"Are the matters all settled?"
This was Bai You'an's first sentence.
"Are you injured?"
This was the second.
Song Qingchao: "..."
She instinctively retreated, not daring to look up at Bai You'an, but still answered truthfully.
"It's done, no injuries."
"Oh?"
His tone sounded normal, making Song Qingchao unable to resist looking up at him.
Today, he wasn't wearing white silk. He was casually leaning against the carriage in a light blue robe.
Seeing that Song Qingchao was finally looking at him, he straightened up. His posture was both tall and relaxed, seemingly casual yet maintaining an elegant demeanor.
"Mm..." Song Qingchao replied in a low voice.
It was Aunt Fang who seemed to understand something. She pulled Zhou Si, who was covered in blood, and said, "Look how dirty you are, go change quickly."
Zhou Si, being as perceptive as ever, immediately followed Aunt Fang away.
Only Zhou Wu remained, still holding the horse.
But he also sensed something was amiss and quickly found an excuse to leave.
Song Qingchao: "..."
She had never realized her subordinates were so unreliable.
The air seemed to have frozen.
Song Qingchao felt even more awkward.
She clutched her handkerchief, wishing she could wring it to shreds.
Bai You'an, however, seemed unfazed. He continued speaking on his own, "Shall we go back?"
He was seeking her opinion.
Song Qingchao wondered if he had nothing else to say.
But judging by his demeanor, it seemed he did.
"Are the people inside still alive?"
In that instant, Song Qingchao's sense of guilt surged.
She didn't deny what she had done, but she was unsure of Bai You'an's opinion of her.
"Th-they're alive."
"Why didn't you kill them?"
Song Qingchao: "???"
She looked up in confusion, only to see Bai You'an stating it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Did I... hear that correctly?"
"No," Bai You'an smiled indulgently, then pulled her into an embrace. "I know what these people have done. Their current fate is well-deserved."
Song Qingchao hadn't fully processed it yet. She just wanted to wriggle out of Bai You'an's embrace. "So you weren't angry with me?"
Her question, however, left Bai You'an momentarily stunned.
"I wasn't."
"If not, why did you leave then?"
Song Qingchao directly pulled his hand from atop her head.
To think she had worried for so long.
"I thought you were busy and I couldn't help, so I wanted to see if there was anything else I could do for you."
Bai You'an had truly never considered that Song Qingchao would overthink things like this.
He had been relieved once he saw Song Qingchao was unharmed. Furthermore, after a quick scan, he saw no one could defeat Song Qingchao, which further eased his mind.
He had also guessed Song Qingchao's intentions and planned to return first to stabilize her affairs.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think that far ahead."
Bai You'an felt a pang of guilt. "I won't let you worry next time. Don't be angry, okay?"
Song Qingchao was still trying to process it all. She tentatively asked, "I killed people."
"They deserved to be killed."
Song Qingchao: "???"
Although she was quite familiar with Bai You'an, she hadn't expected him to accept it so quickly.
"Don't you think I'm terrifying?"
Bai You'an shook his head without the slightest hesitation. "I think you're very brave."
He pushed his glasses up, smiling exceptionally brightly. "Miss Song, I like every aspect of you."
Song Qingchao: "!!!"
She had never expected such a result.
She had even considered breaking up just moments ago...
Really... she wished she could slap herself twice right now.
However, looking at his radiant smile, a different emotion gradually grew in Song Qingchao's heart.
She thought, perhaps this was the correct way to love someone.
Tolerance, consideration, unconditional trust.
Not selfishness, dominance, and constant suspicion.
That wasn't love, it was merely the workings of a pathological possessiveness.
Song Qingchao looked at his profile, smiling and replying, "I recall Mr. Bai mentioning he wanted to give my young lady a hairpin."
"I remember," Bai You'an paused, thinking with particular earnestness. "I want to give you the best of everything in this world."
Song Qingchao simply burst out laughing. "Then I shall wait."
Bai You'an also laughed, and immediately pulled Song Qingchao into his embrace, wrapping her entirely in his cloak.
His captivating voice whispered in her ear, "Then can we go back? I came here as an intruder, I can't stay too long."
"You broke in!?"
Song Qingchao poked her head out from his cloak.
"No, how did you know I was in trouble?"
Bai You'an was momentarily at a loss for words. "So many people saw. I'll tell you when we get back."
He directly picked Song Qingchao up and bundled her into the carriage.
"Hey!"
Song Qingchao stealthily peeked out from the fox fur of the cloak, looking at Bai You'an.
This guy was definitely hiding something from her!
"Stop looking at me."
Bai You'an, as if knowing she was watching, said indulgently.
"I'll tell you everything."
Song Qingchao considered it, then agreed.
However, after being stuffed into the carriage, she saw a lot of wine.
"Why did you bring so much wine?"
After Bai You'an helped Song Qingchao into the carriage, he didn't get in himself. He began pulling wine jars down, explaining, "I thought you might need it."
He turned and directly called out to the three people hiding in the distance, "Come help move the wine."
"Do you need my help?"
Song Qingchao leaned against the carriage door, watching them move the wine and asking tentatively.
"No need."
Bai You'an kissed her forehead directly, making her shyly retreat inside the carriage.
"If the roots are not removed, they will grow back with the spring breeze. Miss Song, let your husband handle such matters, shall we?"
Bai You'an's voice drifted into the carriage with the wind, reaching Song Qingchao's ears. Her heart skipped a beat with the setting sun, as if all the vanishing sunlight had stolen its way onto her face, making her feel uncomfortably warm.
Then she heard the sound of wine jars shattering,
"Ping ping pang pang," followed by them being consumed by flames.
This mess would end here.
Song Qingchao reached out and lifted the carriage curtain.
She saw Bai You'an walking towards her from the setting sun.
The wind blew his hair behind him, and his handsome face needed no adornment; a simple upturned lip was enough to make one fall.
Like flowing river water, catching the light and gleaming, clear and soft, like a Bodhisattva saving all sentient beings.
But Bai You'an was hers, a unique god.
She could be unrestrained in front of him, or reveal her ambitions.
She could also bare her dark side without any burden, frankly telling him: Look, this is the dark lotus that I am, black through and through.
"Mr. Bai, we..."
"Let's go home."