Don't Cry, Your "Tie" Will Be Crooked

"Mm, it really suited you."

Su Qing said after feeling the texture in his hand.

Without the slightest courtesy, he simply tugged and pulled her to her feet.

Qin Lan Shan finally couldn't hold back anymore.

Two clear tears slipped from the corners of her eyes and fell straight into unfathomable depths.

"Don't cry..."

Su Qing spoke gently.

After hearing this, Qin Lan Shan's heart filled with grief and indignation.

After doing something so excessive, was he still putting on an act?

"...The collar will be crooked."

Su Qing continued.

Qin Lan Shan froze.

For that moment, she even forgot her sorrow.

Once she came to her senses, all she felt was a chill in her heart.

Did this man seriously feel no guilt toward her at all?!

In her daze, she thought of the ethereal figure who had guided her.

Like a Goddess detached from the mortal world, those clear eyes saw through everything, capable of observing the myriad states of all living beings and even calculating every possibility without error!

Naturally, that included the only method she had given Qin Lan Shan to break the deadlock.

The other party had been right. This truly was the only way out.

But... her assessment of this young master of the Realm Protectorate was completely off!

Where was this kindness? Where was this easygoing nature?

They were complete opposites!

Had she... done it deliberately, or by accident?

Qin Lan Shan had no way of knowing, but her previous trust had already begun to waver.

In the end, she had brought this upon herself!

All she felt was bitterness in her heart.

Yet beyond that bitterness, her tormented heart quietly let go of much of its burden.

Was this the price she had to pay for going against her own heart and using someone else?

It didn't matter if she had to pay the price, as long as the Tang State Residence could be saved...

The moment she thought of that, the breath she had been holding finally dispersed.

She had already knelt outside for several hours, been drenched by the rain, and exhausted herself in body and mind.

After letting out that breath, she finally couldn't hold on any longer and fainted.

"With such a weak body, how will you endure any hardship in the future?"

Su Qing casually caught Elder Sister as she pitched forward.

He had only made some preparations on his end, and she had already fainted?

She needed to be nursed back to health properly. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to enjoy himself in the future.

After she fainted, he very gentlemanly gathered Elder Sister into his arms.

This wasn't taking advantage of someone while they were unconscious. He was merely afraid she would fall to the ground.

If Qin Lan Shan woke up, she would surely praise his grace and bearing, right?

As far as her figure went, Elder Sister before him was undoubtedly flawless.

If he had to point something out, there was still a tiny imperfection.

Her body was a little too cold. It would feel better once she had warmed up a bit.

After catching her, he placed her directly in a chair.

She was all wet and chilly, and he had no interest in holding her the whole time.

"Lian Yin, come in."

Su Qing called out toward the door.

The task of taking care of her still had to be handed over to this Little Fox.

Lian Yin, who had been eavesdropping outside, jumped in fright and hurriedly took several steps back.

As though she had only just arrived, she pushed open the door and walked in.

"Enough pretending. I know you were outside the door."

Su Qing said irritably.

"I was only worried about Young Master. It seems my worries were unnecessary."

"Young Master, it's my first time seeing you like this. It's a little scary."

Lian Yin walked in with her hands behind her back, a frightened expression on her face.

Naturally, the fear displayed on her face was somewhat exaggerated.

But she truly felt that this version of Young Master was terribly unfamiliar.

After being together for so long, Lian Yin had thought she understood him well enough to have him wrapped around her finger.

But his swift and decisive methods now had this Little Fox thoroughly shaken.

Now she understood what it meant to never claim that you truly knew another person.

The human heart really was unfathomable!

"Had we encountered something like this before?"

Su Qing asked with a gentle smile.

He hadn't deliberately targeted this little maid, but the effect of killing the chicken to scare the monkey had been achieved.

After thinking for a moment, Lian Yin honestly shook her head.

How could something like this happen every day?

"So it's perfectly normal that you haven't seen this side of me. Besides, she was the one who went too far."

"She's a bad child who wanted to use me and the Realm Protectorate, which is why I treated her this way."

"You don't need to worry. My Lian Yin is so well-behaved, how could I possibly punish you?"

Su Qing said softly.

The smile on Little Fox's face stiffened for a moment.

It felt like he was being sarcastic!

All of a sudden.

"Lian Yin, are you a bad child?"

Su Qing asked seemingly casually.

As he spoke, he naturally rose to his feet and walked toward the little maid.

"Of... of course not."

Lian Yin's voice trembled slightly.

Watching the young man draw closer and closer, she instinctively retreated several steps.

Until she was pressed against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat.

Facing Su Qing's gaze at that moment, she couldn't help feeling inexplicably guilty.

Fortunately, after they looked at each other for a moment.

"Mm, Lian Yin, of course I believe you."

Su Qing looked down at his Pretty Maid and said with a smile.

Lian Yin looked at the young man's face so close to hers and felt his breath against her neck.

This scheming Little Fox held her breath.

She could clearly hear her own heartbeat, while the young man's words of trust filled her ears.

Her body had already gone soft, and she no longer had the slightest thought of resisting him.

Even if he did something bad to her now, she probably wouldn't be able to refuse at all, right?

What would he do? Would he... kiss her?

"So help me settle her down. Wipe her body and change her clothes. Don't let her catch a cold."

Su Qing said with a smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, he decisively pushed open the door and left without the slightest hesitation.

Lian Yin's initial shyness instantly froze along with the closing of the door.

The quiet room was filled with the Pretty Maid's uneven breathing.

The contrast before and after left an irrepressible sense of loss in her heart.

You were the one who got close to me, and you were also the one who turned and left. Which one was the real you?

She remained against the wall, seemingly trying to calm herself down.

Even after he had left, her heart beat faster than ever before.

Because there was no mirror, she didn't notice the infatuation on her face.

The current him was more charming than the simple, kind-hearted man he had been before.

Forceful and aggressive, it was a side of him she had never seen.

Lian Yin's heart truly fluttered this time.

She thought of her cooperation with that Goddess, and hesitation rose in her heart.

Perhaps... that cooperation was still open to discussion?

The Pretty Maid helped settle Qin Lan Shan down, her thoughts drifting as she wavered in indecision.