A handsome young man wearing green robes is walking through the streets, his white hair cascading over his shoulders while a beautiful, mature woman wearing blue robes is walking beside him.
She held his arm gently, as though both enjoying the closeness yet hesitant to make her feelings too obvious.
Her long black hair was pulled back with a silver hairpin, from which a single pearl dangled, swaying gently with each step.
She would glance at the young man from time to time, her gaze lingering on his face, before quickly looking away, trying to mask her emotions.
The faint smile on her lips, however, betrayed her feelings.
"Thank you for this date, Master."
Looking at Fei Lingxi, Zhao Tian smiled faintly "You are always inside the artifact, so I thought I should bring you out sometimes like this."
Fei Lingxi gave a nod and hugged his arm tightly.
Just then, a street vendor waved at them, offering up a tray of delicate pastries. "Young master, young lady! Would you care for some sweets? Freshly baked!"
Fei Lingxi's eyes lit up with excitement and she looked at the young man, her expression eager yet hesitant, as if unsure whether it was appropriate.
He chuckled, the hint of a soft smile playing on his lips, and nodded toward the vendor.
"Two of those, please," he said, slipping a small, shimmering astral stone to the vendor, who accepted it with a respectful bow.
The vendor carefully wrapped two pastries, placing them in a small bundle that he offered with a proud smile.
Taking hers in hand, she looked down at it for a moment before taking a small bite.
"Mmm..." A delighted smile spread across her face as she tasted the sweet filling, her eyes lighting up as she looked at him.
"It's delicious, Master! You should try it." Experience tales at m v|l e'-novelhall.net
Zhao Tinan took a bite and they continued their walk through the streets.
"Since it is already evening, let us go and eat something light."
Fei Lingxi nodded, her face bright with anticipation. "Yes.. master."
As they walked, she clung to his arm a bit more firmly, content to simply be by his side.
They continued down the winding streets, looking at the various scents of roasted meats, fragrant soups, and spiced teas wafting from the food stalls.
They arrived at a cozy outdoor tea house near a small garden filled with cherry blossom trees.
Paper lanterns hung above each table, casting a warm, inviting light, and the soft sound of a lute playing in the background added to the ambiance.
"I have also taken many lives back during my time on earth and even Ziyu has killed some men, so when I became your slave... I accepted it as my karma."
"However, Ziyu... gradually began to change and at that time all I ever wanted was for my daughter to be happy."
"Staying inside the artifact, Ziyu also changed me a bit by bit..."
"I thought I could finally redeem myself for my past mistakes."
Zhao Tian sighed faintly as he also knew that it was not entirely Fei Lingxi or Fei Ziyu's mistake; it was their environment that changed them both.
Fei Lingxi lived in an abused household where she constantly saw her mother getting abused by her father and she came to hate men.
She taught the same hate to Fei Ziyu.. and she also began to hate men.
Thinking about the past, Zhao Tian could only sigh in his heart and Fei Lingxi continued, "I remember trying to kill Lady Ying once... it was all because of Ziyu's jealousy, her selfish desire to have you to herself."
"And I... I went along with it, convinced that I was helping her, that I was doing right by her."
With a bitter smile, she continued "But after becoming your slaves, we changed."
Her lips trembled hesitation creeping into her heart "You changed us.. I began to realize why Ziyu was head over heels for you."
"The affection in your eyes while you see and enjoy time with your wives... it just brought warmth to my heart."
Tears moistened her eyes as she mumbled "I.. was kind of jealous..."
"I envied the love your wives received, the way they looked at you with such devotion, the way you looked at them. It was... beautiful."
A tear streaked down her cheek "And I realized, for the first time, that maybe... maybe I wanted that too. Maybe I wanted to know what it felt like to be truly cherished by someone."
"I never received any man's love.. as I hated all men... so I don't know the feeling; that's probably why I am jealous."
"And somewhere along the way, I think I began to love you, too. Not out of fear, not out of duty, but something... real. Something I've never felt before."
Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke. "It scares me, though, because I still don't feel... worthy of it. I still feel like I'm... tainted, somehow. Like I've done too many things wrong."
"I just-"
"Lingxi..."
Hearing her name, she turned to look at him and before she could say anything, he moved forward, sealing her lips with a kiss.
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