[Check Out My P4treon For +70 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]
===
After the incident with Yu Xiaogang, Bibi Dong, who had originally planned to take a boat ride along the river to enjoy the night view of Coconut Palm City, was now completely disinterested.
She barely touched her dinner before retreating to her room.
Blue Silver Empress, who had been observing Bibi Dong's behavior, noticed her unusual demeanor. Even though Lin Yongming couldn't see Bibi Dong's expression, he knew her well enough to realize that her silence during dinner was out of character.
Having spent several years together, both Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Empress were well aware of Bibi Dong's usual temperament. Her current mood was clearly out of the ordinary.
"Xiao Ming, Bibi Dong seems upset. She barely ate anything at dinner," Blue Silver Empress said as they returned to their room, sitting down on a chair.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that meeting with Yu Xiaogang to affect her so much," Lin Yongming replied, sounding somewhat helpless.
"Sigh, from what I understand, Bibi Dong isn't sad because of Yu Xiaogang. She's upset because she feels she misjudged him. After all, Bibi Dong has her own pride. She didn't expect to make such a mistake after being out on her journey for so long," Blue Silver Empress speculated about Bibi Dong's current state of mind.
"Maybe so, but how should we comfort her?" Lin Yongming asked.
"Here, take this. I packed some food from the restaurant. It's still warm. Go give it to her," Blue Silver Empress handed him a takeout box containing rice and another with dishes.
"Wait, you want me to go alone?" Lin Yongming was taken aback by her suggestion.
"Of course. Tonight is your best chance to comfort her and finally break through the current barrier between you two. How long are you going to wait? Honestly, when Yu Xiaogang appeared by Bibi Dong's side, didn't you feel upset or anxious? This time it was Yu Xiaogang, someone we know. What if next time it's someone we don't know? What will you do then? So, don't delay. Go and resolve this," Blue Silver Empress advised earnestly.
"Uh..." Lin Yongming scratched his head helplessly. "A Yin, I'm your fiancé. Are you really pushing me toward her?"
"Hmph, I've already said I don't mind having Bibi Dong join us. But only Bibi Dong. If it were anyone else, I'd break your legs. Now stop dawdling and go," Blue Silver Empress shoved the takeout box into Lin Yongming's hands and pushed him out of the room.
She then quickly knocked on Bibi Dong's door and whispered to Lin Yongming, "Remember, I'm going to lock the door. If you come out of Bibi Dong's room and have nowhere to sleep, don't blame me."
"A Yin, you're really something!" Lin Yongming was stunned.
"Hmph!" Blue Silver Empress snorted proudly before quickly returning to her room. Lin Yongming heard the distinct click of the lock.
Her actions were so swift and decisive that Lin Yongming was left even more dumbfounded. It was clear she was serious.
Creak...
"Oh, it's you, Xiao Ming. I thought it would be A Yin," Bibi Dong said, surprised to see Lin Yongming at her door.
"Bibi Dong, can I come in?" Lin Yongming asked with a gentle smile.
"Sure, come in," Bibi Dong replied. Her room layout was similar to theirs, as they were staying in connected rooms at the same inn. It had a living area, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small balcony.
"Where's A Yin? Why didn't she come with you?" Bibi Dong asked after closing the door.
"A Yin's taking a shower. I noticed you've been down all afternoon and didn't eat much at dinner. Here, I brought you some food. Have a bit more," Lin Yongming said, holding up the two takeout boxes.
"Just put it on the table. I'm not hungry right now," Bibi Dong replied, sitting on the only sofa and taking a sip of water.
"Bibi Dong, are you still upset about what happened with Yu Xiaogang? Don't keep it bottled up. It's not good for you," Lin Yongming said as he placed the food on the table.
"You noticed, huh?" Bibi Dong sounded surprised.
"Of course. We've been together for years. If I couldn't tell, I'd be an idiot," Lin Yongming replied with a smile.
"Hmph, you are an idiot!" Bibi Dong shot back without thinking.
"Sigh, I'm not upset about Yu Xiaogang. It's just... I feel so stupid. I've been out on this journey for years, and yet I fell for such an obvious trick. What's worse is that I didn't even notice the holes in his act. Even you, a blind man, saw through it better than I did," Bibi Dong said, clearly frustrated with herself.
"Hey, joking is fine, but don't make fun of my eyes. I may be blind, but I have countless 'eyes' in my heart. They work better than real ones," Lin Yongming said, pretending to be offended.
