To Not Let Down! . . .
Bing-Er's demeanor was one of evident fear. She gazed at Cha Eun Xiao with the wide-eyed trepidation of a startled deer. Tears of helplessness and desperation welled up in her lovely eyes.
Her petite, trembling hands clutched at her disheveled clothing, all the while attempting to suppress her emotions. Her lips quivered as she fought back the urge to cry.
In this moment, she resembled a forsaken child, her heart filled with sorrow and vulnerability.
Cha Eun Xiao sat on the bed, his face clouded with regret. With tender care, he reached out and drew Bing-Er's shivering form into his arms. He spoke in soothing tones, "Bing-Er, I apologize. It wasn't you; it's just that some unhappy memories resurfaced."
Though Cha Eun Xiao explained, Bing-Er's tremors continued, and her distress didn't abate until she felt the warmth emanating from his body. Gradually, her quivering stilled, but her eyes were now brimming with tears.
Cha Eun Xiao patted her gently on the back and sighed with helplessness. He confided, "Bing-Er, I have genuine feelings for you, and I wanted to be with you. I wasn't pretending."
Bing-Er ceased crying and listened intently, her head resting against his chest.
"Even now, I'm certain you are meant to be mine. There will come a day when you will be acknowledged as mine," Cha Eun Xiao asserted resolutely. "But not now. There is something deep within my heart—a sense of profound regret. There's someone I'll forever feel guilty about. It's something I can never let go of."
In a hushed tone, Bing-Er inquired, "Is she... your wife?"
Cha Eun Xiao shook his head, his smile laced with bitterness.
To Bing-Er's surprise, she recognized the other woman's name, Su Yeyue. However, it wasn't Su Yeyue; it was Jun Yinglian, a woman as pure as the moon, as proud as the clouds.
"Once upon a time, there was a lady. She was like..." Cha Eun Xiao patiently recounted a story he had never shared with anyone before. He had a confidant and dear friend, but Jun Yinglian had remained an unspoken topic. However, he needed to unburden himself.
He altered certain details of the tale, yet the essence remained intact.
"At the end, I let her down... and then I realized how wrong I was. But it was too late," Cha Eun Xiao sighed.
Bing-Er became absorbed in this melancholy narrative. She pursed her lips and chided, "Master, you didn't just make a mistake, you made an unbelievable one! This sister loved you with all her heart, and you let her down like that. You truly... Humph!"
She empathized with Jun Yinglian?
"I know. I need time, okay? I can't let her down again," Cha Eun Xiao held Bing-Er close and tenderly kissed her eyes.
"Hmm," Bing-Er nodded, her hands reaching to cradle his neck. She no longer felt sadness. She had been touched by his story and whispered, "I'll wait. No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you."
"As long as you're alive, I'll be with you for the rest of my life," Bing-Er uttered softly, "Master, please, keep a place for me in your heart... Anywhere."
Cha Eun Xiao was deeply moved and held her tightly, sensing a surge of emotion building within him.
He tried to suppress his feelings and spoke gently, "Don't worry, girl. It won't be long. I promise."
He then lifted her chin and smiled at her, saying, "You're such a beautiful girl. I won't give up on you. Losing someone once is already painful. How could I let it happen again?"
"You're a bad man!" Bing-Er exclaimed, her bashfulness evident, and she playfully attempted to bite him.
Cha Eun Xiao smiled and leaned in closer.
In the next moment, they were smiling at each other.
After a long while, Bing-Er asked with a hint of uncertainty, "Master, am I truly that beautiful?"
It was clear she wasn't entirely confident about herself.
Since her recovery, Bing-Er had remained within the House of Ye, never venturing outside. It was a household dominated by men, with not a single maid in sight. Consequently, Bing-Er had never encountered another woman, making it difficult for her to assess her own beauty.
Understandably, she lacked self-confidence in her appearance.
Cha Eun Xiao was swift to reassure her. "Girl, never doubt yourself again. Don't be so modest," he declared with unwavering conviction. "My Bing-Er, you are the number one most beautiful girl in the world! The loveliest among ten thousand! Actually, that's an understatement. It should be out of one million! In reality, finding a woman equally beautiful among one million would be a difficult task!"
Bing-Er's joy was evident. She tried to maintain a composed facade but couldn't suppress her elation. She beamed like a radiant flower and chimed, "That's wonderful. That's wonderful. Hahaha…"
In a moment of introspection, she realized that her exuberance might have been excessive. She blushed once more and sought refuge in Cha Eun Xiao's arms.
Yet, her giggles persisted, an overflow of happiness that she couldn't contain.
Perhaps she was somewhat naive, but that only served to further warm Cha Eun Xiao's heart. She remained pure and guileless. However, he couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctance about her eventual exposure to the harsh martial world.
Time continued to pass as they cuddled together, whispering endearments to one another. Their state of undress hinted at recent intimacy, but their hearts were filled with pure happiness and contentment. There was no longer any urgent passion.
As night grew late, Cha Eun Xiao spoke softly, "It's time to sleep."
With gentle care, he helped Bing-Er get dressed. She blushed but appeared somewhat irritated, yet she humorously remarked, "Humph. With a bad man like you, I certainly won't be disrobing. That would be like putting myself in the tiger's den!"
She adjusted her clothing, ensuring she was well covered before settling down.