While the masked figure was still stunned, Chen Yin had already placed a basin of hot water and a tray of food and wine beside the bed, his sleeves rolled up like a diligent innkeeper.
“Would you like to wash up first, or have dinner?”
The masked figure’s lips moved, but no sound ca out.
“You must be tired from your journey. Let’s freshen up first.”
Chen Yin wrung out a hot towel and said solicitously, “Allow to assist you.”
The masked figure remained motionless.
Chen Yin smiled and gently helped her onto a chair, then knelt down and removed her boots.
The masked figure’s body trembled slightly, but she didn’t resist.
The tallic scent of blood filled the air. Chen Yin noticed dried bloodstains on the soles of her boots.
He silently placed her feet in the basin and poured warm water over them.
The masked figure flinched as his hands touched her feet, but she bit her lip and remained silent.
Chen Yin carefully washed her feet and ankles with the warm towel.
A soothing warmth spread through her body, easing the aches and pains of her journey. She felt like she was soaking in a hot spring.
She noticed the faint blue glow emanating from his palms.
“Are you… healing ?”
“You jest, my lady. I’m just a humble servant, attending to your needs.”
The masked figure’s cheeks flushed with anger. “Chen Yin! Stop playing these gas!”
Chen Yin ignored her and continued washing her feet and legs.
The masked figure finally lowered her head and whispered, “How did you find ?”
“You sent a ssage. Yunlin Province.”
“I didn’t—” The masked figure paused, then ntally cursed, “System!”
The System remained silent.
Chen Yin finished washing one foot, then moved on to the other.
The masked figure, uncomfortable with his gentle touch, fidgeted slightly.
“I-I can do it myself…”
“You must be tired, my lady. Allow to assist you.”
Chen Yin’s tone was casual and dismissive.
The masked figure fell silent.
The only sound in the room was the gentle splashing of water.
After washing her feet, Chen Yin smiled and said, “Please, allow to help you undress and wash your body.”
The masked figure’s mind went blank.
Before she could react, he was already reaching for her clothes.
“You!”
She flinched and was about to protest when Chen Yin’s hand gently touched her shoulder, his voice suddenly serious.
“…Don’t move.” His voice was soft and gentle.
The masked figure obediently sat still as he removed her outer robe.
Chen Yin frowned as he saw the wounds beneath the black cloak.
Her body was covered in cuts and bruises, so fresh, so old, so dried, so still bleeding.
The masked figure glanced at him nervously, then watched as he silently removed her robe and reached for her inner garnts.
But before he could touch her, she crossed her arms protectively over her chest.
“Don’t…” she whispered, her voice filled with a sudden vulnerability.
Chen Yin didn’t force the issue. He tossed the bloodstained clothes aside and picked up a clean towel, gently wiping the blood from her arms.
His touch was soft and careful.
The masked figure’s body trembled, a tingling sensation spreading through her, her muscles relaxing.
A soft moan escaped her lips.
“Mmm…”
Her fair skin, her delicate curves, were a sight that would make any man’s heart race.
But Chen Yin’s gaze remained calm as he continued wiping her body, his spiritual energy discreetly probing her injuries.
…Her ridians were twisted and mangled, as if they had been violently contorted.
It was a miracle she was even alive.
The pain must have been excruciating.
Chen Yin didn’t know how much it hurt,
But he tried to be as gentle as possible.
As he cleaned her wounds, he suddenly asked,
“…The Divine Son’s doing?”
She hesitated, then nodded silently.
Chen Yin finished cleaning her wounds, her skin now smooth and unblemished, even the minor cuts and bruises gone.
He took out a few pills and handed them to her.
“The side effects are a bit strong. You might sleep for an entire day. But they’re very effective.”
“You’ll be fine when you wake up.”
Hearing that she would be asleep for a whole day, the masked figure hesitated, her lips pressed together.
But Chen Yin said firmly,
“Take them.”
She took the pills and swallowed them, then looked at him with wide, expectant eyes.
Chen Yin’s expression softened slightly.
“You must be tired, my lady. I’ve prepared so food for you.”
“Would you like to try so?” He smiled.
The masked figure looked at the braised crucian carp, sweet and sour pork ribs, and fish-flavored eggplant on the table. Her stomach rumbled audibly.
