or-death matches, only a few girls remained.

Lie Ruyang and that girl were among them.

This meant they might soon face each other.

But neither of them mentioned it, continuing to interact as usual. The girl still looked out for Lie Ruyang in every way.

Living in such a difficult environment, Lie Ruyang was forced to acquire some strange skills.

For example, the steamed buns that were occasionally brought were mixed with meat and vegetable fillings. The wrappers looked the same, but Lie Ruyang could distinguish which was which, ensuring she always chose the more delicious meat bun.

One day, after the girl brought back Lie Ruyang’s meal, Lie Ruyang swapped her meat bun for the girl’s vegetable bun when the girl wasn’t paying attention.

Shortly after that meal, it was the two of them in a life-or-death match.

It turned out that the people in charge had already given the order to keep only the strongest female child.

The young Lie Ruyang looked at her former friend, unsure how to move.

But the other party attacked first.

During the fight, the girl slashed her face and dislocated one of her arms.

Lie Ruyang suddenly realized that the other party was playing dirty and truly intended to kill her.

But just before plunging the dagger into her chest, the girl’s movements suddenly softened, and she collapsed on the ground.

Lie Ruyang froze where she stood, retracting the blade that was aimed at the girl’s throat. She saw the black-blue veins rapidly crawling up from beneath the girl’s neck, turning her once lovely face into a terrifying devil.

The girl lay on the ground, glaring at her, hissing, “How could this be? I clearly gave you the poison…”

Stopping her attempt to help the girl, Lie Ruyang processed the words. Remembering the bun she had accidentally swapped, she suddenly understood.

Just before drawing her last breath, the girl fixed her gaze on the wound on Lie Ruyang’s face and said hatefully, “Then you… won’t live either…”

With that sentence, an abnormal, sharp pain erupted from the wound on Lie Ruyang’s cheek. The last image she saw before fainting was the girl staring at her, her slightly bulging eyes filled with an almost frantic unwillingness.

Shortly after Lie Ruyang collapsed, the place was captured by imperial forces.

The surviving children were all taken away for Qin Mang, who was about to form the antu, to choose from.

Qin Mang looked over them and asked, “Are they all boys?”

The person next to him replied, “Reporting to His Majesty, there were originally two girls, but one died. The other was poisoned, and we haven’t found an antidote. However, she seems very resilient and is still holding on to a thread of life.”

Qin Mang said, “Take me to see her.”

After seeing Lie Ruyang, Qin Mang decided to save the child.

At that time, the Medicine Sage had already left the palace, and the imperial physicians all stepped forward but couldn’t find a cure.

Finally, Consort Jing found a sorcerer who practiced Gu (a type of black magic) and used a Gu poison to temporarily suppress the strong poison in Lie Ruyang’s body.

But according to the sorcerer, the poison couldn’t be suppressed for long, at most ten-plus years. After that, the Gu poison and the original poison would both take effect, resulting in certain death.

Qin Mang didn’t hide this from Lie Ruyang. So, Lie Ruyang knew from a young age that her days were numbered.

Qin Mang kept Lie Ruyang and trained her to become an antu. Not only martial arts, but she also started learning to read and write.

As the years passed, the training gradually gave Lie Ruyang superior martial arts and extensive knowledge, but it also made her slowly realize that her life was bought with the deaths of those children.

When she was young and ignorant, defeating and killing others was the only path to survival. There was no choice, and no need to choose. But once she understood what life was and how precious it was, those past events became a nightmare.

Lie Ruyang started having frequent nightmares. Time and again, she returned to that place in her dreams, forced to face the killings again, and the girl’s hateful eyes.

The nightmares tormented her for a long time until, during a random mission, Lie Ruyang discovered a way to stop them.

When she disguised herself as someone else, she could temporarily forget who she was.

So, Lie Ruyang became obsessed with various methods of disguise. Later, the taciturn girl gradually changed her demeanor.

Second-rank Antu Lie Ruyang was the most talkative person among the antu, her eyes seemingly always carrying a playful smile, yet no one could truly see how much genuine joy lay beneath that mask.

She lived seemingly fearless and carefree, only occasionally guessing at her own death date when the night was deep and quiet.

On the day Qin Mang passed away, sensing the residual poison rising, Lie Ruyang stood by the lotus pond, looking at the water below, contemplating whether she should just go with Qin Mang.

But when she looked at the scenery around the pond, she vaguely remembered another face.

Lie Ruyang stopped the movement of almost jumping in, thinking idly, What is the owner of that face doing now?

Later, when she returned and heard Le Zhao and the others talk, and heard the words “Shuiyan” during the conversation, Lie Ruyang offered her help.

