If You Don't Speak, I Won't Leave

Su Ming rose at the crack of dawn, specifically digging out a long-treasured outfit he usually couldn't bear to wear.

A plain white, wide-sleeved robe draped elegantly, tailored from moon-white brocade that clung to his frame, outlining the youth's tall and handsome figure.

The collar, hem, and the edges of his wide sleeves were all meticulously embroidered with a border of golden silk clouds, the fine gilded threads winding in intricate patterns.

They traced layers of flowing clouds and rolling waves, shimmering with a delicate, warm luster in the morning light.

The snow-white fabric made the golden patterns appear even more dazzling, lending him an air of natural, ethereal grace that made his features look all the more refined and transcendent.

Once dressed, Su Ming stood before the mirror, looking left and right, his fingertips gently brushing over the golden cloud patterns on his clothes.

His eyes were filled with satisfaction; he marveled inwardly that such an outfit, which fit his frame and highlighted his temperament so well, was truly worth saving for this day.

When Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi woke up and saw him, they were stunned on the spot, staring blankly at the brand-new Su Ming before them.

He had always been casual and minimalist, never bothering with his appearance, but now, clad in a white robe with golden silk, he looked exceptionally graceful and peerless.

Both Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi sighed inwardly, thinking that the usually low-key Su Ming was actually this dazzling when he put in the effort—he really cleaned up well.

Su Ming waved at them with a smile, and before they could tease him, he walked out with a light, brisk step.

His heart was filled with an irrepressible flutter and anticipation; the first urgent task on his list was to go buy a large bouquet of flowers.

Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan had a gentle and quiet temperament; such an elegant and tender woman deserved fresh flowers, and she would surely love them.

He immediately activated his fourth-class Soul Tool, his figure rising into the air to ride the wind. Moving at high speed, he arrived at the bustling commercial street of Shrek City in an instant.

He quickly found the largest flower shop in the city with the most exquisite arrangements, descended slowly, and stepped inside.

The young girls who had been leisurely picking flowers turned their heads at the sound, their gazes involuntarily falling upon Su Ming.

A youth with such a tall stature, handsome features, and an air of refined nobility in his white and gold robes was a rare sight, drawing many to steal glances at him.

Su Ming paid no mind to the surrounding gazes and walked straight to the counter, looking at the shop assistant who had already become slightly dazed.

His tone was gentle and warm, carrying a tenderness unique to a youth:

"Hello, I would like to buy some flowers. Something suitable for a gentle and quiet personality—the kind that would make a girl's heart flutter."

The assistant snapped back to reality, her cheeks instantly flushing a deep red as she hurriedly stepped forward to introduce them:

"Of course, of course! Sir, please take a look; these varieties are all particularly suitable."

"This is white Eustoma. It has an elegant and versatile temperament—quiet, gentle, and unassuming. It symbolizes eternal tenderness and an unchanging heart; it is perfect for someone you cherish."

"This is the champagne rose. It is neither gaudy nor common, but warm and refined, carrying a sense of quiet sophistication. It symbolizes elegant protection and a heart full of warmth; it suits the temperament of a girl you admire perfectly."

"There is also white Eustoma, clean and cold, gentle and quiet. It has a long blooming period and is easy to care for; almost no one could dislike it."

"And then there is jasmine. Its fragrance is light and elegant, and its nature is gentle and introverted; it is best suited for someone with a quiet and graceful disposition, full of atmosphere."

"I wonder which one you would like to choose, sir?"

Su Ming looked at the clusters of elegant and romantic flowers before him, thinking only of saving the best for Zhang Lexuan.

Since they all fit her temperament, he decided to buy them all.

With a smile in his eyes, he said in a firm and gentle tone: "I want them all. Please wrap them into a large bouquet for me; I am giving them to someone."

The shop owner, seeing this, hurried over, his face full of respect and eagerness:

"Right away, right away! Please wait a moment, honored guest. We will wrap them with the utmost care and ensure they look exquisite."

Su Ming, too impatient to wait and eager to see Zhang Lexuan, casually handed over a dozen Gold Soul Coins, generous and decisive.

Having received his payment, the owner worked even faster, not daring to show the slightest bit of negligence.

When the massive bouquet of assorted flowers was wrapped, the fragrance was rich and elegant, the layers overlapping in a display of pure tenderness.

Su Ming took the bouquet, gently tucked it into his storage ring, and immediately activated his Soul Tool again. His figure turned into a white shadow, speeding toward the Shrek Inner Court.

As the Senior Sister of the Inner Court, Zhang Lexuan possessed profound cultivation and exceptional talent, and had long been groomed by the Sea God Pavilion.

