Chapter 2: Chapter 524: A Show of Force [2]

“Will you truly spare my mother and the others?” Changle raised her eyes, looking at Chu Wuyou with a deep gaze.

She knew she couldn't negotiate more conditions with him. For a Crown Prince, to pull up weeds, one must uproot them entirely; the fact that he had agreed to spare the entire Xu household was already a massive concession in her eyes.

“As long as it is what Changle desires, I can agree to it. As long as it is what Changle hopes for, I can make it happen.” Chu Wuyou gripped Changle's hand tightly, a deep, affectionate smile playing upon his features. “Promise me, marry me, and I will grant you a lifetime of eternal joy—just like your name. You and I shall have no worries, eternal joy, walking hand in hand, understanding and guarding one another for a lifetime.”

He spoke with an air of absolute certainty, looking at Changle with eyes full of devotion. Such profound affection was something Changle had never seen before.

Her heart trembled slightly. Feeling the warmth of his fingertips and the depth of his gaze, she could sense that he truly loved her.

However, her memories also told her that he had loved Changle since they were young; he loved the Changle of the past, not the woman she was now.

She had occupied Changle's body; how could she ever steal her love?

*May you have a life without worries, and I grant you a lifetime of eternal joy.* Indeed, they were exquisite names bestowed by heaven. For a fleeting moment, she truly believed that she and he were a perfect match.

But reality was not so.

“Wait a moment! What I want to ask is, do you love the old me, or the current me? Are you being sincere?” Changle rolled her eyes slightly, then raised them to look closely at Chu Wuyou.

Chu Wuyou looked at Changle with a hint of astonishment; why would she ask such a thing?

Then, his jade-like fingers gently brushed against her smooth forehead. He closed his eyes, pressing a deep, affectionate kiss between her brows. Then, his right hand dominantly pulled her slender waist toward him. With his starlit eyes half-lidded, he kissed her eyes, her nose, and her red lips with profound passion.

His kiss came too intensely, yet it was gentle and delicate, as careful as if he were cradling fine porcelain. It caused Changle's heart to flutter, as if an electric current were sliding through her soul.

She discovered that she was actually craving his kisses; she discovered that she actually liked this feeling—the feeling of being held forcefully in his arms and being kissed with such dominance.

In that moment, she also closed her eyes softly against the moonlight, pushing away the thoughts that caused her distress, and cooperated with him, their lips and teeth intertwining.

The two kissed lingeringly and passionately, as if intoxicated, seemingly forgetting everything in the world. Changle closed her eyes, allowing him to plunder her sweet kisses.

At this moment, even the moon in the sky seemed to blush with embarrassment, quickly finding a layer of clouds to hide behind. The stars hurried to burrow into the clouds, and even the peaches on the peach tree turned their faces away in shyness.

After a long time, after an unknown duration of deep kissing, Chu Wuyou slowly cupped Changle's small face. Looking down at her, his dark, golden eyes held a warm, smiling expression as he spoke to her with utmost tenderness, “The moon is truly round tonight.”

Changle lowered her eyes shyly, her long eyelashes as thick as fans, her face instantly flushing crimson.

She bit her lip with a hint of unease. What had happened to her just now? She was supposed to be angry with him, yet she had actually responded to his kiss, as if she had been bewitched.

It had to be said that a man with such a countenance and such status truly possessed the ability to enchant the heart.

“It is quite round, but... I have to go home. It is already very late.” Changle's face was now red all the way down to her neck. She actually lowered her head in shyness, not daring to meet his eyes because they were far too captivating.

“Don't go! Changle, do not leave me. Marry me.” Chu Wuyou grabbed Changle's hand firmly. He truly did not want to let go again; he wanted to take her as his wife.