This act of helping dispelled Lie Ruyang’s thought of self-destruction. Meeting Li Shanfeng later even gave her a hope for life.

However, when Li Shanfeng asked if she wanted immediate treatment, Lie Ruyang paused and said she would think about it.

The unexpected night with You Ruo later gave Lie Ruyang a clear reason to save herself.

She owed You Ruo and couldn’t die so soon.

Lie Ruyang then sought out Li Shanfeng and Si Qingyu, asking them to help her detoxify.

After that came her arrival in Shuiyan after the treatment was finished.

After Lie Ruyang recounted her past, Qin Shu reached out and embraced her shoulder with heartache. “It’s good that you’re okay now…”

But then, remembering Lie Ruyang’s earlier question, Qin Shu asked, “But why did you ask me about You Ruo’s preferences just now?”

The topic suddenly shifted back. Lie Ruyang paused. “…I…”

The words reached her lips, but she still found it difficult to speak.

But seeing Lie Ruyang’s appearance, Qin Shu immediately realized, “Little Yang, have you figured things out? You asked that because you’ve developed feelings for Little Ruo?”

Lie Ruyang nodded in admission. “Mhm.”

Seeing Lie Ruyang finally change her mind, Qin Shu was immediately happy for them but still asked, “Are you being impulsive? Or… is this because you want to make up for what happened before?”

Qin Shu only asked this to confirm, as she could tell early on that Lie Ruyang was not entirely without feelings for You Ruo; she was just unable to overcome her own internal barrier.

But unexpectedly, Lie Ruyang nodded when she heard the question. “Yes.”

Qin Shu was surprised. “Little Yang, don’t you like Little Ruo?”

Lie Ruyang finally admitted frankly, “I do like her. I like her, and I want to make amends with her.”

Lie Ruyang felt that she liked You Ruo, and she also wanted to make amends for the past. There was no contradiction.

Understanding her meaning, Qin Shu was silent for a moment. “Little Yang… did you tell Little Ruo this as well?”

Lie Ruyang hummed an agreement.

Qin Shu sensed something was wrong and asked her, “Then did you tell Little Ruo that you like her?”

Lie Ruyang shook her head. After a few seconds of silence, she said, “You Ruo recognized me, but she told me to leave.”

Lie Ruyang paused. “Aunt Qin, does You Ruo not like me anymore?”

Qin Shu said, “What nonsense are you talking about!”

Qin Shu was puzzled earlier as to why You Ruo had suddenly changed, but now knowing that You Ruo had long suspected Lie Ruyang’s identity, she immediately guessed You Ruo’s feelings.

Qin Shu said, “She’s just mad at you right now.”

Seeing Lie Ruyang looking confused, Qin Shu sighed. “Little Ruo doesn’t know your feelings. Telling her that only made her misunderstand your intentions, making her think you don’t like her.”

Lie Ruyang blinked, recalling You Ruo’s reaction earlier, and finally sensed what was wrong.

Qin Shu added, “A few days ago, Little Ruo suddenly sought out many precious medicinal herbs. I asked her what they were for, and she only said Princess Le Zhao needed them. Now that you’ve told me this, I understand. Those herbs were probably found for you.”

Lie Ruyang was slightly stunned.

Before leaving, she had offered to pay Si Qingyu, but Li Shanfeng said the herbs were already available and she didn’t need to pay.

So that was it.

Lie Ruyang said, “I’ll go to You Ruo and explain things clearly right now.”

Before she could move, a palace attendant came in, bowed, and looked anxious.

Qin Shu asked, “What happened?”

The attendant said urgently, “His Majesty went into the bathing pool, but wouldn’t let anyone follow to serve. It’s been a long time, and she hasn’t come out yet…”

They were afraid something might have happened.

Qin Shu immediately frowned.

Lie Ruyang said, “I’ll go check!”

Seeing Lie Ruyang quickly rush out, Qin Shu also planned to follow, but a palace maid approached her again.

“Princess…” The maid whispered to Qin Shu, “The women in that hall said they made His Majesty inhale an aphrodisiac incense earlier…”

Qin Shu stopped, thought for a moment, and said, “Tell them not to disturb His Majesty.”

Lie Ruyang went all the way into the hall. The previous Dark Guard assumed she was just returning for her shift and left without asking questions.

Lie Ruyang had just reached the door of the bathing room when she heard You Ruo say, “I… I told you! Don’t, don’t come in!”

Her voice was still a little hoarse, carrying uncontrolled sobs.

Lie Ruyang tightened her brows and stepped inside.