Regarded as the successor to the next Pavilion Master, or even the one after that, she resided in a private courtyard with the best environment in the Inner Court—quiet, elegant, and surrounded by flowers and trees.

Su Ming had often come here before and knew the way well. When his figure landed at the entrance of the courtyard, he saw Zhang Lexuan in her simple, elegant dress at a glance.

She was holding a watering can, slowly watering the flowers, her posture gentle and quiet, her brows soft, like an orchid in the moonlight.

His feelings surged, and he couldn't wait to take the beautifully wrapped bouquet from his storage ring—a cluster of flowers with a lingering fragrance.

Zhang Lexuan keenly sensed the presence of an outsider and turned around slowly. When her gaze fell upon Su Ming, she couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

She saw the youth in his white robe with golden cloud borders, looking dashing and handsome, his eyes filled with an irrepressible tenderness.

It was clear he had dressed up specifically for this, and he was holding a large bouquet of blooming flowers, staring at her with burning intensity.

At that moment, Zhang Lexuan's heart trembled slightly; she was completely dazed, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

Su Ming watched her dazed expression, warmth surging in his heart. He took a few large strides forward, stood before her, and without a word, gently tucked the massive bouquet into her arms.

His eyes were bright, filled with genuine joy and blatant favoritism, his tone carrying the heat and tenderness of a youth:

"Senior Sister Lexuan, I got up early specifically for this and ran a long, long way to pick these flowers for you. Take a look—do you like them?"

Zhang Lexuan subconsciously cradled the bouquet. The scent of white Eustoma, champagne roses, and jasmine intertwined at the tip of her nose—refreshing and soothing to the soul.

She raised her eyes to look at the youth who had eyes only for her, the corners of her lips curling upward uncontrollably, her brows curving into a gentle arc as she replied in a soft, graceful voice:

"Yes, I love it, it's beautiful."

A faint smile rippled in her eyes, gentle enough to drown in. Her gaze rested on Su Ming, carrying a touch of shyness and an irrepressible flutter of the heart.

Seeing her smile so gently and movingly, Su Ming felt his heart throb even more intensely. Gathering his courage, he boldly reached out and gently took Zhang Lexuan's hand.

Holding her soft palm, he walked toward the secluded courtyard, his tone carrying a hint of spoiled playfulness, yet underlying it was a deep, shameless, and passionate intimacy:

"Sister Lexuan, it's been so long since I've tasted your cooking. I was busy dressing up and running around buying flowers for you since early this morning.

I didn't even have time for breakfast; I'm so hungry I could eat a cow. You really have to reward me properly."

The moment their palms touched, Su Ming felt that Zhang Lexuan's hand was exquisitely beautiful, her knuckles smooth and fair, her skin as lustrous as congealed fat.

Soft as if boneless, delicate and warm, it felt so comfortable in his palm that he couldn't bear to let go.

As for Zhang Lexuan, being held tightly by Su Ming's large, clean hand with its distinct knuckles and long fingers, his palm felt broad and warm, carrying a sense of absolute security and strength.

This sudden, intimate hand-holding made her heart flutter in a panic. Her earlobes turned quietly red, and she felt somewhat at a loss, yet deep down, she did not resist.

Her fingertips even subconsciously curled slightly, letting him hold her without the slightest intention of pulling away.

Listening to his shameless yet intimate tone, she lowered her eyes, the blush on her cheeks still lingering. With a hint of feigned annoyance, she spoke softly:

"If you want to eat, just say so. Why did you suddenly grab my hand? You startled me."

Su Ming turned his head to look at her shy and gentle appearance, his brows curving. Though he wore a cheeky grin, his tone was filled with earnest affection, carrying the unique possessiveness and tenderness of someone deeply in love:

"Who told you it's been so long since I've properly seen Sister Lexuan? I'm just holding your hand to express how much I've missed you."

"Besides, I already went to Mu En to propose. Mu En has already nodded and agreed. In my heart, Sister Lexuan has long been my person, my rightful wife."

Zhang Lexuan's earlobes grew even hotter. Flustered by Su Ming's blunt words of love, her heart raced like a deer. Shyly lowering her eyes, her voice was soft and delicate, even her attempt at Senior Sister authority sounding like a coquettish rebuttal:

"I haven't even promised you myself yet. How can you be so presumptuous? When did I become your wife?"

Though she said this, the hand he held never pulled away; instead, it quietly leaned into his palm, her eyes hiding a lingering affection and heartbeat she hadn't even realized herself.

The two walked side by side into the quiet and elegant courtyard. The bluestone path was lined with lush greenery, and a breeze blew by, carrying the fragrance of the garden and the sweet scent of the bouquet in her arms.

