Chapter 88: Discussing What Comes Next

Qianyin nodded, took her clothes, and quickly went to bathe. She thoroughly enjoyed seeing Lengxue’s concern for her, as well as the way he worried. He was truly the kind of boy Qianyin liked. Lengxue stood by the door when Molan barged in. Seeing Lengxue, Molan was at a loss for words, so she simply put her things down and sat at the table to play on the computer.

“When Qianyin comes out, tell her to come to my room. I have something to discuss with her.” After saying this, Lengxue walked out, his demeanor cool and aloof, as if he kept both strangers and friends at arm’s length.

Molan didn’t even have a chance to speak, and watched him leave, feeling a bit stifled. Perhaps she should move out and no longer share a room with Qianyin. After all, it wasn’t very appropriate for Lengxue to drop by now and then. She had a boyfriend, after all.

Molan thought as she continued browsing on her computer. There was much to do today. Recently, she’d been researching routes to Lindu, since the day she was to travel there with Boss Jin was fast approaching. He had already informed the chief of police, so they were preparing to go together.

Qianyin spent about half an hour bathing, washing her long hair as well. Her hair hung damp down her back, and she didn’t bother to dry it. Not seeing Lengxue when she emerged, but rather Molan, she was a bit surprised and asked, “Where is Lengxue?”

Hearing this, Molan thought once again that perhaps it really was time to sleep in separate rooms. If they kept sharing, Lengxue might just tear her apart. Smiling, she replied, “He said to come to his room, he has something important to discuss with you.”

Qianyin nodded, then looked at Molan curiously. “Have you been busy lately? Why are you always getting back so late?”

“Yes, it’s been pretty late. I’ve been tracking the boss’s whereabouts, but there haven’t been any new leads.” Talking about this gave Molan a headache. The police station had been on the boss’s trail for days, and not a single person looked relaxed.

“You’ve worked hard. Take a shower and get some rest,” Qianyin said, feeling she couldn’t be of much help and not wanting to get in Molan’s way. She left the room, heading off to find Lengxue.

Lengxue had already bathed as well and was sitting, waiting for Qianyin so he could discuss the boss with her. But he hesitated, uncertain how to broach the subject. If he spoke too directly, would it trouble her? As he was lost in thought, Qianyin arrived at his door and knocked softly.

Hearing the knock, Lengxue opened the door, pulled Qianyin inside, and shut it quickly. He’d intended to embrace her, but upon seeing her hair still dripping wet, his expression turned a bit displeased. He let her go, fetched a dry towel, and pulled her to sit on the bed, standing beside her to gently towel her hair dry.

Qianyin was a little dazed but let Lengxue take charge. No one had ever dried her hair before. She’d always been alone, letting her wet hair dry naturally, believing that blow-drying or toweling would damage it.

“From now on, you have to dry your hair yourself. If you keep letting it hang wet, you’ll get headaches,” Lengxue said gently as he dried her hair.

“Alright, I understand.” Qianyin was still unaccustomed to someone fussing over her, feeling a bit sulky.

Lengxue noticed and wasn’t sure how to respond. He didn’t want to ask why she was soaking wet, and he found it difficult to bring up the possibility that the boss might use her to threaten him. After all, Qianyin was the best—how could she be caught by the boss?

Lengxue gave a wry smile. He was overthinking things, imagining Qianyin as too fragile and himself as stronger than he truly was, as if he could really protect her. The gap in strength was still there, no matter how much he tried to bridge it.

Sensing something was wrong, Qianyin turned to look at him and saw the pallor on his face.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, curious. He had said he’d be away for a few days, but here he was back so soon—and acting odd. Had something bad happened?

Lengxue didn’t answer immediately. He finished drying her hair, sat beside her, and pulled her into his arms. Qianyin was startled by the sudden embrace, but the feeling of safety he gave her was overwhelming, even his scent was unique.

After a while, she returned to her earlier question. “What’s the matter? You seem strange today. If something happened, you have to tell me. If you keep secrets from me, what will we do when trouble comes?” she said, a little coquettishly.

“If there’s something, of course I’ll tell you. It’s nothing really, I just missed you and didn’t want to go somewhere so far away,” Lengxue replied, his expression calm, even though he was lying.

“Alright, but didn’t you say you had something to discuss? What is it?” Qianyin looked at Lengxue, realizing just how handsome he was. She’d never been one to swoon, but even she was captivated.

“When this is all over, let’s get married. I want to take you somewhere far away, bring along Master Xian, and live in seclusion. We’ll never be assassins again, alright?” This was a thought Lengxue had harbored for a long time.

Qianyin was stunned, her mind a whirl of thoughts about the future, but she couldn’t focus—marriage seemed so far off, with the boss still at large. They’d won the first battle, but what about the next?

Lengxue silently watched Qianyin lost in thought; her dazed look was adorable. He truly loved her, wanted to marry her, wanted to protect her.

Coming back to herself, Qianyin broke into a silly grin. But she really did love him, didn’t she? If they could get married, live together, it would be wonderful.

“What are you giggling about?” Lengxue asked, exasperated by her goofy smile. He was being serious—didn’t she care about the future?

“It’s nothing,” Qianyin said, waving her hands. Seeing Lengxue’s serious demeanor, she composed herself and replied earnestly, “Okay, let’s talk about it once this is over.”

Lengxue nodded, and the two embraced for a while. He pressed a kiss to Qianyin’s cheek and said, “Go on back. Get some rest.”

Qianyin nodded, left the towel on the bed, and walked out as if nothing had happened. Outwardly calm, inside she was positively elated. How lucky to have the man she loved confess to her and propose!

Lengxue was equally delighted—he’d finally said what was in his heart, and now, she belonged to him. But the boss would not be easy to deal with.

Meanwhile, up in Wolf Bear Mountain, Han was in a thoroughly foul mood. The base was finally finished, but he was already sick of staying there. Though it wasn’t lavish, it certainly had an air of mystery.