176 -173- How could he let her go?

"Thank you."

"Why say thank you to me? I promised them that I would take care of you, and besides, it's something I want to do myself."

Carrying Linwin into the room, Kai'Sa gently placed him on the bed.

Then, she covered Linwin with a blanket.

This made Linwin feel both warm and awkward, as if he wanted to dig himself a hole and just stay there.

Unlike Powder, who would simply pick Linwin up and toss him onto the bed, the older Kai'Sa was incredibly gentle.

"It's a courtesy. Don't you often say thank you to people?"

"But Zoran told me that people only keep saying thank you when they're with strangers, like when you're with that councilor. You didn't say thank you to him much."

"."

"Your situation with Jayce is different, Kai'Sa."

Linwin lay on the bed, with slightly damp hair falling on his forehead. He looked at the ceiling, blinked, and then, Kai'Sa leaned in.

Along the curve of her head, her black hair naturally flowed to both sides, glossy and beautiful. Looking at Linwin's face, Kai'Sa pursed her red lips. 

In this "view," she still looked stunning.

Because of the backlight, Kai'Sa's originally sharp facial features softened, making her less heroic and more gentle.

At this moment, she looked more like a young girl than a warrior.

Brushing a cluster of hair that swayed and blocked her line of sight behind her ear, Kai'Sa looked at Linwin and said, "Are you going to sleep now?"

"."

"No, I don't plan to sleep yet."

"When you want to sleep, just let me know. I'll help you turn off the lights."

Hearing this, Kai'Sa sat on the edge of Linwin's bed.

This has been the way they spent time together these days.

During the day, Powder guarded Linwin, and at night, Kai'Sa guarded him. That's how they got through this.

Therefore, at night, when Linwin was sleeping, Kai'Sa would sit nearby and watch over him through the night.

////Personally I won't be able to sleep with a Kai'Sa watching me all night....////

At first, Linwin naturally disagreed; he found it strange! There was no need to do this, and he felt uncomfortable with this way of care.

But in the end, Linwin couldn't resist Kai'Sa's decision. Now, with debuffs on him, Linwin couldn't stop Kai'Sa, so he had to let her do as she pleased.

Linwin lay on the bed, his mind in chaos. Thinking about what happened tonight, his heart would still race, and he felt like something was about to jump out of his throat.

Linwin considered two possibilities: either vomiting due to nervousness or just wanting to utter a sentence.

---

As time passed, Linwin closed his eyes decisively. He thought that for the next few days in front of Kai'Sa, he would probably continue like this.

Whenever he saw Kai'Sa, he would have to play dead. After all, Linwin had thought he was used to all sorts of embarrassing situations, such as being princess-carried by Kai'Sa, asking Kai'Sa to take him to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and even in the first few days, Kai'Sa feeding him when he couldn't lift a spoon to eat.

He endured all these things and got through them.

However, being helped by Kai'Sa in the bath, Linwin really couldn't handle it. 

He would rather fight Sion again, no, two Sions. 

He would even be willing to fight Galio. Even if he couldn't win, it would still be better than this embarrassment and social death.

Some people may think that this is a small matter, but when it happens to you and you suddenly wake up in the middle of the night, regretfully shouting, "Why the hell did I do that?!!" you'll understand how serious this can be.

"Linwin, are you asleep yet?"

After a quiet moment, Linwin wanted to say something several times, but in the end, he swallowed it back. Then Kai'Sa spoke.

At this moment, Kai'Sa was stretching her legs forward, her long left leg resting on her right leg, leaning against the bedside. She softly asked, "If you're not asleep, I'd like to chat with you."

Linwin immediately said, "What do you want to talk about?"

"Many, many things," Kai'Sa replied. "I want to know why you say I'm different from Jayce."

"Is it because you've known him a bit longer?"

Looking at the lamp on the ceiling, Linwin squinted at the slightly dazzling orange light and said, "Of course not."

"Jayce is my friend, brother, and comrade, and Viktor is also my friend, brother, and comrade. But when it comes to Jayce and Viktor, I would be more polite to Viktor." Linwin paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's because Jayce's personality is different from Viktor's."

"Jayce is more straightforward, so if I have something to ask him, it's best to say it directly. If I'm overly sentimental and express gratitude for a long time, Jayce will get annoyed. That's why I can be more casual with him. It doesn't mean I'm impolite to Viktor; it just means my relationship with Jayce is different from my relationship with Viktor."

"So, although we haven't known each other for a long time, Kai'Sa, I also consider you a friend and comrade."

Kai'Sa's tone sounded somewhat pleased as she said, "But, Linwin, even if that's the case, I still don't like that you always say thank you to me."

Linwin immediately said, "Then I'll try to do that less in the future."

Kai'Sa changed the topic.

"Linwin, what kind of place is Ionia?"

Before meeting Linwin, little Kai'Sa had never left Shurima in her life. She was naturally curious about the eastern island nations.

"That is a country composed of numerous islands, a place where nature and people coexist. There, you can see many strange creatures and various greenery."

"What about Demacia? Lux always tells me how great Demacia is, and Fiora says Demacia is a just, fair, and united country."

Linwin slowly placed his hands behind his head and said to Kai'Sa, "That is a country where normal people can live very well."

"Do they not like magic?"

"It's not just a matter of not liking magic. Demacians detest and reject magic. To put it simply, Kai'Sa, if Seraphine and Zeri were born in Demacia, they should have been arrested and imprisoned by now, not like in Zaun, where they are being employed and have a better life using magic."

"Why?"

Kai'Sa turned her body, placed her hands on the bed. "I can't understand. Magic is such a powerful thing, and Lux knows magic too, right?"

"This is a very complicated matter."

It's not that Linwin doesn't want to explain, but it's not something that can be explained in a few words. Demacia's aversion to magic has reasons, just like Professor Heimerdinger initially rejecting Hextech.

Immense Power is a double-edged sword.

Demacians are a group of people who have suffered persecution from magic. Therefore, they know what harm magic can cause and view magic as something evil.

"This story is very long, but if you want to know, I can tell you. Do you want to hear it now?"

".."

"No." Kai'Sa sat up straight again, turning her back to Linwin.

"Because I have something to talk to you about."

Linwin asked Kai'Sa, "What's the matter?"

Kai'Sa retracted her long legs, surrounded her knees with her hands, and said softly, "Linwin... I want to go back to Shurima."

"?"

In just a moment, Linwin sat up, then took a deep breath.

Ouch... 

Subconsciously sitting up straight, the consequence of such a large movement was like a turbulent airflow in his body, as if there were small knives cutting Linwin's flesh inside.

That's why Linwin only walked a dozen steps in one minute.

Because it really hurts!

But Linwin couldn't care less about the pain now. He looked at Kai'Sa and said loudly, "Why? Why would you leave when everything is fine?"

Kai'Sa turned her head, looked at Linwin, and blinked.

"What are you reacting so much? I just said I want to go back."

Although Shurima is very close to Zaun.

But that place doesn't have a Hex Gate, so it can only rely on ships.

Even if Kai'Sa can fly and is very fast, she must go to the deepest part of Shurima, so the round trip would take months.

How could he let her go?