met free Chapter 7 Expressing One's Feelings
Chapter 7 Expressing One's Feelings
The evening breeze carried the moisture from Poseidon Lake, gently brushing against their shoulders. Jiang Che pulled his wandering thoughts back and looked at Ma Xiaotao beside him, the tenderness in his eyes finally showing.
He used to be so focused on cultivation that he wasn't unaware of the girl's feelings, but he simply didn't dare to accept them.
Having transmigrated to this perilous continent, he has no one to rely on but to become stronger in order to gain a foothold in the chaotic world to come.
At that time, he was not even entirely sure of his own safety, let alone make any promises. Moreover, the girl in front of him was only nineteen years old. He did not want her to be in any unsafe situation, so he could only deliberately restrain his thoughts, suppress all his feelings, and protect her as an elder.
But things are different now. At the age of twenty-two, he is a Title Douluo with a belated system binding and two ultimate martial souls. He finally has enough confidence, no longer needs to be on edge all the time, and has the ability to protect the people he cares about. He can face the feelings he has kept hidden for so long with equanimity.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, staring at her intently, Ma Xiaotao's cheeks grew increasingly hot. She couldn't help but clutch the hem of her clothes, raising her eyes to glare at him, but without her usual reproach, instead displaying a hint of shy panic: "W-why are you looking at me like that? Are you trying to make fun of what happened when I was little?"
Her hands, hanging by her sides, tightened slightly, and her heart raced uncontrollably. In the darkness, the boy's eyes were deep and gentle, no longer carrying the aloof composure of the past, but instead filled with a tenderness she could understand, which made her panic instantly.
Jiang Che chuckled softly, took a half step forward, leaned slightly down, and met her gaze. His voice was extremely soft, with an exceptionally gentle tone in the evening breeze: "I wasn't teasing you. I was just thinking that I was so focused on cultivation before that I neglected many things, and I've wronged you by making you wait for so long."
These words were like a pebble thrown into a lake, causing a huge upheaval in Ma Xiaotao's heart. She suddenly looked up, her fiery red eyes filled with astonishment, followed by an unbelievable surge of joy. Her earlobes and cheeks instantly turned red, and even her breathing became rapid.
She had waited for those words for far too long.
From their first encounter when her lustful desires first erupted, to her naive dependence on him, and then to her clear feelings as she grew up, she always carefully hid her thoughts, pretending to be tough, but secretly hoping to get closer to him.
She was afraid that her feelings would be exposed, and even more afraid that Jiang Che would only treat her as a junior, as a little girl who needed to be taken care of. But at this moment, she clearly saw the same feelings in his eyes as she did.
"You..." Ma Xiaotao opened her mouth, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly. For a moment, she didn't know what to say and could only stare at him blankly.
Seeing her helpless expression, Jiang Che's heart softened completely. He subconsciously raised his hand and gently brushed away the strands of hair that had fallen between her brows. The warmth from his fingertips seeped through her skin, carrying the unique coolness of extreme ice, which made Ma Xiaotao stiffen and unable to look away.
The slight coolness that landed on her brow was like a spark, instantly igniting the burning passion that had accumulated in her heart for many years. Even the evil fire that had been dormant within her body became gentle and soft at this moment, flowing slowly around her meridians, without any trace of its former frenzy.
Ma Xiaotao's eyelashes trembled slightly, and a thin layer of moisture welled up in her fiery red eyes. She felt both joy and grievance, and her nose tingled with a slight soreness. She had imagined this moment countless times, but she never thought it would come so suddenly, causing all her pretense and strength to crumble in his gentle gaze.
"Jiang Che..." she finally called his name, her voice soft and tearful, devoid of her usual fiery phoenix-like sharpness, replaced only by the shyness and dependence of a young girl. "Do you know what you're saying?"
Jiang Che's fingertips lingered beside her cheek, reluctant to move away. The tenderness in his eyes transformed into genuine doting. He nodded solemnly, his tone firm and affectionate, each word striking Ma Xiaotao's heart: "I understand very well. Before, when I protected you, it was my responsibility as an elder; from now on, when I protect you, it is as Jiang Che, protecting the girl I love."
"I will not keep you waiting anymore, I will not deliberately distance myself from you, and I will not let you suffer any grievances."
As night deepened, the surface of Poseidon Lake shimmered with light, and the moonlight bathed the two of them, outlining their gentle silhouettes. Ma Xiaotao could no longer suppress the feelings in her heart. She took a small step forward, leaned into his embrace, wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and felt his steady heartbeat and the unique, cool scent of extreme ice.
Her body trembled slightly, and tears of joy streamed down her face, wetting Jiang Che's clothes. Her voice was muffled, yet filled with reassurance: "I knew it... I knew you didn't not care about me..."
Jiang Che's body stiffened slightly, then he gently raised his hand and tenderly wrapped his arms around her shoulders, holding her firmly in his embrace, his movements as gentle as if he were holding a rare treasure. The chill of the extreme ice intertwined with the warmth of the extreme fire on her body, water and fire merging in a surprisingly harmonious way, just like the two of them, who, after many twists and turns, finally came together.
He lowered his head, his chin gently resting on the top of her head, inhaling the faint scent of gardenias in her hair. His voice was deep and gentle, slowly spreading in the evening breeze: "It's my fault for making you wait for so many years. From now on, I will stay with you for the rest of my life and never be apart again."
Ma Xiaotao hugged him tightly, burying her face even deeper, a happy smile spreading across her lips, while tears welled up in her eyes. All those years of waiting, anxiety, and caution had finally found their perfect ending.
The evening breeze still gently caressed the lake, carrying its moisture and tenderness, sweeping away all the estrangement and regret, leaving only the two embracing each other under the moonlight, guarding this belated but sincere affection, quietly feeling each other's heartbeats, as if time had frozen at this moment, leaving only a heart full of joy and peace.
Jiang Che looked down at the reddened earlobes of the person in his arms, his fingertips gently stroking her hair, his heart filled with determination. From this day forward, he would not only establish himself in the Douluo Continent, but also protect the girl before him, ensuring her a carefree life, accompanying her to see all the world's wonders, never letting her suffer even the slightest grievance again, and making up for all the tenderness he had owed her.
The two figures, embracing, stretched long in the moonlight. The waters of Poseidon Lake gently lapped against the shore, making soft, rustling sounds, as if softly singing for this belated romance.
After an unknown amount of time, Ma Xiaotao finally lifted her head from Jiang Che's embrace. The tears in her eyes had not yet faded, but they were filled with a bright smile. She raised her hand to wipe the corners of her reddened eyes and said with a hint of shyness, "It's all your fault. You made me cry like this. If those little guys from the outer courtyard saw me, they would probably laugh at me."
Jiang Che chuckled softly, raising his hand to wipe away the remaining tear stains on her cheek. The coolness of his fingertips touched her warm skin, causing Ma Xiaotao to tremble slightly again. His gaze fell on the corners of her reddened eyes, his tone full of indulgence: "Anyone who dares to laugh at you, I'll make them practice holding their breath at the bottom of Sea God Lake until they never dare to say anything out of line again."