Because I Like It Too Much

Then, she opened her arms and threw herself into Gu Chengyin's embrace.

"Sob, sob!"

Lin Qingyan rubbed against him vigorously while wailing tearfully:

"I thought you didn't want me anymore, boo-hoo!"

Gu Chengyin was knocked backward a bit. He quickly steadied himself and reached out to hold Lin Qingyan.

The fairy in his arms was like a wronged little kitten, desperately burrowing into his chest.

She burrowed and rubbed against him until his lapels were all wrinkled into a ball.

Gu Chengyin gently patted her back, his voice very soft:

"Although I was indeed very angry, how could I possibly not want you, Little Aunt."

It would have been better if he hadn't said that. As soon as he did, Lin Qingyan jerked her head up.

Her eyes were red, and teardrops hung from her eyelashes.

The crystal-clear tears fell patter-patter as she blinked.

Her lips pouted, jutting out high.

"But... but... but..."

Lin Qingyan said "but" three times in a row, each laced with a sob, each sounding as though she had suffered a monumental grievance.

"You just didn't want me anymore back then!"

As she spoke, her tears fell even more fiercely.

"I really had no other choice but to do that..."

Sniffling, her voice carried a crying tone:

"Chengcheng, please don't leave me, okay!"

Gu Chengyin froze.

He looked at Lin Qingyan in front of him.

Normally, she was cold and aloof, keeping people thousands of miles away.

But at this moment, her eyes were blurry with tears, red-rimmed, with teardrops hanging from her lashes as she pouted and looked at him pitifully.

So delicate that it made one's heart ache.

So dependent that it made one's heart soften.

Even someone like Gu Chengyin, upon seeing Lin Qingyan like this.

Almost agreed right then and there.

Yes.

Almost.

Gu Chengyin took a deep breath, suppressing the surging softness in his heart, and asked gently:

"Little Aunt, did you hear my thoughts?"

Lin Qingyan shook her head. She sniffled and said:

"I didn't hear them."

"But I can feel the electricity on your body."

Gu Chengyin blinked.

The electricity on his body?

What did she mean by feeling the electricity on his body?

Could it be... brainwaves?

Do brainwaves count as electricity?

It seems they actually do...

Lin Qingyan continued:

"I can feel the electricity on everyone, and yours is the best."

"But just now, your electricity changed."

A heavy stone fell from Gu Chengyin's heart.

As long as it wasn't mind-reading, there was room to maneuver.

Gu Chengyin sighed softly.

This sigh was a bit deeper than the last.

"Little Aunt, have you ever thought..."

Lin Qingyan blinked, waiting for Gu Chengyin to continue.

"That leaving isn't because of not liking, but because of liking too much?"

As soon as these words came out.

Lin Qingyan was stunned.

It was as if something exploded in her mind.

What did that mean?

Lin Qingyan stared blankly, the tears in her eyes forgetting to fall.

Seeing her like this, Gu Chengyin nodded secretly in his heart.

There was a chance.

He continued, his voice even softer:

"Because I like you too much, I don't want you to suffer with me."

"Because I like you too much, I would rather shoulder it myself than let you worry."

"Because I like you too much, so..."

Gu Chengyin paused, his gaze affectionate as he said:

"No matter how reluctant I am, I have to let go."

Lin Qingyan was completely dumbfounded.

Her originally firm belief began to waver.

Could it be...

That she was really wrong?

Could it be... that he wasn't refusing to take a step further back then?

Could it be... that his saying there was no future wasn't because he didn't want to give her a future.

But because...

He felt he couldn't give her a future?

Countless thoughts surged in Lin Qingyan's mind.

She remembered everything Gu Chengyin had gone through these past few days.

Emperor Luo wanted to kill him, immortal cultivation sects wanted to kidnap him, and the Heavenly Master's Mansion wanted to control him...

They even sent an imperial decree ordering her to capture him personally.

Lin Qingyan's heart suddenly clenched.

She suddenly remembered that Gu Chengyin was never the type to complain.

He always shouldered everything alone, always digesting all the pressure by himself.

He was always calm and composed in front of her, acting as if nothing was wrong.

But it was this very person who silently thought about leaving her.

Not because he didn't like her, but to protect her.

Because Gu Chengyin's situation was too dangerous.

Even if she was the invincible Golden Core expert, Jingzhe of the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

She might not be able to retreat completely unscathed.

Lin Qingyan's nose tingled.

She felt she was too stupid.

She only saw the electricity of having no future, but didn't think about why there was such electricity.

She only knew she wanted him, but didn't think about whether Gu Chengyin was considering her well-being.

She only cared about her own feelings, but didn't think about how much he was carrying alone.

Lin Qingyan's eyes turned red again.

But this time it wasn't out of grievance.

It was out of heartache.

Lin Qingyan suddenly reached out, gently caressing Gu Chengyin's face, her voice trembling:

"Chengcheng... I'm sorry..."

Gu Chengyin saw the deep heartache and guilt in Lin Qingyan's eyes.

He nodded secretly in his heart.

It worked.

But he didn't show it on his face at all. Instead, he sighed softly and reached out to hold the hand she had on his face.

"Silly Little Aunt, what are you apologizing for."

Lin Qingyan shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes again:

"I... I shouldn't have treated you like that..."

"You clearly... you were clearly thinking of me..."

"Yet I... I treated you like that..."

As she spoke, her voice took on a crying tone again.

Seeing her like this, Gu Chengyin felt a momentary flash of guilt, but it was only fleeting.

He pulled Lin Qingyan into his embrace, resting his chin on top of her head, his voice very soft:

"Alright, alright, don't cry."

"It's all in the past."

Lin Qingyan buried her face in his chest, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist.

"Chengcheng..."

"Hmm?"

"If anything happens in the future, you have to tell me."

"Don't carry it all by yourself."

"I... I can help you."

Gu Chengyin fell silent for a moment, then smiled.

"Okay, I promise you."

Lin Qingyan hugged him even tighter.

The carriage rumbled forward.

The wheels rolled over the official road, making fine, crushing sounds.

The sunlight leaking through the gap in the curtains danced upon the two of them.

Lin Qingyan nestled in Gu Chengyin's embrace, completely still.

Her tears had stopped, though her eyes were still red, and she just stayed there quietly.

But the guilt in her heart grew deeper and deeper.

She remembered what she had just done: electrocuting him unconscious, tying him up, hanging him up, demanding him.

She had gone so far, but what about Gu Chengyin?

He just bore it silently.

Even after being hurt by her, he was still thinking of her.

Even when he was in such a dangerous situation, he still thought about her, unwilling to let her fall into danger too.

Lin Qingyan bit her lower lip.

She felt she was truly too wicked.

Simply the worst woman in the world.

From now on, she had to treat Gu Chengyin well.

She absolutely could not let anyone hurt him.

If they returned to the Divine Capital and that dog Luo Houcong dared to act recklessly.

Lin Qingyan wouldn't mind smashing the entire imperial palace to pieces.