Chapter 120: A Hasty Conclusion

At that moment, Shen Zhaoxi’s eyes were dim and unreadable, harboring a deep, dark shadow. She gazed into the distance, meeting the deep, profound eyes of the man nearby, their gazes locking together. Her hair was drenched by the rain, her skin as fair as winter snow, and her peach-blossom eyes were veiled in a misty haze. The falling rain blurred the world before her. Looking at the man’s cold, handsome face, she saw his brows furrowed, his eyes like bottomless pools. A hint of nervousness and worry seemed to flicker in his expression. Upon seeing her standing in the downpour, Lu Yunzhou’s eyes dimmed for a moment.

Just as she stood there, eyes cast downward, silent, the man walked straight up to her. His tall, upright military uniform was stained with patches of blood. Unable to tell if it was his own or blood he had accidentally picked up while saving someone else, Shen Zhaoxi’s gaze faltered slightly. Then, she heard the man’s low, hoarse voice, slightly suppressed: "Why did you come here?"

Lu Yunzhou’s dark eyes, as if filled with thick ink, rested on her face. "Shen Zhaoxi, this area just experienced a flood; the foundation is damaged, and there is a constant risk of collapse. It is very unsafe." He pressed his thin lips together, pausing for a second as he watched her standing in the cold wind and rain, her face pale from the chill. Subconsciously, he suppressed the anxiety in his heart. "Are you cold?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly with the cold. "Come back with me."

"Are you blaming me?" Unexpectedly, just as Lu Yunzhou finished speaking and reached out to take her hand to lead her away, he heard the young girl’s hushed voice. Shen Zhaoxi looked up into his dark, profound eyes: "You left me there all alone. When I woke up, I didn't recognize anyone. It was pouring rain outside, and there was thunder; I was scared," she said, enunciating every word. "I just wanted to find you, but I didn't know the way, I couldn't find you, and I didn't know where you were..." Her voice was low and trembling, and a thin mist of tears spilled from her eyes. She pulled her hand back, tucking it quietly into the long sleeves of her raincoat. Taking a deep breath, she looked into the depths of the man’s eyes. "Do you think I’m a burden, so you want to get rid of me?"

Hearing this, Lu Yunzhou frowned, a dark and turbulent emotion flashing through his deep, black eyes. "Who told you that?" He never thought she was a burden. Lu Yunzhou said, "Shen Zhaoxi, I have told you before that you are not a burden."

Shen Zhaoxi: "?" Is it not a burden even when things have reached this point? Then what would be? Her eyes shimmered with mist, the tears trembling on the verge of falling, looking pitiful. "Then why did you blame me just now? I know I shouldn't have come here; I’ve delayed your work."

Lu Yunzhou’s expression darkened. "No, you haven't," he said in a husky voice, looking at her pale face.

"Is that so?" Shen Zhaoxi lowered her lashes, the corner of her mouth twitching as she spoke slowly. Lu Yunzhou frowned.

He had never known that his young girl had such a side to her. Why did she seem to be deliberately distancing herself from him? Was it just because he had arranged for her to stay at a temporary rescue point while he was busy with rescue work and couldn't keep her by his side? Was she angry? But he was indeed at fault in this matter. He shouldn't have made the unilateral decision to leave her there alone while she was unconscious. He knew the girl was timid.

"I'm sorry," Lu Yunzhou said. "Shen Zhaoxi, it’s my fault..." He frowned, staring at her pale face, his eyes roiling with dark emotions. Yet, the girl stood there with tears in her eyes, her pale face flushed slightly from the cold wind, her hair disheveled, and her delicate, thin figure clad only in a raincoat. She stared at his fair, cold brows and eyes, her expression as misty as distant mountains, unreadable. "Lu Yunzhou, if you don't like me, our engagement doesn't have to count..."

"Shen Zhaoxi." Lu Yunzhou’s eyes darkened. His low, husky voice seemed to carry a complex emotion. *I don’t dislike you. I don’t think you’re a burden. I wasn't blaming you for coming here. I was just worried.* But all these words surging in his heart were reduced to just her name on his lips.

The next moment, the man stepped forward and pulled Shen Zhaoxi into his arms. His eyes were deep, filled with pity and heartache. "I'm sorry," he apologized in a low, hoarse voice. If his subordinates were to see this, they would surely be shocked that this cold and aloof Captain Lu, who reigned supreme in the military region, would actually be coaxing a young girl with such a hoarse, humble, and patient demeanor.

"..." Shen Zhaoxi frowned. Lu Yunzhou was actually apologizing to her. Did he not think she was timid, cowardly, or incompetent? Given the nature of his work, Lu Yunzhou certainly couldn't take her with him. This was what any normal person would do. Yet, she was arguing and making a scene because of it, and he didn't mind at all. Shen Zhaoxi lowered her eyes, her long, dense lashes like wings shielding her gaze.

"My feet hurt," she said in a slightly low, cold voice. The implication was that she was too tired to walk. After all, from Lu Yunzhou’s perspective, she was merely his fiancée. There was no affection between them. She naturally couldn't act spoiled like an ordinary couple; most men would find that annoying. They would even more likely consider her a burden.

"Shall I carry you back?" Lu Yunzhou frowned, lowering his head to gaze intently at her pale face, his eyes swirling with thick emotion. Shen Zhaoxi looked up, her peach-blossom eyes clouded with a thin mist, her vision blurred by the rain, but all she heard was the man’s low voice saying he would carry her. Her eyes turned red, and she looked at him in surprise, clearly stunned for a moment. She watched as the man leaned over and crouched down in front of her—the tall, handsome man, willing to lower his back for her.

Shen Zhaoxi’s expression darkened, an indescribable emotion flashing in her eyes. Where was his bottom line? Even after all this, could he still be so patient? It felt as if the temper she had just thrown had hit a pile of cotton. She had struck with a heavy blow, only for it to end in such a messy, inconclusive way.

When Lu Yunzhou found Shen Zhaoxi, it was around seven in the evening. But by the time he brought her back to the rescue base, it was already pitch black. The night was dark, rain and mist permeated the air, and the ground was slick. The flood was receding, and the rain was easing—a good thing for them.

Lu Shiwu was just about to look for their captain when he saw the man walking against the light through the dark, rainy mist. On his back, he was carrying a delicate young girl.

"Captain, what is this?"

"Go prepare some hot water." Lu Yunzhou’s voice was low. He walked past Lu Shiwu and gave the order. Lu Shiwu was dumbfounded. "Hot water? No, Captain, the girl who was in the hospital today woke up, she said she wanted to find you..."

But the only response to Lu Shiwu was the cold sound of footsteps being carried away into the rainy mist. "We'll talk about it tomorrow."