Chapter 85 (1/2): Sorry, I Lied to You

The tent flickered softly in the lamplight, the beautiful face of the girl behind faintly visible.

Su Liumeng stood in the middle of the boudoir, her gaze passing through the thin veil before her, fixed on the girl’s slightly restless sleeping expression and the toes curled together anxiously.

She had just finished washing up and gently lay down on the side of the bed. As the sound of her settling echoed, a delicate, boneless hand silently reached over, clasping her from just below the chest, locking her entirely in an embrace—as if only this position could bring peace.

Su Liumeng’s eyes dropped slightly, meeting a pair of watery, slightly aggrieved eyes. “You’ve known all along that I wasn’t asleep, haven’t you?”

I had been awake since she left the room.

The Su family.

It was not a place where I could feel safe.

That surname carried too many painful memories for me.

Curled up on this bed marked with the Su family’s insignia, I gazed up at the carved patterns in the wood above.

Past memories crashed over me like an unstoppable tide, suffocating me almost beyond breath.

“Your identity is different now.”

“No one will force you to do anything you don’t want to anymore.”

Su Liumeng comforted the girl’s emotions.

This was something she did every day.

“Mm.” I stared at my arm, which looked inexplicably plump, like a round, chubby egg.

No matter the angle, it looked exactly the same. Biting my lip, I averted my eyes with a silent plea of “out of sight, out of mind.”

“Want to weigh yourself now?” Su Liumeng suddenly asked.

“Or… no thanks.” I released my arm from her hold and pulled the blanket up to cover my little head. “Let me be an ostrich for a while. The phrase ‘deceiving oneself’ must’ve been made for humans like me.”

Why weigh myself? That’s like putting someone over a fire.

My voice was tinged with complaint, but not true unhappiness—there was even a trace of teasing in it.

“You did well today.” Su Liumeng’s voice was very pleasant, somehow reminding me of a lark singing in the branches.

“You—why did you pinch me?”

My sudden complaint made Su Liumeng’s pretty face freeze briefly. She reached out and pinched the soft flesh on my waist.

I felt ticklish and pulled back, my laughter trembling. “Don’t, don’t pinch—there’s still a baby.”

I said it on purpose.

Who told her her words made me feel like I was always so clueless?

Not wanting to think and having no brain are two different things.

Although,

most of the time, they look exactly the same.

Su Liumeng’s playful teasing was measured, but it still made a fine layer of sweat appear on me.

Seeing my sharp little tiger teeth flash, the girl hesitated and took a small step back.

I feigned stretching my head forward.

“What—” Su Liumeng curled her legs inward.

“What?”

“Obviously, I’m going to bite you!!”

Because Su Liumeng was mindful of my current double body, she was holding back, which gave me the upper hand.

Like a starving tiger pouncing, I pressed her down, leaving two bite marks on her arm before I finally left, satisfied.

“You didn’t shower earlier, so let me go take a bath first.”

I pulled out another set of pajamas Su Liumeng had prepared from the wardrobe and was about to lift my foot when I heard her remind me, “Remember to wear shoes.”

“Got it.”

Half an hour later.

Su Liumeng was drying my hair, which had grown so long it now fully covered my back with thick volume.

“Isn’t it a bit long?”

She followed the hair’s flow and tugged it a little further.

“If it grows any longer, it’ll reach your hips. If you sit on your hair and fall hard, you’ll be mocked for life.”

“…”

“Su Liumeng, you’re dirty!”

“Don’t speak so loudly.”

Su Liumeng spread her hands innocently.

It wasn’t that her voice was too loud, but that she spoke at all.

Am I really that dumb?

Please don’t explain things to me in such exasperating ways!

“I’m serious. When hair gets long, it’s easy to forget. Waist-length is just the right length.” Su Liumeng was always patient—especially when dealing with Si Xinyan.

Though she was younger by a few days, she naturally took on the role of the older sister.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you—let’s cut it.” I rested my hands lightly on my knees. Suddenly, my demeanor became unusually obedient, making Su Liumeng a bit uneasy.

Well.

Never try to understand the sudden mood changes of a girl.

Because

their unique logic can always pop up where you least expect it.

Su Liumeng was more rational, while Si Xinyan’s personality leaned towards being more emotional.

Snip—

The scissors followed the flow of my hair.

It wasn’t a blunt, straight cut but layered slightly, making it look more natural and comfortable to the eye.

