Moments of Relief

Su Kang felt a wave of relief wash over him at his mother's final words. Though he had prepared himself for strong opposition, he was grateful that his parents hadn't outright rejected his relationship with Bai Yunxi.

Beside him, Bai Yunxi felt the tension in her chest ease. When she decided to reveal her past, she had braced herself for the worst.

Now, standing here with Su Kang, she realized that the burden she had carried for so long felt a little lighter.

She glanced at him, warmth blooming in her heart, before bowing deeply to Su Chen and Dong Yue. Su Kang followed her lead.

"Thank you," they said in unison.

Dong Yue studied them for a long moment. Her hand moved slightly as if she wanted to reach out, but in the end, she withdrew.

"Don't be too quick to celebrate. I haven't recognized your… immoral relationship yet," she said coldly.

Su Chen's voice followed soon after. "Su Kang, we'll dig deeper into this tomorrow morning."

Su Kang nodded. "Understood, Father."

Just as Dong Yue turned to leave, she paused and spoke again, her tone carrying a sharp edge.

"Bring Su Ting as well."

Su Kang's brows twitched. He could already imagine the scene that awaited them.

'Looks like Mother has a lot to say… Su Ting's probably going to get dragged into this too.'

Without another word, Dong Yue and Su Chen left.

Su Kang exhaled deeply, a smirk tugging at his lips. "It seems my parents were in a good mood after the harvest."

Bai Yunxi looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"They agreed too easily. I had prepared for far harsher words… even planned several ways to convince them."

Bai Yunxi blinked. "You… planned ways to convince them?"

Su Kang shrugged. "Oh, just a little something."

Suspicion flashed in her eyes. "What exactly did you prepare?"

Su Kang's smirk widened. "I was planning to reveal my secret about Fate and its powers."

Bai Yunxi's expression shifted. "Fate? Secret?"

"Yeah." He chuckled. "You see, I started pursuing you after Fate told me to become your husband. I even dragged out our journey to Liyun City just to spend more time with you."

Bai Yunxi's eyes widened.

"I made you emotional with my sob story, then conveniently found your mother to heal your heart. In the end, I successfully tied your destiny to mine." His laughter deepened.

"Now, you can't escape from my clutches. I'll use your power and your destiny to accomplish my grand goals."

Bai Yunxi's body stiffened. Her breathing quickened, her fists clenching tightly.

Su Kang, oblivious, continued, "And of course, your beautiful body—haha—"

Before he could finish, a sharp fist slammed into his chest.

"Oof—Xi'er, wait!"

Bai Yunxi's expression was ice-cold. Her fists rained down mercilessly.

"Ow—stop! Have mercy!" Su Kang barely had time to dodge as another punch landed squarely on his shoulder.

"You villain—!" Thud. "Lier—!" Thud. "Scheming—!" Thud.

Her fists didn't stop. If anything, her attacks became fiercer.

Su Kang groaned dramatically. "Xi'er! Forgive me! I am wrong!"

Bai Yunxi, however, showed no mercy. Her knuckles reddened, but her fury didn't subside.

"Forgive?! I'll teach you a lesson!"

Su Kang swiftly grabbed Bai Yunxi's hands, halting her flurry of attacks. She struggled to break free, but his grip was firm.

"At least use Qi to protect your hands," he chided, his voice tinged with amusement. "Look, they're already red."

Before she could retort, a gentle warmth spread through her fingers as his Qi flowed into her hands, soothing the soreness.

Bai Yunxi huffed, turning her face away. "Hmph, don't talk to me anymore. I don't want to see you."

Su Kang sighed dramatically. "I was trying to confess my crimes, yet you won't even listen."

"You and your weird jokes," she grumbled. "Hmph."

He chuckled. "You don't believe in fate?"

"I don't believe in your nonsense," she muttered, still refusing to meet his gaze.

Smirking, Su Kang pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"There are only a few people who've ever seen this side of me," he mused. "For some reason, I showed you … back in our very first meeting."

Bai Yunxi's breath hitched as she recalled that moment.

