Chapter 86: I Have to See You, Otherwise I Can’t Rest Easy

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: I Have to See You, Otherwise I Can’t Rest Easy

A weight lifted from Xie Jinbai’s chest. He patted her head. "If you want to torment me, find another way. Don’t use other men to make me angry again."

Cui Lingyao couldn’t be bothered with him. She pulled his hand away and said, "Can you leave now?"

Her tone was flat, utterly heartless.

But no matter how cold she was, Xie Jinbai couldn’t bear to actually leave just like that.

He hesitated for a few moments, then tentatively asked, "How about... I stay and keep you company?"

"Not good," Cui Lingyao refused flatly. "Xie Jinbai, can you please stop pressuring me at every turn?"

They had just agreed this afternoon that he would give her time to think and not force her to marry him right away.

Coincidentally, Cui Lingyao also hadn’t figured out how to complete her new task.

She needed time to think it over carefully.

’And now that it’s evening, he already wants to stay the night?’

Cui Lingyao’s brows knitted slightly. She said, annoyed, "What do you take this place for? A den of pleasure for your amusement?"

Her words were truly out of line, not only mocking him but also demeaning herself.

Xie Jinbai’s face darkened as he listened. "Before we were married, you let me stay the night before. I thought that between us, we didn’t need to mind these empty..."

"Times have changed,"

Cui Lingyao cut him off, speaking righteously, "In the past, we shared mutual affection, our engagement was imminent, and... and you were still something of a gentleman. Even when we slept in the same bed, you behaved yourself. But now..."

Her voice trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid. She added with some disdain, "Leave now. You’re not staying the night here."

Xie Jinbai: "..."

He was actually speechless.

She was right. The man he was now, he truly couldn’t guarantee he could share a bed with her and not touch her at all.

At the very least, he would have to hold her.

And after holding her...

Countless sensual images flashed through his mind, and Xie Jinbai’s mouth suddenly felt dry.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. "Then I’ll come see you again tomorrow," he said, his voice deep and hoarse, laced with a hint of unspeakable desire.

Cui Lingyao knew him all too well. Alarm bells instantly went off in her head, and she immediately took two steps back. "Just go!"

She was bluntly telling him to leave.

Xie Jinbai felt a little helpless against her defensiveness, but he also felt her wariness wasn’t without reason.

After all, he really was...

He collected his thoughts. Looking at the young woman before him, he urged, "Take care of yourself. The dead can’t be brought back to life, so don’t hide away and cry your eyes out. Don’t let yourself be wronged, either. No matter who in the Shen Family dares to upset you, don’t put up with it. You have four Hidden Guards with you. Lash out however you want. No matter what you do, I’ll back you up."

His tone was soft and slow, gentle and doting. Every word sounded as if he were coaxing a younger member of his own family.

Cui Lingyao listened impassively, not making a sound.

Remembering the foolish things she had said during the day, Xie Jinbai added, "You don’t need to be so cautious and timid. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. I can handle anything. Even if you killed Shen Tingyu, I could handle it."

Seeing that not only was he not leaving, but his words were growing more and more outrageous, Cui Lingyao couldn’t help but say, "I’m not as bloodthirsty as you are, and the Shen family won’t give me any grief."

"That’s for the best." Called bloodthirsty, Xie Jinbai didn’t argue. He just gave a good-natured smile. "I’m just afraid you’ll be wronged."

Cui Lingyao snorted. "The greatest wrong is having a scoundrel show up uninvited every night. Can you change that?"

"..." Xie Jinbai was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "I’m sorry. I have to see you, or I can’t rest easy."

Compared to not being able to see her, he would just have to be a scoundrel.

’Shameless.’

Cui Lingyao couldn’t be bothered with him.

Ever since they had met again, she hadn’t given him a single kind look. Xie Jinbai’s heart ached with bitterness.

He swallowed the bitterness in his throat and said softly, "I’ll go now, then?"

As before, no one paid him any mind.

Xie Jinbai stood in silence for a while, then pulled open the door and walked out.

Two lanterns hung under the eaves.

In the dim yellow light, the man’s figure was still tall and straight, like an unbreakable spear. But a closer look revealed just how desolate he was.

Cui Lingyao didn’t look at him.

Too much had happened today. It was all too chaotic.

It was impossible to sort through.

She emptied her mind and stood quietly for a moment before gathering a change of clothes and heading to the adjacent washroom.

「The next day.」

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, baking the earth.

Although high summer was nearing its end, its lingering power remained.

Several large ice chests were placed around the mourning hall, doing their best to slow the body’s decay.

The direct junior descendants of Mrs. Shen and the collateral branches of the Shen Family—all those who received the news and were in the Capital City—came to see this esteemed lady off on her final journey.

Dressed in mourning clothes, Cui Lingyao knelt in the hall burning paper money. Guests arrived in waves, and some would offer her words of comfort.

She would nod calmly, occasionally offering a word or two in reply, handling herself appropriately.

Shen Tingyu remained by her side the entire time.

Although they only had a verbal marriage agreement, he was already fulfilling the duties of a son-in-law.

And yet, no one in the Shen Family, from top to bottom, including the Heir’s wife from the Liu Family, stepped forward to say anything.

After all, Duke Shen had agreed to this marriage on his daughter’s deathbed.

That afternoon, the gatekeeper delivered an invitation.

In the bottom right corner of the invitation was the family crest of the Zhao Family.

It invited Cui Lingyao to their residence for a visit the next day.

The signature read: Chen Minrou.

The death of Mrs. Shen had not been widely announced; only the members of the Shen clan knew.

Chen Minrou was unaware, which was why she had sent an invitation to someone who had just lost her mother.

Cui Lingyao asked, "Did you tell the person who delivered the invitation about what has happened in the residence?"

The servant boy nodded. "We did."

’As long as they were told, that’s enough.’

While in deep mourning, it was proper to decline all invitations.

She would not be able to attend the Zhao Family’s banquet.

Cui Lingyao closed the invitation and knelt again.

’Chen Minrou was willing to send an invitation to someone she’s only met once, even with her serious illness. Does this mean she understood my hint from yesterday?’

Mrs. Shen’s passing had given Cui Lingyao a stark understanding of what death truly meant.

She was worried about Chen Minrou’s physical condition.

She didn’t want Chen Minrou to follow in Mrs. Shen’s footsteps.

But given Zhao Shijie’s devotion, he had likely already exhausted all possible methods.

The medicine of the Great Yue World was useless for Chen Minrou’s condition.

Cui Lingyao thought of the system’s Hundred Diseases Pill.

All day long, she had been tentatively calling out to the system in her mind.

There was no response.

The System Energy was depleted, and it had entered hibernation.

She couldn’t wake it.

...

That night, having knelt all day, Cui Lingyao was mentally and physically exhausted. She didn’t return to her courtyard until late.

The moment she stepped inside, a familiar scent filled the room, even more distinct than the day before.

It was as if he were afraid she wouldn’t notice; the scented sachet he wore today was probably brand new.

Cui Lingyao sighed. Her initial indignation had faded, leaving only a sense of helplessness.

When it came to this man, she was running out of ideas.

Zhiqiu lit the lamps and was about to go into the inner chamber to turn down the bed when Cui Lingyao stopped her.

She glanced at the screen separating the inner chamber and said, "You can go rest. I don’t need anyone to wait on me here."

"Yes."

Zhiqiu, suspecting nothing, withdrew.

The door slowly closed.

Cui Lingyao rubbed her temples, walked around the screen, and entered the inner chamber.