56 The first step.

He shifted to look for her again. He found her on the side of the mountain, just he was about to call her, the loud shriek was heard.

"JIE."

The soil beneath her feet was sliding and she would have fallen, if not for Long Jie's quick reflexes who caught her hand at the last moment.

Her eyes fell on the big rocks that were about to slide behind Long Jie. Zhenyi was stuck in debris and she couldn't move her body.But if he didn't move, the landslide would sweep him with it.

She looked at Long Jie who was trying to pull her up.

"Hold my hand tight."

"Don't leave it Zhenyi."

" Move. Long Jie. The landslide will sweep you off."

"Noooo. If I moved, you will fall down Zhenyi."

"Go. Long Jie."

"No. You will die Zhenyi."

"Then Let me die. You just go."

"Shut up Zhenyi"

" You don't have time Long Jie. Leave me here and go."

When he looked at her, his eyes were shining with raw emotions and one could slightly see the fear and helplessness in them. "You will die. I can't."

"If you don't move, I will become a widow even before marriage."

"You-- what kind of logic it is. if I left you here, I'll be a widower too."

Who in their right mind would fight to leave them to die?

Apparently Xin Zhenyi…

She had a thing for surprising him even at the most unwanted moments.

"We are not married yet."

"We won't be if I left you here."

" Please." She said underneath her breath.

"Never." He firmly said leaving no room for arguments.

"I'm giving you a chance to walk out Long Jie."

"Maybe I want to hold your hand forever. Maybe I don't want a way out." His heart jackhammered its way through his rib cage, about to abandon the ship and fall off the cliff with her.

But there was no way he would let her fall.

"You don't realize what you're saying."

"Perhaps it's you."

"Don't be stubborn Long Jie."

Long Jie didn't want this calm and composite Zhenyi. He needed the fierce tigress ready to tear if touched.

"That's your department sweetheart." He tried to joke but ironically the joke was on him.

In a few minutes, she's back. Seething. "Leave my hand and run."

"No."

"Save your life. Long Jie."

The burning eyes glowed. Even in the darkness, the fire in her eyes was visible to him.

"No."

Her voice rises. "I want you to let me go. Now."

He studied her. There was an edge to her voice and a glint of panic in her eyes. It was almost as if she thought he...

When it dawns on him, he felt like a complete idiot for not realizing it sooner.

She's afraid of something happening to him.

She would rather die than let someone happen to him.

She was maddening and infuriating even when she was two-step away from death.

Her actions came back to him again.

Her pushing him to save her from Zack's bullet.

"For a woman who claims to hate me, your actions are quite reverse."

It was an attempt at dry humor, but he surprised himself by meaning it

"if you are trying to infuriate me it's not working. Trust me, you can do better."

"Then Xin Zhenyi if you are half the woman you claim, push yourself up. Please. Just once."

She tried but it changed nothing. She was stuck in a muddy swamp. She closed her eyes to avoid seeing the depth that could be assessed even in the darkness of the night.

But the moment she closed her eyes, a film started replaying before her eyes.

The scene that was tattooed into her mind permanently.

A little girl hanged from a bridge screaming for help.

Below the bridge was a flowing river.

The girl had felt the death before, but she didn't die.

She defeated the death and emerged victoriously.

But she was not alone that day, her knight was there to protect her.

He had promised to protect her forever.

But tonight he was not with her.

He was not with her for years now.

The memories of that terrifying day were still branded in her mind, but his presence in those memories was something she never wanted to forget.

If not for the terrifying accident, she had not met him.

But where he was now? she needed him to protect her now too.

She opened her eyes and saw Long Jie talking to her, telling her not to surrender, to push herself towards him, to come to him, to marry him, to trust her, to believe she would be alright, they would be alright.

His eyes were telling her to trust him at least for once. And her heart was in agreement. The stupid heart knew nothing but to flutter in his presence.

'Shut up, you stupid pitter-pattering heart. '

But tonight, She was not alone too.

Her knight might not be there to protect her, but he was.

He was her savior, her future, and the lifelong ally whether she needs him or not.

But he would be always there for her. He was there when the catastrophe was brewing in her heart. He was there with her when Sam was on the brink of death. He was also there when she didn't want to be alone.

Something snapped inside her, it was the sudden urge to make their arrangement - no their marriage work.

She might not love him. But she could give him one last chance. And most importantly, her trust.

Instinctively, she moved forward, and slowly and slowly, he pulled her up.

When she landed on her feet, long Jie clasped her hand in his and ran before the landslide could reach them. Or any danger could touch them.