Chapter 25: I’m Willing

The man kissed her eyes, her nose, and her lips, gently wiping away the tears from her face. His hands caressed her back, and in a soft whisper, he spoke, "I'm here, always here by your side. Don't be afraid, my love." His voice was tender, patient, and yet, it carried a sweetness that slowly seeped into Su Jin's heart, making her feel the warmth of his care.

She cried until there were no more tears left to shed, her sobs slowly turning into hiccups. Then, completely exhausted, she fell asleep, curled up in his embrace.

As she slept, the sight of her—eyes swollen, long lashes damp with tears, her delicate face a mess of pink and red from crying—brought a bittersweet smile to Luo Xian's lips. He leaned down and placed several soft kisses on her lips. He gently wiped away the last traces of her tears with his fingertips, his heart swelling with both tenderness and helplessness.

His little darling had cried herself to sleep, but for him, it wasn't over. His own body was burning with desire, but he had to hold it in, unable to release it, all for her. He couldn't show her his own struggles, couldn't let her know how her tears tormented him.

But his mind wandered back to that moment when he woke up and found her tiny hands gently wiping his chest. The soft contrast between her pale skin and his bronze body made his heart race. Her expression, focused and careful as she wiped him down, was enough to melt him completely. He wanted nothing more than to hold her right then and there, but he stayed silent, savoring the moment.

But as she continued, unaware of the effect she was having on him, something shifted. His body, still in recovery from the injury, couldn't help but respond to her touch. As much as he tried to control it, her innocent actions were driving him wild.

It was at that moment, when she finally realized what she had done, that she reacted with the purest shock. He hadn't expected it—this woman, so outwardly soft, yet stubborn to the core—would explode in such an emotional outburst. Her tears fell freely as she looked at him, her eyes filled with guilt and fear, the purity of her emotions laid bare.

That was when Luo Xian could no longer hold back. Despite the pain in his back, he reached out, pulling her into his arms. His heart ached, but there was also an overwhelming feeling of joy. She cared for him—she truly cared—and this had been his plan all along. He had orchestrated everything, from the "accident" to the way he had subtly manipulated her emotions. All of it had been designed to bring down the walls she had built around her heart.

Luo Xian had discovered the blueprint she had drawn for her new home, and an idea had sparked in his mind. He could see the coldness in her eyes, the emotional distance she had created to protect herself. He needed to break that barrier, to make her see how much he meant to her. And so, he had set his plan into motion.

The glass ceiling, he thought, would be the perfect symbol. He had the builders install it at his villa as quickly as possible. Not only that, but he made sure there was a hidden mechanism that could shatter the glass with a simple press of a button. It was risky, but it would get the job done.

When they went to the villa, he casually led her to the room with the glass ceiling. He knew she would be drawn to it, and when she was, that would be the moment the "accident" would happen. The glass would fall, and the rest would play out just as he had imagined. He knew the consequences. He knew the pain he would endure, but as long as she was unharmed, that was all that mattered.

And everything had gone according to plan. She was now filled with guilt and fear, emotions that would bring her closer to him, that would make her realize just how deeply she felt for him. He was willing to sacrifice everything for her heart.

As the morning light filtered into the room, Su Jin awoke with a start. The first thing she saw was Luo Xian's deep, penetrating gaze. Her body was still nestled against his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around her.

She was always the kind of person who slept soundly, curled up like a little ball, but last night had been different. Luo Xian had stayed awake the whole night, quietly watching over her as she slept. From time to time, he would lean down to kiss her forehead or stroke her hair, unable to tear his eyes away from the woman he loved.

When she woke, the first thing Luo Xian did was kiss her fiercely, his lips demanding, as if he had been waiting for this moment all night long. His body was still on fire with the desire he had held back. He had fought the urge to touch her, to kiss her deeply, to release the emotions that had been building up. But now, he couldn't hold back any longer.

Su Jin, caught off guard, struggled to breathe as his kiss overwhelmed her. When he finally pulled away, she could feel the sting on her lips—he had kissed her so deeply that her skin was slightly bruised.

Luo Xian, however, was oblivious to her discomfort. He simply gazed at her with an expression full of heat, his eyes unable to leave her face. Su Jin, embarrassed by the rawness of her emotions from the night before, couldn't bear to look at him. Her heart raced, and her face flushed with the memory of her uncontrollable crying.

"Let me go wash up first," she mumbled, her voice strained as she tried to escape the tension. "I'll prepare your things too."

Before she could take a step, Luo Xian quickly stopped her. "Put on your shoes. Don't walk around barefoot."

She nodded silently and put on her slippers. But as she turned to leave, she paused. Something caught her eye, and when she looked back, she saw him—his right hand twisting awkwardly, trying to move his wrist. His left arm was still in a cast, and he couldn't do much with it. She realized that he had been in an uncomfortable position all night, not sleeping at all, just watching over her.

Her heart clenched. She couldn't believe it—he had stayed up the entire night, just to make sure she was safe and sound. Without thinking, she rushed back to him, jumping back onto the bed. Luo Xian's surprised gaze met hers, but she didn't say a word. Instead, she grabbed his hand and placed it gently on her lap.

For a long moment, she just rubbed his hand, silently feeling the strain in his muscles. Finally, her voice broke the silence. "Are you stupid? How could you sleep like that all night? Your hand must be hurting, right? Did you even get any sleep?"

Luo Xian just watched her, his eyes full of adoration. A gentle smile played at the corner of his lips. He didn't say anything, but in his heart, he was overwhelmed with affection.

Suddenly, before she could react, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, his lips brushing against her soft skin. His voice was low, sincere, and filled with emotion as he whispered, "I'm willing. For you, I'm willing to do anything, endure anything, just to have your heart and to keep you by my side forever."

His words hit her like a wave, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. She had always feared falling for him, feared opening her heart to someone else. But now, as his arms wrapped around her, as his gaze met hers with nothing but love and devotion, she realized that, perhaps, she had already fallen too deep. And she didn't want to escape anymore.