"Although I teased you about taking responsibility back then," he continued, his voice softer now, "I'm glad I did."

She scoffed. "You're shameless… Who treats their elder like that?"

He leaned in slightly, his smirk deepening. "But you're my wife now. It wasn't disrespect—it was the beginning of our love story."

Bai Yunxi's face warmed, but she quickly turned away again, muttering under her breath.

Su Kang chuckled, tightening his embrace just a little.

"I'm grateful to Fate for instructing me to pursue you."

"Listen to me, Xi'er." Su Kang's voice was steady, his embrace tightening around her.

"My feelings for you have only grown since our marriage. Xi'er, I love you."

He told her everything, but she had brushed it off as one of his teasing remarks. Yet, these were his true emotions—undeniable and sincere.

Bai Yunxi hesitated for a moment before leaning into his chest, burying her face against his warmth.

"I'm glad they agreed," she murmured. "It feels like a weight has been lifted from my heart. Mother would be happy to know as well."

Su Kang stroked her hair, his touch steady and reassuring. "We'll visit her during the Tomb Sweeping Ritual and pay respects to Father-in-law. After that, we'll bring her here."

Bai Yunxi hummed in agreement. "Let's return to our residence."

The couple walked back to her courtyard. The winter night carried a biting chill, but the Su Manor's formations kept the cold at bay.

Despite the warmth, Bai Yunxi's fingers curled slightly within her sleeves, a quiet tension lingering in her movements.

Su Kang glanced at her hands, noting the way she held them as if trying to steady herself. His eyes softened. "Xi'er, you're still anxious

The lantern light flickered, casting shifting shadows across the walls.

She lifted her eyes, uncertainty flickering in their depths.

"Can we really convince Li Fang?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Su Kang met her stare, unwavering. "Yes. We still have time before we tell him."

He reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek before cupping it gently. His warmth seeped into her skin, grounding her.

"Trust me," he murmured, his thumb stroking her jaw. "I'll make sure everything goes our way."

She exhaled slowly, the tension easing from her shoulders.

He kissed her forehead before trailing lower, capturing her lips in a kiss that deepened—slow and consuming.

A soft moan escaped her as she pressed closer, her body molding against his. Her hands roamed down his chest, fingers grazing his skin through his robe.

"It seems my Xi'er was too stressed," he murmured against her lips, amusement laced with understanding.

She pulled back slightly, her breath warm against his skin. "Husband… comfort me."

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest before he tilted her head, pressing slow, deliberate kisses along her throat.

Each touch sent a shiver through her—not from the cool night air but from the heat pooling low in her belly.

She arched into him, fingers threading through his hair. Her voice was breathy, needy.

"Mmm…"

Her lips pressed against his chest, warm and lingering, trailing soft kisses along his skin.

She moved higher, her breath fanning over his collarbone before she kissed the side of his neck.

Su Kang inhaled sharply, his grip on her waist tightening before his hands slid up her back, tracing the gentle curve of her spine. He tilted his head, capturing her lips again—this time, deeper, more demanding.

Their breaths mingled, the heat between them rising as their bodies pressed flush against each other.

She tugged at his robe, fingers working deftly to undo the fastenings.

With each loosened tie, more of his skin was revealed, the fabric slipping from his shoulders to pool onto the floor in a soft whisper.

He mirrored her actions, his hands moving to her sash, tugging it free with practiced ease.

The silk of her robe parted, sliding from her shoulders and cascading to the ground, revealing the pure white of her bellyband beneath.

Candlelight cast a warm glow over her bare skin, highlighting the delicate curve of her collarbone.

His fingers traced her skin, featherlight, following the curve of her collarbone to the swell of her breasts. A quiet sigh escaped her lips as she leaned into his touch.

She reached for him, hands sliding up his chest, tracing the hard lines of his muscles.

Su Kang steadied her, his hands resting on her hips. His voice was low, intimate. "Xi'er…"

Bai Yunxi pressed against him, warmth meeting warmth, only a thin layer of silk between them. She brushed her lips against his ear.

"Husband..."

A slow smile curved his lips before he lifted her into his arms, laying her gently onto the bed.