Chapter 36: An Overwhelming Will to Survive

"Ahem! Xiaoya, what on earth happened? Why are you looking at me like that?!" Fang Xu clutched the blanket tightly around himself, as if guarding against Xiaoya and the group of young handmaidens, wary that they might pounce at any moment to strip him bare. This thought made Fang Xu swallow nervously.

It was only now that Fang Xu truly saw the faces of these young handmaidens—each more beautiful than any campus beauty he had known in his previous life, their features enhanced by understated makeup and a touch of rouge. The sight was pleasing, yet it did nothing to ease his vigilance. After all, what worried Fang Xu most was whether Xiaoya and these handmaidens might actually do something to him. If they did, what should he do? Should he refuse? Or should he accept? Fang Xu found himself in a dilemma.

As his mind wrestled with these thoughts, a commotion suddenly erupted outside. Xiaoya and the handmaidens, hearing the noise, hurriedly left the great hall in haste, leaving Fang Xu sitting alone on the bed, utterly bewildered.

It was not until Xiaoya and the others had completely disappeared that Fang Xu finally came to his senses, feeling a pang of regret. Why had he hesitated just now? Even if those young ladies had intended to do something to him, would he really have been the one to suffer in the end?

"Ah, what a pity!" Fang Xu couldn't help but mutter under his breath, oblivious to the murderous aura emanating from the person standing before him.

"Oh? Is that so? Are you feeling a little reluctant, perhaps?" The figure before him curled her lips into a slight smile, a hint of mockery in her expression.

"More or less, it's just a bit of a shame… Wait, why does this voice sound so familiar?!" Fang Xu replied instinctively, but as the words left his mouth, he realized with a start just why the voice seemed so well known.

When Fang Xu looked up and clearly saw the face of the person standing before him, he couldn't help but swallow hard. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Xiaoya and the group of handmaidens peeking in from beside the great hall's entrance, their little heads craning to see what was happening.

But in their eyes, Fang Xu could clearly see a hint of pity. He didn't need to be told to understand what was about to happen.

The woman standing before Fang Xu said nothing at first. Sensing Fang Xu's gaze, she turned her head and smiled sweetly at Xiaoya and the handmaidens peeking in. At once, Xiaoya and the others snapped the door shut and fled, their hurried footsteps echoing down the corridor—they had clearly chosen to make themselves scarce.

"Ahem, so… wife, let me explain, please?" Fang Xu swallowed again, his lips twitching as he looked at the woman before him.

The woman standing in front of Fang Xu was none other than Qin Suwen. Having just finished her morning court, she had planned to return with good news for Fang Xu, but before she even reached the hall, she had witnessed a stream of handmaidens dashing out of Fang Xu's quarters—one of whom had, the previous night, nestled into Fang Xu's arms.

Though Fang Xu had later explained that Xiaoya was his sworn younger sister, how could Qin Suwen possibly believe him? She had scrutinized Xiaoya with a careful eye—just two glances were enough to see that Xiaoya was certainly a beauty in the making. The thought made Qin Suwen silently curse Fang Xu as a beast.

After all, even Qin Suwen could see that Xiaoya was not yet of age, and Fang Xu seemed ready to lay hands on her. Was that not beastly?

Had Fang Xu known what Qin Suwen was thinking, he might truly have burst into tears, feeling utterly wronged, for he genuinely saw Xiaoya as nothing more than a younger sister. But Qin Suwen refused to believe him. She was already displeased, and when she had entered to find Fang Xu lost in thought and muttering to himself, oblivious to her arrival, it only cemented her suspicions.

Now that Fang Xu realized he had offended Qin Suwen, he was grateful there were no outsiders present, emboldening him to call her "wife."

"Oh? Is that so? Since you wish to explain, then go on," Qin Suwen said, pulling out a chair and crossing her legs, a smile playing about her lips as she regarded Fang Xu.

"Well…" Fang Xu was clearly unprepared for Qin Suwen to actually let him explain, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.

"What is it? Or is there simply nothing to explain?" Qin Suwen arched an eyebrow, still smiling.

Yet for some reason, despite being wrapped in a thick blanket, Fang Xu felt a chill seep into his bones at her words.

"Go ahead and explain! Otherwise, people might say I’m falsely accusing you. I am rather eager to hear it myself," Qin Suwen said, her smile icy despite the gentle tone.

"Alright, alright. Since you insist, I'll just be honest," Fang Xu coughed awkwardly, his face tinged with embarrassment as he recounted everything that had happened.

"Oh? In that case, what exactly did you find so unfortunate?" Qin Suwen uncrossed her legs, sat up straighter, and looked at Fang Xu with a smile.

"Well… um…" Fang Xu hadn’t expected her to ask this and was momentarily tongue-tied.

"Fine, fine! I was just worried they might do something to me. After all, my heart belongs to you alone!" Fang Xu declared earnestly. Qin Suwen, who had been somewhat angry, couldn't help but scold him playfully upon hearing this.

"As if you’d dare have eyes for anyone else! I'll let you off this time," Qin Suwen muttered, her cheeks flushing with a hint of shyness. Only then did Fang Xu finally relax.

Seeing Qin Suwen’s blushing cheeks, Fang Xu wiped the cold sweat from his brow, knowing he had passed this test—yet he truly had not lied. In his heart, there was only Qin Suwen. He would never have spoken so openly under other circumstances, but this time, it was the overwhelming instinct for self-preservation that had compelled him.