Once the haircut was finished, I could finally move freely.

Eager, I stood up immediately. “Su Liumeng, I saw a sword in your wardrobe earlier. It looks pretty.”

“You? Where did you get a sword? I remember you fighting with just your fists.”

As I spoke, I moved towards the place where I saw the long sword.

Su Liumeng was tidying up hair clippings on the floor and hadn’t caught what I was saying.

When she realized, I had already opened the wardrobe door and stretched out my small hand.

Su Liumeng’s pupils suddenly contracted, and her voice sharpened,

“Stop.”

“Don’t touch that sword—”

“You’ll get hurt.”

Before she finished, I had already grabbed the Tianyan Nine-Dragon Sword.

Su Liumeng felt her blood rush backward; she had never been so terrified.

In the slowing world, only my smiling face holding the sword and her pounding heartbeat remained.

Swish—

Su Liumeng blinked and appeared beside me.

She snatched the sword away.

Clang—

The Tianyan Nine-Dragon Sword was thrown onto the floor without a second glance.

With a panicked look, Su Liumeng stared at me.

Suddenly, she stretched out her arms and hugged me tightly, a strength that could suffocate, as if holding a treasure long lost and now found.

“Sorry, sorry.”

“I shouldn’t have kept the sword in the wardrobe.”

Tears uncontrollably welled in her eyes as she spoke.

Only she clearly understood the inner turmoil she had just experienced.

I still hadn’t grasped the severity of the problem. “Su Liumeng, what’s wrong?”

“Is the sword really dangerous to touch?”

“I’m not hurt. Don’t worry…”

Even now, her heartbeat hadn’t fully calmed.

I never imagined a sword could affect someone this way.

If there was an issue, Zhi Zhi would protect me, so I didn’t think much and just grabbed it.

“I shouldn’t be unhurt?”

“You being unharmed is definitely a good thing.” Su Liumeng looked at the sword on the ground, her heart filled with doubt. “But I don’t understand why…”

“Theoretically, no one except me should touch this sword.”

“Because it has already chosen its master.”

“How come you can touch it?” Su Liumeng couldn’t figure it out and gave up thinking.

Still, she didn’t loosen her embrace, murmuring, “Anyway, as long as you’re safe… as long as you’re safe…”

I only half-understood her words.

Seeing her emotional fluctuation, I let her hold me a little more tightly.

After a while, Su Liumeng carried me back onto the bed, smoothing the wrinkles on my clothes.

“It’s my fault for not handling things properly. I hid the sword in the wardrobe and never thought you’d open the bottom drawer.”

Even now, she was full of self-blame.

Luckily, nothing bad happened.

If something had… she would regret it forever.

“I was just curious when looking for clothes and opened it.”

I picked up the Tianyan Nine-Dragon Sword from the floor. Su Liumeng tried to stop me but was halted by my gaze.

“It’ll be fine, trust me.”

I hadn’t felt any backlash just now.

Now, I was very curious—why didn’t the sword attack me?

At this, Su Liumeng finally confirmed the sword wouldn’t harm Si Xinyan.

The divine sword was not soulless, but it never responded to anyone’s words.

Su Liumeng could only bury this doubt deep inside.

Without a response from the sword itself, answers were impossible.

*****

Night deepened.

Su Liumeng and I had snuggled a bit more but then stopped bothering her.

I hugged my favorite small blanket alone, tilting my head on the pillow, sleeping soundly.

Since practicing the Yin Qi cultivation method, I wasn’t as sensitive to cold or heat anymore.

It was like an air conditioner that adjusted temperature based on the environment, even providing comfort to those nearby.

Su Liumeng liked to cuddle me when sleeping.

But tonight, I didn’t hold her, which made Su Liumeng keep her big eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling for a long time before finally falling asleep.

She even wondered if she had done something wrong to be ignored.

In truth, I didn’t hold her because my belly was growing bigger and it wasn’t convenient to cling to someone else while sleeping.

If I moved in my sleep and accidentally put pressure on the baby, it wouldn’t be good.

As a mother-to-be, I had made my baby’s safety my top priority.

It was fair to say.

I was nearly a qualified mother.

Having fully experienced the bitterness and sweetness of pregnancy, I was a mother who put her baby above everything else.

Si Zhiruo was only lively for a few hours after first arriving at the Su family.

As a developing life, she needed longer and longer periods of sleep.

