Lin Qiao found herself in total darkness. She tried desperately to open her eyes but couldn't, as if she were bound by some nightmare.
Was she... dead?
Just like that?
... So casually?
In her dazed self - doubt, Lin Qiao heard a dispute not far away.
To be precise, this conversation could hardly be called a dispute... It seemed more like a one - sided scolding.
A woman's voice, sounding like a lively young girl, said, "I, I don't know either... Lin Qiao... No, it's not... Nor the Empress Dowager... Anyway, once Madam went into the room, she seemed possessed. I watched as Madam first stood still and then seemed about to cry. I don't know why I couldn't move either. I could only stand there stiffly and watch her being haunted..."
Next to her was a man's voice, very close, deep and rather pleasant. It seemed he was quite near to her. "I don't want to hear this. I want to know how to solve this problem!"
The tone at the end sounded like he was about to lose his temper, but for some reason, it seemed he turned his head in her direction and managed to hold it back.
... It should be in her direction, but in the chaos, she couldn't see and could only rely on her sense.
He didn't fully unleash his anger... Maybe he just wanted to scare this young girl.
Judging from his self - address, "I" (朕 in Chinese, used by emperors), he must be an emperor. In the darkness, Lin Qiao imagined a beautiful and epic love story between a domineering emperor and a spoiled young girl.
There was another man's voice further away from Lin Qiao than the previous one. "My Lord, the current situation is to wake Madam up first. Punishing Concubine Zou won't help."
The man's deep and pleasant voice sounded again, almost right above Lin Qiao's head. This time, it seemed to carry a bit of a sigh. "I understand. You may leave."
Then, there was complete silence.
In the chaos, Lin Qiao's vision was completely dark. She felt as if she were bound, unable to remember anything or be aware of anything.
The only thing that allowed her to think was these inexplicable voices.
But they quickly faded away, and it became quiet again.
After an unknown amount of time, the man's voice sounded again. This time, it was even lower than before. "Xiaolin, wake up soon, okay? I've prepared a lot of new things for you. You definitely won't be bored. Respond to me, okay?"
Hearing this voice, Lin Qiao felt inexplicably sad.
This man was so considerate.
This man was so humble.
This man...
Was he calling her Xiaolin?
She remembered... someone used to call her Xiaolin too?
Was it an illusion or a memory disorder?
Lin Qiao felt a headache coming on.
The man's voice became clearer. "There's chili in today's eggplant. I'll eat it with you. The rose syrup is also the freshest. It's already on the windowsill. And most importantly... I miss you so much."
"Xiaolin, I miss you so much."
Lin Qiao's headache got worse. She remembered that someone would rather die than eat chili, and someone couldn't stand the smell of rose syrup at all.
Who was this person?
... Who was this person?!
Suddenly, Lin Qiao broke free from the bondage in the dark chaos and opened her eyes abruptly.
She stared at the bright yellow curtain above her, gasping for breath in shock.
Next to her, a man was kneeling on the ground, holding her hand. The corners of his eyes were red, and his beautiful phoenix eyes were bloodshot.
He clearly looked on the verge of a breakdown.
It was Luo Nanchen.
Seeing Lin Qiao open her eyes, Luo Nanchen was clearly stunned. His eyes became moist. "X, Xiaolin..."
Lin Qiao struggled to sit up, and her memories came flooding back like a tide.
She had somehow been forced into a fantasy realm, where she saw many inexplicable things.
Among them, there was a scene where Luo Nanchen was punished, covered in blood and unrecognizable.
That scene was more terrifying to Lin Qiao than flying at an altitude of 5,000 meters or being attacked by a flock of black eagles.
She was really scared.
Even if that scene was fake, she didn't know the origin or the purpose of the person who had set up this fantasy for her.
Lin Qiao almost hugged Luo Nanchen in a panic.
"I'm scared..."
Luo Nanchen was caught off guard. Although he didn't know what Lin Qiao was talking about, he hugged her almost at the same time. "Don't be scared. I'm here. It's okay. It's all over."
Lin Qiao choked with sobs. "You have to promise me that no matter what happens in the future, we'll face it together. Don't bear it alone, okay?"
Even if, even if you were just acting on a whim, even if you were just immature, even if you were just...
No matter what, I like you.
Lin Qiao liked Luo Nanchen.
This was no longer just an ordinary sentence. It was an established fact.
Even if Luo Nanchen figured things out later and changed his mind, or if -
Their improper relationship was discovered by someone.
Then she would bear all the consequences.
She couldn't bear to see Luo Nanchen suffer, and she wouldn't allow him to be wronged even a little bit.
Luo Nanchen had done so much for her. It was time for her to do something for him.
Even if the consequence was to be turned into a human swine and thrown into the pond.
She... resigned herself to fate.