Chapter Sixty-Three: A Sleepless Night

Having lived in Cloudwater City for some time, Lu Su-xue had come to understand much more about Ye Yun’s past. A plan had begun to take shape in her heart—one that required Ye Yun’s help. Yet, she worried he might not be willing to assist her.

As if guided by fate, or perhaps by instinct, she found herself standing before Ye Yun’s door. Her hand, fair and delicate as jade, slowly rose, about to knock, but then hovered uncertainly in the air, leaving her in a moment of hesitation.

Just then, the door swung open.

“Hmm? Su-xue, is there something you need?” Ye Yun smiled gently upon seeing her at his threshold.

“I…” Lu Su-xue began, but the words lodged in her throat, too embarrassed to speak them aloud.

Ye Yun had witnessed her conflicted demeanor before. Though brilliant, he could not fathom the depths of a woman’s heart, nor the complexity of the matters that troubled her.

Suddenly, he noticed a trace of sorrow in her eyes.

“What could possibly have happened to make the gaze of this ethereal woman so forlorn?” he wondered.

Ye Yun wanted to ask, but recalled they were not yet close enough to share everything; perhaps it was a private matter, and prying might only backfire.

So the young man and woman stood facing each other, each lost in their own thoughts, enveloped in silence.

Abruptly, something occurred to Lu Su-xue. She seemed utterly helpless, her gaze filled with melancholy. She crouched before Ye Yun, wrapping her arms around her knees—a picture of frailty and vulnerability.

“Su-xue? What’s happened?” Ye Yun asked, both puzzled and pained. To his mind, someone like her deserved nothing but joy and happiness.

He knelt beside her, gently brushing a stray lock of her dark hair away. Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

“May I sit in your room for a while?” Lu Su-xue asked suddenly.

Ye Yun nodded, his heart free of any improper thoughts, and said softly, “If you don’t mind sharing your worries, I can be a listener. Perhaps I might even help in some way.”

His tone was gentle, a warm smile gracing his face. Lu Su-xue saw this and felt as though her heart had been bathed in the breeze of spring.

For more than half the day, Lu Su-xue remained in Ye Yun’s room, pouring out secrets buried deep within her heart.

“The title of ‘Little Princess of the Lu family’ may seem enviable, but it’s only a façade. From the moment I was born, I was destined to be a tool for the family to forge alliances with the powerful…”

“Since childhood, the clan arranged for people to teach me etiquette, dance, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. When I was little, I could only sleep two hours a day.”

“My parents are kind to me, but their influence is limited—they cannot decide my fate…”

“Whenever young men from prominent families come to visit, the elders parade their cultivated daughters before them, hoping one will catch the eye of a noble and elevate the family’s status.”

“I was still young, but last year, the second son of the Song family visited us…”

Listening to her story, Ye Yun suddenly realized how similar they were.

Since childhood, save for his parents, he had known no other affection. Perhaps Lu Su-xue’s birth was more privileged, but he had been luckier in one respect—he had a good master.

This peerless beauty, so ethereal, had not known happiness in her youth.

As Lu Su-xue continued, she spoke of her grandfather Ye Min’s intention to match them together. She noticed Ye Yun’s expression remained unchanged.

Ye Yun was exceptionally clever; he quickly deduced Elder Ye Min’s calculations.

The Lu family was not a force a single elder of the Ye clan could oppose. If Elder Ye Min dared attempt this, it meant he was confident of breaking through his bottleneck and advancing to the Golden Core stage.

Though the gap between the peak of Foundation Establishment and the early Golden Core was narrow, the difference in status and power was vast.

Should Elder Ye Min become a Golden Core cultivator, he would stand equal to Lord Ye Hai-yi. Coupled with his reputation as a first-rate alchemy master, even the foremost powers of the Sacred Dragon Dynasty would welcome him as an honored guest.

The three drops of rare millennial spiritual milk were Elder Ye Min’s trump card.

“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, you still have your grandfather—and you have me.”

Seeing Lu Su-xue so fragile and pitiable, Ye Yun could not help but embrace her, gently stroking her back.

Lu Su-xue trembled slightly in his arms; this was their second such intimate contact.

Ye Yun realized his actions might be inappropriate, but as he sensed no resistance from the girl in his arms, his youthful heart stirred irresistibly.

Perhaps she was tired, perhaps weary, or perhaps she simply wanted to relax completely—Lu Su-xue quietly fell asleep in his embrace.

Throughout the sleepless night, Ye Yun sat at the edge of the bed, holding Lu Su-xue. Silver moonlight poured through the window, illuminating her jade-like face and luscious red lips. He struggled to contain his impulse.

When morning came and Lu Su-xue awoke, she realized she had spent the night in Ye Yun’s room.

Placing her hand to her collar, she saw her dress was perfectly neat, untouched, her body unaltered. She had slept soundly, comfortably, and at ease.

“Where’s Ye Yun?”

He was nowhere to be found. She opened the door and stepped out, just as Ye Zi-li and his wife passed by.

“Su-xue?” The couple exchanged glances, their faces betraying surprise. Elder Ye Min’s granddaughter emerging from their son’s room so early—what did that imply?

Like lice on a monk’s head, it was obvious.

“Good morning, Uncle, Aunt…” From their gaze, Lu Su-xue could sense their misunderstanding, but she had no idea how to explain. Her cheeks flushed, her head bowed, wishing she could disappear.

“Hehe, good morning, Su-xue. Where’s Yun-er?” Liu Shu-yun asked with a smile. The more she looked at Lu Su-xue, the more she liked her, delighted at the prospect of such a beautiful daughter-in-law for her son.

“I don’t know where he went. When I woke up, he was gone.” Lu Su-xue answered honestly, then immediately regretted it—wouldn’t this only deepen the misunderstanding?

And, had anything happened between her and Ye Yun last night...?

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