Tang Wuling's Chest Tightened: She'd Been by Lin An's Side the Longest, So Why Wasn't She First?

Tang Wuling fell silent for a few seconds.

Then an answer she considered perfectly reasonable took shape in her mind.

Their Soul Power had mingled so often lately, and the changes in her Golden Dragon King Bloodline were so obvious. How could An'an not have noticed?

He must have realized her seal was growing more unstable.

That was why he had sought her out tonight.

And in private, too.

Away from Gu Yue, away from Na'er, without telling anyone.

All so he could give something this precious to her alone.

An'an always rejected her with his words, and he always acted as though accepting her was absolutely impossible.

But... he did care about her after all.

At the thought, Tang Wuling's eyes reddened.

The disappointment she had felt when Lin An had asked only about Na'er vanished in an instant. She was even more moved than she had been by her first hopeful fantasy.

"An'an..."

Lin An: "?"

Why was she crying again?

I haven't even said anything yet.

Tang Wuling sniffed hard and held out both hands, carefully accepting the fruit.

"Thank you."

She looked at Lin An, her eyes unmistakably wet.

"I'll treasure it."

Seeing that she had taken it, Lin An was about to explain further.

But Tang Wuling had already brought the fruit to her mouth and opened wide.

Lin An's expression shifted.

"Wait."

Tang Wuling froze mid-motion.

Lin An looked at her.

"That isn't for you."

"..."

Tang Wuling's mouth remained open, but the rest of her seemed to have been put on pause.

A full two seconds passed before she slowly raised her eyes.

"Huh?"

Lin An felt a little awkward.

"I mean, that fruit isn't for you to eat."

In that moment,

Tang Wuling had the vague feeling that something inside her heart