After hearing everything about his past, Fengguang’s emotions suddenly became complicated. She had always thought that she and he belonged to two different worlds, and she had already prepared herself for the possibility that they would never meet again. She never imagined that he would turn out to be someone from three hundred years ago.
And that he would be her target… the master of Snow’s End Manor.
She raised her hand and gently placed it against his chest. There was no heartbeat. Her nose stung, and her voice trembled as she spoke.
“How did you end up like this…? You were perfectly fine when I left… Do you know how hard I worked to raise you? Do you think that was easy for me?”
“Don’t cry.” He couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Was I really raised by you?”
“Well, I did take care of you for three years…” Thinking about how he had once been such a young boy… and now he had become like this…
Well, to be fair, he hadn’t exactly been lively back then either. And now, he actually seemed even more handsome.
She suddenly wasn’t sure what she was even upset about anymore. Then, she realized something very important.
“You turned yourself into a living corpse because of me… does that mean… you like me?”
He fell silent for a moment. “I thought I made that obvious three hundred years ago.”
“But… you never actually said it to me.” She blinked innocently. Back then, they had spent every day together. No matter how much he seemed to value her, she had only thought it was a child’s attachment. Even if she had sensed something more, she didn’t dare think in that direction—it would have felt too self-absorbed.
Liu Nianfeng held her hand and lifted her chin with the other. Just as he was about to kiss her, Fengguang quickly covered her mouth with her hand, so his lips landed on the back of her hand instead.
Her eyes widened. Muffled behind her hand, she asked, “What are you trying to do?”
“To tell you that I like you.”
She glared at him. “I’m only thirteen! I’m still a child!”
“So this is what it felt like back then—when I was younger, and Fengguang was older than me?” he said with a smile. “Only now the situation is reversed. I can see you and touch you… while you’re still so young. What should I do? No matter what I want to do, you wouldn’t be able to resist.”
“Y-you… don’t you dare…” she said nervously. “At the very least, you have to wait until I come of age! If you try anything now, people will call you a beast!”
“Haven’t I already been called a beast by your father?” he replied with a gentle smile. “If others say it a few more times, what does it matter?”
She never expected that not only had he grown older, but his skin had grown thicker too. But then she quickly thought of a way out. Going limp, she collapsed into his arms and said weakly, “My illness isn’t cured yet… my body is still very weak. If you try anything, I might just…”
“You’ll live just fine,” he interrupted, gently patting her back. Lowering his gaze to her, he said softly, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Fengguang paused. “A-Mo, my illness is really serious…”
She thought he should be mentally prepared—she could relapse and die at any moment.
“My blood can slow your condition,” he said, tightening his hold on her slightly. “Fengguang, once the Longevity Willow matures, you’ll be cured. I won’t let you have another chance to leave me again.”