In the night, Xin Yun and Yi Luo Xiang cleaned up and huddled together on a bed without any reservations, resting on soft pillows, looking at the stars outside, though they did not speak, that warm atmosphere made them both very comfortable.
After a long silence, it was Xin Yun who broke it. In the darkness... Xin Yun suddenly sat up, laying on his side facing Yi Luo Xiang, and whispered, "Yi Luo Xiang, you..."
Before Xin Yun could finish speaking, Yi Luo Xiang smiled gently and said, "You don't need to use my full name, you can call me Yi Luo, or... or... Xiang..." As she said this, Yi Luo Xiang's cheeks were already flaming red.
In the village where she used to live, friends who were more familiar with her, or the elderly in the village, would affectionately call her Yi Luo, but the character "Xiang", nobody had ever called her that. Generally speaking, this last character in a name is only to be used by the closest of people, and this includes parents and a lover. Besides these three, even siblings are not allowed to use it; such is the custom of this world.
However, in reality, not even parents would address her in that manner. Taking Yi Luo Xiang as an example, if she had sisters, they could call her Yi Luo; although her parents could also call her Xiang, they normally wouldn't do it, and would instead call her Xiang Xiang to show affection. Therefore... to some extent, calling someone by a single character is almost exclusively reserved for a lover.
Yi Luo Xiang hadn't thought this way before; having gone through adversity together in the dry well, especially the part where they sustained each other with their blood, Yi Luo Xiang's feelings for Xin Yun were indescribable. She wished she could give him her heart to express her gratitude. It was with this mindset that she had spoken those words.
Though she was very shy, Yi Luo Xiang did not reject this possibility, and in fact, she even felt a bit of anticipation and secret joy. After all... Xin Yun was the only person in this world she was familiar with, and moreover... he was the kindest to her. In this life, she could not and did not want to part with Xin Yun, without reason or cause, she simply did not want to...
Seeing Yi Luo Xiang's bashful look, Xin Yun was so thrilled he wished he could leap up and then climb to the highest peak in the world, proclaiming this news to everyone...
The most beautiful dragon—Flash Butterfly Yi Luo Xiang—had actually taken a liking to him. Heavens... could this be a dream? One should know... Yi Luo Xiang was not only acclaimed for her dragon beauty, but she was even more beautiful as a person. That was not just Xin Yun's evaluation, but also the shared perception of everyone!
If it weren't for Xin Yun's experiences from three lifetimes, he might have already fainted from happiness on the spot. In his previous life, Yi Luo Xiang was famously cold, absolutely keeping every man at bay. In the battle where he was reborn, she had lashed out only because a guy had gotten too close to her, sending him flying away. In his last life, Yi Luo Xiang held no affection for any man and was even repulsed by them.
But in this life, Xin Yun didn't know how she felt about other men. However, towards him, Yi Luo Xiang was completely non-loathsome. She wouldn't even reject him if he reached out to hold her, especially since in the dry well, they had mouth-to-mouth contact, which was akin to a kiss. Yet, this girl showed no signs of dislike, a stark contrast to her past self.
Watching Xin Yun's ecstasy to the point of trembling, almost going mad with joy, Yi Luo Xiang felt sweet inside. Yi Luo wanted to know that Xin Yun truly liked her, and liked her very, very much—to the bone, or else he wouldn't be this excited.
However, Yi Luo Xiang didn't understand at all what Xin Yun liked about her. Without family or wealth, she was essentially an orphan with no kin.
When it came to looks, she was just an ordinary girl. Though not ugly, even beautiful, not to mention far and away, just in their own village there were three or four girls more beautiful than her; at most, she was just above average.
Yi Luo Xiang grew increasingly perplexed. Her qualities were truly unremarkable—most were just above average, and external conditions like her financial background were lacking at best. What did Xin Yun actually like about her?
At that moment, Yi Luo Xiang had come to regard Xin Yun as her closest person. Since she harbored doubts, she felt no embarrassment in asking. With her brow lightly furrowed, Yi Luo Xiang earnestly said, "Xin Yun... why are you so good to me? You say you like me, but I don't understand what it is you like about me exactly?"
Upon hearing Yi Luo Xiang's words, Xin Yun fixed his gaze on her. After a long while, he finally smiled, gently reaching out to pull Yi Luo Xiang into his embrace. Following the guidance of Xin Yun's arms, Yi Luo Xiang moved her delicate body obediently, softly leaning into Xin Yun's chest.
As Xin Yun gently breathed in the fragrance at Yi Luo Xiang's hairline, he sighed and said, "From now on, don't ask such silly questions; liking someone doesn't need a reason. The reason I like you is simply because you are you!"
Hearing Xin Yun's words, Yi Luo Xiang was initially confused, but soon she smiled. Indeed... liking someone is just liking someone; what reasons are there? Just like how she also really liked Xin Yun now, yet if asked why she liked him, she couldn't articulate it—it was more than just because he had saved her. It was a heartfelt sentiment, something that can only be felt, impossible to depict.
Gently holding Yi Luo Xiang, inhaling that pleasant fragrance, and feeling her incredibly smooth body, Xin Yun couldn't help but sigh contentedly. Yi Luo Xiang's skin was really too sleek; although she was clothed, the fabric seemed incapable of containing her, her skin too slippery for the cloth to stay put.
After indulging in the moment, Xin Yun finally remembered the serious matter at hand. He gently lowered his head, taking a deep breath at Yi Luo Xiang's neck, which made the young woman instinctively shrink back. With a satisfied tone, Xin Yun said, "Xiang… Have you made any plans for the future?"
When Yi Luo Xiang heard Xin Yun's words, she suddenly looked up, her eyes full of trust as she said, "The future? My future is with you. No matter what the future holds, as long as you are by my side, I won't be afraid. You won't abandon me, will you?"
Listening to Yi Luo Xiang's words, Xin Yun instinctively tightened his arms around her, holding her close as he tenderly said, "Rest assured, even if I have to abandon myself, I will never abandon you."
Hearing Xin Yun's words, Yi Luo Xiang didn't speak, but tears quickly filled her eyes. Xin Yun was definitely not just talking; only a few days ago, he had forsaken himself for her sake.
Looking at Yi Luo Xiang's tear-filled yet blissful eyes, Xin Yun was profoundly moved, but he knew there were still things he had to say.
Xin Yun continued, "Xiang… Going forward, I don't plan to rely on anyone else. We are still young, but I believe that with effort, we can sustain ourselves. However… during this process, we might suffer a great deal. Are you willing to face this with me?"
Hearing Xin Yun's words, Yi Luo Xiang smiled sweetly, gently lifting her fair little hand and placing it in front of Xin Yun, "From this moment on, I entrust myself to you. No matter what lies ahead, I want to be with you."
"Snap…" Firmly grasping Yi Luo Xiang's tender, smooth little hand, Xin Yun took a deep breath. With Yi Luo Xiang's support, there was nothing left in this vast, perilous world to fear! Xin Yun was filled with boundless hope for the future…