A handso young man wearing green robes is walking through the streets, his white hair cascading over his shoulders while a beautiful, mature woman wearing blue robes is walking beside him.
She held his arm gently, as though both enjoying the closeness yet hesitant to make her feelings too obvious.
Her long black hair was pulled back with a silver hairpin, from which a single pearl dangled, swaying gently with each step.
She would glance at the young man from ti to ti, her gaze lingering on his face, before quickly looking away, trying to mask her emotions.
The faint smile on her lips, however, betrayed her feelings.
"Thank you for this date, Master."
Looking at Fei Lingxi, Zhao Tian smiled faintly "You are always inside the artifact, so I thought I should bring you out sotis like this."
Fei Lingxi gave a nod and hugged his arm tightly.
Just then, a street vendor waved at them, offering up a tray of delicate pastries. "Young master, young lady! Would you care for so sweets? Freshly baked!"
Fei Lingxi's eyes lit up with excitent and she looked at the young man, her expression eager yet hesitant, as if unsure whether it was appropriate.
He chuckled, the hint of a soft smile playing on his lips, and nodded toward the vendor.
"Two of those, please," he said, slipping a small, shimring astral stone to the vendor, who accepted it with a respectful bow.
The vendor carefully wrapped two pastries, placing them in a small bundle that he offered with a proud smile.
Taking hers in hand, she looked down at it for a mont before taking a small bite.
"Mmm..." A delighted smile spread across her face as she tasted the sweet filling, her eyes lighting up as she looked at him.
"It's delicious, Master! You should try it." Experience tales at m v|l e'-
Zhao Tinan took a bite and they continued their walk through the streets.
"Since it is already evening, let us go and eat sothing light."
Fei Lingxi nodded, her face bright with anticipation. "Yes.. master."
As they walked, she clung to his arm a bit more firmly, content to simply be by his side.
They continued down the winding streets, looking at the various scents of roasted ats, fragrant soups, and spiced teas wafting from the food stalls.
They arrived at a cozy outdoor tea house near a small garden filled with cherry blossom trees.
Paper lanterns hung above each table, casting a warm, inviting light, and the soft sound of a lute playing in the background added to the ambiance.
Both of them entered the cozy building and went to the upper VIP floor, booking a small quiet room.
A server approached, offering them a simple but elegant selection of evening dishes.
Zhao Tian ordered a light vegetable soup, dumplings filled with mountain herbs, and a pot of jasmine tea, which arrived quickly, the aroma fragrant and calming.
Fei Lingxi took a sip of the tea, her hands warming around the porcelain cup as she looked out at the cherry blossoms swaying in the gentle evening wind.
She sighed softly, her gaze drifting over the peaceful scene. "I sotis forget what it's like to just sit and enjoy a al in the open air. I've missed this."
Hearing this, Zhao Tian's eyes condensed. Ever since she beca his slave, her life has been harsh and she is always inside that artifact.
Fei Lingxi stood up from her seat and ca to him, sitting beside him on the small couch.
He raised his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder as he continued drinking his tea.
With a soft sigh, Zhao Tian placed the cup back on the table and glanced at Fei Lingxi, who had changed a lot compared to her past self.
She had endured so much, despite her hatred for him in those early days.
And he rembered all too well the turbulent beginning between them... the forced submission, her silent loathing, and the sharp edges of their strained relationship.
She had set aside her hatred, hidden away her pride, and endured his forced intercourse with her, all for the sake of her daughter, Fei Ziyu.
Now, she is so different; she is always working hard to serve and please him.
She has redeed herself for everything she has done in the past...
Looking at his thoughtful face, she looked at him in concern "Master.. is sothing wrong?"
She was afraid that she might have done sothing that displeased him, 'Did he not like it when I ca and sat beside him?'
With a shake of his head, Zhao Tian replied "No, just thinking about our relationship in the past... it feels strange."
Fei Lingxi's gaze lowered and she gave a nod "It is indeed strange... I uh..."
Taking a deep breath, she spoke "You tortured us sotis, but... I know I deserved all of that."
Fei Lingxi drew a shaky breath, her words spilling out like a long-held confession. "Back then, my life was full of bitterness."
"I was consud by anger toward n because of my father, who always abused my mother. I thought all n were like that, that cruelty and dominance were all they knew."
She paused, her gaze turning distant as old mories surfaced. "When Ziyu was born, I… I wanted to protect her from that sa pain."
"I wanted her to be strong and unyielding, to never depend on anyone... especially not a man. I instilled that sa hatred in her, thinking it was the only way to keep her safe."
"I have also taken many lives back during my ti on earth and even Ziyu has killed so n, so when I beca your slave... I accepted it as my karma."
"However, Ziyu... gradually began to change and at that ti all I ever wanted was for my daughter to be happy."
"Staying inside the artifact, Ziyu also changed a bit by bit..."
"I thought I could finally redeem myself for my past mistakes."
Zhao Tian sighed faintly as he also knew that it was not entirely Fei Lingxi or Fei Ziyu's mistake; it was their environnt that changed them both.
Fei Lingxi lived in an abused household where she constantly saw her mother getting abused by her father and she ca to hate n.
She taught the sa hate to Fei Ziyu.. and she also began to hate n.
Thinking about the past, Zhao Tian could only sigh in his heart and Fei Lingxi continued, "I rember trying to kill Lady Ying once… it was all because of Ziyu's jealousy, her selfish desire to have you to herself."
"And I… I went along with it, convinced that I was helping her, that I was doing right by her."
With a bitter smile, she continued "But after becoming your slaves, we changed."
Her lips trembled hesitation creeping into her heart "You changed us.. I began to realize why Ziyu was head over heels for you."
"The affection in your eyes while you see and enjoy ti with your wives... it just brought warmth to my heart."
Tears moistened her eyes as she mumbled "I.. was kind of jealous..."
"I envied the love your wives received, the way they looked at you with such devotion, the way you looked at them. It was… beautiful."
A tear streaked down her cheek "And I realized, for the first ti, that maybe… maybe I wanted that too. Maybe I wanted to know what it felt like to be truly cherished by soone."
"I never received any man's love.. as I hated all n... so I don't know the feeling; that's probably why I am jealous."
"And sowhere along the way, I think I began to love you, too. Not out of fear, not out of duty, but sothing… real. Sothing I've never felt before."
Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke. "It scares , though, because I still don't feel… worthy of it. I still feel like I'm… tainted, sohow. Like I've done too many things wrong."
"I just-"
"Lingxi..."
Hearing her na, she turned to look at him and before she could say anything, he moved forward, sealing her lips with a kiss.
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