Once the heat on the pills' surfaces had faded slightly, leaving them warm and smooth as jade, Chen Lin picked one up and held it out to Li Xiaoyue, who had long since been watching in stunned amazement beside him.
The pill was jet-black, yet a delicate sheen shimmered across it, like the deepest star in the night sky.
"Sister Xiaoyue, open your mouth."
Li Xiaoyue snapped out of her daze. Looking at the pill he offered, she instinctively waved her hands, her lovely face filled with alarm.
"Xiao Lin, this... this is too precious!"
Even her voice trembled.
"Didn't you say this pill was worth a fortune? Giving it to me... would be such a waste!"
Seeing how carefully she tried to avoid taking advantage of him, Chen Lin felt a surge of tenderness.
Without another word, he gently cupped her small chin with his left hand. The warmth of his fingertips made her shiver slightly.
His voice was gentle, but his actions left no room for refusal.
"Take it. I made these for my family in the first place."
His family...
Those two words struck the softest part of Li Xiaoyue's heart like a sudden rush of warmth.
So, in his heart, she had already become part of his family.
Her eyes instantly reddened, and all her resistance dissolved before those words.
She stopped struggling and obediently opened her mouth, like a docile kitten.
Chen Lin gently placed the pill, still carrying the warmth of his fingertips, into her mouth.
The pill melted the moment it touched her tongue.
A sweet, refreshing stream of warmth slid down her throat into her stomach, then spread gently through her entire body like the sunshine of spring.
An indescribable comfort enveloped her, as though she were immersed in warm spring water.