Chapter Sixty-Two: Could It Be Ning-something, Not For-something?

Han Li was suddenly burdened with a weight he shouldn’t have borne, and he could feel He Mi’s delicate form tremble faintly against him. Her hot breath caressed his ear, sending a tingling sensation through his heart and making him feel vaguely restless. For a moment, he was at a complete loss—should he suddenly turn around and reverse the situation, declaring boldly, “How can a true man allow himself to remain beneath another for long?”

But the adrenaline his body had released during the wolf attack was now rapidly dissipating. Both his arms and legs were trembling, aching, and powerless. Even if Han Li wanted to turn around and do something, he simply didn’t have the strength; his heart was willing, but his body was weak. Still, the feeling from behind was quite enjoyable—if only it were from the front, it would be even better...

So the two remained in silent stillness until the gentle chirping of birds in the forest shattered the warm moment. He Mi, suddenly coming to her senses, stood up at once and stammered, “Han... Li, I was just too overwhelmed after escaping death. I’m not that kind of casual person. I admit... I do have feelings for you, but I’m definitely not that kind... Besides, my grandmother always said...” The icy look that so often clouded He Mi’s face had vanished, replaced by confusion. She stuttered incoherently, her words disjointed, utterly lacking the composure of someone skilled in poetry, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her words made no sense, her voice growing so soft that even Han Li, with his keen ears, couldn’t catch what she was saying.

What was this girl even talking about? Han Li couldn’t make out her words, but he could easily guess that she was feeling embarrassed. Were this the modern age, Han Li would have surely teased her, saying something like, “A life saved deserves a lifetime repaid.” But such frivolity was ill-suited to this time; if she responded in kind, the embarrassment would fall on him. It wasn’t that He Mi wasn’t pretty—on the contrary, among all the girls Han Li knew, her looks easily ranked among the top five. As for her figure, she was undoubtedly the best he’d ever seen—even Hao Hongmin was a little inferior. And in terms of intellect, she outshone him in classical literature, as he’d learned through several exchanges. She could recite ancient idioms and prose with effortless grace.

But Han Li knew nothing of her background, and a rash move might bring endless trouble. He was, at heart, someone who hated trouble. Still, he wasn’t worried—though the fruit was not yet ripe, spending time together would surely bring it to maturity one day.

He needed to give her a way out to break the awkwardness between them. “He Mi, could you come help me up? To be honest, my legs are still a bit weak.”

“Ah... oh... yes, I’m coming.”

He Mi hurried over to help Han Li up, and perhaps it was fate or destiny, but as she reached him, her foot slipped in the wolf’s blood, and she fell straight into his arms.

Now Han Li was holding He Mi, who had tumbled into his embrace, and both were instantly stunned. Han Li didn’t know if others could restrain themselves in such a moment, but he certainly couldn’t. After all, how could a man remain unresponsive when a girl threw herself into his arms not once, but twice? Others would think he’d lost his masculinity to a wild bear. Trouble? Proving himself a man was more important than trouble. Besides, when trouble comes, it can be dealt with as it arises.

He leaned forward slightly, their faces now just a breath apart, and the atmosphere quickly grew charged with intimacy.

He Mi felt herself held in a warm, powerful embrace—his tall figure, sturdy legs, broad shoulders, muscular chest, and his burning breath threatened to melt her completely. The clean scent of soap on his body was intoxicating; his face, smooth and fair, was handsomely chiseled, his strong features sharp and defined. His thick brows resembled the crescent moon in the night sky, his dark eyes sparkled like the world’s most beautiful gems, drawing her in with a single glance. His prominent nose and pale, slightly parted lips, exhaling warm breath, inched ever closer.

He Mi was powerless to escape, and in truth, she didn’t want to. As for her grandmother’s warnings...

A soft moan escaped her lips.

It was as if the spring breeze kissed the flowers, making them bloom freely; as if the rain kissed the river, sending it rushing joyfully on. The feeling swept He Mi away. Helplessly, her poor lung capacity soon left her breathless, and she had to push Han Li gently away.

Panting, she finally caught her breath and slipped out of his arms.

“Um...”

“Um...”

“Why don’t you go first.”

“No, you go ahead.”

He Mi...

Han Li...

Their synchronized reactions made He Mi burst out laughing, then she looked at Han Li seriously.

She had to admit Han Li was very handsome, strong, and kind-hearted—he hadn’t abandoned her in the face of death. She’d heard about his family from Yang Xiuying; in every respect, he was outstanding. But... He Mi recalled her own past, her grandmother’s constant protection and guidance, and the vow she’d made before her grandmother died. Her eyes dimmed.

Han Li noticed the change in her expression and assumed it was because of their earlier kiss. What should he do now? Of course, he should step forward and hold her—if she didn’t resist, then there was nothing to worry about.

So Han Li took a step forward and gently pulled He Mi into his arms, simply holding her.

She shivered but didn’t resist, and Han Li thought, “Now it’s settled.”

Just as he was about to sweeten the moment with a few loving words, He Mi spoke first.

“Han Li, I admit I have feelings for you. After what happened today, we ought to make our relationship public. But I must honor the promise I made to my grandmother on her deathbed. So, can we not tell anyone for now and spend more time together, to truly understand each other?”

Han Li pondered, then replied, “I respect your wishes. But aren’t you afraid someone else will steal away such an outstanding man as myself?”

“I’m not afraid. If I ever find the man I truly want in my heart, even if I lose him once, I’ll fight to win him back. And if, for whatever reason, I still can’t, as long as he holds a place for me in his heart, I’d be willing to stay by his side, even without a title.”

Han Li...

PS: Thank you to the patrons. Special thanks to Chenchuan for a reward of 500 points. Thanks to “The Wind Passes Before My Eyes” for 100 points. Thanks to “The Billionth Sheep” for 100 points.