But falling for a trick is just another experience. As long as you learn from it and don't make the same mistake again, that's what matters. That's the whole point of being out here—whether it's hunting down the Fallen or taking down bullies. Over the past two years, haven't we been tricked plenty of times? It's all part of our growth," Lin Yongming said, shifting to a more serious tone to comfort her.
"Honestly, I'm not that upset. I just can't figure out why I thought Yu Xiaogang was a decent person. I'm glad you guys exposed him in time," Bibi Dong said, shaking her head.
"If you're not too upset, then eat something. You barely touched your dinner, and the food's getting cold," Lin Yongming said, opening the takeout box.
"Even if I'm not that upset, the thought of Yu Xiaogang losing control like that makes me feel sick. How can I eat after that?" Bibi Dong said, patting her chest as if to calm her stomach.
"You should go back to your room. A Yin must be done with her shower by now. I should take a bath and get some sleep too," Bibi Dong said, standing up.
Hearing this, Lin Yongming sat down next to Bibi Dong on the small sofa, squeezing in beside her.
"What are you doing?" Bibi Dong asked, surprised.
"Bibi Dong, I'm sorry for making you wait so long. I like you!" Lin Yongming said, grabbing her hand firmly.
"Uh... Xiao Ming, don't be like this. A Yin is right next door," Bibi Dong said, her face turning red as she tried to pull her hand away.
"Dong'er, I'm not joking. I'm seriously confessing to you. Do you like me?" Lin Yongming asked, his expression earnest.
Truth be told, Blue Silver Empress was right. When Lin Yongming saw Yu Xiaogang by Bibi Dong's side, his heart had clenched painfully. Thinking about the original story where Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang were together, Lin Yongming realized he couldn't bear the thought of Bibi Dong being with another man.
So when Blue Silver Empress mentioned that there might be others like Yu Xiaogang who would approach Bibi Dong in the future, Lin Yongming knew he couldn't just stand by and watch.
Hearing Lin Yongming's heartfelt confession, Bibi Dong stopped struggling and stared at his face in shock.
"Xiao Ming, I... I don't know," Bibi Dong said, her voice filled with uncertainty.
"And what about A Yin? How am I supposed to face her after this? She clearly loves you," Bibi Dong said, taking a deep breath.
"So it's A Yin's presence that's making you hesitate? Actually, A Yin's jokes about you were serious. She hopes we can all be together," Lin Yongming explained with a smile.
"She doesn't mind you being with us. In fact, she's worried you might mind her presence, given that you're the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall," Lin Yongming added.
"Huh?" Bibi Dong let out a surprised sound.
"I..." Bibi Dong was about to say more, but Lin Yongming cut her off with action.
He quickly leaned in and kissed her, his hands gripping her arms.
Bibi Dong's eyes widened in shock, but after a moment, she slowly closed them and kissed him back.
After a few minutes, Bibi Dong pushed him away, gasping for air.
"Xiao Ming, you jerk! Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore," Bibi Dong said, her face flushed as she turned away.
"Now will you eat something?" Lin Yongming asked.
"Ugh, now I can't even look at you without losing my appetite," Bibi Dong said with a huff.
"Alright, if you won't eat, I'll just keep kissing you," Lin Yongming said with a mischievous grin, leaning in again.
"Fine, fine, I'll eat! Just get off me," Bibi Dong said quickly.
"That's more like it," Lin Yongming said, getting off her lap. Unbeknownst to him, he had ended up sitting on her legs.
"Stupid Xiao Ming, I'll eat you alive," Bibi Dong muttered, stabbing at the food as if it were Lin Yongming himself.
"Dong'er, even the way you eat is adorable," Lin Yongming teased from beside her.
"Can you not call me Dong'er? It feels weird," Bibi Dong said, annoyed.
"And why are you still here? Shouldn't you go back to your room?" she added.
"I can't get back in. A Yin locked me out," Lin Yongming said with an awkward smile.
"Really?" Bibi Dong asked, skeptical.
"It's true. Go check if you don't believe me. The door's locked," Lin Yongming said helplessly.
"I don't believe it," Bibi Dong said, getting up to check. She quickly returned, "It really is locked. That A Yin, what is she thinking, locking you out like that?"
"So, Dong'er, can I stay here tonight? It looks like it might rain," Lin Yongming said, mustering up his courage.