Hearing the footsteps not stopping but quickly approaching behind her, You Ruo gasped a few times and turned around angrily, only to see Lie Ruyang standing by the pool.

You Ruo was momentarily stunned. “You… what are you doing here?”

Lie Ruyang squatted by the pool, stuttered for a while, and said, “…You Ruo, was the medicine I used before found by you?”

You Ruo frowned when she heard this. “What if it was? Are you planning to… thank me again? I told you, I don’t need it!”

As she spoke, she tried to push off the side of the pool, wanting to move away and distance herself from Lie Ruyang. She had jumped into the water wearing a layer of clothing, so she wasn’t afraid of Lie Ruyang seeing anything.

But after resting by the pool for a while, coupled with the effect of the substance, her movements were very unsteady.

Lie Ruyang bent down, reaching out to support You Ruo’s shoulder. She felt that the skin was frighteningly hot, while the water below was chilly.

Lie Ruyang paused. She reached her other hand into the water and found that the water in the bathing pool was as cold as snow.

No wonder You Ruo’s voice was trembling when she spoke.

Lie Ruyang frowned. “Why is it cold water?”

But You Ruo didn’t answer her, focusing only on pulling away from her hand.

Lie Ruyang frowned, stood up, and leaped into the icy pool. She pulled You Ruo closer with a bit of force, trying to lift her out, but was met with You Ruo’s fierce resistance.

Lie Ruyang stopped, feeling confused and a little pained. “Are you doing this because you’re angry with me?”

“No, no… don’t touch me…”

Lie Ruyang insisted on holding her. “Stop bathing! You have a fever…”

As she spoke, Lie Ruyang intended to just lift her out, but You Ruo said, “No… fever!”

The difference in strength was too great. She couldn’t push Lie Ruyang away at all. You Ruo was so anxious she nearly cried and simply confessed, “I’ve been drugged! I’ve been drugged! They made me smell something weird earlier, so quickly, don’t touch me…”

Lie Ruyang paused, sensing You Ruo’s continued hot temperature despite the ice water, and vaguely understood.

Lie Ruyang was silent for a few seconds. “Then… then I’ll get you…”

“An Imperial Physician?” You Ruo said, “No, and no need! I…”

She had only smelled it a few times. Soaking in the water a little longer would be fine. She wasn’t nearly as uncomfortable as before.

It would have been even better if Lie Ruyang hadn’t come to disturb her.

But Lie Ruyang interrupted her. “Then I’ll help you.”

You Ruo suddenly froze, looking at Lie Ruyang in disbelief, then let out a laugh. “Lie Ruyang, do you really have to go to this extent?”

“No…”

Having been in the water for so long, You Ruo’s whole body was soaked. Her ink-black hair, like seaweed, flowed down from her white neck, clinging to her shapely curves along with her soaked undergarment.

Lie Ruyang lowered her eyes, sweeping over the fatally beautiful sight beneath her. She deepened her voice and said, “I am willing.”

Lie Ruyang said this with the intention of expressing her feelings, but to You Ruo, who was still misunderstanding, the words “I am willing” took on a completely different meaning.

You Ruo was furious. She quickly reached out to push Lie Ruyang away, saying, “You are truly unreasona…”

Before she could finish the four-character idiom, You Ruo’s words were cut off.

Because Lie Ruyang suddenly lowered her head and blocked her lips through the veil.

The veil was slightly thick, but it quickly became soft and warm under the gentle grinding.

This was the couple’s first kiss while conscious, and more importantly, it was Lie Ruyang’s first kiss initiated toward You Ruo.

Although there were still countless knots in her heart, You Ruo didn’t bear to refuse for a moment. It wasn’t until she tasted some of the flavor and reason returned that she forced herself to push the person away.

But before You Ruo could speak, she heard Lie Ruyang’s hoarse voice say, “Like.”

The words she was about to say instantly vanished in her throat. You Ruo was stunned for several seconds, then said in a daze, “You said… what?”

Lie Ruyang stared at You Ruo, confidently repeating the word in a hoarse voice: “Like.”

“You Ruo, I’m not drunk this time. I’m doing this to you because my feelings are actually the same as yours.”

Lie Ruyang let out a slight breath. “I… I like you.”

Listening to her continue, You Ruo’s breath hitched. She said somewhat distractedly, “You… but you…”

But Lie Ruyang had treated her that way before and said those things.

You Ruo stared blankly at Lie Ruyang in front of her, almost suspecting that she had damaged her brain from soaking in cold water. She tried to move her hand, wanting to pinch her own face.

