Chapter 1000: Have to be dead

After ending Hung Woo’s life, Yue Ling’s mind went blank.

One moment, she was walking up the stairs inside Fate.

The next, she was stepping out into the snow.

And before she even realized how much time had passed, she was home.

The sky was already beginning to brighten along the horizon, the first traces of morning slowly replacing the darkness over Imperial.

Yue Ling stood outside her home for a long moment, staring at it as though she were seeing it for the first time.

She didn’t move.

She didn’t speak.

Then something soft brushed against her leg.

She blinked and looked down.

Inu gazed up at her, his tail wagging as though he had been waiting for her to return.

A small smile finally touched her lips, and she bent down to gently pat his head.

"It’s good to see you, too."

The moment the words left her mouth, her gaze dropped to her clothes.

There was no blood.

Not a single drop stained the fabric.

Yet for some reason, she could still feel it.

As though it had soaked into her skin.

Yue Ling stared at her hands for a moment before slowly curling them into fists.

"I should get cleaned up."

The words came out as little more than a murmur.

She gave Inu one last gentle pat before straightening and heading toward the stairs.

Whether in the past or now, Yue Ling had never enjoyed taking a life.

She never would.

But some people crossed a line so far beyond redemption that their continued existence only brought suffering to others. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

And Hung Woo had crossed that line long ago.

Behind her, Lu Tian stood in silence, his eyes following her every step.

He had watched her end Hung Woo’s life without once stepping in. He had simply stood there and let her make the choice herself.

Because he knew Yue Ling.

He knew that if she had wanted his hand, she would have reached for it.

And if she wanted silence, he would give her that too.

The moment she walked out of the room, Lu Tian followed one step behind.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t ask if she was all right. He didn’t tell her that she had done what she needed to do.

Some things words could never fix.

So he stayed close instead.

That was all she needed from him.

There was no reason to remain at Fate. Liu Shan and Xu Long already knew what needed to be done with Hung Woo’s body.

Lu Tian’s attention remained on Yue Ling.

He knew she needed time to process what she had done without someone standing over her, demanding an explanation for feelings she might not even understand herself.

He would give her that space.

But he would never give her the chance to face it alone.

Watching her disappear up the stairs, he remained where he was for a moment before turning toward Inu.

The little dog let out a soft whimper.

Lu Tian sighed quietly.

"Don’t worry."

His gaze shifted toward the stairs.

"I’ll take care of her."

He removed his coat and followed after his wife.

When he reached their bedroom, he wasn’t worried when he didn’t see her.

The sound of the shower running from the bathroom was enough to ease his mind.

He didn’t knock.

He didn’t call her name.

Instead, he walked into the closet, retrieved a change of clothes, and decided to use the guest bathroom.

It didn’t take him long to finish.

By the time he returned to their bedroom, the shower had stopped.

He glanced toward the bathroom door.

Still, he said nothing.

He waited.

Because Lu Tian understood something most people never could.

Sometimes loving someone meant knowing when to speak.

And sometimes it meant staying close enough that they would never have to wonder if you were still there.

Lu Tian walked over to the bed and sat down. He reached for his phone and sent a quick message to Grandfather Ji, asking for an update on Ji Jingxu.

He knew Yue Ling would want to know how her brother was doing, and he also wanted the old man to understand that his wife needed some time to rest.

A soft click came from the bathroom.

Yue Ling stepped out wearing a beige oversized sweater and black leggings, a towel in one hand as she gently dried her damp hair.

It didn’t take her long to notice Lu Tian sitting on the bed.

She gave him a small smile before turning toward the closet, intending to change.

Seeing her leave, Lu Tian sighed quietly and shook his head.

He lowered his phone and stared at his wife.

"Where are you going?"

Yue Ling paused, then blinked once, then twice. Slowly, she turned around to look at him.

"Tian, I need to change and go to the hospital."

Her voice was calm, leaving no room for hesitation.

"I promised Jingxu that I would see him when I finished taking care of my business."

She couldn’t break a promise.

Especially not one she had made to her family.

Lu Tian knew his wife well enough to understand that once Yue Ling made up her mind, very little could change it.

But this time, he had no intention of letting her stubbornness win.

He leaned back against the headboard, his posture relaxed.

His eyes never left hers.

There was no anger in his expression.

No reprimand.

Just quiet certainty.

"Come here."

His arms stretched out to either side, silently asking her for a hug.

Yue Ling frowned.

"I can’t stay. I need to go."

Lu Tian let out a quiet breath but didn’t lower his arms.

"I already told your grandfather that you need to rest. And your brother fell back asleep."

His gaze remained fixed on his wife.

He knew she might feel as though he had crossed a line by deciding without asking for her opinion. They weren’t married yet, and technically, it wasn’t his place to decide what she should or shouldn’t do.

He could worry about that later.

