TSFLIP Chapter 568

He withdrew his hand, his voice slightly hoarse. “What happened while I was unconscious?”

Fengguang smiled gently and said, “Don’t worry. No monsters jumped out or anything. Just sand—and more sand.” With the hand that wasn’t injured, she carefully smoothed out his long hair, tousled by the wind and grit. “I waited a long, long time. Now that you’re finally awake, I can finally breathe a little easier.”

For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, he spoke with a mix of sarcasm and something like advice: “If you were smart, you wouldn’t have brought me with you.”

“Then I guess I’m not that smart,” she replied with a shrug and a grin. “But I kind of like my level of intelligence—just smart enough to get by, but not so clever that I overthink everything. I know enough, but not too much. That’s the sweet spot for happiness.”

Balance had always been her preference—not the worst, not the best. Not the one who stands out, but not invisible either.

He stared at her quietly for a moment before pushing himself into a sitting position. His voice returned to its usual calm as he asked, “Aren’t you tired?”

“Of course I’m tired. But I kept telling myself I had to take care of you, so I wouldn’t let myself feel it.” She looked at him with concern. “Do you feel any better now? We have to find a way out of here soon. It’s almost dark, and nights in the desert are freezing.”

“Princess… maybe you should rest for a bit.”

“In a situation like this, I really shouldn’t—”

Her words cut off suddenly.

When her gaze met his, her eyes momentarily went blank and unfocused. Then, without warning, she closed her eyes and collapsed backward, unconscious.

A strong arm caught her around the waist just in time, redirecting her fall and preventing her from hitting the sand. Instead, she landed softly in his arms. Her frame was small, and nestled against him like this, she seemed even more delicate and light.

Si Jia held that position in silence. His dark eyes revealed no clear emotion—perhaps none at all. In that moment, his gaze was like a bottomless abyss, dark and still, as if a storm was brewing within—or perhaps it was just the quiet clash of self-conflict.

He had never experienced anything like this. Not during his first mission. Not when he first brushed with death. Not even when someone told him they wanted to be his friend.

In his world, everything was expendable. Friends, family—even himself. That’s what made him capable of executing missions without hesitation, of eliminating anyone deemed “in the way.” That’s what made him a perfect assassin.

Doubt wasn’t something that should ever have a place in his mind. And yet… from the moment he took her with him, doubt had never stopped creeping in.

Three days. Just three days…

It felt like a lifetime. The desert wind had never stopped howling since they arrived, yet now, somehow, there was silence.

Slowly, he raised his free hand and placed it gently on the back of her head, running his fingers lightly through her dark hair. The coldness in his expression remained, but the gesture was strangely tender—almost instinctive.

Then, for the first time, his eyes seemed to focus. They settled on the crown of her head, and the hand resting behind her guided her gently closer, pressing her forehead against his chest.

It was a tentative gesture, but he discovered something in that moment—
He didn’t dislike the feeling of holding her like this.