Chapter 32: Clinging to Him

Three days later.

Tang Xin'er was still in low spirits. She sat alone by the fish pond in the Night Palace, watching the fish swim to and fro in a daze.

Suddenly, a soft voice called out from behind her, "Miss Xin'er."

Tang Xin'er turned around abruptly to see Shuang Yu standing there with a smile on his face. He had a baby face that was perhaps a little too cute.

"Shuang Yu!" Tang Xin'er exclaimed, jumping into his arms without a second thought. "I thought you were never coming back."

Having never been held by a woman like this before, Shuang Yu couldn't help but feel a bit bashful. "I... I'm back, aren't I?"

As they spoke, Yu Tingye and Lin Xihe spotted them and walked over. Seeing the two of them, Tang Xin'er quickly pulled away from Shuang Yu, calling out in a flustered tone, "Brother, Sister-in-law."

Upon seeing Yu Tingye, Shuang Yu felt an inexplicable wave of panic. "Lord Tingye."

Yu Tingye noted his agitation and asked with a smile, "Where have you been these past three days?"

Shuang Yu swallowed hard and replied, "I went for a walk outside, and took the chance to ask around for news of my elder sister."

At the mention of Shuang Yi, Lin Xihe's expression dimmed. She reached out to place a comforting hand on Shuang Yu's shoulder, but as soon as she touched him, he shoved her away, his eyes filled with fury. "Don't touch me!"

Lin Xihe had not expected such a strong reaction. Furthermore, she saw pure loathing in his eyes. Did he despise her?

Tang Xin'er was displeased by his behavior. "What is the matter? Why are you being so rude to my sister-in-law?"

Shuang Yu muttered an apology and walked away quickly, with Tang Xin'er immediately giving chase.

Lin Xihe felt at a loss, but then her hands were taken by Yu Tingye. She looked up at him. "Tingye, Shuang Yu... he seems to hate me."

"He doesn't like me either. He is still just a child; don't take it to heart. Let's go." Yu Tingye held Lin Xihe's hand, and they continued to stroll through the scenery of the Night Palace.

Ever since Yu Tingye had accepted Lin Xihe, she followed him everywhere, clinging to him as if she never wanted to be apart for even a moment. She loved this man far too deeply.

The two spent a month living in blissful intimacy.

One day, after finishing a bowl of nourishing soup brought to her by Tang Xin'er, Lin Xihe felt a sudden pain in her stomach. It throbbed for a while before subsiding, so she did not think much of it, assuming it was just a common stomach upset.

That night, however, the pain returned. She shook Yu Tingye awake. "Ye, wake up. My stomach hurts—it's a piercing, agonizing pain."

Yu Tingye hurriedly sat up and lit the lamp to examine her. To his shock, his expression changed instantly; there was a fiery red worm inside her, darting around and gnawing at her internal organs.

Cold sweat streamed down Lin Xihe's face. "Ye, what is it? Do I have some incurable disease?"

The pain intensified, and her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Yu Tingye held her steady, attempting to use his demon power to force the parasite out, but the moment his energy entered her body, the worm became even more frantic. In her agony, Lin Xihe bit down hard on Yu Tingye's wrist.

He could crush an inanimate object within her body, but he could not do the same to a living thing. For the first time in a decade, Yu Tingye felt a sense of panic.

Holding her pained face, he asked urgently, "Did you eat anything you shouldn't have?"

"I don't know."

"Think carefully."

"I haven't had anything lately... except for the nourishing soup Xin'er made."