217 I told you, didn't I?

"I could never…"

She sucked in a sharp breath, and her hands froze as her lips parted.

The woman I love…

"I just can't." He shook his head and watched her with weary eyes. "What kind of husband would I be if I couldn't save you? I told you, didn't I?"

The woman I love…

She gulped, tears starting to bead at the ends of her lashes. "Told me what?" She whispered.

"That you could depend on me." Fei Huangjin lifted his other hand to touch her cheek lightly. The gentleness of his fingers was a stark contrast to the ruthless way he wielded his gun just a couple of hours ago. He gave her a lopsided smile she'd never seen before. "I might have fallen in love with a vixen far too much."

His words felt like sunshine, reaching into the darkest parts of her and lighting them up with a kind of warmth that guaranteed love and comfort. It felt different -- like realizing for the first time that cotton candy tasted great, or that marshmallows were so good with chocolate. It was like a firecracker got lit up inside her, and she saw it for the first time.

Ying Yue moved so quickly that Fei Huangjin didn't realize she was on him until her lips had pressed against his. "Who're you calling a vixen?" She kissed him again, this time slower, like she was taking her sweet time getting to know him.

And he welcomed it. He'd missed her unique scent, the feel of her hair, and the softness of her lips. Even if she was leaning over him, it felt like she was a mile away, and he pulled her even closer until she was on the bed with him.

This man loved her and risked his life just to keep her alive, and unknowingly, he'd come to mean everything to her, too. When she almost lost him on the way to the hospital, she felt like a part of her died, too.

"Ah!" Fei Huangjin grimaced as he felt a sharp pain through his chest, making Ying Yue freeze.

"Oh gosh, I'm sorry!" She pulled away. "I forgot! I'll--"

"No--"

Ka-chak.

"Huangjin!" A man's voice boomed from across the room. The door opened so suddenly, startling Ying Yue who was still on top of the bed, looking like she was straddling Fei Huangjin and was about to have her way with him. A bit rattled, she quickly leapt off the bed, and her face flushed a bright red as she stood up straight. She wanted to disappear at that moment.

It wouldn't be a problem if her actions shoo-ed away a nurse or something, but it was a problem when it was Fei Huangjin's grandfather standing there.

Guan Ting closed the door, not daring to go inside with the elder master with that kind of atmosphere.

The old master Fei, who was momentarily surprised when he stepped in the room, had immediately recovered from his shock and was now nodding his head as he strode inside. "Ah, don't be ashamed. The sooner I get a grandson, the better."

This made Ying Yue flush even more, until even her ears were scarlet. She lowered her head to greet the elder man, and then excused herself, mumbling something about asking the doctor about Fei Huangjin's condition as she hurriedly escaped the room.

"Bad timing, boy?" The man sat down on the armchair beside the bed, his sharp eyes both serious and teasing at the same time.

"What are you doing here, Grandfather?" Fei Huangjin's lips pursed. If the old man hadn't come by, he probably could've persuaded his wife to kiss him some more and then some…

"Is that the way you should talk to your grandfather?" His tone became sharp, an indication that he was unhappy. "I'm here because I thought you might have been rendered stupid and useless. How could you allow yourself to be shot? Didn't you learn anything all these years?"

Fei Huangjin sighed. "It was either me or Ying Yue--"

"Even so, you should've acted faster!" The old master huffed and looked away with an angry look.

"Did you tell mom?"

"Do I look stupid to you? I didn't even tell your brother or your grandma, to prevent her from coming here just to bawl her eyes out. So why should I tell your mother? That woman would just make a mess out of things."

***

The moment Ying Yue escaped the room, she was stopped by Guan Ting, who looked like he had something serious to say. "Young madame," he called out.

She turned around and raised an eyebrow at him.