“I-I’m not hungry—”
“I can feed you,” Chen Yin offered casually.
The masked figure imdiately picked up her chopsticks and took a bite.
…It was truly delicious.
She had tasted countless delicacies, but this simple ho-cooked al was exceptional.
After just one bite, she felt tears welling up in her eyes.
Chen Yin was right.
A full stomach was the greatest comfort when you were feeling down.
She ate a few more bites, then lowered her head silently.
“Is it not to your liking?”
“…This is the first ti you’ve cooked for .”
Chen Yin propped his head up with his hand and looked at her. “If you like it, I can cook for you every day.”
The masked figure suddenly looked up.
“When did you recognize ?”
“I told you. You remind of soone I know.”
Chen Yin tilted his head and smiled, his eyes twinkling.
…Soone who had shared drinks with him, regardless of gender.
Soone carefree and unrestrained, passionate and fiery, like a phoenix.
“She’s straightforward, impulsive, a bit spoiled, and a bit willful.”
Seeing the masked figure’s lips pouting slightly, Chen Yin chuckled. “But I like her personality. Free-spirited, happy, drinks till she drops, loves and hates with equal passion. I envy her.”
“And coincidentally,” he smiled, “she also likes using red handkerchiefs.”
The masked figure froze.
She rembered wiping the spilled wine from her robe with her handkerchief that night.
“It’s j-just a handkerchief… other people might also like—”
“But I don’t know that many people.”
Chen Yin said seriously, “In my heart, only one person uses that color.”
Whenever he saw that color, he would think of her.
The sunrise. Candlelight.
A red wedding canopy. A bride’s makeup.
He would always rember the woman in red, her beauty breathtaking.
“Sister Qiaoqiao, am I right?”
The masked figure didn’t answer.
Even as Chen Yin gently removed her mask, revealing her beautiful face and long, flowing hair,
She remained silent,
Her eyes red-rimd, her gaze fixed on him.
Chen Yin smiled and gently stroked her hair.
“There are always sad and frustrating things in life.”
“Even if you don’t want to tell ,”
“As long as your stomach is full, you can cry as much as you want.”
“And after you’ve cried, no matter how difficult things are, they will eventually pass.”
“Of course,” he added, “if you don’t want them to pass, you can always tell about them.”
“I’m not good at much, but I’m a good listener.”
“I can listen for a long ti.”
Luo Qiaoqiao’s nose tingled, and she lowered her head silently.
She didn’t want to cry.
She knew that if she did, everything she had worked so hard for would be for nothing.
So, she took another bite of food and asked softly, “Why… are you being so nice to ?”
“Why was Sister Qiaoqiao so nice to back then?”
Luo Qiaoqiao opened her mouth, then looked away, a flicker of regret in her eyes.
“You… don’t have to force yourself to comfort .”
“It wasn’t for you. It was for myself.”
She had fallen for a complete stranger, a young cultivator she had t by chance.
She had given him everything, determined to marry him, to leave her mark on his heart, even if it ant being unreasonable.
Looking back, it had all been one-sided.
She had realized it later.
Perhaps he had never liked her.
He had just happened to et a sad and lonely girl drowning her sorrows in a tavern.
And out of kindness, he had spent the night drinking with her and then taken care of her.
They were strangers.
Everything that followed had been her own doing.
“I know. My actions only made you feel guilty. If you don’t like , you’ll never like .”
“Just because I like soone, it doesn’t an they’ll like back.”
She whispered, “I don’t want you to be nice to out of guilt.”
“Everything I did… was my own choice.”
Chen Yin looked at her silently.
“Are you full?”
“Huh?”
“Then let’s talk.”
He glanced out the window. “It’s still early. I want to hear your story.”
“Tell what happened after we parted ways.”
“And… about our first eting.”
“Why was Sister Qiaoqiao drinking alone that night?”
Luo Qiaoqiao bit her lip. “What’s the point of talking about the past…?”
“There is a point. Because it’s important to .”
Chen Yin said seriously, “I want to know why Sister Qiaoqiao fell for after just one night of drinking.”
“I know I’m handso. It’s normal for beautiful won to be attracted to .”
“…But I still want to hear it from you.”
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