Every Lifetime I Fall {COMPLETED but undergoing revisions}

Chapter 172: Fifth Life - Against Fate II

Qin Yu keeps to himself mostly. Sleeping is the only thing he does all day long. Well, meditation too but he might as well be sleeping.

Patching his shoe, I carefully sew over the hole with a sturdy cloth. The sunlight provides excellent aim for me to sew with precision.

He comes out of the house and looks at me askance. "I was wondering where my other shoe went."

"Almost done." I quickly make a couple knots and cut the string.

"Here." I throw the shoe at him, and he catches it, hugging it against his chest.

Eyes full of mischief, Qin Yu says, "What are you doing? Acting motherly."

"How dare you? Do I look like I'm old enough to be your mother?" I scorn.

"By what you say, are you not almost five-hundred years old?"

"You're counting? I'm only twenty-six this year."

"New you, same soul. You still haven't told me the story about your new face. Another one of your schemes to hide your identity from Yang Zi Huo? What malicious intent are you planning against him?"

"You know he's already figured me out. I was only planning on living my life well without him recognizing me. Was my old face better or something?"

"I wouldn't say better. If I had a wife whose face changes everyday, I would not mind it one bit."

"Of course, you wouldn't. Seeing as you're the most sought out Beauty of Whimsical Garden Pavilion. You're probably used to plenty of lovers."

"You're not wrong." He tilts his head, squinting his eyes at me for calling him out. "But that wasn't the case at Whimsical Garden Pavilion. I was merely there to hide my identity."

"Sure it was."

"Are you... no longer spoken for?"

"What do you mean?"

He takes a step closer. "I mean... Is your heart open for another person at this time?"

I stare at the ground, unable to answer.

He laughs, "Of course, I didn't mean me. I like you, Yuxing. But I know that there is no place for me in your heart."

He walks back inside, smiling to himself. The rapid beatings of my heart turns from bashfulness to smothered anger.

How dare he try to toy with me?! Ugh. Why did I save him anyways?

Before leaving Qin Yu, I cast a spell of protection over the wooden cottage. Warning him to not step outside the sealed dome and then teleported to the gates of Invigorating Essence.

I've been ignoring Yi Fei's pestering messages. She somehow heard about the mishap at the border town. Having no idea where I had gone, she waited eagerly for my letter. I sent one a few days ago stating that I had relocated. She insisted on meeting me in person to confirm my safety, but I couldn't allow Qin Yu to be discovered and agreed to meet her at Invigorating Essence.

"Yi Fei!" In front of the Main Hall, I call out to her as I see her exit.

She remains calm, but her face is blank. Clearly, she's not happy with me.

"Yi Fei, what's the matter?"

"Where have you been all this time?" She says with a frustrated voice.

"Just... on the outskirts of some faraway village."

"I was worried about you. Worried that this beast you took away ate you." Her perfect eyebrows furrowed together, creasing her impeccably clear face.