"Fine, but you're sleeping on the floor," Bibi Dong said reluctantly.
"Alright, eat up," Lin Yongming said with a smile.
In the end, because Lin Yongming was there, Bibi Dong decided not to take a bath and just washed up quickly.
When she returned to the bedroom, she realized she didn't have an extra blanket.
She didn't even have one in her spatial soul tool. The one she had used during their month-long stay in the wilderness had been thrown away because it got too dirty. She had planned to buy a new one before leaving Coconut Palm City.
"Xiao Ming, do you have a blanket?" Bibi Dong asked awkwardly.
"Don't you have a clean one in your room? You know A Yin usually handles the blankets," Lin Yongming replied, confused.
"Sigh, I checked. This is a single room. The innkeeper didn't provide an extra blanket," Bibi Dong said, shrugging.
"Then how about I sleep in your small bedroom? It's warmer than the living room," Lin Yongming suggested.
"I guess that's the only option," Bibi Dong agreed.
With that, they turned off the living room lights and went into the bedroom.
Bibi Dong sat on the bed, watching as Lin Yongming laid out some clothes on the floor and used his coat as a makeshift blanket.
"I'm turning off the light."
"Okay."
Bibi Dong turned off the light and lay down on the bed.
The room was silent, save for the sound of their breathing. Neither of them spoke.
Not long after, a flash of lightning lit up the room, followed by the sound of rain outside. The temperature in the room dropped.
"Xiao Ming, are you asleep?" Bibi Dong asked softly.
"Not yet," Lin Yongming replied.
"It's raining. Those clothes won't keep you warm, and the floor isn't comfortable. Why don't you come up here?" Bibi Dong said, as if she had made a big decision.
"Really?" Lin Yongming asked, surprised.
"Hurry up, before I change my mind," Bibi Dong said, her voice tinged with shyness.
"Okay," Lin Yongming said, not hesitating any longer.
"Thank you, Dong'er," Lin Yongming said as he lay down beside her, pulling the blanket over himself. He could smell her unique scent.
"I just don't want you to catch a cold. A Yin would be upset with me if I didn't take care of you," Bibi Dong said slowly.
"But if I caught a cold, wouldn't you be upset too?" Lin Yongming asked softly.
"I would," Bibi Dong admitted.
"Alright, let's sleep," Bibi Dong said, turning her back to him.
But whether it was intentional or not, her foot brushed against his.
Lin Yongming, seizing the opportunity, gently placed his hand on her waist. "Dong'er, you're so kind."
"Sleep means sleep. Take your hand off me," Bibi Dong said, annoyed, as she turned to face him.
In the darkness, it felt as if they could see each other clearly. Their faces were close, their breaths mingling.
"Dong'er, thank you for letting go of your reservations and agreeing to be with me," Lin Yongming said softly.
"If this had been two years ago, I would never have been able to accept having A Yin between us. But now, after two years, it doesn't seem to matter anymore. As long as I can be with you, that's enough," Bibi Dong said, finally opening up about her previous concerns.
"Dong'er, both you and A Yin are wonderful women. I will never let either of you down," Lin Yongming said with deep emotion.
"Mm," Bibi Dong nodded slightly, a rare smile appearing on her face.
At that moment, they couldn't help but kiss again.
After a few minutes, they separated, both breathing heavily. Bibi Dong's face was flushed, her cheeks practically glowing.
"Xiao Ming, wait. Are you sure A Yin knows about this? If she doesn't, I don't want to ruin your relationship with her because of me," Bibi Dong said, grabbing Lin Yongming's wandering hands and looking at him seriously.
"Dong'er, don't worry. The reason I'm here tonight is because of A Yin. She's the one who locked me out, after all," Lin Yongming explained.
"That's good, that's good," Bibi Dong said, finally relaxing her grip.
"Dong'er, I promise I won't hurt either of you," Lin Yongming assured her.
Slowly, their defenses crumbled. Amidst the stormy night and Bibi Dong's tears, she gave Lin Yongming everything she had held onto for so many years.
Given Bibi Dong's personality, she wouldn't have given in so easily. But she had heard the two of them together countless times, and on many nights, she had fantasized about this very moment.
"Xiao Ming!"
Blue Silver Empress sat quietly on her bed, listening to the sounds from next door. Tears streamed down her face, though whether they were tears of joy or sorrow, she couldn't tell.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 252 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 55 power stones I will publish the next chapter.