CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: I’LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU

She rubbed her groggy head but couldn’t recall what had happened.

All she remembered was knocking on Bai’e Gate’s door... and then?

Ruan Li’s eyes widened.

She was actually in bed?

And it wasn’t even her bed!

She immediately lifted the covers to check her clothes. Thankfully, they were her pajamas from last night, and there were no strange marks on her body.

But...

She turned her neck mechanically, inch by inch, toward the side.

Messy silver hair partially covered the young man’s face, his pale lips gently pressed, and his white shirt slightly crumpled. He seemed to be still asleep.

Who else could it be but Bai He?

Could it be that she was so desperate that she took advantage of Bai He’s pallor and vulnerability?

Ruan Li wavered for a moment, doubting her own self-control.

Not that it’s impossible... although she felt she wasn’t that beastly.

Long, pure lashes trembled, and Bai Tong slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Ruan Li, he stayed silent for a moment, then propped himself up against the headboard, "I’ll take responsibility for you."

"...Huh?" Ruan Li was greatly shocked.

"Yes."

"We?" She looked at Bai He suspiciously, but seeing his calm reaction and considering her own lack of any strange feelings, she couldn’t believe she had been overwhelmed by lust and forced Bai He.

She might force Shi Jue, but she would never force Bai He.

"Yes."

"Did we do anything?" She worried that Bai He didn’t get her meaning and clapped her hands twice to clarify.

Bai He’s pupils contracted slightly, not quite reacting to the meaning at first. He frowned slightly and nodded, "I’ll take responsibility for you."

Worried Ruan Li might have more questions, he added, "You have my scent on you, very strongly.

I... did something terrible to you." He lowered his eyes to the side, a blush rising on his pale cheeks.

Ruan Li, unconvinced, threw off the covers. How could two slightly disheveled people be possible?

She jumped off the bed, not feeling anything unusual in her body.

"What terrible thing did you do to me?" she pressed.

Bai He turned his head, pressed his lips, and stayed silent.

Ruan Li ruffled her somewhat messy hair and clicked her tongue.

"I bit you while you were asleep."

"No wonder my neck feels like it’s cramping. Wait, why would you bite my neck? Aren’t you vegetarian?" Ruan Li touched her neck and felt a faint sting around the backside.

"Birds are omnivorous animals," Bai He explained earnestly.

"I was severely injured three months ago... that’s why I did such a thing to you. I will take responsibility," Bai He explained.

"You were injured? Then why didn’t you tell me when I asked before?" Ruan Li inquired.

Seeing Bai He’s reluctance to speak, Ruan Li thoughtfully explained for him, "Are you afraid that the changes I mentioned were fake? Afraid I’d use them to threaten you?"

"It’s okay, I can understand. Treatment is doable, but let me make one thing clear: I don’t need you to be responsible. You don’t have to reluctantly say you’ll take responsibility for me, and I’m not into your aloof type."

Ruan Li had just woken up, her emotions were volatile, and her tone wasn’t very pleasant.

She deftly grabbed Bai He’s hand, "I’ll treat you now. Next time you get hurt, just say so directly."

She closed her eyes, just like last time, channeling her Life Force into Bai He’s body.

Suddenly, she was drawn into another illusion: a curtain of waterfalls, mountains and woods were lush and full of life, yet all were consumed by a skyfull of flames, engulfing everything in a destructive wave. Inside a wooden house perched in the trees, a small boy with sculpted features and silver hair was trapped, unable to escape the surrounding inferno.

With such distinct eye color and hair, Ruan Li recognized him as Bai He immediately.

The small boy’s face was soiled with ash from the fire, yet his beauty was undeniable.

"Help! Save us! Cough, cough."

Ruan Li knew she was in Bai He’s mental world now and wouldn’t be harmed.

She crossed through the wall of flame, breaking into the precarious wooden house.

"Bai He, come over here. I’ll take you out!"

The boy’s eyes lit up upon seeing her, then shouted, "Big sister, and my brother, he’s hurt. Can you take him out with us?"

Ruan Li noticed the boy hiding behind Bai He.

That other boy peeked shyly at Ruan Li.

Same silver hair and shining eyes.

Something flashed quickly through Ruan Li’s mind, as if she’d missed something.

Seeing the fire grow fiercer, Ruan Li took Bai He’s and his brother’s hands, leading them out of the inferno.

As they escaped the fire, a white light flashed.

Ruan Li opened her eyes, and Bai He was now closing his, his brow slightly furrowed, sweat forming on his forehead. His face, originally devoid of color, had taken on a healthy glow.

"How’s the wound?" Ruan Li, roughly aware the wound was on his back, asked with concern.

Bai He slowly opened his eyes, gazing at her.

Reflecting on the scene just now, a fragile female, like a god descending, rescuing his desperate childhood self successfully from the fire. The scorching heat seemed to still linger on his skin, as did the warmth in his palm.

"Much better." Bai He averted his gaze.

Seeing his strange reaction, Ruan Li was puzzled: "Let me see the wound. I’ll check if it’s fully healed for you."

"No need."

Fearing his tone was too aloof, he added, "It’s too ugly. You wouldn’t like it."

No Female Head ever liked a male Beastman with a body full of scars.

Ruan Li guessed his embarrassment and said naturally, "It’s okay, I’m not disgusted. Let me see, I’ll be reassured only after seeing the wound healed."

Bai He was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay."

Slowly, the buttons of the white shirt were undone, revealing at first a large patch of scar tissue from burns on his arm and chest, along with numerous old dark marks, making his pale skin appear especially striking.

Ruan Li’s first reaction upon seeing these scars was shock, followed by distress.

She thought of the boy in the burning building, so pretty and adorable in his childhood, yet having endured such suffering...

"Don’t look, it’s ugly."

The prolonged gaze caused his already inferior heart to shrink instantly. He gathered the shirt’s edges.

But Ruan Li grabbed his hand, the delicate little female earnestly said, "Not ugly."

She wanted to ask: How were you saved from the fire then?

But clearly, the result was already before her.

Ruan Li held his hand, pulling the shirt from his hand, letting it fall slowly.

Bai He slightly turned to show her his back.

The hideous scar stretched twenty centimeters, almost running across the entire back.

Even though it had scabbed over now, it was hard to imagine what had happened then.

"The wound has scabbed, it might be a bit itchy these few days. Don’t scratch it, or it will slow the recovery." She helped him put back on the shirt.

The slender waist, the lean back like a perfect work of art.

The scars became just his beautiful patterns.

Ruan Li silently helped him dress.