Chapter 88: Fog of Love—Do You Love Me?
"What are you doing, Xiao Hao?" Ye Tianqing's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
Ye Tianhao froze, startled. Seeing Tianqing walking toward them, he immediately released his grip on Liang Xiaoluo's chin and bolted down another path, his guilty conscience driving him to flee.
Xiaoluo's body trembled uncontrollably. The murderous glint in Tianhao's eyes had genuinely terrified her.
Tianqing rushed over to her, steadying her with a firm grip. "Xiaoluo, are you all right?"
Her face was pale as she stammered, "I'm… I'm fine."
Noticing she was alone, Tianqing frowned. "Has Tianlin not returned yet?"
Xiaoluo shook her head mechanically. Yes, Tianlin hadn't come back yet. He'd gone out with Gu Lingzi, and he still hadn't returned. Her chest tightened with unease.
Realizing his question had upset her, Tianqing quickly suggested, "Let me take you back inside. I'll call for a doctor."
He silently thanked his instincts for returning to the estate when he did. He didn't want to imagine what could have happened if he'd been even a minute later.
But Xiaoluo grabbed his sleeve, shaking her head. "No, I don't want to go back."
She couldn't bear the thought of being alone in that cold, empty room, drowning in solitude.
Tianqing hesitated, then relented. "All right. I'll stay with you for a while."
They sat together in the pavilion, the silence between them profound. Neither noticed the shadowy figure nearby, snapping photos with a phone.
Time passed, and Tianqing found himself growing distant in thought. Finally, Xiaoluo broke the quiet, softly murmuring, "Thank you."
It took him a moment to realize what she'd said. Her words surprised him, yet her faint, bittersweet smile struck a chord deep within him.
"You're welcome," he replied, his voice subdued.
He wanted to say more, to comfort her somehow, but the words stuck in his throat. From a young age, Tianqing had been trained to control his emotions, to stay within the boundaries of propriety. And now, with Xiaoluo being Tianlin's woman, those boundaries were clearer than ever.
Yet, as she reached out to lightly touch the vibrant flowers around her, she seemed almost otherworldly—an ethereal figure too pure for the mundane. Something about her tugged at Tianqing's heart, refusing to let him look away.
"Brother Qing, can you tell me about you and Sister Ruoxi?" Xiaoluo's question pulled him from his reverie.
Caught off guard, Tianqing hesitated. What was there to say? His marriage to Ruoxi had been a calculated arrangement. They'd met only twice before their families finalized the union. Despite sharing a home, they'd spent less time together than he had with Xiaoluo.
Tianqing was a workaholic, constantly traveling for the Ye family business. Ruoxi, on the other hand, was a calm and independent woman, content with a quiet life. Her decision to stay longer in Dream River was purely out of concern for Xiaoluo.
"I… Ruoxi and I…" Tianqing faltered, unsure how to frame their lack of a love story.
"She's so gentle and kind," Xiaoluo said wistfully. "You must have truly cared for her to decide on marriage."
Her words were laced with her own unspoken fears, a reflection of her own tumultuous feelings for Tianlin. She thought about how far they'd come—from his coercion to her reluctant surrender, to her newfound realization of love.
Life felt like a fleeting dream. Could any of it be real? And if she closed her eyes, would it all vanish?
Her heart remained restless.
"I…" Tianqing wanted to refute her assumption but stopped himself. What right do I have to deny it?
Ruoxi was indeed a good woman—gentle, caring, and virtuous. But she wasn't the woman he'd fallen for.
Regret seeped into his voice as he replied, "Thank you."
Xiaoluo turned to him with an encouraging smile. "You and Sister Ruoxi must cherish each other and be happy. You both deserve it."
Her sincerity shone brightly, but it only deepened Tianqing's inner conflict. He couldn't bring himself to voice his regret—how he wished he'd searched for true love before settling into a marriage of convenience.
"Thank you," he muttered again, forcing a weak smile.
"Brother Qing, I should go now. Tianlin should be back soon." Xiaoluo stood, her voice filled with a newfound determination.
She refused to wallow in self-pity. Love meant trust, and she would give Tianlin hers, no matter her doubts. To question him would be to betray that trust.
Tianqing watched her retreating figure, a dark thought flickering across his mind: If only she weren't Tianlin's woman…
Once Xiaoluo left, Tianqing finally departed as well.
In the shadows, the maid holding her phone smirked at the photos she'd taken of Tianqing and Xiaoluo. What a scoop, she thought gleefully, already imagining the scandal this could stir.
Turning to leave, she suddenly froze. A cold chill ran down her spine as she realized someone was standing behind her—a man with an expression so dark it seemed murderous.
"Second Young Master!" she stammered, clutching her phone tightly behind her back.
Ye Tianlin's voice was icy as he extended his hand. No words were needed; his gesture made it clear what he wanted.
The maid hesitated, then shakily handed over the phone. "S-second Young Master, I swear, I only took these to—"
Her excuses died in her throat as Tianlin raised the phone high and smashed it to the ground. The device shattered into pieces.
"I never want to see you again," he growled, his tone sending shivers down her spine.
"Second Young Master, please—" she began, but his glare cut her off.
"Leave. Now." His command was final.
The maid scrambled away, too terrified to argue.
Left alone, Tianlin stood staring at the pavilion, replaying the scene he'd witnessed earlier. Xiaoluo and Tianqing, sitting together, laughing softly, bathed in golden light—it was a sight that ignited a jealousy so fierce it consumed him.
He clenched his fists. Tianqing, you dare?