Linyue blinked at him, still a little breathless from their kiss. Her lips tingled and her heart beat faster than it should. She gave him a tiny smile that carried more mischief than softness. "Alright," she said quietly. "But it won't be easy to get their permission."
Shu Mingye grinned. "I'll bribe them."
"With what?"
He leaned in until his forehead almost touched hers. His ears were still faintly red, but his expression had turned smug again. "Whatever it takes. Pies, dumplings, land, titles… eternal silence from Prince Lu."
Linyue laughed quietly. That last one might actually work. "What if they still don't agree?" she asked, her tone playful.
He gave her a dangerous smile. "Then I'll just kidnap you and keep you somewhere only I can see you."
Linyue squinted at him. "I don't mind the first part, but I'm very concerned about the second."
Shu Mingye paused. Wait. She didn't mind being kidnapped? His heart did a strange, bright leap.
His face lit up, far too pleased for someone discussing crime. "Really? Then I should just kidnap and marry you right away."
"I still haven't agreed to the last part," she said flatly.
"But you already said you like me," he pointed out, completely shameless. "It's practically a done deal."
Linyue raised one eyebrow. "Don't you think the kidnapped one has the right to bargain?"
"Of course not," he said at once.
"Of course yes," she corrected without hesitation.
He leaned closer until his shadow covered hers, his voice lowering to something rough and tempting. "Well… not with me."
Linyue looked unimpressed. "Then I'll escape."
"I'll catch you," he answered smoothly.
She tilted her head, her voice light with mischief. "Then what if I don't like you anymore?"
He froze. The smile on his face faded. His arms tightened around her waist. He knew she was teasing. Her tone was soft, almost playful. But those words—
They pierced deeper than he expected. His thoughts spun in quiet panic. If that self-sealing array inside her really could not be broken… what then? What if there came a day when her heart changed? A day when she stopped smiling at him like this. Stopped kissing him. Stopped laughing at his terrible jokes. Stopped holding him back the way she just did. The idea scared him more than anything else ever had.
He pulled her into a tight embrace, pressing her close against his chest. His chin rested gently on her shoulder. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet and rough. "Pie, if that really happens… I'll still keep you. I'll tie you to my side," he whispered. "Even if you don't like it. Even if you hate me. I won't let you go."
Linyue blinked, surprised at the sudden seriousness in his voice.
He held her even closer, his breath warm against her skin. "I told you before, didn't I?" he said softly. "It's already too late to regret it."
She didn't expect this reaction. Usually, he would tease her back. Say something shameless. Smirk like he always did. But this time he didn't. This time, he was serious. Her little joke wasn't meant to hurt. He should have known that. But the way he hugged her, the way his voice trembled just a little, told her otherwise. She slowly wrapped her arms around him. Her heart ached. Was he really that afraid? That someday she would stop liking him? Was that what scared the Demon King of Shulin the most?
She whispered softly, "I know."
Shu Mingye only held her tighter, as if letting go even a little would shatter something between them.
Her voice stayed steady. Warm. Honest. Clear. "I won't regret it. I'll always be by your side." Then she leaned back just enough to meet his eyes. "…Liking you," she said softly.
Shu Mingye let out a quiet sigh and closed his eyes. His chest ached in a way he wasn't used to. He trusted her. He believed her words. He truly did. But still, the fear sat heavy inside him.
Even if one day she stopped liking him, he wouldn't blame her. It wouldn't be her fault. Maybe it wouldn't even be because of the array. Maybe it would just be him. He wasn't someone easy to love. People feared him. Avoided him. He had done too many dark things and walked too far down a road others would never choose. If she turned away from him someday, he would understand. But understanding didn't make him any less selfish. Because he didn't want to let her go. Not now. Not ever. She had become too important. Too close. Too bright. Too sweet. She was everything. He would rather break a thousand times than lose her.
Slowly, Shu Mingye opened his eyes. The look in them was quiet and intense, almost vulnerable. He raised a hand and gently cupped her cheek. His thumb brushed softly against her skin like he was trying to memorize every detail, like he didn't trust the world to let him keep her. Then he said in a low steady voice, "Then… I'll keep you. Forever by my side."
Linyue looked at him. And for once, she didn't tease or smile. She leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to his lips. Soft. Warm. Simple. Then she whispered, "Alright."
Shu Mingye's eyes darkened as he watched her. His voice was low and firm, every word heavy. "No matter what happens in the future, remember the promise you made today. You are mine. And you will always be mine."
Linyue tilted her head, a playful glint returning to her eyes. She decided to lighten the mood, to make him smile again. "I never agreed to being yours," she said, pretending to think deeply. "Being by your side doesn't mean I belong to you."
Shu Mingye didn't even blink. "It sounds the same to me."
Linyue couldn't help but grin. "If you promise me a lifetime supply of pie and dumplings, I might consider it."
Finally, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Only pie and dumplings?" he said softly. "Steamed buns, pancakes, candies, noodles… me. I'll give you everything."
She raised an eyebrow. "You?" she asked, pretending to sound surprised. But her smile gave her away. Did he really think she wouldn't notice he slipped himself into the list?
He met her gaze with zero shame. "Especially me."
She laughed, then leaned in and rested her forehead on his shoulder. "Then I guess you can keep me."
His arms wrapped around her instantly, pulling her close like he had just sealed the most important deal of his life. Pie and dumplings included.
*****
Morning came too fast. The sky was just starting to lighten when Linyue blinked awake, still curled up in Shu Mingye's arms. Scrolls and books were scattered around them, forgotten sometime after midnight. They hadn't done anything scandalous, unless reading ten scrolls about arrays while cuddling counted as scandalous.
Shu Mingye's voice was soft near her ear. "Pie, I'll be busy for a while. If you get bored, go play with your little group of troublemakers."
He was letting her go? Just like that? No suspicious questions? No dramatic warnings about what would happen if she got caught tossing someone out a window?
"…Really?" she asked, narrowing her eyes a little.
He looked amused. "What, you want me to chain you to the bed?"
"No thanks," she said quickly. "You're busy. I understand. We won't cause any trouble. Maybe."
He laughed and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I told you, it's fine. You can pay for it later." There was a pause. Then his voice dropped, smooth and shameless. "Worst case, you'll scream under me."
Linyue's eyes widened. "No trouble. We'll behave perfectly," she said too fast, slipping out of his arms. "I'll go first. I won't bother you anymore. Goodbye. Good luck. Farewell."
She darted to the door, and practically bolted out. The door clicked shut behind her.
Inside, Shu Mingye sat up slowly, looking far too satisfied. He muttered under his breath, "She still didn't say no."