“You… You’re faking it, aren’t you?”
He Jingnian chuckled softly, his voice so mesmerizing it should be illegal. Li Qiao, utterly defenseless, nestled into his embrace.
“He Jingnian… I was really scared today.”
He had shielded her without hesitation. The fading warmth of his body, his weakening breath…
The moment she thought he was dead, Li Qiao’s heart had ached unbearably.
She couldn’t accept He Jingnian’s death.
“I’m sorry. I’ll never make Qiaoqiao sad again. To make it up to you, I’ll give you all the merit I’ve accumulated.”
“You… Well, if you put it that way, wouldn’t I be hurting your feelings if I refused?”
Merit—she still loved it dearly.
Li Qiao grinned as streams of golden merit flowed into her, filling her with warmth. He Jingnian gazed at her tenderly, stroking her silky hair.
Downstairs.
He Yi and Li Shaoyu stood facing each other, neither willing to back down.
“Move.”
“Apologies, but when our Ninth Master is alone with Miss Li, no one is allowed to disturb them—not even you, her brother.”
“Damn it!”
Li Shaoyu cursed under his breath, rolling up his sleeves as if ready to throw a punch. Fortunately, Song Xianchuan quickly pulled him back.
“Shaoyu, don’t.”
“What do you mean? My sister’s up there! What if that old man He Jingnian is trying to take advantage of her?”
He Yi: “Our Ninth Master is only twenty-six.”
“Bullshit, he’s twenty-eight!”
He Yi: “That’s nominal age. Our Ninth Master never counts nominal age.”
“…”
That old man was finding every excuse to appear younger. Li Shaoyu was so furious he nearly pinched his own philtrum to calm down. Song Xianchuan dragged him aside.
“Shaoyu… You don’t understand. In a way, He Jingnian is Qiaoqiao’s remedy.”
As a professor, Song Xianchuan had read extensively. He had a sharp eye—Li Qiao seemed to need the merit He Jingnian carried. He knew enough about metaphysics to recognize certain connections.
“Really?”
“Really.”
With that, Li Shaoyu reluctantly backed down—though he resolved to warn Li Qiao later not to trust men too easily.
“You’re just her brother. Are you going to interfere if she starts dating someday?”
“Not interfere. I’ll just vet them for her.”
Song Xianchuan gave him a skeptical look. Yeah, right.
…..
After everything that had happened tonight, Li Qiao couldn’t possibly go home. She stayed to watch over He Jingnian, genuinely worried he might take another turn for the worse.
As she reflected on the day’s events, something felt off.
Why was He Jingnian unharmed? How had his injuries healed?
And the moment she arrived at the City of the Dead, the Black and White Guards of the Underworld just happened to show up?
Was it really that coincidental?
Li Qiao rubbed her temples, her thoughts tangled.
Well, as long as the Li family matter was resolved and He Jingnian was safe, that was all that mattered.
Her phone buzzed with a message. After replying, she noticed He Jingnian watching her intently.
“Trouble?”
“A client someone referred to me. A minor issue.”
“Serious?”
She sat on the edge of the bed and explained.
The man had used a metaphysical technique to bind his life to the woman he loved—similar to Wang Ruonan and Song Xianchuan’s symbiotic gu, but not quite the same.
“If one leaves…”
“The other dies.”
Love, she mused, could be truly twisted sometimes.
Now, they were bound together for life.
She had performed a character divination for him.
Though the relationship began with deception, they were a perfect match—destined to grow old together.
But knowing he had manipulated fate, the man was consumed by insecurity.
That was why he’d resorted to such extreme measures.
As Li Qiao finished speaking, she noticed He Jingnian’s gaze growing heated.
She immediately saw where his thoughts were heading.
“Don’t get any ideas. I’m not an ordinary person—this kind of spell wouldn’t work on me.”
“What a shame.”
“Mr. He… You really shouldn’t entertain such strange thoughts.”
“Don’t call me Mr. He.”
He Jingnian took her hand in his.
