Shang Ruyi’s eyes flickered, and she instinctively lowered her head, but Yu Wenye was crouching right before her, and just by lifting his eyes, he could clearly see her uneasy gaze. Shang Ruyi looked at him, her eyes growing even more flustered.

She could only look to the side and murmured, "What is it?"

"..."

Yu Wenye looked at her quietly, surprisingly without any blame or anger. His gaze in the flickering lamplight was much calmer than usual when they faced each other like this. After pondering for a long time, he said heavily, "I won’t ask about you and him, and you won’t ask what kind of—what kind of feelings you have for him."

Shang Ruyi’s breath caught.

Yu Wenye said, "I only ask of you one thing."

"...What is it?"

"From now on, you’re not allowed to take risks for him."

"..."

"He’s already gone. Whatever you do, he won’t know, and he won’t come back. Wang Shaoji is dead, which can be considered as avenging him."

"..."

"You’ve done all you can. That’s enough."

"..."

"If you really want Wang Shaoqiu dead, I can do it for you. I can even guarantee you that no matter where he is, I will bring you his head. But I won’t allow you to trade your own safety for Wang Shaoqiu’s life, to avenge that person."

"..."

"He’s not worth it, and no one is worth it, do you understand?"

"..."

As he spoke, Shang Ruyi remained silent, as if she wasn’t there.

But her heartbeat grew more intense.

She opened her eyes wide, breathing heavily, her heart pounding like thunder. She looked at the calm and almost unrecognizable Yu Wenye in disbelief, listening to his solemn and calm words for a long time, unable to utter a single response.

Yu Wenye, would he really say such things to her?!

He had never asked her what happened with Chu Yang. Shang Ruyi knew he wasn’t indifferent or unconcerned, but they both left a little space in their hearts for each other, places even as married couples, they wouldn’t invade or lightly touch.

This time, her lone act of risk had clearly exceeded that little space.

Yet what he cared about was merely her safety.

If he were angry, reprimanding her, or ordering her not to do those things again, Shang Ruyi might have argued persistently; but his words left Shang Ruyi speechless, even making her think that had she truly encountered danger today, if Wang Shaoji’s men had struck, injuring or killing her, what would happen?

She would never see her uncle and aunt, or Shen Wuzheng again, and not just that, make them sorrowful for her.

More so, never see him again...

Just thinking this, Shang Ruyi trembled almost instinctively, a sudden chill and fear rising from her heart, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.

Was it all really worth it?

Realizing her eyes had turned red, Yu Wenye immediately frowned—saying he wasn’t angry would be a lie. At the foot of Shuishen Mountain, seeing her figure among the reeds, he was consumed with rage, wishing he could pull her off the horse and give her a good beating; yet on the way back, he calmed down instead, especially thinking of her recent ordeal in the Western Turks, his anxious rush to save her, alongside the resolutions he made silently.

Anything they need to say, they should speak plainly, he didn’t want to suffer through losing her again.

So this time, he suppressed the anger to speak gently to her, how did it end up making her nearly cry?

Was she really going to cry?

At this thought, he extended his hand, gently touching Shang Ruyi’s slightly cool cheek. "Ru Yi?"

Next moment, he felt his palm suddenly clutched by Shang Ruyi, pressed firmly against her somewhat cold cheek, and more so, she started softly rubbing it with his rough palm, the touch warming slowly within his hand, causing Yu Wenye’s heart to instantly soften.

He said, "Ru Yi..."

Before finishing, Shang Ruyi bent down, her rosy lips suddenly pressed against his.

"...!"

Yu Wenye’s body went rigid.

And the tear-filled eyes close at hand looked at him, gaze flickering more softly than usual. Her soft lips against his, after a long while, finally moved, but didn’t leave much distance, their breaths even intertwining.

Shang Ruyi quivered, softly saying, "I’m sorry."