What's Your Relationship

Lin Xuan’s eyes suddenly widened.

"Watch out!" He lunged forward. With a loud "bang" of gunfire, he barely managed to shield Su Hua’s back. He had intended to pull her out of harm’s way, but there was no time.

The bullet struck Lin Xuan in the back.

"Lin Xuan!" Su Hua’s heart clenched—this was the first time she had ever felt such tension.

Her gaze wavered, stunned.

Never before had someone taken a bullet for her…

In an instant, she raised her gun and shot the attacker dead.

Within less than a minute, she had eliminated the remaining men.

The island fell silent again, save for the sound of waves lapping against the shore and the distant calls of birds and insects.

"As long as you’re unharmed," Lin Xuan murmured with a faint smile before collapsing into unconsciousness.

One thought consumed Su Hua: Lin Xuan could not die!

A sharp, suffocating pain gripped her chest. Without hesitation, she tore open his shirt to inspect the wound. Relief washed over her when she saw it wasn’t life-threatening.

She carefully gathered medicinal herbs and applied them to his injury.

Once finished, Su Hua bit her lip, staring at Lin Xuan.

He had risked his life to protect her—was his kindness genuine?

Was it an act, or did he truly care?

That night, Su Hua kept vigil by his side, never once closing her eyes.

In the days that followed, Su Hua tended to Lin Xuan’s recovery. As time passed, their bond deepened.

Though not officially a couple, their closeness surpassed that of lovers.

One day, Su Hua twisted her ankle but said nothing. Sensing something amiss, Lin Xuan approached. "What’s wrong?" he asked gently.

"Nothing, just a sprain," she replied, shaking her head.

Lin Xuan frowned.

Their shelter was several hundred meters away.

Without another word, he scooped her into his arms.

"Let me take you back."

This was the first time they had been so intimately close while fully conscious.

Su Hua clenched her fists briefly before relaxing, resting her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Ah-Xuan…

Will you always treat me this well?

If this is all a lie…

A cold glint flashed in Su Hua’s eyes.

Then he’ll join the others who deceived me. Every last one of them who exploited my trust now rots in hell.

"Ah-Xuan, I’d like to see the ocean. Can we go?" Su Hua asked softly.

"Of course," Lin Xuan agreed.

He carried her to the shore, settling her atop a large rock before sitting beside her.

Gazing at the sea, Lin Xuan sighed. "I wonder when we’ll be able to leave this place."

Leave?

Su Hua lowered her eyes.

She secretly wished they could stay here forever—just the two of them.

No one else to disturb their peace…

Another month passed.

By now, they had spent nearly two months on the island.

The Lin family had only made a half-hearted attempt to report Lin Xuan missing before abandoning the search altogether.

Old Master Su’s men, however, had scoured the world looking for Su Hua.

During their time together, Lin Xuan had learned much from Su Hua about surviving in the wild.

Then, one morning, Su Hua fell ill again.

Her childhood as a "medicine child"—constantly soaked in medicinal baths—left her vulnerable. The slightest chill triggered raging fevers and debilitating weakness.

When Lin Xuan woke and noticed Su Hua hadn’t risen, he went about his morning routine.

Returning to find her still absent, unease prickled at him. She was always an early riser—this delay was unusual.

He entered her hut to investigate.

There, he found her lying deathly pale, drenched in cold sweat.

Lin Xuan pressed a hand to her forehead and grimaced.

She was burning up.

He hurried to prepare herbal remedies, coaxing her to drink the bitter brew. When chills wracked her body, he held her close, just as before.

After hours of care, Su Hua’s strained expression finally eased as she drifted into peaceful sleep.

Lin Xuan exhaled in relief.

Thank goodness.

But she needed nourishment to recover.

Grabbing his tools, he headed into the hills to hunt.

Though Su Hua had taught him some techniques, his skills remained unpolished. After an exhausting struggle, he finally caught a wild pheasant.

"This’ll make good soup to restore her strength," Lin Xuan muttered, allowing himself a small smile as he descended the slope.

Suddenly, two men in suits materialized without a sound.

Lin Xuan’s pulse spiked.

Had the assassins targeting Su Hua returned?

"Come with us," growled a scar-faced man.

Their hostile intent was unmistakable.

Lin Xuan spun and ran.

With Su Hua still weak, he had to lead them away from her.

His escape route was swiftly cut off by two more figures.

A sharp kick to the back of his knee sent Lin Xuan crashing to the ground.

The men seized him.

"What do you want?" he snarled.

"You’ll find out soon enough," the scarred man smirked.

They dragged Lin Xuan before a silver-haired figure standing with a string of Buddhist beads, murmuring incantations.

"Ah, our guest has arrived," the man said, opening his eyes.

Still restrained, Lin Xuan demanded, "Who are you?"

"My identity is irrelevant," Zhao Long replied smoothly.

"You’re Lin Xuan, correct?"

Lin Xuan remained silent.

Zhao Long chuckled. "No need for such roughness with our honored guest. Release him."

The subordinates immediately obeyed.

"What is your relationship with Ling?" Zhao Long’s gaze sharpened.

"Ling?" Lin Xuan frowned.

Zhao Long arched a brow.

So the boy didn’t know Ling’s true identity.

Of course—why would an internationally wanted assassin reveal herself?

"The woman you’ve been living with on this island—Su Hua—is Ling," Zhao Long clarified. "Now tell me, what are you to each other?"

[Author’s Note:

Apologies for the delay—migraines nearly made me skip today’s update. But here it is!

Special thanks to readers BrokenMoon~, Jiangnan Dao of Oshima, Northern Peak’s True Dragon·Saville, and user25989010 for your gifts!]