"I'm sorry." She said, "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me… Old unpleasant memories still seem to affect me."

"Never apologize to me. It is my duty and my privilege to care for you, especially when you are so clearly distressed." Zhu Qingyue responded, his voice deep and full of tenderness. Her head rested on his broad shoulder as she was enveloped by his soothing warmth. She was glad he had the tact not to ask her what was on her mind.

She didn't notice the way his bright irises darkened into a deep violet shade, eyes glinting with bloodthirst.

Once Li Meirong managed to calm down, she separated herself from Zhu Qingyue, putting some distance between them by sitting on the other side of the bed. The recollection of her previous, intimate actions suddenly made her feel shy and she was now anxious to manage to talk with Shu Qianqian before the rumours circulating about her had a chance to worsen.

"Thank you for comforting me. About before, I…" Li Meirong stopped her sentence mid-way, clearly flustered. She was unsure of how to complete it.

"I want you to marry me." Zhu Qingyue suddenly declared.

Li Meirong met his gaze, her brows arched high in surprise, although perhaps not as much as she should have felt. The sudden proposal wasn't out of the blue. He already called her his wife several times now. However, it was a bit of a shock all the same.

"Marry me." Zhu Qingyue repeated as he stood up, towering over her. She was interested to find that, somehow, he no longer seemed intimidating and oppressive to her. Actually, he looked afraid… Was he perhaps scared of being rejected, just like her?

Li Meirong had to think about this carefully. In this world, once a woman was married, there was no escape for her. Unlike in her own world, where two out of three marriages ended in divorce, here, it was a done deal. If she chose to accept his proposal, that would be that, and at this point, she wasn't even certain there was anything more between them than raw physical attraction.

"I'll need some time to think…" Li Meirong answered softly, doing her best not to sound unkind.

"How much time?"

She pressed her mouth shut and looked down at her feet before glancing back up to catch his eye, "I-I don't... I need to talk to my friend, you should go now…"

Zhu Qingyue reached out to grasp her hand, but then stopped himself. He cleared his throat and said, "As you wish, I am willing to wait. However, if I hear any slanderous chatter about you, I will not allow you to remain without status any longer."

When Li Meirong said nothing, he added, "Do not forget to attend the classes today starting at midday. I expect your presence in my courtyard this evening, for your martial arts lesson."

Li Meirong nodded in acknowledgement and Zhu Qingyue took his leave without another word, shutting the door behind him. Once he was gone, she released a breath she didn't even know she was holding.

Taking another deep breath, she waited a minute before shuffling towards the entrance to let Shu Qianqian come inside.