Su Ming's palm was warm and broad, firmly holding Zhang Lexuan's boneless hand, unwilling to let go easily.

The young man's white robe with gold-threaded cloud patterns fluttered in the wind, setting off his handsome and upright figure, his profile sharp yet gentle.

His gaze never left the beauty beside him, his eyes filled with undisguised affection and possessiveness.

Being held by him, Zhang Lexuan's heart pounded, her ears turned red, and her pace slowed down unconsciously.

She had always been dignified and gentle; never had she been held in someone's heart so directly and passionately. The warmth of their joined palms spread from her fingertips all the way to her heart.

It was warm and embarrassing, yet she couldn't bear to pull her hand away, so she could only let him hold it tightly.

"You, you've always been so unruly since you were little."

Zhang Lexuan lowered her eyes, her voice soft and gentle, carrying a hint of reproach, but there was no blame in it at all; instead, it was full of a maiden's shy tenderness.

Su Ming turned his head, his burning gaze fixed on her exquisite and gentle features. He stopped walking, eased his grip slightly, and gently pulled her toward him.

The distance between them closed suddenly, their breathing audible. The elegant scent of the young man's clothes mixed with the faint fragrance of flowers and trees, lingering at the tip of Zhang Lexuan's nose.

"I am naturally dignified and steady in front of others, but in front of Sister Lexuan, I only want to follow my heart."

Su Ming's tone dropped, becoming deep and gentle, carrying the unique clinginess and heat of a passionate romance.

"Mu En has already nodded in approval. In my heart, you were destined to be the only person I want to spend my life with. I won't allow you to play dumb or push me away."

Zhang Lexuan's heart trembled at his blunt words of love. She raised her eyes to meet his deep, earnest gaze. Those eyes were filled entirely with her, so gentle they threatened to drown her.

She held a large bouquet of flowers in her arms, the fragrance intoxicating, and ripples surged in her heart. She couldn't help but hold a faint smile at the corners of her lips, her gentle eyes tinged with the soft charm of a girl whose heart had just been stirred.

"You have so many twisted arguments." She muttered softly, her fingertips subconsciously stroking Su Ming's palm. That tiny movement was full of silent acquiescence and acceptance.

Feeling the light touch of her fingertips, Su Ming felt his heart warm. His courage grew, and he led her slowly to the stone table under the veranda, still unwilling to let go of her hand.

He looked down at their joined hands—one long and powerful with distinct, handsome knuckles, the other slender and fair, soft and gentle—nestled together, looking exceptionally well-matched.

"I specifically changed into my best clothes early this morning, ran all over the commercial street to pick out a bouquet for you, and went hungry just to see you."

Su Ming's tone carried a hint of spoiled stickiness, but his eyes were exceptionally serious. "Sister Lexuan, aren't you moved at all?"

Sunlight spilled through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the white-robed youth and the gentle woman. The fragrance of flowers intertwined, and feelings quietly sprouted.

Zhang Lexuan looked up, gazing deep into Su Ming's clear, burning eyes, which were filled with undisguised affection and earnest anticipation.

It was so thick it couldn't be dissolved, crashing straight into her soft heart.

Her years of dignity, self-restraint, and gentle composure shattered completely at this moment. A burning shyness crawled across her cheeks and dyed her earlobes.

She truly couldn't withstand the youth's direct and burning gaze. Her heartbeat was in a complete mess, and she had to hurriedly turn her head away, avoiding his scorching eyes, not daring to meet them again.

Su Ming took in every bit of her shy, evasive appearance, the tenderness and throbbing in his heart growing even more intense.

He slowly loosened his grip, and without waiting for Zhang Lexuan to calm her emotions, he raised his long, clean fingers.

Gently hooking her chin, he turned her averted face back slowly, gently but firmly.

He leaned down slightly, his handsome face drawing close. The distance between them vanished in an instant, their warm breaths intertwining, and the clean, elegant scent of the youth completely enveloped her.

Su Ming's pitch-black eyes stared unblinkingly at her flushed features, his gaze stubborn yet gentle, carrying a bit of the youth's unique shamelessness and sincerity as he spoke softly and lingeringly:

"Sister Lexuan, you aren't allowed to dodge this. I must hear your answer with my own ears today. If you refuse to say it, I'm just going to stay right here."

Being stared at so intensely from such close proximity, Zhang Lexuan felt increasingly shy and flustered, her heart torn between conflicting emotions.

On one side was the cold, dignified reserve she had upheld for years; on the other, the irresistible warmth of her own heart.

She struggled within herself for a long time, her fingertips curling slightly. In the end, unable to withstand the surging affection in her eyes, her lips parted slightly, squeezing out two words as soft as a mosquito's hum:

"Mm, I'm moved."