The last few months before birth were when the weight gain was most obvious.

Constantly absorbing nutrients from the mother, turning them into basic developmental fuel.

Theoretically, after seven months, even a premature baby had a chance to survive.

Post seven months, what increased was weight, immunity, and nearly all organs were fully developed.

Si Zhiruo was going through those final stages.

She also hoped to grow plump in the future.

Who wanted an unexpected premature birth, born the size of a palm?

Who knew how long the infant period would last, whether her little limbs would be weak and unsteady, unable to walk at a year old?

Si Zhiruo definitely wouldn’t accept that.

Since her tiny body developed fully inside her mother’s womb, she had been quiet, causing no trouble.

She was so peaceful, it was unlike a baby about to be born—she hadn’t even flipped over once.

Such a quiet fetus can make a mother fear she’s carrying a stillborn.

But Si Zhiruo’s case was special, so I had no such worries amid my comfort.

*****

The next day.

Before Su Liumeng had fully woken, I was the first to open my eyes.

The first sight of the girl beside me immediately brought peace to my heart.

No matter the time, seeing her only made me happier.

What could be happier than living with the beautiful girl I chose?

Her delicate lashes trembled as her eyelids fell, like a tiny, exquisite brush.

Watching her asleep, I suddenly felt playful and reached out to pinch Su Liumeng’s cheek.

A little teasing shouldn’t be too much, right?

Hehe, so soft and chubby.

No matter the angle, she was adorable.

I inexplicably got starry-eyed, giggling foolishly.

“Mommy, don’t be a pervert~”

Si Zhiruo briefly woke when her mother stirred, almost instinctively, and teased in a sleepy voice.

Usually, she ignored these two clingy people, but this morning she hadn’t retracted her consciousness yet and caught her mommy acting lovey-dovey.

Then—

Si Zhiruo’s gaze suddenly paused, her eyes seeming to pierce through endless fog, fixed on one spot.

She looked at me and said, “Mommy, when you put your hand on her head, there’s something there you don’t have. It looks strange.”

Si Zhiruo was just a fierce ghost; a few months ago, her memory was blank.

How could she have seen a real dragon in this world?

So she didn’t know what it was, and like many children, she called her mom to explore this new unknown world.

“I… don’t have something?” I tilted my head, pondering the meaning behind those words.

“What don’t I have?”

“Quick, quick, she’s waking up soon! Mommy! Mommy!! Hurry, touch it, just a little tap and you’ll know.”

Si Zhiruo sensed Su Liumeng’s breathing had slight fluctuations—the pre-waking change.

Su Liumeng trusted me completely and didn’t set up any defenses.

So light daily touches couldn’t wake her immediately.

“Wait.”

My baby had spoken, so I knew the priorities.

Baby was more important—I could sacrifice myself.

I murmured this to myself like a mantra, then reached out my soft little hand and pressed on the place Si Zhiruo mentioned.

The real texture beneath made me freeze.

It didn’t feel like human skin but more like a somewhat hard stone, yet with some jelly-like softness.

I instinctively pressed twice more.

A delicate, seductive moan escaped from Su Liumeng’s throat, almost instinctual, flushing me with embarrassment.

I didn’t release my hand.

Since I’d started, I might as well go all the way. I wasn’t afraid of Su Liumeng.

I leaned my whole body against her chest, my small hand curiously squeezing twice.

Su Liumeng slowly lifted her eyelids.

Her originally cold and clear eyes became misted with strange tears, her face flush with a rosy hue unlike her usual temperament.

She bit her lip and stared into my eyes…

I grew awkward under her gaze and hastily laughed, “Um, I didn’t mean to crawl on you.”

Seeing no reaction, maybe even anger, I quickly added,

“We’re getting married soon—crawling on your wife a little is quite reasonable…”

My voice got softer and softer.

Su Liumeng remained silent.

Lost in some emotion.

I noticed her slight trembling frame.

Then I heard her voice squeezed out through clenched teeth.

“Si, Xin, Yan!”

“Let go of me!!!”

Even I, slow as I was, sensed something was off.

After I slowly climbed down, Su Liumeng fled from the bed in a panic.

“Wait in the room. I’ll go change.”

A formidable Wu Wang realm expert, yet her retreating figure seemed unsteady.

I didn’t know if her legs were weak.

I watched her disappear behind the door, still not understanding what had just happened.

“Zhi Zhi.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t know either.”