NFBE Chapter 273 [Empire] Pretending to be Calm
Chapter 273 [Empire] Pretending to be Calm
Wen Ya's brow furrowed deeper and deeper, and her fingers unconsciously pinched my shoulder, as if to make sure I wasn't hurt. His voice lowered, but still carried a certain suppressed anxiety: "What did you touch?"
"It's a plant," I replied softly, lowering my eyes. "But it's completely different from ordinary plants. It...it has an inexplicable effect on me. It's like it's staring at me, like it's trying to get something from me."
Wen Ya took a deep breath, let go of my shoulder, and held my hand instead. Her tone was a little more urgent: "Are you feeling unwell now? Dizzy? Weak? Or anything else?"
I shook my head. "I'm fine for now, but... Wenya, I don't know what it will do next, or how much longer I can hold on. I have a feeling it's planning something, but I can't quite grasp it." At this point, I lowered my head, my voice lowering even further. "I thought I could control it, but it turns out I don't understand it at all."
Wen Ya was silent for a moment, then suddenly pulled me to sit down, looking deeply into my eyes: "You need to tell me more details. I don't want to interfere with what you do, but if it really threatens you, then I can't just do nothing."
His words warmed my heart, but also brought back a feeling of helplessness. Looking at his serious face, the resentment deep in my heart surged up again, almost overwhelming me.
I gradually calmed down, my breathing became more even, and my thoughts gradually became clearer. I realized that telling Wen Ya everything was not a good option. No matter how much he cared about me and how serious he was about me, he should not have been involved in this matter.
Wen Ya's gaze remained fixed on me, awaiting my answer. His hand gently rested on the back of mine, offering silent comfort, yet his eyes held a hint of worry and anxiety, as if he were ready to face whatever I had to say.
But it was this very determination that made my heart ache. I looked down at his hands, silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "I'll take care of it, Wen Ya. This matter...isn't that serious."
I tried to keep my tone calm, with a hint of self-concealment that I could detect. But it was the best I could do. I had to appear nonchalant and relaxed, so he would believe I could handle it.
Wen Ya frowned slightly, obviously not satisfied with my answer: "But you just said -"
"I know I panicked a little," I interrupted, forcing a smile. "But honestly, it wasn't out of control. I was just tired and a little emotionally upset, which is why I said that."
"Battle plants are no small matter!" Wen Ya's voice was a little higher than usual, his tone revealing obvious dissatisfaction. He stared at me intently, as if trying to control his emotions, but I could still sense the undisguised anxiety in his slightly trembling hands.
I subconsciously shrugged my shoulders, but still looked up to meet his gaze: "I know it's not easy, but... Wen Ya, I really do have my own way."
"Solution?" He raised an eyebrow, his voice lowered but even colder. "You said you had a solution just now? That plant has already affected you. Do you think you can handle it alone? If it continues to grow, how will you deal with it?!"
His barrage of questions left me speechless, and a sense of powerlessness welled up inside me. He wasn't accusing me, but his concern washed over me like a tide, leaving me with nowhere to escape. I opened my mouth, wanting to retort, but found I couldn't come up with any convincing reason.
"I'm not blaming you." Wen Ya suddenly sighed, her voice lowered, and her eyes softened. "I'm just... really worried. You're always like this, taking on dangerous things yourself, but never willing to rely on others."
"This is not..." I tried to explain, but was interrupted by him.
"Listen, I don't care how much you think you can handle, or what this plant is. If it's already started to eat you, you can't let your guard down." Wen Ya stared at me, her tone firm. "You think telling me is a bad thing, but some things can't be dealt with alone. Believe it or not, I won't watch you get eaten by it."
I froze, my breath catching. Looking at his determined expression, I suddenly didn't know how to respond. Wen Ya's tone left no room for doubt, and that resolute attitude left me bewildered and at a loss. He was genuinely worried, but could I let him participate?
My mind was in a tizzy, and my clenched fingers unconsciously loosened and clenched again. Wen Ya looked at me, the worry in his eyes not diminishing, but deepening as I remained silent. He took a step closer, gently gripped my shoulders, and softened his voice. "I just want to ask you one thing: can you really make it through this alone?"
I opened my mouth, but found I couldn't answer.
At night, Wen Ya, like a child coaxing him to sleep, sat by my pillow. He lay on his side, half leaning against the headboard, his slender fingers gently playing with my hair, a silent comfort. His gaze was gentle and focused, as if I were the only one in the world who needed his attention.
His hair, the same length as mine, lay scattered on the pillow, gently brushing against my shoulder. The soft strands shone softly in the light, blending seamlessly with his serene expression, evoking an indescribable tranquility. Yet, this tranquility always left me feeling vaguely uneasy.
"Close your eyes and have a good sleep." Wen Ya's voice was low, with her usual gentleness, like a silent hypnosis. His fingers ran through my hair, slowly stroking it, his movements so light as if he was afraid of disturbing anything.
I blinked, not immediately responding to his words. Instead, I stared at his familiar face. From this close, I could clearly see the slight upward curve of his eyes, the weariness lurking beneath them. He was always so gentle, rarely showing signs of genuine fatigue, but at that moment, his expression gave me the inexplicable feeling that he was hiding something.
"Wen Ya..." I spoke in a low voice, but I didn't know what I wanted to say, so I could only let the words dissipate in the air.
He looked down at me, a small smile playing on his lips, "Hmm?"
That smile left me momentarily dazed, like a moment in the past being brought back to life. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and said nothing more. I simply buried myself in the pillow, trying to calm the complex emotions.
I could hear his even breathing beside me, and his palm resting on my shoulder, conveying a sense of comforting warmth. But I couldn't completely relax. Behind that calm appearance, there was always an inexplicable emotion lingering in my heart.
Perhaps, we are all pretending to be calm just to reassure each other.