Sheng Li saw that Ying Lili was sleeping like a baby on the bed. The red rose was still intact in her bun, which was magnifying her beauty. A few moments ago, his mind was filled with many thoughts, but as soon as he saw Ying Lili, his mind calmed.

He remembered the earlier days vividly; when on the wedding night Ying Lili told him that a cruel person like him does not deserve love or happiness, he was dejected. Not because he was called cruel, but because Ying Lili could not see through him.

He wanted to wake her up and take her to their private residence, but breaking her sleep was not a good idea, so he decided to wait. The long journey was tiresome for Ying Lili and giving her enough rest was important too.

Sheng Li sat beside her on the mattress. His one hand was over Ying Lili's head, and he caressed it. Ying Lili drew her brows together in her sleep as she felt someone's hand on her head but it was soothing for her. It felt as if her mother was doing it. Her face got relaxed, and she fell into a deep sleep.

By the evening, Ying Lili woke up from her sleep and she saw Sheng Li beside her. She rubbed her eyes. "You here?" She murmured and sat up on the bed. She stretched her arms out and patted her cheeks. "That was a nice sleep. I am feeling fresh," Ying Lili said as she passed white teeth smile to Sheng Li who smiled back.

"When did you come here?" Ying Lili asked.

"After lunch," Sheng Li replied. "Do you want to go to the Residence?" He then asked.

"Aren't we supposed to go tomorrow?" Ying Lili asked.

He nodded. Indeed, they had decided to go there the next day but now he had found the true feelings of Ying Lili, so he wanted to admit his feelings for her. "I want to go today as well," Sheng Li stated.

Ying Lili nodded her head. "Let's go then," she said as she moved her hands over her hair. "Let me do my hair first," Ying Lili said and quickly got down the bed. She went towards the dressing table and looked at herself in the mirror. She brushed her hair and tilted her head. Sheng Li was intensely looking at her. After she was done brushing, she turned to him, "I am ready."

Sheng Li came towards her and told her to come along with him. They reached the stable. The stableman brought Kongqi there. Ying Lili caressed his face, and he neighed. "Kongqi has become a friend to you," Sheng Li stated, and told her to stay there.

A few minutes later, Sheng Li came to her with two swords in his hand. "What's this? Are you going to have a friendly sword fight again? I will defeat you," Ying Lili affirmed.

"You cannot defeat me," Sheng Li replied and wrapped his arm securely around her waist. Ying Lili hopped on Kongqi with her both legs on the left side, followed by him. Sheng Li put Ying Lili's hands around his neck. "Hold me firmly," he voiced. He pulled the reins, and the two rode the horse. Coming out of the Fu Imperial Gates, Kongqi gained speed.

Ying Lili's gaze was fixed on Sheng Li's face. She noticed keenly the facial features of Sheng Li when her eyes saw a tiny mole near his right eye. It was not visible unless someone looked closely at it. "You have a mole here," Sheng Li heard Ying Lili, as she pointed her finger near his right eye. Sheng Li did not reply to her and kept riding the horse.

Halting in front of the Residence, they both got down. A soldier came and bowed his head. He held the reins and took Kongqi away from there. Sheng Li held Ying Lili's hand and ascended the few stairs to go inside the Residence.

Sheng Li took her to the plain ground and handed her a sword. "Show me what you have got!" Sheng Li stated.

Ying Lili twitched her lips. "Are you challenging me?" She asked and saw Sheng Li had taken out the sword from the scabbard. Ying Lili did the same and threw the scabbards on the ground. "Okay, whoever will lose..." Sheng Li did not let Ying Lili complete her words.

"Today, there will be no bet. I just want to have this friendly match with you. I want to see how good you are!" Sheng Li asserted. Ying Lili nodded her head and lifted her hand in which she had a sword. Sheng Li swirled the sword in his hand, and the two moved in a circular motion, waiting for the attack.

Sheng Li attacked first, while Ying Lili defended his attack; her feet were glued to the ground as she pushed Sheng Li away who smiled. Ying Lili found Sheng Li was using full force, unlike the last time. The sword came straight towards her, and she dodged it by turning left. The sword in her hand clanked against Sheng Li and the two fought for dominance.

Ying Lili swiftly moved back, tossed the sword in her left hand, and hit Sheng Li who defended it. He was impressed today, seeing Ying Lili was actually fighting with her full strength. Last time, she was nervous because her friend's life was at stake.

The clanking sound of the two swords echoed in the air. Ying Lili had again moved the sword ahead when Sheng Li grabbed her wrist, swiftly turned her around, and locked her neck in his arm. "Never do this in front of your opponent. He will end up killing you," Sheng Li whispered. Ying Lili struggled to release her grip when Sheng Li pushed her and stepped back.

"Wildcat, you are not using your full strength. I'm losing interest in playing with you," Sheng Li voiced. Ying Lili turned back and glared at him. She attacked him once again, this time fiercely. She pushed him back, and got the chance to defeat him this time but Sheng Li dodged her.

Their swords were now directed at each other as they moved in a circle. "You will lose today," Ying Lili sternly said.

"Do you remember what I told you when we fought for the first time?" Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili.

Ying Lili knew Sheng Li was playing with her mind, to distract her, so this time she did not listen to him and attacked him again, but Sheng Li easily defended himself. "You said many things that day," Ying Lili replied.

"I told you that if I lose to you in this game, then that will be for only one reason," Sheng Li pronounced. She ran towards him with the sword directed towards Sheng Li when at that moment, he lost his guard and Ying Lili this time pointed a sword at his neck.

But something was wrong, she realized. It seemed Sheng Li willingly did that. Her grip tightened around the hilt as she felt strange under Sheng Li's gaze. "Why did you do that?" Ying Lili asked as she pulled her hand back, but then Sheng Li grasped her wrist, pulling her closer to him.

Their faces came closer, and both were panting because of the friendly fight they just had. "The day has come. You defeated me," Sheng Li stated. Ying Lili skeptically looked into the eyes of Sheng Li.

"I didn't. You…" Sheng Li placed his pointer finger over her lips. "Shhh… You always forget important things which I tell you. That day you told me that you would defeat me and I replied – 'that will never happen unless I fall for you.'"

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Hello Dear Readers!

Hope you all are doing well. This chapter was tough to write as I needed to think a lot to make the confession different. Hope you will enjoy this. The two chapters are on Confession.

THANK YOU

HAPPY READING