Right now, he was more concerned about her.

"Come here," he said quietly. "You’re no good to your brother in your condition."

Yue Ling stared at him, her expression troubled.

Part of her did feel as though he had crossed a line.

But another part of her knew he’d done it only because he loved her.

Everything that had happened over the past few days was finally catching up to her, and for the first time, Yue Ling wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep standing on her own.

She drew in a small breath.

Then she walked toward him.

Climbing onto the bed, she didn’t waste another second before settling into his open arms.

Her head pressed against his chest, her arms wrapping around his waist.

Lu Tian immediately encircled her with his arms and kissed the top of her head, quietly inhaling the familiar scent of her hair.

Neither of them spoke.

They didn’t need to.

Soon, Inu joined them on the bed.

The fluffy little dog circled near the foot of the mattress several times before finally settling down and closing his eyes.

Yue Ling felt exhausted. Yet sleep refused to come.

Her mind was too busy trying to process everything that had happened.

The preparations for her engagement party and wedding with Lu Tian.

Ji Chu Hua’s threat—either withdraw from taking over Ji Corps or call off her wedding.

Ji Jingxu’s kidnapping, and the relief of finally getting him back.

Then there was the knowledge that her grandfather was dying.

And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Lu Tian held his wife in silence. He could tell she hadn’t fallen asleep.

Feeling her body shift slightly against him, he gently tightened his arms around her.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He knew keeping her grandfather’s condition from her had been wrong.

But he had given his word.

Now that she knew the truth, whether she chose to confide in him or keep it to herself, he would understand.

If she didn’t want to talk about that, she could tell him whatever else was weighing on her mind.

She didn’t have to carry any of it alone.

Yue Ling listened to the steady rhythm of Lu Tian’s heartbeat.

Her eyes remained fixed on the window, where she could see the faintest glimpse of the sky outside.

There was so much she wanted to say.

She didn’t know where to begin.

After inhaling deeply, she slowly exhaled and leaned further into him.

"Before I found out about Yeye’s health, I met with my cousin."

Lu Tian didn’t react.

He had already seen the surveillance footage while searching for her.

What he hadn’t known was what the meeting had been about.

His silence told Yue Ling that he was listening.

"She told me to withdraw from taking over Ji Corps or..."

She paused.

Then shifted in his arms so she could look up at him.

"Call off the wedding."

Lu Tian’s eyes darkened instantly.

A murderous glint flashed through them at the threat against his wife.

He lowered his gaze to meet her bluish-green eyes.

"And your decision?"

Yue Ling placed her palm against his chest and rested her chin lightly on the back of her hand.

She stared into his eyes for a long moment before slowly shaking her head.

"She can never threaten me."

The corner of her lips lifted into a small smile.

"Unless you decide you want out."

Lu Tian’s expression darkened more than it had. His arms tightened around her, pulling her slightly higher until her face was close to his.

"I would have to be dead to be away from you."

His entire life, he had loved only one woman.

And she was in his arms at this very moment.

No one else mattered to him in the same way.

If he were ever separated from her, it would only be because he was no longer alive.

The thought made him lean down and press a soft kiss against her lips.

"But even death won’t stop me from being with you."

Yue Ling’s eyes trembled at his words.

She was part of the underworld.

Her hands were stained with blood.

She had taken lives and never regretted the lives she had taken.

Yet no matter how much she doubted herself, Lu Tian was always there to remind her that she was still worthy of being loved.

He gently tapped the tip of her nose, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Whatever you’re thinking..."

His lips lifted into a devastating smile, effortless and confident, the kind that could make a room forget to breathe.

The kind of smile he reserved only for her.

"I’m not going anywhere. Not now, and not in the future."

Yue Ling stared at him, momentarily dazed by his smile.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again before finally letting out a quiet laugh.

"Now I see why women are so attracted to you."

Lu Tian frowned thoughtfully at her words.

"They’re just people."

Then gives her that same smile before leaning closer.

"You’re the only woman I see."

His voice softened.

"And the only woman I love."

Of course, there was his mother.

But his love for his mother was different from his love for his wife.

Yue Ling shook her head with a laugh before leaning forward and pressing a light kiss to his chin.

"Thank you for loving me and all my flaws."

Lu Tian pulled her closer. He kissed the top of her head.

"And I will never stop loving you."

Silence welcomed the room once again.

This time, neither of them felt the need to break it.

Lu Tian waited quietly, giving Yue Ling every opportunity to speak if she wanted to.

But after several minutes, he felt her body grow heavier against him.

Her breathing became slow and even.

She had finally fallen asleep.

Exhaustion had won.

Lu Tian shifted carefully, moving just enough to pull the blanket over them without disturbing her.

Once he was certain she was comfortably tucked against him, he pressed one final kiss to the top of her head.

Then he closed his eyes.