Chapter 453: Do you still like me?

"Shui Bing'er! You've gone too far! ——"

Huo Wu was so ashamed she was nearly crying.

Don't let her prideful, Fire Phoenix-like demeanor fool you; deep down, she was still very shy about such intimate matters between a man and a woman.

Such a private affair—having Shui Bing'er on the other side was already making her uncomfortable enough, and to think she had actually been peeping…

"Don't be angry, we're sisters, what's the harm in looking?" Shui Bing'er said with a beaming smile.

"I don't have a sister like you!"

Huo Wu muffled a shout from inside her quilt: "Qin Jian, if you don't chase this damn woman away right now, I won't let you touch me ever again, ahhh!"

Seeing that Huo Wu was truly worked up in a fit of shame and anger, Qin Jian had no choice but to lift his head and look at Shui Bing'er, who was watching the show by the door.

She actually blinked her left eye at him, casting a small, charming glance his way.

Even she, with her Ice and Snow-like loveliness, had such playful moments…

Qin Jian smiled slightly and used one sentence to force Shui Bing'er to retreat: "Bing'er, since you're already here, why not…"

Shui Bing'er's beautiful eyes widened slightly.

Just like Huo Wu's mindset, they both belonged to the type who wanted to see the other, but were unwilling to be seen by the other in that state.

So when Qin Jian got out of bed and reached out, seemingly intending to really drag her in, Shui Bing'er immediately took a step back and fled in a panic…

"Alright, alright, Bing'er has already left."

Qin Jian turned back.

"Really? Are you and her teaming up to lie to me?"

Huo Wu clutched her little quilt tightly, looking very vigilant.

For some reason, Qin Jian started to laugh.

Because Huo Wu at this moment was just too cute…

"Then I'll hold you while I look at you…"

He didn't lift the quilt; instead, he wrapped her up in the thin blanket and held her, then peeled her head out just like peeling a banana.

The silkworm-like Huo Wu poked her head out and took a peek; sure enough, Shui Bing'er was nowhere to be seen, and only then did she breathe a small sigh of relief.

"Isn't my Huo Wu supposed to be fearless? Why do you seem so afraid of Bing'er now?"

Qin Jian's smiling voice entered her ears.

Of course Huo Wu wouldn't admit it; being stubborn and tsundere was her trademark: "Wh-who's afraid of her! I'm not afraid of her! I just didn't want to be seen by her!"

"Then she's gone now, let's continue."

Qin Jian tugged at the little quilt on her body.

But Huo Wu reached out her snow-white arms to block his movement, looking into his eyes with some unease, and said: "Qin Jian, you… when you are doing such intimate things to me…"

She hesitated, feeling a bit lost, and even her voice trembled slightly: "Do you… still like me as much as you did when we first fell in love?"

Qin Jian's movements stopped.

A super-strong perception of emotions had always been his forte, and at this moment, he sensed the anxious, girlish heart beneath Huo Wu's tsundere and overbearing exterior.

"I'm sorry…"

Qin Jian didn't pull at her quilt again, but instead held her—quilt and all—in his arms, letting her head rest on his shoulder with his cheek pressed against her forehead.

"Five years apart, and I didn't even get to speak with you alone before trying to do such things; it was my oversight."

His gentle voice smoothed out the anxiety in the depths of Huo Wu's heart bit by bit.

With her forehead lightly pressed against Qin Jian's cheek, this posture held no desire, only an unusual sense of intimacy flowing quietly between them.

Since their reunion, apart from that initial embrace, this moment moved her the most.

Because her intuition felt Qin Jian's affection and tenderness, and that was enough…

No matter how stubborn or tsundere she was, she knew she couldn't leave this man for the rest of her life.

She couldn't forget him in five years, and in the future, she would only be even more unable to forget or leave him.

Because in these five years, Qin Jian was the pillar in her heart that kept her going!

Her talent was actually a bit inferior to Shui Bing'er's, so the Assessments suitable for Shui Bing'er were often much harder for her; many times she had to risk her life just to persevere.

And in those repeated trials, in those moments of despair, it was the obsession to see Qin Jian again that allowed her to succeed.

"Qin Jian…"

She leaned gently on Qin Jian's shoulder, burying her face in his neck, greedily breathing in his scent, her heart gradually becoming peaceful.

"Qin Jian…"

She called out softly once more, as if confirming his existence.

"Mm, I'm here."

Qin Jian held her tightly, giving her the sense of security she craved.

"Time really flies so fast…"

Huo Wu closed her eyes and whispered: "Thinking back now, nine years have passed since we first met at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy; I even had a small conflict with you back then…"

"Mm…"

Light flickered in Qin Jian's eyes, and a look of nostalgia gradually welled up: "Back then I was thinking, such an overbearing and tsundere girl, no one would ever like her…"

"Is that so… so the first impression I gave you… was that bad…" Huo Wu tilted her head up slightly.

Qin Jian laughed: "Of course, I was mocked by you the first time we met, how good could the impression be… but…"

He lowered his head to meet Huo Wu's gaze, his eyes soft and gentle: "But, the fate between people is truly hard to explain. I never expected that you, who seemed so ill-tempered, who stood in opposition to me, and even came to Tianshui Academy to challenge us, would end up making me… like you so much."

Huo Wu felt a sweetness in her heart and couldn't help but look up to ask: "Really? Do you really like me that much?"

Qin Jian lowered his head and pecked her rosy lips lightly, his eyes smiling: "Words spoken might not always be true, but feelings are real. So… can you feel my affection?"

Huo Wu's cheeks suddenly turned bright red. Unable to withstand Qin Jian's smiling gaze, she lowered her head, buried it in his chest, and said in a muffled voice: "Mm… I can feel it…"

"It's really nice, Qin Jian..."

Her voice was softer than ever before, and it was also the first time Qin Jian discovered that Huo Wu could speak in such a tender, coquettish tone; perhaps this was a girl's innate talent.

"Being able to feel your affection, your care, your concern... it's really nice..."

In this moment already filled with tender affection, Qin Jian suddenly felt his throat go a little dry.

"Huo Wu..."

He could not help but pull the soft body in his arms a little tighter.

Huo Wu looked up, her gaze as scorching as flames, as if she wanted to burn Qin Jian to ashes.

But she only said softly: "Qin Jian..."

"Kiss me."

She took the initiative to lift her beautiful head.

After five years of tempering, in front of Qin Jian, she finally cast aside that pride and dominance, seeking the caresses of her beloved like a young girl longing for love...

Qin Jian's warm body held her frame tightly.

The love accumulated over five years was now expressed without reservation.

She secretly opened her eyes, looking at him with infatuation, her face gradually flushing red, her pupils filled with a tipsy, intoxicated expression.

The first time he kissed her was at the exit of the Fire Prison.

That was a magnificent scene filled with Flame Meteor, which she would never forget.

During those five years of suffering alone, she could think of the scene of him suddenly kissing her almost every day...

Mmm... let's have a 300-word extension...

Begging for monthly votes, begging for monthly votes~

(End of this chapter)