Chapter 349: Chapter 349: I Like You Too, Bai Ye

A cool breeze brushed past her ears, and Yun Sheng’s breath suddenly hitched.

Her heart felt as if it had been struck hard. Her pulse accelerated, the pounding so loud it seemed it would echo across the quiet balcony. The tips of her ears flushed an uncontrollable pale red, and even her fingertips grew slightly stiff.

She had already fallen for Bai Ye but simply hadn’t voiced it. Now, facing his earnest confession, all the emotions suppressed in her heart were stirred up in a restless, chaotic swirl. Pressing her lips together, Yun Sheng stared blankly at the man before her. Her mind was a mess, her throat tight, and for a long time, she couldn’t speak a single word.

To Bai Ye, the brief few seconds of silence stretched endlessly into an agonizing wait. He looked at her, a faint layer of gloom clouding his eyes.

"Yun Sheng, I want to know... is it that you won’t accept anyone other than Si Jin, or do you simply just not like me and don’t want to accept me?"

Seeing the desolation and dejection in his eyes, Yun Sheng’s heart softened. She couldn’t bear to let him overthink anymore. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed her tightly pursed lips and met Bai Ye’s gaze. Her heart was still beating wildly.

"No." Yun Sheng’s voice was very soft and carried a slight tremor, yet it was exceptionally clear.

Bai Ye stiffened. A glimmer of light instantly sparked in his previously dim eyes. He subconsciously tensed his body and stared at her unblinking, as if awaiting his final verdict.

"I didn’t answer you right away not because I wanted to reject you. I was just a bit overwhelmed for a moment and didn’t know what to say."

The gentle breeze fluttered the loose strands of hair by her ears. The tips of her ears were now completely red, and even her cheeks were dyed with a faint flush.

"I like you too, Bai Ye."

Those simple words drifted lightly in the wind but struck Bai Ye’s heart with profound force.

He froze completely. The gloom in his eyes receded entirely, replaced by unbelievable ecstasy. The emotion was so turbulent that it disrupted his breathing. He had never thought he would actually receive this answer. All of his previous anxiety, disappointment, and feelings of inferiority vanished into thin air in this single moment.

The next second, acting almost on pure instinct, Bai Ye reached out and gently pulled Yun Sheng into his arms. His movements were restrained and reverent. He carefully wrapped his arms around her waist, afraid to exert too much force lest he frighten the person in his embrace. The man’s warm breath brushed against the crown of her head, and the powerful heartbeat in his chest was steady and scorching.

"Say it again," Bai Ye said, holding her tightly. His voice was hoarse and low, carrying a tremor he struggled to calm. "Shengsheng, say it again."

Being held so tightly by him, Yun Sheng felt hot all over. Her body went a little soft, but she obediently repeated herself.

"I like you too, Bai Ye."

Having received confirmation, Bai Ye’s tense heart completely relaxed. The gloom and insecurity that had built up in his heart for so long dissipated entirely at this moment.

"That’s wonderful."

With his long-suppressed feelings finally landing on solid ground, searing emotions surged within Bai Ye’s chest. Ecstasy, palpitations, and residual nervousness intertwined, nearly overwhelming all of his reason. He looked down at the person in his arms. Her features were soft, her cheeks crimson, and her eyes held unmistakable tenderness and affection. Unable to restrain himself, he leaned down and claimed her lips.

His long-standing endurance and restraint crumbled in an instant, and his accumulated love burst forth tempestuously. At first, he was a little frantic and at a loss—too desperate, too longing—completely unable to grasp the proper measure. He pressed his lips against hers a bit too forcefully, driven by reckless urgency. His teeth accidentally bumped against the corner of Yun Sheng’s mouth, the unexpected force hurting her.

"Mmph..." Yun Sheng subconsciously furrowed her brows, letting out a very faint gasp of pain.

That tiny sound fell on his ears, acting like a soothing splash of water that instantly extinguished his out-of-control heat and recklessness. His body suddenly went rigid. All of his urgency was immediately restrained, and the churning fervor in his eyes quickly receded, replaced by utmost restraint and care. Following that, he instantly lightened his touch, his movements becoming impossibly gentle. He kissed her softly and delicately, carefully caressing her lips, terrified of causing her even the slightest bit of discomfort again. Bai Ye held Yun Sheng firmly by the waist, keeping her enclosed in his embrace with perfectly measured strength, brimming with restraint and adoration.

Yun Sheng felt his withdrawal and care. She sensed how he was desperately suppressing his ecstasy to accommodate her with such caution. Her heart melted entirely, and her previously tense body completely relaxed. Raising her hands, she gently wrapped them around his neck. Standing on her tiptoes, she leaned in closer on her own accord, tenderly returning his kiss.

A cool breeze blew slowly around the balcony, teasing their hair. The surroundings were perfectly silent, leaving only the sound of their intertwined breathing—gentle and deeply affectionate.

All of Bai Ye’s anxiety, unease, and fear of loss ceased to exist the moment Yun Sheng actively responded. She was showing him through her actions that she truly liked him! He had waited for this day for far too long. So long that he had watched her by Si Jin’s side countless times, secretly harboring his sorrow. So long that he could only hide a heart full of love deep inside, silently protecting her. Now that his wish had been fulfilled, searing ecstasy flooded his heart, yet the only thing he could not bear to do was hurt her in the slightest.

After a long time, Bai Ye finally pulled back slightly. He rested his forehead gently against hers, his breathing ragged, his eyes filled with an unmelting tenderness and indulgence.

"Shengsheng, I’m not dreaming, am I?"

With her eyes lowered, Yun Sheng’s long eyelashes fluttered gently. The crimson on her cheeks had yet to fade as she leaned softly against his chest. She reached up, her fingertips lightly tracing Bai Ye’s taut jawline. She shook her head, her voice sweet and slow.

"You’re not dreaming. It’s real. Bai Ye, I really like you. From now on, we’ll be together."

Bai Ye’s Adam’s apple bobbed, the tenderness in his eyes practically overflowing. He lowered his head and dropped an incredibly light, soft kiss on the corner of her reddened lips.

"Okay, we’ll be together. Shengsheng, I promise I’ll protect you well. I won’t let anyone hurt you, and I will absolutely never let you down!"

He tightened his arms, holding her securely and completely against him, as if embracing the sole obsession of his lifetime.

Yun Sheng nestled obediently in his arms. Listening to his steady heartbeat, her heart filled with a reassuring warmth. They embraced quietly for a long time before she gently nuzzled against his shoulder and spoke in a small voice.

"Let’s go back. We’ve been out here too long."

"You go back first," Bai Ye said softly, his tone gentle. "I’ll stay here for a bit to collect my emotions."

Yun Sheng didn’t think much of it. She nodded obediently, reached down to smooth out her slightly rumpled clothes, and turned to walk down the corridor toward their booth.

It wasn’t until her figure completely disappeared around the corner and only the cool breeze was left rustling the balcony’s plants that the tenderness in Bai Ye’s eyes faded away piece by piece. He looked up, casting his gaze directly toward a deep, shadowy corner on the outer edge of the balcony. His tone was perfectly calm, utterly devoid of surprise.

"Come out."

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