But Lie Ruyang was afraid she was trying to run away. Clenching You Ruo’s wrist, she quickly and anxiously explained, “No! Before in the hall, I was already rushing over before you even called stop. The first time, too, it wasn’t because I saw them hurt you. It was only because I absolutely didn’t want anyone else to treat you like that… That kind of thing… only I can do that kind of thing! I don’t know why I feel this way… No, I do know! It’s because I like you! It’s just that I didn’t understand it before. What I said was also… You Ruo, I did want to make amends, but I also like you. Will you still be angry if I say this? I was too stupid before… and I’m not much better now… I don’t know what to say that will make you angry, and I don’t know if what I’m saying now is right or wrong, but I truly understand, You Ruo, I definitely like you…”

Lie Ruyang had never spoken so many words to You Ruo in one breath. In fact, she had never spoken like this to anyone.

But looking at You Ruo’s red-rimmed eyes, Lie Ruyang didn’t want to see her angry or sad anymore and was focused on making things clear.

She spoke this long sequence of words until she was out of breath before stopping.

Then, looking at You Ruo, who was frozen in front of her, Lie Ruyang frowned, raised her hand to caress You Ruo’s cheek, rubbing away the newly fallen tears. “Don’t cry… I’m sorry.”

You Ruo nodded, seemingly not angry, but the tears fell faster. Unable to decipher the meaning of the tears, Lie Ruyang nervously helped wipe them away, then cautiously asked, “…You Ruo, do you… do you still like me?”

You Ruo, with a sniffle, gave a loud “Mhm,” and with that answer, she opened her arms and lunged at Lie Ruyang.

Caught off guard, Lie Ruyang’s smile barely rose before she was knocked back half a step by You Ruo.

Her lower back hit the edge of the pool, and it actually hurt a little, but Lie Ruyang smiled, not even frowning. She only wrapped her arms around You Ruo, feeling You Ruo kiss her, trying to find her lips through the veil.

Compared to the soft, hot person in her arms, that slight pain was completely unworthy of her attention.

The devotion of all those years was finally reciprocated. You Ruo held her and kissed her for a long time, then felt that the veil was always insufficient. She raised her hand to remove it, but Lie Ruyang quickly grabbed her wrist.

Lie Ruyang paused, whispering, “It’s not pretty… under the veil…”

But You Ruo pulled her hand away and corrected her, “It’s beautiful.”

She said, “I’ve seen it.”

Lie Ruyang was stunned. “When?”

“That morning…” You Ruo answered her, “I woke up and secretly looked at your face.”

It was also because she saw Lie Ruyang’s face that You Ruo suspected Lie Ruyang was poisoned, which led her to find Le Zhao, learn about Lie Ruyang’s need for treatment, and send over the medicinal herbs.

Lie Ruyang stared blankly at You Ruo.

At that time, the residual poison was acting up, and her wound was at its most hideous.

She had always worried that You Ruo might mind her scar, but it turned out You Ruo had seen her at her most vulnerable state long ago.

You Ruo raised her hand, removed Lie Ruyang’s veil, and said, “It’s not ugly, not ugly at all.”

It was just a mark on one side of her face. In You Ruo’s eyes, the stunning beauty of this face was not diminished in the slightest by a small mark.

Tilting her head up, You Ruo gently brushed her soft lips over the scar, then slowly kissed down.

A tingling electric current shot from her cheek to her spine. Lie Ruyang tightened her arms around You Ruo’s waist, allowing You Ruo to slowly kiss her.

Patient and utterly devout.

Then You Ruo raised her head and said, “Yangyang, I truly really like…”

You.

The last word was swallowed in a kiss.

For Lie Ruyang, that sentence no longer needed to be heard.

She was already perfectly clear.

After so many years, and so many times. You Ruo didn’t need to explain any further.

Lie Ruyang didn’t understand love well and often privately felt she didn’t deserve love.

But then she met You Ruo, who single-mindedly pursued her, reiterating over and over how good she was and how much she deserved to be loved.

Until these words were subtly carved into her heart, guiding her out of the deep mire.

The thin undergarment was discarded by the pool. You Ruo leaned against the cold pool wall, quietly feeling the heat that had almost subsided rise up again.

In the pool next to them, Lie Ruyang’s hair came undone, floating and rising with You Ruo’s long hair, gradually entwining.

You Ruo lowered her head, resting on Lie Ruyang’s shoulder, raising her hand to stroke down from Lie Ruyang’s left shoulder, tightening her grip in the water, feeling their equally accelerated heartbeats.

And so it would be for the years to come. Their hair intertwined, their hearts one, sharing the rest of their lives together.

—End of Novel—