*splash* The warm water rippled as Zhao Tian leaned back into the spacious marble bathtub, lost in his own thoughts and beside him, Xia Shenyi was sitting silently, a pang of guilt on her face.
"Tian..." She moved closer to him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Are you... mad at me?"
Shaking his head, Zhao Tian looked at her, a soft smile spreading across his lips "No... I understand what you meant, Shenyi."
"I am not angry at you..."
Xia Shenyi leaned forward kissing his cheek "This is for just a few years... you have to work hard and after that, you can enjoy as much as you want."
"Just these few years, work hard for yourself and us..."
With a nod, Zhao Tian leaned forward, kissing Xia Shenyi's lips "Thank you, Shenyi..."
Xia Shenyi blinked in mild confusion, pulling back slightly to look into his eyes. "Thank me?"
"Yeah..." His voice trailed off as he leaned backward on the bathtub...
"I was quite disheartened that I can't see my wives for four years... but after hearing your words, I remembered again."
He turned his head to look at her again, his eyes soft yet determined "I have to work hard and need to become powerful enough so that my wives can live happily..."
"By the next time they come out, I should be powerful enough to protect them in these High Stars."
Xia Shenyi's lips curled into a soft smile as she listened to his words, her heart swelling with affection
Then, as if remembering something important, Zhao Tian's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, Shenyi... Time flows differently inside the artifact, doesn't it?"
Hearing this, Xia Shenyi chuckled "Yeah, it should be only two years in the outside world..."
Zhao Tian let out a small sigh of relief, realizing that the time away from his wives wouldn't be as long as he initially thought. "I see... that's good to know."
"And Tian... only three and half months passed in the outside world... for the seven months you were in seclusion inside the artifact."
"Zhilian has been waiting for you..."
His eyes softened at the mention of Ning Zhilian. "Zhilian... she didn't enter seclusion with the others?"
Xia Shenyi gave a nod "Yeah... she said that she promised you something..."
Zhao Tian couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this as his eyes softened and muttered "So there are you, Zhilian, Yixian, Ziyu, Lingxi, and Lian who are left."
As she looked through the peephole, she saw an incredibly handsome man standing outside.
Seeing Zhao Tian, her heart raced and she hurriedly opened the door, an excited smile appearing on her face.
"Zhi-"
"TIAN!"
She threw herself around him and hugged his neck tightly, as tears moistened her eyes.
Zhao Tian sighed and hugged her waist, pulling her closer "I missed you, Zhilian."
"Me too.."
Gently pulling back from the hug, Ning Zhilian cupped his cheek and leaned forward kissing him, as a drop of tear dribbled down her cheek.
Zhao Tian's left hand traveled to her neck as he closed his eyes letting himself sink in the kiss.
After a minute of kissing, Ning Zhilian slowly pulled back from the kiss, her gaze lingering on his lips.
Not being able to control herself, she kissed him but this time more fervently as she sucked and bit on his lower lip, her fingers caressing his jaw.
"Haa..."
Retracting the kiss, Ning Zhilian gaze grew gentle "It's been only four months.. but I feel like I have been waiting for so long."
Zhao Tian let out a chuckle and she gazed at his face "You have gotten even more handsome..."
Smiling, Zhao Tian let his hands get lower as he cupped her ass cheeks and lifted her off the ground.
She obediently wrapped her legs around his waist as they entered in and the door closed. *thud*
Her hands were securely around his neck as she spoke "Little Xue and all of your wives... went into seclusion."
Zhao Tian nodded his head "Yeah..."
"Sister Shenyi... asked me to enter the seclusion too, but I refused... because I made a promise... that I will accept you and want you to wear this ring for me."
As she spoke, a beautiful ring appeared in her hand.
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!