"Enough..."
Song Qingchao was dazed by the kiss.
"You'an... I... can't breathe..."
This call of You'an sent a glint in Bai You'an's eyes.
But he was considerate of Song Qingchao, reluctantly releasing her lips before moving to seek out her soft earlobe.
Song Qingchao tilted her head slightly and managed to catch her breath.
The wetness on her earlobe sent a shiver through her.
She kept trying to pull away, but the hand that gripped her waist held her firmly.
Though the strength was immense, she wasn't incapable of breaking free, but her body felt incredibly weak at the moment.
"Bai You'an!"
Song Qingchao was a little angry.
She was angry, on one hand, that Bai You'an had tricked her into getting into the carriage, and on the other, she was angry at her own lack of resolve.
"Mm?"
Bai You'an finally released her tender spot.
The moment she was free, Song Qingchao wanted to run, but she was pulled back.
Bai You'an's vine-like eyes stared directly at her slightly flushed lips.
She felt a little embarrassed for Bai You'an to see her like this, so she lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him, and her voice was very awkward, "Are you done?"
After a long pause, Bai You'an, as if regretting having teased her, lowered his head tenderly and touched the corner of her lips, "Never enough."
Song Qingchao was held tightly in his embrace, her face flushing as his heart pounded.
"Miss Song..."
His voice was gentle, but Song Qingchao detected a hint of sorrow and quietness within it.
She nudged her small head out of Bai You'an's embrace.
She looked a bit dazed, but incredibly cute.
"It's late, shall we rest?"
Bai You'an rubbed his chin against her hair, smiling, "Yes, together."
With that, Song Qingchao was pulled down by him onto the small bed behind them.
Song Qingchao was a little stunned at the moment she rolled onto the bed.
She wriggled out of Bai You'an's arms and then knelt on the small bed.
"Wow, your carriage really has hidden wonders."
She had expected the carriage to be large.
After all, having three horses pulling it was a great luxury.
But she hadn't expected the carriage to actually have a bed.
It was just that Bai You'an had held her the moment she entered, so she hadn't had a chance to examine the carriage's interior layout.
Now, looking at it,
Though the carriage was small, it had everything it needed.
It could even be called a "camper van."
Song Qingchao, her swollen lips slightly parted, looked at Bai You'an, who was leaning on the outer side, with some surprise.
The man looked quite relaxed, "I think it's fine."
He raised his hand, his fingers hooking the hanging curtain.
"Old Master Lin arranged it. He knew we were traveling far and specially gifted us the largest carriage from his estate."
He emphasized the word "us" in a rather ambiguous way.
This made Song Qingchao's already crimson face feel as if it were about to emit white smoke.
"Besides that, he also prepared many things needed for a long journey."
As he spoke, he bent down and pulled out a blanket from under the bed, covering Song Qingchao, "You sleep first."
Song Qingchao, pulling the blanket, was thinking of something else.
"Do you know what Old Master Lin brought for us?"
Bai You'an shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
"Old Master Lin only said that the luggage he brought would absolutely ensure we wouldn't lack food and drink on the road. If you want to take a closer look at what's inside, we can do it when we rest tomorrow. It's too late now, and we haven't rested at all."
Song Qingchao's eyes lit up.
She didn't know the detailed contents of the luggage?!
This was truly excellent!
She had been worried about how to exchange the items from her space.
Now, Old Master Lin provided the perfect excuse.
In a cheerful mood, she shuffled further inside and then lay down.
This movement made Bai You'an chuckle. He very dotingly tucked the blanket higher for Song Qingchao, "You sleep first."
Song Qingchao wanted to urge him to rest quickly.
As soon as she opened her mouth, a small honey pill was placed inside, melting instantly in her mouth, with a sweet and sour taste.
"Don't mind me."
Song Qingchao looked at him, puzzled, as he got up, holding a small triangular incense towards the desk.
His slender hand lifted the lid of the bronze censer, and the flint struck, the flame flickering and casting a long shadow of Bai You'an.
Song Qingchao thought, Bai You'an is truly handsome.
But if she couldn't fully trust him yet...
Bai You'an, having lit the incense, let out a long sigh.
He took a deep breath of the calming scent, then turned his head to look at the woman sleeping on the bed.
His eyes held many things.
So complex that perhaps he himself didn't understand them.
If he could, he would gladly sink with her, but in the context of the current environment, not only was he unable to help himself, but she was too.
Past and present lives seemed to have undergone a great reshuffle.
Song Qingchao's fate had long deviated from the path it should have followed.
His had too.
He had to admit, he had fallen in love with this woman.
All the previous things, whether it was resentment or hatred.
He had to admit that he had long since fallen under her spell.
That unforgettable emotion,
Was it jealousy?
Perhaps.
The love of childhood sweethearts had tormented him for two lifetimes.
In his past life, he had searched like a madman for women all over the world, looking for eyes like hers, or a nose like hers.
Anyone who resembled her could enter his harem.
But none could compare to her.
His yearning, after years, had turned into obsession.
But he had never touched anyone; in the end, they were all just replacements for her.
Women like her were gone...
If he could, he didn't want to lose her again in this lifetime.
But remembering the tragic state of his past life.
Bai You'an felt as if a mountain was pressing down on his shoulders.
He had to change that original outcome.
Five years later, various powers would rise.
Did he still have to contend for that position?
Bai You'an did not want to, but for Song Qingchao, he felt he could...
If he could stop things at the source, then many things would not have happened.
The Battle of Mobei five years later was the most crucial turning point.
Five years would be enough for him to grow.
In this lifetime, he would definitely protect her.
Only, if she knew his true identity, would she still be like this?
Bai You'an sighed, then, with one hand, hooked down his glasses and carefully wrapped them in silk before placing them in a wooden box.
Although his vision had returned to blurriness, he felt no discomfort.
On the contrary, the hazy feeling he experienced when looking at Song Qingchao without his glasses was also something he found captivating.
He sat sideways on the edge of the bed, his fingers slightly curved, and with the back of his fingers, he brushed the stray hairs blocking his forehead behind his ear, revealing his fair skin tinged with pink.
Bai You'an leaned down, observing her closely, wanting to engrave everything about Song Qingchao into his memory.
His eyelashes trembled slightly, and his hair, as if sensing his thoughts, drooped and nestled into the hollow of Song Qingchao's neck.
Song Qingchao whimpered and then furrowed her brow, rubbing her neck with her hand.
Bai You'an lifted his own hair, daring not to breathe from fright, but seeing that the person beneath him showed no other reaction, he gradually relaxed.
He leaned down slightly and placed a kiss on her smooth forehead.
This kiss was like a seal,
Declaring his resolve.
He could protect her, and protect her for a lifetime.