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墨書 Inktalez
"I have something I've never told you. Would you still like to hear it?"
This was the second day after a battle in which two people had died and the rest were injured.
Xu Nuan's left leg was in a splint, making movement difficult. To avoid causing trouble for others, she mostly leaned against a tree. Of course, she primarily chose this position because she felt sorry for Gu Ze, who would carefully pick her up to avoid touching her wounds and then gently set her down.
Gu Ze was indeed exhausted, having sustained such severe injuries. After Xu Nuan assured him that she would wake him if she needed to leave, he finally felt at ease enough to sleep.
He slept soundly until the next morning, and while he remained asleep, a few others who had woken up took it upon themselves to survey their surroundings to prevent a repeat of yesterday's events.
Xu Nuan also woke up, but in her condition, she could only be a hindrance. So she stayed behind to guard the camp and watch Gu Ze's sleeping face. Naturally, she could never get enough of looking at her boyfriend while he slept. However, as she gazed at him, her heart began to ache.
The dark circles under his eyes, his pursed lips, the stubble on his chin, and the scars on his cheeks—all these features of the person Xu Nuan cared about made her heart tremble. Her eyes brimmed with concern, but fortunately, not many people noticed her like this.
In fact, only two people saw her in this state: Chi Xiaoming, who had woken up due to an inflamed wound and was unable to move, and He Min, who had been watching her closely.
Suppressing her jealousy and resentment, He Min approached Xu Nuan and lowered her voice just enough to be heard.
She was testing whether Xu Nuan still valued her as a friend and savior. If she did, at least it might temporarily capture Xu Nuan's attention.
She didn't realize that seeking Xu Nuan's attention in this way was also rooted in jealousy; she hadn't let go of their past. She believed that her heart was filled with various interests.
Xu Nuan did give He Min the attention she sought, but not for the reasons He Min expected.
Xu Nuan frowned in discontent because someone might disturb Gu Ze's sleep and turned her head to see He Min. It took her a moment to process what He Min had just said.
She felt a flicker of curiosity and genuine concern for He Min. Yet still, as is human nature, Xu Nuan's heart prioritized Gu Ze above all else.
Her words began to reveal this sentiment.
"Could you keep it down a bit? He's still sleeping."
Xu Nuan had originally planned to walk further away with He Min to discuss matters, but thinking of her promise to Gu Ze and feeling uneasy about not keeping an eye on him, she suggested this idea that might disturb Gu Ze.
She didn't want to interrupt Gu Ze, nor did she want to let him down. She knew he would prefer her to make a different choice.
For a moment, He Min's eyes darkened, but it was so quick that Xu Nuan almost thought it was her imagination. Fortunately, she was too preoccupied to dwell on it and waited attentively for He Min's response.
"I'm fine with anything; I just don't want to hide things from you. If you're not interested, then there's no need."
Taking a step back to move forward, He Min was not only beautiful and graceful but also skilled and an excellent actress, adept at playing her cards right.
Xu Nuan moved her lips but didn't make a sound. Instinctively, she didn't plan to listen further, but just as she was about to speak, she realized it wasn't appropriate and swallowed her words. In that awkward moment, she noticed Chi Xiaoming looking over at them before quickly lowering his head again.
At this distance, they could definitely hear what was being said.
For some reason, Xu Nuan suddenly wanted to hear more from He Min. It had nothing to do with her concern for He Min; it was purely curiosity about Chi Xiaoming's behavior.
Initially, Xu Nuan didn't intend to have any further interactions with Chi Xiaoming. However, due to certain reasons related to someone else, she found herself viewing Chi Xiaoming in a slightly better light.
"Of course I want to know; is there something you need my help with?"
Xu Nuan didn't say this with much sincerity because she knew He Min wouldn't ask for her help—that was part of He Min's pride.
She hadn't expected that her words would cause a flicker of embarrassment on He Min's face, as if she hadn't anticipated such a response.
Now Xu Nuan couldn't help but think more deeply about it. He Min's embarrassment indicated that she hadn't expected Xu Nuan to reply like this. In the past, she would have said something more serious. The contrast created an awkwardness that confirmed one thing: He Min truly had something she needed help with.
It wasn't a matter of help or not; it was about a person's drastic change in behavior.
Xu Nuan suddenly became concerned about the conversation with He Min, which was something He Min had not anticipated, like stirring up a snake in the grass.
"Actually, there was a reason why I parted ways with Yu Hao at Lonely Gorge."
Xu Nuan was even more surprised. He Min actually took the initiative to mention Yu Hao? Especially after she had developed feelings for Yu Yu?
He Min's unexpected revelation left Xu Nuan stunned, making her pay close attention.
