Chapter 528: A small date!
Her long black hair was pulled back with a silver hairpin, from which a single pearl dangled, swaying gently with each step.
She would glance at the young man from time to time, her gaze lingering on his face, before quickly looking away, trying to mask her emotions.
The faint smile on her lips, however, betrayed her feelings.
"Thank you for this date, Master."
Looking at Fei Lingxi, Zhao Tian smiled faintly "You are always inside the artifact, so I thought I should bring you out sometimes like this."
Fei Lingxi gave a nod and hugged his arm tightly.
Just then, a street vendor waved at them, offering up a tray of delicate pastries. "Young master, young lady! Would you care for some sweets? Freshly baked!"
Fei Lingxi\'s eyes lit up with excitement and she looked at the young man, her expression eager yet hesitant, as if unsure whether it was appropriate.
He chuckled, the hint of a soft smile playing on his lips, and nodded toward the vendor.
"Two of those, please," he said, slipping a small, shimmering astral stone to the vendor, who accepted it with a respectful bow.
The vendor carefully wrapped two pastries, placing them in a small bundle that he offered with a proud smile.
Taking hers in hand, she looked down at it for a moment before taking a small bite.
"Mmm..." A delighted smile spread across her face as she tasted the sweet filling, her eyes lighting up as she looked at him.
"It\'s delicious, Master! You should try it." Experience tales at m v|l e\'-NovelBin.net
Zhao Tinan took a bite and they continued their walk through the streets.
"Since it is already evening, let us go and eat something light."
Fei Lingxi nodded, her face bright with anticipation. "Yes.. master."
As they walked, she clung to his arm a bit more firmly, content to simply be by his side.
They continued down the winding streets, looking at the various scents of roasted meats, fragrant soups, and spiced teas wafting from the food stalls.
They arrived at a cozy outdoor tea house near a small garden filled with cherry blossom trees.
Paper lanterns hung above each table, casting a warm, inviting light, and the soft sound of a lute playing in the background added to the ambiance.
Both of them entered the cozy building and went to the upper VIP floor, booking a small quiet room.
A server approached, offering them a simple but elegant selection of evening dishes.
Zhao Tian ordered a light vegetable soup, dumplings filled with mountain herbs, and a pot of jasmine tea, which arrived quickly, the aroma fragrant and calming.
Fei Lingxi took a sip of the tea, her hands warming around the porcelain cup as she looked out at the cherry blossoms swaying in the gentle evening wind.
She sighed softly, her gaze drifting over the peaceful scene. "I sometimes forget what it\'s like to just sit and enjoy a meal in the open air. I\'ve missed this."
Hearing this, Zhao Tian\'s eyes condensed. Ever since she became his slave, her life has been harsh and she is always inside that artifact.
Fei Lingxi stood up from her seat and came to him, sitting beside him on the small couch.
He raised his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder as he continued drinking his tea.
With a soft sigh, Zhao Tian placed the cup back on the table and glanced at Fei Lingxi, who had changed a lot compared to her past self.
She had endured so much, despite her hatred for him in those early days.
And he remembered all too well the turbulent beginning between them... the forced submission, her silent loathing, and the sharp edges of their strained relationship.
She had set aside her hatred, hidden away her pride, and endured his forced intercourse with her, all for the sake of her daughter, Fei Ziyu.
Now, she is so different; she is always working hard to serve and please him.
She has redeemed herself for everything she has done in the past...
Looking at his thoughtful face, she looked at him in concern "Master.. is something wrong?"
She was afraid that she might have done something that displeased him, \'Did he not like it when I came and sat beside him?\'
With a shake of his head, Zhao Tian replied "No, just thinking about our relationship in the past... it feels strange."
Fei Lingxi\'s gaze lowered and she gave a nod "It is indeed strange... I uh..."
Taking a deep breath, she spoke "You tortured us sometimes, but... I know I deserved all of that."
Fei Lingxi drew a shaky breath, her words spilling out like a long-held confession. "Back then, my life was full of bitterness."
"I was consumed by anger toward men because of my father, who always abused my mother. I thought all men were like that, that cruelty and dominance were all they knew."
She paused, her gaze turning distant as old memories surfaced. "When Ziyu was born, I… I wanted to protect her from that same pain."
"I wanted her to be strong and unyielding, to never depend on anyone... especially not a man. I instilled that same hatred in her, thinking it was the only way to keep her safe."
"I have also taken many lives back during my time on earth and even Ziyu has killed some men, so when I became your slave... I accepted it as my karma."
"However, Ziyu... gradually began to change and at that time all I ever wanted was for my daughter to be happy."
"Staying inside the artifact, Ziyu also changed me a bit by bit..."
"I thought I could finally redeem myself for my past mistakes."
Zhao Tian sighed faintly as he also knew that it was not entirely Fei Lingxi or Fei Ziyu\'s mistake; it was their environment that changed them both.
Fei Lingxi lived in an abused household where she constantly saw her mother getting abused by her father and she came to hate men.
She taught the same hate to Fei Ziyu.. and she also began to hate men.
Thinking about the past, Zhao Tian could only sigh in his heart and Fei Lingxi continued, "I remember trying to kill Lady Ying once… it was all because of Ziyu\'s jealousy, her selfish desire to have you to herself."
"And I… I went along with it, convinced that I was helping her, that I was doing right by her."
With a bitter smile, she continued "But after becoming your slaves, we changed."
Her lips trembled hesitation creeping into her heart "You changed us.. I began to realize why Ziyu was head over heels for you."
"The affection in your eyes while you see and enjoy time with your wives... it just brought warmth to my heart."
Tears moistened her eyes as she mumbled "I.. was kind of jealous..."
"I envied the love your wives received, the way they looked at you with such devotion, the way you looked at them. It was… beautiful."
A tear streaked down her cheek "And I realized, for the first time, that maybe… maybe I wanted that too. Maybe I wanted to know what it felt like to be truly cherished by someone."
"I never received any man\'s love.. as I hated all men... so I don\'t know the feeling; that\'s probably why I am jealous."
"And somewhere along the way, I think I began to love you, too. Not out of fear, not out of duty, but something… real. Something I\'ve never felt before."
Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke. "It scares me, though, because I still don\'t feel… worthy of it. I still feel like I\'m… tainted, somehow. Like I\'ve done too many things wrong."
"I just-"
"Lingxi..."
Hearing her name, she turned to look at him and before she could say anything, he moved forward, sealing her lips with a kiss.
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!