“…San?”
She cautiously looked at San, but there was no response.
He just pulled her hand to wrap around his waist, seeking a closer embrace.
He always preferred showing his feelings rather than expressing them verbally, and she understood that.
His gesture was likely an acknowledgment of her sincere gratitude.
Moments later, San’s voice followed.
“There’s no need to thank me.”
“…….”
“I’m also getting what I want, thanks to you.”
Even in such moments, he reminded her of the boundaries of their relationship.
Gratefulness was one thing; there were other matters they should never forget.
Seeing him, whose distinction between logic and instinct was often blurred, act with the future in mind was evident.
When the time comes, they might end up forgetting each other.
So, Kang wasn’t offended by San’s reaction.
She merely wanted to express her gratitude and provide some comfort to his pain.
“I know, but I still wanted to say it.”
“…….”
“And although it’s a grand gesture for comfort, just…”
Her fingers wrapped around his.
“Mongmas greet by pressing their lips against the fingers, right?”
“…….”
“Do they also convey gratitude or comfort like this?”
There was a time when he had pressed his lips against Kang’s fingers, explaining that it was a Mongma greeting.
She had clarified it was a joke and was quite infuriated by being tricked.
Holding her finger and gazing into her eyes, it seemed he might’ve forgotten it was just a jest.
So, he reiterated.
“I said it was just a joke…”
Shh.
But Kang held his finger and gently pressed her lips against the tips of his middle and ring fingers.
Then, she gazed into his eyes, smiling.
“I know. It was a joke.”
“…….”
“This is simply my affection for you.”
She could see the struggles he’d endured, the fierce battles he’d fought to reach her.
His journey to her side had undoubtedly been tough.
Above all, the fear of being the first.
The loneliness of being the only one.
Though she might not know everything, she felt she understood at least half of the hardships he’d experienced.
All she wanted was to offer him the warmth and comfort he’d always provided her.
Surprisingly, San was the one taken aback by this unexpected comfort.
“Surprised?”
There was a mischievous gleam in Kang’s eyes.
If he blushed now, she’d tease him endlessly.
Yet, there was nothing malicious about her look.
If anything, that was the problem.
San chuckled belatedly.
He had revealed so much, but now, things seemed even more complicated.
No. Is it my feelings that are complex?
After a brief moment of confusion, he replied.
“There’s nothing surprising.”
“…….”
“You…”
From the moment they first met to now.
“Always surpassed my expectations.”
Kang fell asleep long past midnight.
As usual, San watched over her and then lay beside her.
He embraced her, more tenderly than usual, and closed his eyes.
He then concealed all signs of his presence.
He had no intention of revealing his identity prematurely to the being outside, who showed no signs of leaving.
The manifested nightmares flowed into him in a much fainter form than usual.
Because of this, the time it took to absorb the nightmares was more than double the usual. But since he planned to stay by her side until dawn, it didn’t matter.
Of course, he didn’t forget to remain alert.
If an audacious or careless creature attacked from outside, it would be a headache.
But the being outside seemed quite prudent.
Maybe there was a reason he couldn’t simply barge in.
There’s no rule saying there couldn’t be a fox spirit nearby or even a celestial being.
Eventually, as time passed and he had fully absorbed Kang’s dream, dawn was breaking in the distance.
Screech [Dash]
With the sound of the balcony window opening, a breeze flowed in.
San opened his closed eyes.
Shuffling.
A familiar energy carefully approached, standing behind Kang.
It was a wolf, with a silver sheen, named Lomi.
“…It’s mom.”
“Hush.”
She was startled seeing the two of them embraced, but San quickly signaled her to be quiet by placing his index finger on his lips.
“Don’t wake your sister.”
“Ah, okay.”
Lomi gently placed her front paws on the bedsheet and took a careful sniff of Kang.
Sniff sniff.
Her wet, glistening nose twitched.
“She seems to be in a deep sleep?”
“She slept late.”
“She has an early shoot today. Shouldn’t you wake her up?”
“Let her sleep for five more minutes.”
At his words, she quietly stepped back from the bed.
San moved away from the bed, approaching the window. He slightly parted the curtains, looking at the spot where the being once stood.
“…….”
The atmosphere felt oddly denser than usual, but the entity that had been watching over the place was no longer there.
Yet, faint remnants of its presence indicated that it hadn’t been gone for long.
Probably, it would come back, perhaps even tonight.
As these thoughts crossed his mind,
“You know, master,”
Lomi, approaching silently, looked up at San.
Their gazes met, and she asked with burning curiosity,
“Are you two dating?”
“We’re not.”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
