"When did you arrive?" Song Qingchao asked, her words slightly stammered.
"Guess?" Bai You'an walked familiarly to her bedside, sat down naturally, and then pulled her out from under the covers. "I was worried about you, but it seems I was needlessly so."
Song Qingchao: "..." She didn't know what to say. Unseemly thoughts filled her mind, yet she couldn't utter a single word.
Outside the tent, the atmosphere was lively. Inside, the two of them felt awkward. Seeing Bai You'an's relaxed demeanor, if he hadn't been wearing night-vision gear, he wouldn't have looked like someone sneaking in at all.
"Lost your tongue?" Bai You'an slowly moved closer, an aura of danger about him.
Song Qingchao coughed to cover her embarrassment, then tilted her head and mumbled, "Not at all. You came at the perfect time. I actually have something I wanted to tell you."
Bai You'an instantly found it uninteresting and leaned back lazily. "I know what you want to say. The medicine has been given to them. Once a few towns are cured, the crisis in Feng County can be resolved."
"As expected of Mr. Bai." Song Qingchao's admiration was genuine. Her understanding with Bai You'an was growing deeper.
"Did you vomit blood again just now?" Bai You'an asked casually, yet he forcefully took her wrist.
Song Qingchao felt a pang of guilt and tried to pull her hand back. "It's nothing," she whispered.
However, Bai You'an, who was taking her pulse, was not as relaxed as she was. Her pulse indeed showed no abnormalities. But why would she be vomiting blood...
"I really am fine," Song Qingchao bit her lip and finally pulled her arm back. Bai You'an didn't press the issue. After all, she truly seemed fine!
Bai You'an gave her a peculiar look, then handed her a package. "What's this?" Song Qingchao asked curiously, opening it.
"Medicine," Bai You'an replied carelessly. "I was supposed to give it to you this morning." He said this while awkwardly touching the bridge of his nose.
"So much..." Even though Song Qingchao had prepared herself mentally, she was still startled when she opened the package. Bai You'an had given her his entire stock.
"You let your body get like this when I wasn't around. Now, all of this, which is of no use to me, is yours."
Song Qingchao nodded in agreement. "This medicine, which is hard to come by, has now become useless."
Song Qingchao giggled and moved closer to Bai You'an. "What do you think the nobles in Chang'an City will say when they see this?"
Bai You'an leaned back slightly. "Seeing you like this, you seem fine. And here I was, worrying about you."
"Are you saying you were worried about me, Mr. Bai?" Song Qingchao continued to approach him, testing Bai You'an's emotional defenses bit by bit.
Bai You'an slightly turned his head, revealing his flushed earlobes. "Yes, and so what?"
Song Qingchao's tea-colored eyes sparkled with a meaningful light. She raised her hand, her fingers slightly curved, and pulled down his veil. "If you were worried about me, why didn't you leave with me?"
She gazed intently at the man's perfect profile, her icy fingers tracing his smooth, jade-like cheek. "Mr. Bai, do you stand by your word?"
Bai You'an swallowed, his throat bobbing. He turned his head to meet Song Qingchao's alluring gaze. "I do."
Upon hearing his answer, Song Qingchao smiled triumphantly. "It's good that you do." She reached into the quilt behind Bai You'an. The two of them drew closer, so close that they both held their breath, afraid that a single wrong move would break the bubble of air between them.
"What are you doing?" Bai You'an finally spoke.
Song Qingchao looked at his rapidly blinking eyelashes, her smile widening. She didn't know if it was the change in environment, but she felt an exhilarating thrill at this moment. "I said, I want you to belong to me."
Song Qingchao slowly drew back. The moment the distance widened, she sensed Bai You'an exhale a breath he'd been holding. "Do you like it?"
She opened the sandalwood box in her hand. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses lay steadily on bright yellow silk. Bai You'an instantly held his breath again. He stared inscrutably at Song Qingchao's radiant face. This woman had continuously brought him surprises from the very beginning. His immersed heart began to beat anew with her every word and action.
"This is for you." Seeing Bai You'an lost in thought, Song Qingchao directly picked up the glasses and put them on him. The gold-rimmed glasses surprisingly complemented his lazy, casual demeanor. Like a rich splash of color, they broke through the stark white paper. These lenses not only failed to hide the starlight in his eyes but made him shine even brighter.
"Bai You'an." Song Qingchao rarely called him by his full name. Bai You'an responded with a muffled "Mm." He remained dazed throughout, as if disbelieving what he was seeing. "Have I ever told you that you're very good-looking?"
"Song Qingchao." Bai You'an called her name too. She, mimicking Bai You'an, hummed an "Mm."
"Do you know what I saw when I arrived?"
"What?"
"It was snowing outside. The first snow." Bai You'an smiled faintly, his tone leisurely, as if deliberately teasing her.
"Is it beautiful?" Song Qingchao asked him softly. She frowned, not understanding why Bai You'an was bringing this up.
"Beautiful." Bai You'an's voice was soft, but the amusement in his tone deepened. "The first snow. It's not as beautiful as you." He slightly raised a finger and brushed it across Song Qingchao's chin. Startled, Song Qingchao lowered her head, her lips accidentally brushing against his cool fingertips. But at this moment, Song Qingchao felt his fingertips were burning.
"Actually, I came to tell you that I'm not leaving." Bai You'an sighed with regret. "But now, you've kept me here with this. Song Qingchao, what am I supposed to do with you?" His voice trailed off, his tone filled with palpable anticipation.
Song Qingchao looked up in surprise. Seeing the smile lingering on his features, she spoke softly. "Fall in love with me."
Bai You'an was silent for a moment, then he burst into laughter. "I already have."
Their eyes met, and a subtle atmosphere spread between them, like a hidden fragrance that entwined them tightly. A gentle touch, devoid of much desire. It was like the softly falling snowflakes outside – clean and beautiful, crisp and pure. A faint, delicate love. Inch by inch, a test. Inch by inch, a conquest.
Bai You'an raised his hand, cupping Song Qingchao's neck, and pulled her gently downward. A soft, indistinct voice, passing through his lips, reached Song Qingchao's heart. "From now on, I belong to you, Qingchao."