Protoganist's Sidekick Fights Back-Chapter 13: Her Thoughts

"No... I don't have someone like that." His tone was light, but the slight awkwardness in his voice didn't escape her notice.

Bai Yunxi frowned faintly.

"Then... the jewellery," she asked, her gaze probing. "Who is it for?"

Su Kang hesitated for a moment before leaning forward slightly.

"You have to promise... keep it a secret."

Her heart stirred at his cautious tone.

"I promise. Tell me." Curiosity flickered in her eyes.

Su Kang took a slow breath, looking directly into her eyes — a faint, almost imperceptible flush rising to his cheeks.

"Actually..." He paused, as if gathering his courage. "There's... someone I like. I'm buying these things... thinking of her."

Bai Yunxi's brows lifted in surprise.

A gentle warmth unexpectedly bloomed in her heart — though she didn't quite understand why.

"Why not... tell her? If she knew how kind you are... maybe she would see you differently."

Her mind wandered, picturing a girl somewhere — young, bright-eyed, perhaps waiting for him in secret.

But Su Kang's smile slowly faded.

"It's... complicated." His voice was quieter now — as if these words had been buried in his heart for a long time.

"She's a widow. She has a son... Her whole world revolves around him. She doesn't even live for herself anymore."

His eyes drifted to the flickering candlelight, a distant look clouding his usually sharp gaze.

"I don't know if she'd ever have room for someone like me... So... I can only help her son from the shadows. Maybe... bring her a little happiness that way."

Silence settled between them.

Bai Yunxi's heart trembled slightly.

She didn't know why — but something about his story made her uncomfortable.

"Who... who is she?" The question slipped out before she realized it.

Su Kang's eyes flickered.

"I can't tell you that."

His refusal only made her more restless.

"How old is she?" she murmured, almost to herself.

"Under forty... for sure." His voice carried a subtle teasing edge — but it only made Bai Yunxi's heart skip faster.

Her breath caught.

A ridiculous thought flashed through her mind — so absurd that she wanted to laugh.

But when she looked up at Su Kang's face... she saw him quietly avoiding her gaze.

Her heart clenched.

No... it can't be... right?

She bit her lower lip, forcing the suspicion down.

"How and when did you meet her?" she asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

"I accidentally saved her... a few years ago." He paused. "That's all."

Bai Yunxi's mind spun.

A few years ago...

The impossible thought struck her again.

Is he talking about me?

Her heart pounded wildly.

But before she could think any further, Su Kang's voice cut through the silence.

"Why are you asking so many questions?"

Bai Yunxi's eyes flickered, panic flashing across her face.

"I'm just curious about the jewellery... that's all." She quickly stood up, trying to hide her flustered expression.

"I'm going to rest now."

Without waiting for his reply, she hurried back to her room, closing the door behind her.

Lying on the bed, Bai Yunxi stared at the wooden ceiling — her mind in turmoil.

She didn't know if Su Kang was truly talking about her.

"If... if it's really me he's talking about... what should I do?"

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Bai Yunxi clutched the thin blanket tightly, her heart racing. She didn't know how to face him anymore.

Sleep finally claimed her amidst the storm of tangled emotions.

Su Kang silently observed Bai Yunxi's situation. He was capable of implanting false experiences into the subconscious mind. But he dismissed the idea.

Even if the implanted memories could deceive her temporarily, once she broke through the higher realms, the fabricated illusions would crumble, leaving only betrayal and resentment behind.

Su Kang didn't want to win her heart through deception. Instead, he decided to show her his sincerity. He would let her see his experiences.

The moments where he had risked his life for Li Fang. Even if it took months, he was determined to move her heart step by step.

Late at night, Su Kang entered Bai Yunxi's room. He silently activated the technique, weaving dreams into her consciousness.

He showed her three separate incidents — each one a glimpse of how he had fought for Li Fang's sake, without asking for anything in return.

Afterward, Su Kang quietly withdrew. Using this demonic technique too often would burden her soul.

---

Bai Yunxi woke up the next morning, her mind clouded with complex emotions.

Why did I dream of him?" she wondered, pressing her hand against her chest.

"He already told me about these incidents...maybe I was thinking too much about him."

Bai Yunxi spent the entire morning lost in thought. It wasn't until Su Kang called her to eat that she finally snapped out of her daze.

At the table, she ate in silence — but from time to time, her gaze flicked toward Su Kang, stealing small glances.

Su Kang noticed, but he didn't react. A faint smile flickered in his heart.

"It's a small step... but it's in the right direction."

He began talking about the Su Family, filling her in on the clan's history, rules, and influential members. Bai Yunxi listened quietly, absorbing the information.

But the more she heard, the more inferior she felt.

The Su Family was one of the top powerful cultivation clan with countless elites and deep foundations. Compared to them, she was nothing — a widow from a small family, struggling to survive.

This feeling of inferiority was not new. She had felt it countless times — even in front of her own son. Li Fang was a peerless genius, destined to soar far above her.

She had long stopped meeting his friends, afraid of embarrassing him.

The whispers of the past still clung to her — misfortune bringer... jinx... ill-fated widow.

At some point, she had started believing those rumors herself.

Her self-confidence had crumbled, with her stagnant cultivation and death of her parents.

Su Kang noticed the subtle shift in her expression — the dimming of her eyes, the downward curve of her lips. She wasn't good at hiding her emotions.

"Why are you feeling dejected again?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Bai Yunxi's fingers clenched around her chopsticks. "I'm not..."

She lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.

Su Kang leaned back, his gaze distant as if recalling something.

"Life is cruel," he said quietly.

"A demon cultivator massacres an entire city... refining their blood and souls to further his cultivation. What crime did those people commit? Were they at fault simply because they were weak?

Some might say it's karma from their past lives. Others will say they should have cultivated harder... but those are just excuses.

Most people are weak not because they are lazy, but because the world never gave them a chance."

His eyes flicked toward her.

"You can mourn your husband's death. You can feel sad about your fate. That's only human.

But if you've given up on changing your situation... if you're simply waiting for time to pass until the end... then that's your own fault."

His voice was calm, without judgment — but his words cut straight to the heart.

"You can't undo the past. The only thing you can control... is the next step."

Silence hung in the air.

Su Kang didn't know the exact thoughts weighing on her heart — but his sincerity reached her nonetheless.

That night, Bai Yunxi lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Memories of her youth flickered in her mind — the carefree, confident girl she used to be... before life crushed her spirit.

Liyun City.

The heart of the Su Clan's power.

Bai Yunxi stood at the edge of the spiritual boat, gazing down at the sprawling city below.

Towering pagodas shimmered under the sunlight, their glazed roofs reflecting hues of gold and azure.

Su Kang guided her down, leading her into the Su Manor. The air was heavy with spiritual energy — far richer than anything she had ever felt before.

"Welcome back, Young Master!"

Dozens of servants knelt in greeting, their voices echoing through the grand halls.

Bai Yunxi felt overwhelmed. Everything here was grand — too grand for someone like her.

"You can choose any one of the mansions," Su Kang said. "The maids will take care of your daily needs. If you need anything, just ask."

Bai Yunxi looked around, flustered.

"Su Kang... I prefer a simple and quiet place."

"No one will disturb you here," he reassured her. "The servants won't enter without permission. Just take a look around."

In the end, she chose a small, secluded courtyard — far from the bustling parts of the manor.

By the evening, Su Kang left to check on his family — only to find that his parents had already departed on a long journey.

His elder cousins were busy with clan affairs, and Su Ting was still adventuring outside.

"They must have gone to the secret realm..."

It would be months before his parents returned. That night, Su Kang returned to Bai Yunxi's mansion.

"Let's eat together. I'll introduce you to Liyun City's special dishes."

Bai Yunxi nodded quietly, following him to the table.

"When you are bored in the future, you can take a look at the garden, or you can relax at the hotspring; you will enjoy it." He said.

But the moment he said the words, Bai Yunxi's face flushed a delicate pink.

"It seems... she still remembers that incident." Su Kang's smile deepened.