"Hahaha, congratulations Brother Cai! The Clan is in good hands!"
"Hahaha, thank you, brothers and sisters! I promise I will take the Qin Clan to new heights!"
five full months had passed since the tragic events. A feast was held in honor of the newly appointed Qin Cai, now Clan Leader. Most of the important members of the Qin Clan were present. In a quiet corner of the hall, Qin Su sat, sipping from his cup.
"Hmm, maybe I should find better wine," he thought. "Maybe there's a thousand-year-old vintage somewhere… maybe even older."
Over the past months, the lazy Qin Su had become far more vigilant. He had deployed multiple clones to protect the clan — one following his family, another watching Yuan Ai, and a third keeping an eye on the clan's overall safety. He had also dedicated time to learning the construction of barrier arrays, secretly training under well-known masters through his clones.
Even as he relaxed publicly, his mind never strayed far from the clan's safety.
A soft, melodic voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Ooh, Qin Su, why are you sitting here alone?"
Qin Su looked up, and his eyes widened. Yuan Ai was approaching, dressed in a golden gown that hugged her curves perfectly, her blonde hair elegantly tied. To him, she looked like a goddess descending onto the mortal world.
"Qin Su, it's good to see you involved! You've been such a shut-in since your cultivation plateaued," she said, settling beside him.
He noticed her slightly flushed cheeks, her relaxed posture — she had likely been drinking a little. Yet beneath the cheerfulness, there was a subtle fragility he hadn't noticed before.
"You know, Qin Su," she continued, her voice softening, "I don't know why, but every time I'm with you, I feel… relaxed. Safe. Sometimes my heart… beats faster when you look at me… haha, who am I kidding…"
Qin Su's heart thudded in his chest. He noticed the faint tremor in her hands as she rested them on the table. It wasn't just drunkenness — it was her vulnerability, the grief of losing her husband mingled with the fragile hope that perhaps life could still hold happiness.
"Aunt Yuan, I think it might be time for us to leave. I'll take you home," he said gently.
"No, Little Su, I want to stay and enjoy a bit longer," she replied with a playful lilt, though her hand unconsciously clutched the table edge as if grounding herself.
Qin Su smiled inwardly, recognizing the perfect moment. He leaned subtly closer, letting a small pulse of his cultivation subtly relax her body and mind, easing the lingering tension in her shoulders. "Fine," she said, smiling softly. "Wait for me outside while I say my goodbyes and congratulate Qin Cai."
While she mingled, Qin Su slipped into a disguise and made a brief stop at a well-known store in the clan's district. He returned quickly, just in time to meet Yuan Ai as she stepped outside.
The night was crisp. Qin Su offered his coat, wrapping it carefully around her shoulders. Their chests brushed, and their eyes locked, lips mere centimeters apart. She felt her heartbeat quicken, and a blush rose to her cheeks.
"Qin Su… when we're alone, you can just call me Ai," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
As they walked, Qin Su's gaze scanned the streets subtly, the pulse of distant, faint energy drawing his attention. Even tonight, danger could never be fully ignored. He didn't let it break the moment, but the reminder that he was always alert gave the scene a quiet tension beneath the warmth.
Finally, they arrived at her home. Yuan Ai turned to him, her voice soft but filled with emotion. "Qin Su, thank you. Thank you for everything. What I said earlier — I meant it. When I'm with you, I feel… whole. When I lost my husband, you and your family helped me out of my darkness. Just know that I will be here for you."
Qin Su smiled gently. "It's time I head back… I'll see you later."
Before she could step away, he reached for her hand, pulling her into a hug. Their lips met under the moonlight, a long, lingering kiss that spoke of comfort, desire, and a shared understanding of loss and healing.
Onlookers, had they been present, would have witnessed a scene of quiet magic: two hearts entwined beneath the silver glow of the moon, with the world beyond fading to nothing.