HEART PROTECTION: CHAPTER 95

 The kiss was very deep. Tian Yao held Yan Hui so tightly that she almost couldn't breathe. When Yan Hui started to push Tian Yao away because she couldn't endure it anymore, it was like he finally came back to his senses. He released her lips, letting her breathe. However, his hands were still unwilling to let her go.

He wanted to hold her, feel her heaving chest and rapid heartbeats. He wanted to confirm that Yan Hui was still alive, truly alive and by his side.

He returned to his sense with great difficulty. Yan Hui lifted her head and stared blankly at Tian Yao. 

Four eyes met. The two people stood there in silence.

 In the end, Zhu Li stepped up and broke the strange silence: "This.....this is a public place!" His voice slightly shook. "Let go!"

Yan Hui snapped back to her senses. She hurriedly pressed at Tian Yao's hands which still held her. She wanted to get free from his embrace. However, he used a little more strength and pulled her back into his arms. Her chest pressed against his chest, and her head rested on his shoulder.

"You're still alive," said Tian Yao. "You're still safe and sound."

Yan Hui was stunned by both his words and by his clinging actions: "Yes......yes, I'm still alive and well." She craned her neck back. "But you......." Tian Yao didn't wait for Yan Hui to finish her words before hugging her even tighter. He patted the back of her head like he was coaxing a small child.

"Everything is alright now."

He seemed to let out a pent up breath. It was unclear whether those four words were said for him or for her.

Yan Hui fell silent at those words. She didn't ask any more questions and simply reached out to pat Tian Yao's back.

 The late autumn nights are very cold.

Yan Hui didn't understand the restlessness she felt in her body, especially the hot sensation on her lips. Her mind was stuck on what happened in the morning when Tian Yao suddenly kissed her.

Her heartbeat was like when she ate the fox lust fragrance in Yong Zhou city.

Huan Xiao Yan lightly floated to Yan Hui's side: "Master." She softly called in Yan Hui's ear, but it still made Yan Hui jump. "What is it?"

"You look like an animal in heat."

Yan Hui's face turned red. She lightly coughed and sat up: "Um, the last two days were a mess. I haven't properly thanked you for helping me out." She looked Huan Xiao Yan up and down. "Did you grow up a little?"

"Of course." Huan Xiao Yan proudly spun around in midair. "You just realized I grew up? Ever since leaving the illusion demon palace, I've been busy making all kinds of illusions for Qing Qiu's demons. Those who don't sleep well all want me to help. I grew fast on eating their emotions. Now casting illusions on demons one hundred times more powerful than me is even possible!"

Yan Hui more closely sized Huan Xiao Yan up. It seemed like it really was the case. Before the little demon looked like a child. Now she was a pretty teenager.

"But Master, we didn't finish what we were just talking about......." It was clear Huan Xiao Yan wasn't interested talking about herself. She turned the conversation back to the original topic. "Today when Dragon Demon Tian Yao kissed you," She lifted her eyebrows and assumed a very understanding air, "was it very nice?"

Yan Hui glanced as the demon. Huan Xiao Yan thought she was going to be chided, but to her surprise, Yan Hui thought about it and thoughtfully rubbed her lips: "It was pretty nice........"

"..........." said Huan Xiao Yan. "Master, you not being aloof really was beyond my expectations. I don't know how to respond now."

Yan Hui laughed: "However, ignoring how my body feels, my heart still doesn't fully believe it."

"What's there not to believe? It really happened."

Yan Hui was silent for a moment: "I believed that Tian Yao would never love another woman in his life. After all, he was badly hurt in the past......."

Huan Xiao Yan curled her lip: "Isn't that because he isn't able to love men?"

Yan Hui: "........."

 Huan Xiao Yan grinned: "I'm kidding, Master." She rolled her eyes and thought a little. "Master, you probably don't know, but before when we were in the illusion demon palace, I also cast an illusion on Tian Yao. He saw the two most unforgettable moments in his life. One moment was probably from 20 years ago when that other woman pledged her love to him, but what Tian Yao felt was strong bitterness and hate. Later, he saw another moment. It was about you."

Yan Hui was shocked: "Me?"

"He saw you under moonlight, standing in front of him with a jian. Even after the illusion was gone, his heart was still filled with emotion." Huan Xiao Yan scratched her head. "I think that the best moment in Tian Yao's life was meeting you when he was at the end of his rope."

Meeting her.......

When he was at the end of his rope.

Yan Hui could practically feel her chest warm up in the chilly night.

Turns out, she actually held such an important place in someone's heart. Turns out, she actually was needed like this. She never thought her own disappointing, worthless life would be so irreplaceable to a person.

Just thinking about it, she felt,

So good.