"What reason?"
Xu Nuan's serious expression pleased He Min, who then relaxed and shared her story, completely unaware that her demeanor was inappropriate for the moment.
At least in Xu Nuan's perception, the He Min she admired and respected would never act this way.
"Do you remember Wu Yue?" The emotions in He Min's eyes startled Xu Nuan, and this skilled actress inadvertently revealed too much. "She had previously flirted with Yu Hao, right? During that incident at Lonely Gorge, she used the same trick again and deceived Yu Hao. That's when I ended up arguing with him, which led to our separation."
A hint of frustration suddenly colored He Min's face.
"If it weren't for Wu Yue, Yu Hao and I wouldn't have split up. Maybe he wouldn't have died!"
Her frustration was half genuine and half feigned. She was currently in a cooperative relationship with Wu Yue; how could she truly plot against her? It was merely an attempt to use Wu Yue as a trap to manipulate Xu Nuan.
Knowing Xu Nuan well, He Min was certain that Xu Nuan would become invested in dealing with Wu Yue, perhaps even seeking revenge. This would give her the opportunity to lead Xu Nuan into danger. All that person wanted was solitude; even without those formidable traps, she had plenty of ways to create such conditions for them.
What He Min didn't realize was the storm brewing inside Xu Nuan. The implications behind this matter struck Xu Nuan so forcefully that she spoke without much thought.
"But Amin, it was your lack of trust in Yu Hao that led to this situation. If we really think about it, you have to take some responsibility too."
This was Xu Nuan's Rationality, and it also reflected her coldness. She always dissected situations to pinpoint everyone's responsibilities, which sometimes made her seem quite unfeeling. However, her perspective was simple: if He Min trusted Yu Hao, there would be no tantrums, and if the two of them hadn't separated, the previous events wouldn't have occurred. Wu Yue was the catalyst for this incident, but certainly not the only one.
She was so thoughtless that she naturally noticed the flash of anger that crossed He Min's face.
She could tell that He Min was genuinely angry for a moment, but then she suppressed her fury and replaced it with a look of sadness.
Xu Nuan was quite certain that He Min wanted her to confront Wu Yue. If He Min had reacted differently earlier, Xu Nuan would have indeed targeted Wu Yue, after all, Wu Yue also bore some responsibility. But now, after going around in circles and bringing up Yu Hao with such an attitude, Xu Nuan felt displeased and a bit disappointed.
This was an unexpected shock for He Min; it wasn't exactly a surprise attack, but it certainly startled her.
"Since you think that way, let's just pretend this incident never happened."
He Min skillfully managed her emotions, quickly throwing out those words before turning away, deliberately leaving behind a sorrowful profile as she walked briskly away, giving Xu Nuan no chance to salvage the situation.
Xu Nuan stood there in a daze, her heart filled with complexity.
She was no longer the well-protected girl she once was; she had developed her own unique judgment methods. In the past, she would have felt guilty and thought herself too harsh. But now, He Min's actions made her want to retch; it was a psychological reaction that directly revealed her inner thoughts.
However, if He Min had delivered one last performance, Xu Nuan would have genuinely apologized. She was someone who recognized her mistakes and corrected them. The more she did so, the more it meant that in some aspects, her Rationality could be terrifyingly ruthless.
The distant figure reminded her of when she had walked side by side with Yu Yu; both were equally unfamiliar and made her reluctant to look back.
That silhouette was fading away, just like their relationship.
"We can't go back to the past."
Xu Nuan forced a smile, realizing she had to accept this fact. Before she could even attempt to salvage the situation, He Min's change had struck her deeply. All she could pray for now was that He Min hadn't changed completely; at least they were still friends, still companions.
Until the day the event truly unfolded, she would never know just how thoroughly someone could betray another.
Her feelings were a tangled mess, and fatigue washed over her. She sat down on the ground, stretching out her left leg, not caring about the strain this position might cause her body.
Just as she was about to let out a sigh, someone suddenly wrapped their arms around her waist. A warmth spread from her waist to her heart, and Xu Nuan instinctively relaxed.
"What do you think?"
She was certain Gu Ze had overheard their conversation; otherwise, he wouldn't have taken on such a comforting demeanor. Unbeknownst to them, they had already become thoroughly familiar with each other, far beyond what she had ever shared with He Min.
This was the magic of time and the power of the human heart.
"What do you mean, what do I think? I just woke up and know nothing."
Gu Ze played dumb for a moment before leaning in closer to Xu Nuan, playfully pinching her nose with an affectionate smile.
"You already have your own opinions; I won't show off."
Xu Nuan shot him a half-hearted glare but couldn't help but laugh in the end.
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