Drip by drip, drip by drip, tears fell.
They were Shi Tiexin's tears.
"Dark, dark sky hung low, bright, bright stars kept me company. Little insects flew, little insects flew—who were you missing...?"
Choking up, choking up, he began to sing.
It was Black Venerable's song.
"In this life, in this lifetime, I will absolutely cherish you and protect you. I will absolutely never let you die before me!"
Solemnly, solemnly, he made a promise.
It was Shi Tie Zhu's promise.
Ling Xingjian was intoxicated by that powerful yet boundless tenderness. She felt as though she had suddenly returned to her girlish youth, seeing the prince on a white horse and the peerless hero from her dreams. Her whole heart was about to melt.
Suddenly, her eyes shifted, and she smiled slyly. "Oh, right. You still haven't asked whether I'm married."
Shi Tie Zhu looked at her. "So, are you married or not?"
"Yes—or no? Let me think..."
While she was still thinking, Shi Tie Zhu suddenly scooped Ling Xingjian up and tossed her onto the bed in the room.
The bed was large, the bed was soft, and his throw was accurate. He did not toss her onto the floor.
Ling Xingjian looked up in a panic and saw Shi Tie Zhu walking toward her step by step. With every step, he tossed away another piece of clothing. His gaze was fixed straight on her—ardent, blazing, utterly undisguised.
"Y-you, what are you doing?" Ling Xingjian wanted to demand loudly, but the voice that came out was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, delicate as a shy flower. Perhaps she realized that her tone seemed like adding fuel to the fire. Her face immediately flushed crimson, making her all the more ravishing.
"I'm just giving you some time to think."