Chapter 256: Confession of Feelings

Yang Qingyin’s sudden and earnest inquiry froze Luo Ziling in his tracks, and he couldn’t figure out how to respond.

Yang Qingyin did not ask further, only gazing at him unwaveringly without blinking.

“Actually, I don’t even know what to say,” Luo Ziling said with a bitter smile, “Since my birth, I haven’t experienced parental love, nor have I had contact with other girls my age. The only companion I’ve had is a grandfather, and all my love came from my respected grandfather. I don’t know what parental love feels like, nor do I understand the love between a man and a woman. But…”

He paused when he reached that point.

This “but” made Yang Qingyin’s heart tremble, but she did not interrupt, only biting her lip softly, still staring steadily at Luo Ziling.

Luo Ziling didn’t immediately continue speaking; instead, he reached out to take Yang Qingyin’s hand that was in front of him, gripping it firmly in his own.

“But the first time I saw you, I felt as though I was looking at someone very familiar, and I naturally smiled and greeted you. I’ve read many books, and I know there’s an idiom called ‘love at first sight.’ I think that phrase might describe what I felt when I first saw you,” Luo Ziling said, smiling tenderly at Yang Qingyin.

Hearing Luo Ziling say this, the corners of Yang Qingyin’s mouth lifted slightly. She didn’t say anything, merely tightening her grip on the hand that Luo Ziling was holding.

“I don’t know why, but after our first meeting that day, I really wanted to see you again. The next day, it felt natural to want to go there again to find you, and unexpectedly, you were indeed there playing the flute,” Luo Ziling’s smile grew even brighter, “I like to see how you look, to watch you smile, and even more, I like the feeling of being with you. Although I’ve read many books, I don’t know how to express in words what it feels like to be with you. I hope that we can continue to be together without ever being apart.”

In this outpouring, Luo Ziling did not utter a single “I like you” or “I love you,” but Yang Qingyin felt the meaning behind his words.

She gave Luo Ziling a knowing smile, then gently said, “I understand what you mean.”

Luo Ziling also gave a radiant smile and extended his hand to caress Yang Qingyin’s face.

Yang Qingyin did not dodge, letting Luo Ziling tenderly stroke her cheek.

“What do you hope for me to do?” Yang Qingyin asked softly after a moment.

“Actually, I hope that nothing changes,” Luo Ziling said with a smile before his expression turned somber, and he lowered his head in frustration, “But I know that’s impossible now. Our meeting today, so secretive and stealthy, likely the same in the future, it’s impossible to have the natural interactions we had before.”

“You said you would take me to Xinjiang to visit Bayanbulak, Tianshan, Kanas, Flaming Mountain, the desert highway, and Yili River Valley. Are you planning on going back on your word?” As Yang Qingyin spoke, her pretty mouth curled upwards slightly, indicating her dissatisfaction.

“As long as you want to go, I would definitely love to accompany you,” Luo Ziling said, and feeling that his tone wasn’t decisive enough, he quickly added, “As long as you dare, I’m willing to be with you forever.”

These words sent a jolt through Yang Qingyin’s heart, “Really?”

Luo Ziling nodded emphatically, “Yes, if you don’t believe me, we can make a pinky promise, or you can record my words.”

“I have memorized it in my heart,” Yang Qingyin smiled once more, “and I hope you keep it in your heart as well.”

“My memory is certainly better than yours, senior!” Luo Ziling replied with a very radiant smile.

“I once told my family that I want to be in charge of my own fate. So, I will fight for it, even if I lose everything my family has provided, I will have no regrets,” Yang Qingyin stated firmly, “I’m not afraid of my grandfather, nor am I afraid of my parents. I believe in myself.”

“I believe in myself too.” Luo Ziling’s heart suddenly filled with resolve.

“If one day, I have nothing, and my family casts me out, will you take me in?” Yang Qingyin asked with a smile, looking at Luo Ziling.

Luo Ziling didn’t hesitate and nodded, “If I only had a dollar on me, I would use that dollar to buy you something to eat; if I only had a piece of bread in my hand, I would give it all to you. Of course, I can guarantee that by my side, you’ll always have food and drink.”

“What you said makes me very happy,” Yang Qingyin stated and suddenly leaned forward to peck Luo Ziling’s face, “That’s your reward.”

“That reward is a bit stingy,” Luo Ziling wrapped his arms around Yang Qingyin’s body and kissed her dominantly.

After mumbling a few sounds, Yang Qingyin didn’t resist and obediently accepted Luo Ziling’s kiss.

Although they had kissed several times on the grasslands, none of those kisses were as passionate as this one.

Unfortunately, Luo Ziling didn’t understand the art of kissing, and Yang Qingyin was also a novice, so their intimacy lacked that fiery passion.

Just as they were lost in their kiss, there came a gentle knock on the door.

“Miss, they have come up, and Qingye is with them,” Xiaoli’s voice followed, sounding urgent.

Startled, the two of them immediately parted Ways, and Yang Qingyin’s face, originally flushed with a rosy tint, turned oddly pale from the scare.

At this moment, she absolutely didn’t want her family to encounter Luo Ziling face to face.

“It’s fine, I’ll leave right now,” Luo Ziling said, smiling to comfort Yang Qingyin.

“They’re already coming up; you’ll run into them if you go out,” Yang Qingyin stopped Luo Ziling, who was ready to leave.

Luo Ziling glanced at the open window, smiled, and then said, “I’ll hide in the next room.”

Saying this, without waiting for Yang Qingyin’s response, he immediately jumped onto the windowsill. After looking around, his figure disappeared from the windowsill.

Yang Qingyin rushed to the window in panic but Luo Ziling was nowhere to be seen.

At that moment, the door was knocked again, followed by Yang Qingye’s voice, “Sis, are you in there?”

Yang Qingyin quickly placed the tea Luo Ziling had drunk in front of herself, checked that there was nothing else amiss, and tidied up her hair before saying, “Come in.”

The door opened, and the figures of Xiaoli and Yang Qingye appeared at the doorway.

Seeing that Yang Qingyin was the only person inside, Xiaoli seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Sis, why are you alone?” Yang Qingye, who was dressed in a plaid shirt and a pair of jeans, looking very youthful and handsome, sat down smiling in front of Yang Qingyin, “I thought I would meet another handsome guy here.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, what do you want with me?” Yang Qingyin looked at Yang Qingye with an icy face.

“Mom sent me to see if you were on a date with someone.”

Actually, it was indeed the case; Yang Qingyin’s face instantly turned to ice.