Kindness was weakness, and weakness was sothing the world crushed without hesitation.
And yet... this ti, that cold reasoning didn’t settle as easily as it should have.
For a brief mont, sothing unfamiliar lingered in her chest. Not guilt or regret—just a faint hesitation that she couldn’t imdiately dismiss.
It was fleeting. But it was there.
Seeing Xiao Mu’s silence, Chu Jing pressed her lips together slightly. It wasn’t obvious at first glance, but the faint tremble at the corner of her mouth gave it away. Her fingers tightened unconsciously against the cold railing behind her.
’Was I... wrong?’
The thought ca quietly, without accusation, without anger. Just a soft, aching doubt.
For a mont, neither of them spoke. The distance between them wasn’t physical—it was sothing far more subtle, sothing that couldn’t be bridged with a single step forward.
Then, just as that silence began to settle into sothing heavier—
"Sister Jing..."
Xiao Mu spoke.
But it wasn’t an answer. It was a question.
"What do you even like about ?" His tone was calm, almost indifferent. "Is it my appearance... or the fact that we slept together?"
Chu Jing blinked, clearly caught off guard.
For a second, she simply stared at him, as if trying to process what she had just heard. Then her brows knit slightly, not in anger—but in confusion.
"Do you still not understand?"
"No."
Xiao Mu’s reply ca without hesitation.
"You didn’t know for long," he continued, his gaze steady. "You’re asking if I’d still like you if you had nothing... but why do you like when I have nothing?"
He took a small step closer, not aggressively, but enough that his presence felt clearer.
"We’ve only t a few tis."
"You’ve known for barely a week."
His tone remained even.
"You don’t seem like soone who would fall for a stranger so easily."
Chu Jing didn’t respond imdiately.
She simply looked at him.
As if trying to see through sothing... or perhaps confirm sothing she already believed in.
The wind brushed past them again, carrying a faint chill.
Finally, she spoke.
"Xiao Mu..."
Her voice softened, losing the earlier edge of stubbornness.
"Do you know what it feels like..."
She paused, her gaze drifting slightly, no longer fully focused on him.
"...to have no one to trust? No friends. No family."
"Or a future you see any hope of."
Her voice wasn’t loud. But each word landed with quiet weight.
In that mont, Leng Shuang’s mind flickered. Those mories recurred.
A ruined house. Flas devouring everything. Voices that weren’t human anymore. That underground facility. Screams that didn’t stop.
Her breath hitched, just slightly. Then everything vanished. Suppressed, buried deep in her heart.
Her expression returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
"No," she said calmly. "I don’t understand."
Chu Jing shook her head gently.
"You’re lying." Her voice was certain.
"I can feel it."
She took a small step closer.
"You’re the sa as ."
Her eyes softened, but there was sothing firm beneath that softness.
"But you didn’t break after going through all that. You beca stronger."
Her lips curved faintly into a gentle smile.
"Strong enough... to still have kindness left."
"And that kindness saved ."
Her gaze lingered on him.
"That’s not sothing soone empty would do."
Leng Shuang’s breath paused for just a fraction of a second.
This feeling wasn’t unfamiliar. But it was... uncomfortable.
This girl... she saw too much and too clearly.
’Even Master couldn’t see through like this...’
The thought flickered through her mind, making her unsettled.
’How is she doing it...?’ Her gaze hardened slightly. ’She is dangerous.’
’I should finish the mission... and stay away from her.’
"Why are you silent?" Chu Jing tilted her head slightly, and the faintest hint of playfulness returned to her tone. "Did I hit the mark?"
"I don’t understand what you’re talking about," Xiao Mu replied calmly, turning his gaze away. "Enough with this nonsensical talk. Let’s go back to the party."
There was no intention of continuing this conversation.
Chu Jing watched him for a mont and smiled.
Not because she was happy, but because she had already expected this.
"You don’t want to answer, right?"
She shrugged lightly.
"Fine. I’ll wait."
Her voice softened again.
"For the day you decide to open your heart."
A faint glint of determination appeared in her eyes.
"Until then... I’ll just keep pestering you."
"Suit yourself." Xiao Mu turned around and started walking away. His steps were steady, without hesitation.
Leng Shuang didn’t look back, and she didn’t want to.
Right now, she just wanted to finish what she ca here to do and leave. Never again appear in front of her.
"Hey!" Chu Jing’s voice ca from behind, carrying a faint pout. "Are you seriously leaving here alone?"
Before he could respond, she quickly caught up and hooked her arm around his naturally, as if it were natural.
Her warm smile contrasted sharply with his indifference.
"That’s more like it," she said lightly, as if the earlier heaviness had never existed. "I’ll show Grandpa just how stubborn I can be."
There was still a hint of defiance in her tone again, but this ti it felt different.
No longer fragile. More... alive.
"I want to see this so-called ’outstanding man’ he chose for ," she continued, glancing up at him to see any trace of jealousy. Too bad Xiao Mu didn’t respond.
Chu Jing nudged him slightly with her shoulder.
"Darling, why are you silent? At least show so reaction."
"...Yeah," he replied flatly. "Let’s go see that amazing fiancé of yours."
"Don’t talk nonsense."
She tightened her hold on his arm just a little.
"I’ve already decided."
Her voice lowered slightly, but it carried a quiet certainty.
"In this life..."
"The only person I’ll marry—"
"—is you!"
"..."
Xiao Mu remained silent.
Chu Jing glanced at him again, her lips curving faintly.
"At least smile."
"...I’m very happy," he said without changing his expression. "Can we go now?"
Chu Jing laughed softly.
Even if it wasn’t real, she chose to believe it for now. Because for the first ti in a long ti... she wasn’t running away anymore.
***
[A.N: Read Author’s Thoughts!]
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