Chapter 805: Don’t Put Your Life in the Hands of Others

"With the map to Mount Penglai, you could find the elixir of immortality and endless wealth. You wouldn’t have to work so hard running your businesses," Sang Zhi said very seriously.

"Don’t listen to their nonsense. This Mount Penglai is nothing but an illusion." Despite her dismissive words, Ye Qianning felt truly touched.

"It’s not entirely baseless."

"You looked into it?"

"Yes. Even if what’s hidden in my eyes isn’t the map to Penglai, it’s still a massive fortune." Since coming of age, he had investigated many things.

"Secrets can save your life. How can you give them away so easily?"

"You aren’t just anyone."

Ye Qianning fell silent.

"Sang Zhi, don’t put your life in someone else’s hands." Human nature was the most unpredictable thing in the world, and that included her own. She didn’t even know how her own heart might change in the future as the world shifted around her.

Sang Zhi merely stared at her. His life was hers, and in this lifetime, he would only ever entrust it to her.

The ocean breeze blew out the candles in the room. Outside the window, the rain began to fall with a steady PITTER-PATTER. The scent of the rain, mixed with the salty tang of the sea, filled the air. The soothing incense that had previously wafted through the room completely dissipated.

The drowsiness Ye Qianning had fended off crept back up on her, and she let out a yawn.

"If you’re tired, go to sleep early," Sang Zhi said, sitting up.

"Alright. You should get some rest soon, too." Ye Qianning stood and walked over to the bed. Sitting down, she noticed Sang Zhi hadn’t moved. "Why aren’t you leaving?"

"Could I... sleep here?" Sang Zhi asked, his low voice filled with hesitation.

"How could you? If my father saw, it’d be a disaster."

Sang Zhi fell silent.

In the dim light, Ye Qianning could faintly make out his slight silhouette. Sitting on the soft couch with his head slightly bowed, he looked indescribably lonely and desolate.

"Just this once."

Sang Zhi looked up, a glimmer of joy flashing in his eyes. "Okay."

Ye Qianning stood up, pulled a thin quilt from the cabinet, and tossed it onto the couch. "It gets cold at night."

Even though it was mid-June, the nights in Nanyuan were still quite chilly. With the wind and rain, it would be easy to catch a cold.

Sang Zhi touched the quilt. He watched as she lit a stick of incense; the faint fragrance was similar to her own natural scent, making him feel incredibly at ease.

"Go to sleep."

After lighting the incense, the aroma drifted into her nose, causing her to yawn again. She was clearly exhausted.

Sang Zhi’s gaze fell on the bed, and he simply watched her. The entire room was filled with her presence, bringing him a profound sense of peace. He slowly lay down. With the soothing incense and the sound of her even breathing, his heart felt completely full and warm in that moment.

It was a scene he had never dared to dream of.

He turned his head to look at the person on the bed, his eyes brimming with tenderness. Before, all he wanted was to kill everyone who had plotted against her. Now, all he wanted was to protect her and ensure her lifelong peace.

The night passed with sweet dreams.

Ye Qianning had slept deeply. She sat up and looked out the window. Sunlight struck the window panes, signaling beautiful weather outside. It was likely already past eight in the morning.

Her gaze shifted to the soft couch, but Sang Zhi was nowhere to be seen. The quilt on the couch had been neatly folded.

Slipping on her shoes, she stood up and stretched lazily before raising her hand to release Dun Dun and Pang Pang from her spatial dimension.

"It’s so early in the morning. What are you two fussing about?"

If it hadn’t been for Dun Dun causing a ruckus inside the space, Ye Qianning probably would have slept until the afternoon.

An unexpectedly aggrieved expression appeared on Dun Dun’s monkey face. It walked over, silently hugged Ye Qianning’s leg, and pressed its head against her.

Pang Pang’s tail was held high in the air. Its azure eyes glared at Dun Dun, its ears flattened back against its head, and it was slightly baring its teeth in a blatant threat.

It looked exactly like a victor in a fight aggressively warning the loser not to tattle.