The intimacy between them was electric, their connection undeniable. Bai Xianyu's fingers traced the edges of Lin Tian's collar, her touch igniting a fire that spread through him. She smiled against his lips, her voice barely a whisper. "For a man who claims not to trust me, you're awfully close."
Lin Tian chuckled softly, his forehead resting against hers. "Maybe I'm taking a risk."
"Or maybe," she said, her tone playful, "you just can't resist me."
Her confidence was intoxicating, but there was a vulnerability beneath it that Lin Tian couldn't ignore. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his expression softening. "You don't have to pretend with me, Xianyu."
Her smile faltered, and for a moment, she looked away. "You think you know me so well?"
"I know enough," Lin Tian replied. "Enough to see that there's more to you than what you show the world."
Her golden eyes met his again, and she leaned forward, her lips brushing against his ear. "Then prove it."
Lin Tian didn't hesitate. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her flush against him as their kiss deepened once more. Her lips parted under his, and he felt her body relax into his embrace.
The moment stretched, a blend of passion and trust forging something new between them. Bai Xianyu's usual sharpness melted away, replaced by a softness that Lin Tian hadn't seen before.
But before the night could progress further, a sudden noise from the cave entrance shattered the intimacy. Lin Tian and Bai Xianyu pulled apart, both of them instantly alert.
"Someone's coming," Lin Tian said, his Dragon's Eyes activating.
The figure that emerged from the shadows made Lin Tian's heart stop. It was Zhao Yue, her expression a mix of shock and something else—betrayal.
"What's going on here?" Zhao Yue demanded, her voice trembling.
Bai Xianyu straightened, her confidence returning like armor. "Nothing that concerns you, princess."
But Zhao Yue ignored her, her gaze fixed on Lin Tian. "I thought… I thought I was starting to understand you, but now…"
Lin Tian stepped forward, his voice steady but tinged with regret. "Yue, this isn't what it looks like."
"Isn't it?" she shot back, her eyes glistening. "I told you I trusted you, Lin Tian. I—"
She stopped herself, her hands curling into fists. Without another word, she turned and fled the cave, leaving Lin Tian standing in silence.
Bai Xianyu sighed, brushing a hand through her hair. "Well, that went well."
Lin Tian gave her a sharp look. "This isn't a joke, Xianyu."
"I know," she said quietly, her expression softening. "But you can't deny what's happening between us, Lin Tian. And neither can she."
Lin Tian exhaled heavily, the weight of his choices pressing down on him. The battle with the Abyssal Order was only growing more complicated—and so was his heart.