Fortunately, there was someone called Tian Yao in the world.

In an instant, Yan Hui felt somewhat stirred up. She immediately put on her shoes and ran out the door without putting on her outer robe. Huan Xiao Yan was baffled by Yan Hui's sudden dash. She chased after Yan Hui and yelled: "Master! Where are you going?!"

"I'm going to find Tian Yao! I want to see him!"

Huan Xiao Yan stopped when she heard those words and ruefully shook her head: "Twitterpated." But when she turned her head, she saw Zhu Li dejectedly standing behind a pillar. The pillar's shadow obscured his figure, so that it was hard to see him.

Huan Xiao Yan rubbed her chin in thought. Then she walked up and patted Zhu Li's shoulder: "Little prince." She brightly smiled at him. "Do you want to be with my master in your dream? I can give you that dream. You just have to let me eat your emotions at night."

"No need." Zhu Li brushed away Huan Xiao Yan's hand. "It's fine like this."

He turned and left to go back to his own courtyard.

Huan Xiao Yan looked at his lonely back. She thought about it and then chased after him: "But right now you look pitiful like a dog who was splashed with water."

"I don't."

"Mm, you're even dragging your feet. You're dispirited, and your expression is crumbling."

"Shut your mouth."

"If I shut my mouth, will you be happy?"

"That would be good."

"........" Huan Xiao Yan opened her mouth again. "I just shut my mouth for a moment. Are you happy now?"

Zhu Li eyes almost rolled into the back of his head: "Are you teasing me?"

Huan Xiao Yan blinked and bluntly said: "Yes."

"........." Magic gathered in Zhu Li's hand. "Come here. Let's talk."

"Bad person! I was only teasing you because I saw you were in a bad mood. Why do you want to hit me because I'm teasing you? I don't accept it!"

"If you don't accept it, then let's fight!"

"Fine!"

Yan Hui, who had gone far, didn't know what state the courtyard turned into due to the fight. She single-mindedly ran towards the cold spring.

 Tian Yao was immersed in the spring in his dragon form. When he heard Yan Hui running over, he lightly lifted his head but didn't turn back into his human form.

"Tian Yao." Yan Hui stopped in front of him, slightly gasping for breath. The dragon head moved in front of Yan Hui as if asking what was the matter.

But Yan Hui, still somewhat gasping for air, hugged Tian Yao's neck. Tian Yao was startled. His dragon eyes suddenly widened.

Yan Hui hugged him and said: "You like me, right?!"

Tian Yao's tail suddenly rose out of the water.

Yan Hui buried her head on top of his head: "Become mine, okay?!"

For an instant, Tian Yao was stunned by those words. Close behind that, a light revolved around his entire body. Immediately, a person appeared in the cold spring. His restrained gaze leaked out a faint light revealing his normally hidden emotions.

Yan Hui took a step forward: "Become my person, okay?! I also like you!"

The light in Tian Yao's eyes slowly dimmed. He just calmly looked at Yan Hui. Yan Hui, who was quietly being looked at for a while, became a little uncertain: "Before, you asked me what would've happened if 20 years ago the one you met was me. At that time, I knew you started to feel for me, but I had no affection for you. But recently, I started thinking more about that question, what if I was the one you met 20 years ago."

Yan Hui steadily looked at Tian Yao: "I don't dare say anything else, but if the one you met 20 years ago was me, you would only need to sincerely be with me. Then I would sincerely give my all to you. There will be no deception nor betrayal."

Actually, if the best moment for Tian Yao was meeting Yan Hui when all was bleak, then for Yan Hui, her best moment was having Tian Yao when she had nothing else.

They didn't know when each other became a irreplaceable barrier in their hearts.

The scattered starlight in the cold spring's waters reflected in Tian Yao's eyes. He still didn't say anything.

Yan Hui waited for awhile until her patience was used up. In the end, she took another step forward. She hooked her hand around Tian Yao's neck and bit his lip. She left a deep mark and started to act like a rogue: "I don't care. I kissed you. I hugged you. I've seen parts of your body that I should and shouldn't have seen. In any case, I took your innocence. Say it, be mine."

Tian Yao couldn't keep a straight face at those words. He dipped his head, looked away, and smiled.

"That was really you, Yan Hui."

Yan Hui hooked her hand around his neck and fixedly stared at him: "Stop laughing at me. If you don't become mine tonight, I'm not letting you leave."

Tian Yao laughed. He laughed for a long time before nodding: "I'm yours." He repeated it again. "I'll be yours."

Only then did Yan Hui smile. Her pretend serious face immediately softened: "You can't regret it."

Tian Yao looked down at her: "That's probably what I want to say to you.