Chapter 88: Yin Buqi, You Bastard

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

After a long silence, Shen Yu asked, “Are you leaving?”

Jiang Niannian stubbornly replied, “I want to hear it from him directly—his choice.”

She recalled a line she had read in The Painted Veil by Maugham before she transmigrated:

“Women often think men have fallen madly in love with them, but in reality, it hasn’t reached that point.”

If Yin Buqi truly chose to bear the mission of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan of Qingqiu, then she would leave.

Because she couldn’t do it.

Even if Yin Buqi chose to keep her by his side, the thought of sharing him with other women…

Sorry, she just couldn’t.

She wasn’t that noble.

“Then keep waiting.”

Shen Yu’s voice carried a faint smile, but Jiang Niannian could detect a hint of coldness.

“If you catch a chill and die out here, I won’t be collecting your corpse.”

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away behind her.

The night grew deeper.

Inside the grand hall, the warmth of the banquet lingered, music and singing intertwined, and the sound of silk and bamboo instruments continued endlessly.

Jiang Niannian closed her eyes tightly, her heart aching in waves.

Her entire body felt cold, her heart even colder.

Even her unhealed wounds began to throb with pain.

Unknowingly, she leaned against the jade pillar and fell asleep.

It was unclear how much time had passed when the lights in the temple dimmed, and the ancient music and the sweet voices of women abruptly stopped.

The banquet had ended.

A wave of fragrant warmth rushed out from the hall.

Jiang Niannian felt herself being gently lifted by someone, the touch tender and careful.

He touched her forehead, but then quickly pulled his hand back as if burned.

But she only felt her head grow heavier, her body exhausted, longing to sleep forever.

Yin Buqi’s heartbeat suddenly halted.

He stiffly held her, his face pale, the red veins in his eyes yet to fade.

“Quickly, fetch the physician!”

“Young Master, the Old Palace Master is still waiting for you. He has urgent matters to discuss.”

Yin Buqi roared in sudden fury, “I will go to the Old Palace Master myself. I want you to go now—immediately—to fetch the physician!”

The servant instantly knelt, trembling.

“Young Master, the Old Palace Master… he doesn’t have much time left…”

“If anything happens to Niannian, I’ll accompany her in death, along with your so-called Qingqiu bloodline!”

Yin Buqi’s voice trembled with helplessness, fear, and rage.

“Why are you still here? Go!”

“Y-Yes!”

With that, Yin Buqi carried Jiang Niannian and ran down the corridor.

He called out to her anxiously, “Niannian… Niannian…”

It had been a long time since he had struggled so much to walk this path.

He felt as though every breeze along the way could defeat him.

They seemed gentle, yet so piercing.

He was afraid.

He was truly afraid.

First his mother, then that nominal father, and then Yin Ci…

One by one, they had all left him.

But his Niannian couldn’t die.

She absolutely couldn’t die!

Yin Buqi’s black robe, trimmed with gold, billowed like dark clouds as he moved.

“Niannian…”

His trembling voice was low and fragile, his body shaking as well.

His red eyes were tightly narrowed, as though he was holding his very life in his arms, his most precious treasure.

Not far away, Hu Feishuang stood with her maid, quietly watching the scene unfold.

Hu Feishuang asked, “Is that the woman the Young Master brought back with him?”

The maid nodded respectfully.

“Yes.”

“She’s quite beautiful, a rare beauty. But alas… tsk tsk.”

Hu Feishuang’s gaze followed Yin Buqi until he disappeared from sight.

She sighed softly, her enchanting eyes glimmering.

“Poor girl. Yin Buqi has already broken her heart. If he wants to win her back, it’ll be nearly impossible.”

The maid asked, “Goddess, don’t you mind that the Young Master is carrying another woman in his heart while leaving you behind?”

“I don’t care whether my future husband is old or ugly. So-called affection is just an act.”

Hu Feishuang interrupted her.

“I’m merely fulfilling my duty. I’m marrying not a person, but the ancestral bloodline.”

“Goddess, you are a good woman. I hope you will be happy.”

“Sigh….”

Hu Feishuang let out a long sigh.

Her slender fingers, painted bright red, idly toyed with a nearby flower.

“Let’s go back. Men—none of them are any good.”

***

On the other side, Yin Buqi brought Jiang Niannian back to the warm bedchamber, carefully placing her on the bed and covering her with a blanket.

Jiang Niannian murmured faintly in her daze.

Her face was flushed with fever, her pale lips moving slightly as if she were speaking.

Yin Buqi leaned closer, his ear near her lips, listening carefully.

“Niannian, what are you saying?”

Warm breath brushed against his ear, and her soft lips unconsciously grazed his earlobe.

That electric sensation made Yin Buqi freeze for a moment, nearly surrendering on the spot.

“Yin Buqi… Yin Buqi…”

“Yin Buqi… you… bastard… scumbag…”

Yin Buqi looked down at her face, her reflection clear in his red eyes, glowing with a deep warmth.

He reached out his cool, slender fingers to brush away the strands of hair by her ear.

In the depths of his red eyes, shadows cracked and shattered, spilling a frenzied, predatory darkness as he stared at her intently.

Yin Buqi lowered his head and softly kissed her cheek.

“Yes, I’m a bastard… Niannian.”

His Niannian, even when scolding him, was so adorable.

His cool palm gently stroked her face, lingering with infinite tenderness.

Jiang Niannian, still half-conscious, mumbled weakly, scolding him again and again before sighing, “Yin Buqi… I’m sad… I don’t want you anymore…”

It sounded like a sigh.

Yin Buqi froze, his entire body stiff, his face as pale as a ghost, like a trapped beast.

Wasn’t his goal to push her away from his cursed life?

Now she said she didn’t want him anymore.

Shouldn’t he feel relieved?

But she said she didn’t want him anymore.

She didn’t want him…

Yin Buqi buried his face into her neck, holding her tightly, tears welling up in his eyes as he inhaled her scent deeply.

His voice trembled.

“I’m sorry… Niannian… I’m sorry…”

Yin Buqi held her face in his hands and pressed his lips against her soft, warm ones.

His arm tightened around her waist, her lips carrying a faint herbal fragrance.

He had longed for this for so long, yet it was never enough.

He kissed her desperately, as if savoring the sweetest poison.

His chest burned with a scorching fire, consuming him from the inside out.

Jiang Niannian whimpered softly, “Buqi…”

Yin Buqi gasped, “I’m here.”

“Niannian, I’m here.”

One last time.

Just one last time, he would hold her and kiss her like this.

From now on, he would never disturb her again.

May they never meet again, and may she live safely for the rest of her life.