Chapter 264: Chapter 207: Following Your Heart

Zou’s eyes reddened, tears welling up as she spoke with a trembling yet resolute voice, “Chunyu Che, stop playing games with me, will you?

I’ve already said I won’t leave with you. The Shen Family is my home. I have a daughter, she’s my lifeline, and I don’t want to change anything. I’m truly accustomed to my current life, so please don’t say any more.”

Chunyu Che gazed at her with determination and deep affection, urgently saying, “Xian, I know you don’t believe I like you. Since I returned, I think about you all the time.

I think about you so much that it gives me a splitting headache. I’ve repeatedly asked myself what exactly I like about you.

It seems I can’t pinpoint the exact reason, but all I see and feel is you. Emotions are strange like that, inexplicably taking over my heart.

Come with me! I know you don’t have no feelings for me.”

His voice grew more passionate, as if trying to break through all obstacles, continuing, “We’ve already faced death. Shouldn’t we cherish the days ahead even more?

I’ve seen too many fathers and brothers kill each other for power, so I will only marry one woman to prevent such things from happening.

You have given me warmth and a sense of belonging. In this life, I only want you, one woman.

Don’t worry that I’ll treat you poorly. I can unhesitatingly die for you, so how could I betray you?”

Zou’s lips trembled, “Why me? I’m older, no longer beautiful, a widow with a child. Chunyu Che, wake up, this isn’t love, you just haven’t been around other women, so you find me novel.”

Yet, Zou’s heart had been deeply touched by Chunyu Che’s words.

Life is short, and the moments of life and death at the cliff’s edge made her understand life’s fragility and unpredictability.

If we had died then, maybe I wouldn’t worry about so much?

But now she had too many concerns: society’s gaze, the longstanding enmity between two countries, and the deep-seated vendetta of the Shen Family, along with the wide gap in their status.

Chunyu Che held Zou’s hand tightly, as if afraid she would disappear if he let go, “I’ve asked myself why you? You are the widow of the fifth son of the Shen Family. I hold great respect for all the young masters of the Shen Family.

But I simply can’t control my thoughts of you. In Beichang, we don’t have those outdated ideas about female chastity. I will sincerely treat you and give you happiness.”

Zou’s heart raced; facing such a deeply affectionate man, her defenses were on the verge of collapse.

After all, it had been years since she had been close to a man like this, and Chunyu Che’s fervent confession moved not just his own heartstrings.

She felt she was about to give in, but her rationality was still struggling fiercely, “You’re only feeling this way because you haven’t been around women, you have no experience with romance. You should try being with a woman.

I think one of the women serving you would surely agree, and then you’ll understand this isn’t love—love isn’t that easily begun.”

Chunyu Che’s face showed pain, “Easily? How can you say that?

Do you think I’ve never encountered women who willingly threw themselves at me? Do you really believe no woman has ever wanted to seduce me?

I’ve been around many women, yet none have sparked my interest. Why do you think just one kiss would ruin me?

Because you are different, Xian. What must I say to make you believe that you are the only one for me in this life?

Even I find it absurd, but it’s an undeniable fact. Xian, be brave this once, try another way of life, and you’ll realize that you’ve truly lived.”

“Chunyu Che!” Zou felt her rationality completely dissipate, her mind spinning with confusion, unable to reply.

“Let’s do it!” Chunyu Che suddenly said with utmost seriousness.

Zou almost choked on her spit, angrily exclaiming, “Chunyu Che.”

Yet Chunyu Che placed her hand on his abs, “Xian, if both of us had died at the cliff’s bottom, our graves would already be overgrown with weeds.

At that moment, I thought that if we could survive, I must have you. Did you ever think of having me?”

“No…” Her words were cut short as Chunyu Che silenced her, refusing to allow her rejection any longer, and brazenly took her.

Zou quickly became overwhelmed by passion, unable to resist at all.

After everything calmed down, Zou only thought of ending her life.

She had muddled into intimacy with Chunyu Che, without a title or name, still bearing the identity of a Shen widow. She felt as if she were the most shameless woman in the world, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Seeing her silently cry, Chunyu Che knew that saying the wrong words now might really push her into a pit of despair and self-reproach.

“I couldn’t help it; my desire overwhelmed me because I missed you too much.

If you want to kill me, I’ll give you the opportunity. Kill me, and don’t worry, no one will harm you. I’ll ensure your safe return to the Shen family.

I truly don’t understand, why, when we clearly love each other, is it considered wrong? Don’t cry, do it, kill me!”

With that, Chunyu Che offered her a dagger.

“You think I don’t dare!” Zou was infuriated.

“Of course you dare. When you held me as we fell off the cliff, we’d already become entangled, bound by skin and shared life and death.” Chunyu Che still smiled.

Zou threw the dagger to the ground and bit his shoulder with force.

It hurt, but Chunyu Che remained unmoving, letting her vent her anger.

The man at her side tensed with pain, yet seemed rooted to the spot, immobile as she unleashed her frustration.

Zou’s heart suddenly ached, hurriedly releasing her bite.

She looked at the blood-stained bite mark on his shoulder, her heart involuntarily tugging, and grumbled, “Why didn’t you dodge?”

“Xian, we’re not wrong. As long as there’s love, it’s sacred. Let’s do it again!” Chunyu Che’s voice was full of urgency and longing.

“Chunyu Che.” Zou felt she was about to be driven mad by the man before her; she was filled with shame, yet he still wanted to continue.

“We’ll clean up after.” Chunyu Che completely ignored Zou’s anger. Being new to this forbidden fruit, he was already enthralled by its wonderful sensation, unable to bear waiting long. The thought of his earlier performance being ridiculed by her urged him to salvage his pride.

Zou finally harbored a resigned, reckless idea—fine, since she had already thrown caution to the wind, why not one more time?

Perhaps it was a change in mindset, but this time, the two of them moved in perfect sync.

After Chunyu Che summoned clean water and personally cleansed her, she felt so exhausted that she couldn’t even lift a finger.

Thus, Chunyu Che held her until the afternoon, only then calling for a meal.

After eating, Zou sighed softly, knowing that Chunyu Che had seemingly made the decision for her.

“I can leave with you, but I must bring Xiang’er. No one can separate us as mother and daughter,” Zou looked at Chunyu Che with determined eyes.

Chunyu Che was completely satisfied now. Not to mention bringing her daughter, he would unhesitatingly agree to anything. His smile was radiant, “No problem, don’t worry, your daughter is my daughter too.”

Zou felt like everything was an unbelievable dream, her only comfort being her young sister-in-law’s support for any decision she made.

At this moment, she looked at Chunyu Che and asked, “Oh, Ruoxi had a good impression of you before, but she has a loving marriage with her husband. Why did you get your sister to marry Prince Zhan and send so many lovers to Ruoxi?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep