97: Chapter 97 The End of the Sixth Day

"Everything is taken care of, and it is getting late. Since there is nothing to do tonight, let us bathe and rest early; it is best to be well-rested."

Lin Tian opened his eyes and stretched comfortably, his joints emitting a pleasant, light sound.

He turned around, looked up at Lin Yin's concerned face close by, and smiled: "Alright, I will listen to you. You should also go wash up; you have been tired all day."

As he spoke, he naturally stood up and raised his hand to rub Lin Yin's soft hair. His movements were intimate and natural, as if treating a dearly cherished family member. "Go on!"

Lin Yin narrowed her eyes slightly under his touch, like a cat being petted. A faint blush appeared on her face, but she did not dodge. She simply gave a soft "Mn" and obediently turned to walk toward the second-floor bathroom.

Listening to the sound of rushing water gradually rising from the bathroom, Lin Tian walked to the window. He gazed at the silent territory outside and the deep night sky in the distance, but his thoughts drifted involuntarily back to that tragic scene in the secret realm during the day.

Lin Yin was covered in blood, yet she used her slender back to shield him from the barrage of arrows. That vow, "Unless I die, no one can harm you," seemed to still be echoing in his ears.

His heart felt as if it had been struck hard by something, causing waves of sour, aching pain, and his eyes involuntarily grew hot.

This silly girl usually looks cold and reticent, but at critical moments, she is so stubborn that it makes one's heart ache.

How helpless he felt then is how fearful he feels now, along with... an unspeakable, heavy emotion surging in the bottom of his heart.

Just as he was lost in thought, his emotions churning, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. After a while, the door was gently knocked, and then pushed open.

Lin Yin had finished bathing and changed into a moon-white silk nightdress that Lin Tian had specially traded for her later. Her long hair, damp and wet, draped over her shoulders, still dripping with a few water droplets that shimmered under the magic crystal lamp.

Her body exuded the fresh scent of a bath, mixed with her own natural fragrance, clean and pleasant.

The nightdress was slightly loose, which only served to accentuate her slender figure.

Her cheeks were flushed pink from the heat, and her eyes were misted with moisture, lacking some of her usual coldness and possessing more of a rare gentleness.

She walked to the door of Lin Tian's room but did not come in. Leaning against the doorframe, she said softly: "Brother Tian, I am done washing. You should go wash now."

Hearing this, Lin Tian was suddenly startled out of his chaotic thoughts and turned to look.

Seeing Lin Yin at the door, looking like a lotus rising from the water, without any makeup yet stunningly beautiful, he could not help but be stunned for a moment before reacting and quickly saying: "Oh, right, I will go now."

He averted his gaze somewhat unnaturally and walked quickly toward the bathroom.

After hurriedly washing up and changing into comfortable pajamas, Lin Tian walked out of the bathroom while drying his hair, only to find that Lin Yin had not returned to her own room. She was still quietly standing at the door of his room, though her hair had been roughly dried with a dry towel and was no longer dripping.

"Lin Yin? Why haven't you gone to rest yet?" Lin Tian walked over with some surprise, stopped in front of her, and looked down at her.

She looked exceptionally quiet and beautiful after her bath, causing him to unconsciously soften his voice.

Lin Yin tilted her face up, her clear eyes watching him without blinking, reflecting the lamplight and his puzzled face.

She seemed to hesitate for a moment before whispering: "I... will sleep after you sleep."

These words made Lin Tian's heart soften; he found it slightly amusing, but mostly he was moved.

He reached out and gently touched her slightly damp hair again, his movements even gentler than before, carrying a thick sense of care:

"Silly girl, you don't have to do this in the future. I am a lord, and an adult, so I can take care of myself. You should hurry back to your room and get some good sleep; there might be tough battles to fight tomorrow."

He paused, looked at her face close by, and thinking of all that happened during the day, his tone became incomparably solemn, his gaze locking tightly onto her eyes:

"Lin Yin, listen well. From now on, no matter what situation you encounter, you must take care of yourself and protect yourself first. Do not... do not ever be like today, foolishly knowing only to block in front of me. Seeing you get hurt, here..."

He spoke as he took her hand and gently pressed it against his chest, letting her feel his steady but powerful heartbeat. His voice was low and serious: "It hurts. It hurts a lot. I will never let you fall into such danger again, so you must also promise me that you are not allowed to be so reckless again. Do you understand?"

Under her palm came the warmth and powerful throbbing of his chest, and in her ears were his gentle words, filled with heartache and fear, such as she had never heard before.

Lin Yin felt a huge wave of warmth and sourness rush into her heart at the same time, making her nose sore and her eyes instantly turn red.

Looking at the undisguised cherish and seriousness in his eyes, her own reflection was clearly mirrored within them.

"I know... Brother Tian." Her voice was somewhat choked, carrying a thick nasal tone. She nodded vigorously, but tears uncontrollably slid down.

Seeing her shed tears, Lin Tian felt even more heartache. He used his thumb to gently wipe away the tears on her face, his movements clumsy but gentle.

"Be good, don't cry anymore. Go to sleep..."

His words were not yet finished.

Lin Yin, however, seemed to have made some kind of resolution, or perhaps the dam of her reason had been breached by the surging emotions in her heart.

Suddenly, she stood on tiptoe, tilted her face up, and taking advantage of the moment when Lin Tian was looking down to wipe her tears, completely off guard, she quickly and lightly pressed her soft, cool, and fragrant-from-the-bath lips onto Lin Tian's cheek.

It was like a dragonfly skimming the water, touching and immediately pulling away.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

Lin Tian completely froze, his hand for wiping tears paused in mid-air, his mind a blank slate.

The fleeting yet incredibly clear, soft, and moist sensation on his face felt like a weak electric current, instantly coursing through his entire body.

After kissing him, Lin Yin herself seemed to be startled. She abruptly stepped back, her face instantly turning as red as a ripe tomato, the flush spreading all the way to her ears and neck.

Her eyes were wide, filled with panic, shyness, helplessness, and a hint of regret like having done something bad, along with a vague expectation that even she did not understand.

Looking at Lin Tian's dazed expression, her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat, and she could no longer stay there.

"I, I am going to sleep! Good night, Brother Tian!"

She incoherently dropped this sentence, then, like a terrified rabbit, turned abruptly and almost "crashed" open her room door, rushing inside.

With a "bang," she closed the door, leaning her back against the cold door panel, breathing heavily.

Outside the door, Lin Tian still maintained his stiff posture. After several seconds, he slowly, mechanically raised his hand to touch the cheek that had just been kissed.

It seemed as if that soft, cool sensation, carrying her scent, still remained there.

"This girl..." He murmured, his voice somewhat dry. Immediately after, an irrepressible, silly smile, filled with disbelief and an unspeakable joy, slowly bloomed at the corners of his mouth, deepening more and more.

It was as if something in the depths of his heart had been completely ignited by this light kiss, bright and warm.

He turned and walked back to his room, closing the door.

Leaning against the bedroom door, listening to the faintly audible, forcefully suppressed yet still obvious rapid breathing and the sound of fabric rubbing from next door, the smile on his face widened even more, his eyes filled with a gentle light.

The night outside the window remained deep and silent, as if harboring unknown storms.

But within this Lords Mansion, on this seemingly ordinary night, something deeper and more beautiful was quietly taking root, budding, and sprouting between two young souls.

The sixth day drew to a close amidst this busyness, harvest, danger, tenderness, and a touch of unexpected, sweet palpitation.