"Pie," he said, brushing a thumb over her knuckles, "I'll walk you back to our chamber."
"It's literally next door."
"I know," he replied casually, as if that made perfect sense.
She gave him a long, flat stare. "I can walk by myself."
He grinned, pretending not to hear. "Let's go."
He laced their fingers together and started walking out of the study like it was already decided. Linyue let out a deep sigh but let him drag her along, her hand still warm in his.
As they reached the door, which was approximately five steps away, she raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you busy?"
"I always have time for you."
Her heart did a small, inconvenient flip. She covered it with a faint smile. "Alright."
To her surprise, he actually opened the door with his hand this time. No dramatic kicks. No splintered wood. Just hand. She gave him a sideways look, her lips twitching.
He noticed. "I'm improving."
Linyue nodded seriously. "Big progress."
Inside, Shu Mingye gently led her to the bed and sat her down on the edge. Then he crouched in front of her, both hands holding hers firmly. His eyes softened as his usual teasing melted into something serious. "Pie, I'll be busy for the next few days. But once I finish everything here, let's go to Luyan together."
Linyue tilted her head, a little confused. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
He didn't answer. He just stared at her, like she might not understand yet. Like she didn't know how much she meant to him. Or how easily life had already stolen too many people from both of them. Then his fingers brushed her cheek softly. His touch was warm and careful.
"Because I want to ask for your hand before the world tries to take anything else from us," he said in a low voice.
Linyue's heart skipped. Her calm expression faltered for just a second.
And now they were dangerously close to cuddling on the floor. Except they were already sitting on a bed. Which was worse. Or better. Depending on which one of them you asked.
Shu Mingye stayed there, crouched in front of her. His hands still held hers, his face tilted up so he could see every flicker of emotion in her eyes.
Linyue stared at him. Into those dark eyes. Quiet, steady, and focused only on her. They were filled with sincerity, determination… and something else.
Sadness.
It surprised her. Shu Mingye was not someone who showed sadness so openly. He usually hid it behind smirks, sarcastic words, or quiet threats. She didn't fully understand that look. She didn't fully understand what he meant earlier either, about the world taking things from them. But she could feel the weight in his voice and words. She reached up and placed her hand over his. Her fingers curled around his hand.
"All right," she said softly.
His lips curved. It wasn't his usual smug grin. This smile was smaller, quieter, tilted just slightly. The kind of smile that made her chest feel strangely tight.
"Maybe I should've just kidnapped you instead," he said, voice low. "It would be faster."
It sounded like a joke. It should have been a joke. But his eyes didn't laugh. They stayed the same. Deep, serious, and quietly aching.
Linyue didn't smile either. Something was wrong. She didn't know what it was, but she could feel it. In his eyes. In his voice. In the way he held her like she was both a promise and a goodbye. She asked carefully, her voice soft but clear, "Mingye… did something happen?"
Shu Mingye just kept staring at her. Long enough that the silence stretched and pressed against the walls. He didn't want to tell her. Not now. Maybe not ever. But he couldn't lie either. Not to his Pie. In the end, he told the only truth he knew how to say.
His thumb brushed her cheek slowly, his touch warm. "It just happens that I…" He paused, his dark eyes steady on hers. "…love you. And I couldn't think of how to spend another day without you."
His voice was low. Softer than she had ever heard from him. It wasn't the voice of a king. It wasn't the voice of the feared demon slayer, or the man who could make generals tremble with a single word. It was just Shu Mingye. Speaking like he wasn't asking for anything. Just giving her a piece of himself because he wanted her to have it.
Linyue didn't know what to say. Because her heart… she wasn't sure if it had stopped or if it had started again. The sound of it was too loud in her chest. She had heard many things in her life. Orders. Pleas. Lies. Even the occasional kind word. But never this. Never someone saying they loved her so simply. So completely.
Shu Mingye's voice came again, quiet and calm. Not pressing. Just honest. "I'm just telling you…" he said. "I'm not trying to force anything. You don't need to say anything back. You just need to know. Whatever happens in the future… I love you. And I'll always love you. Even if you stop liking me… I'll still love you, Pie."
His words landed softly. But each one hit her heart intensely. Linyue felt her heart twist in a way that was warm and heavy all at once. She didn't know what he was hiding. She didn't know what kind of future was waiting for them. But she knew one thing for sure. He meant every word. There was no fear in his eyes. No doubt in his voice. He had just laid everything bare without asking for anything in return. And for some reason, that made her eyes sting.
She had no idea how to respond, so she did the first thing that came to her mind. She leaned forward and pulled him into her arms. Tight. As if she could protect him with a hug. As if she could answer everything by just being there. Her face pressed into his shoulder. His warmth was steady and real, and she held on like it was the only thing in the world that made sense right now.
She liked him. More than she had ever liked anyone in her life. But she didn't have the courage yet to say she loved him. Not with the kind of heart he had just shown her. But maybe, just maybe, she could borrow some of his courage. So she stayed there, her arms wrapped stubbornly around him like she had no intention of letting go.
Shu Mingye let out a soft chuckle, low and amused. One hand moved slowly along her back in soothing strokes. She hadn't said it back. Not those words. But her sweet scent, her closeness, the way she held him like he was the only solid thing in her world… this was enough. He told himself it had to be enough.
"Pie," he said, voice light and teasing as his hand brushed her waist. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
Linyue paused. Still hugging him tightly, she answered in the most serious voice possible. "Yes."
His hand froze. "…You are?" His voice shifted, no longer playful. There was something darker in it, something low and dangerous. "Do you know what happens if you seduce me?"
Linyue tilted her head up. Her arms stayed around him. She looked into his eyes and answered without hesitation, "I assume it involves kisses. Possibly neck kisses."
For once, the ever-smug Demon King looked genuinely startled. His usual smugness was nowhere to be found. His ears turned red and his arms tightened around her in pure instinct.
"It wouldn't just end with neck kisses," he warned, voice rough and thick with heat.
"I see."
"I see?" he echoed, staring at her like she had just given him permission to burn down the world. "That's it? Are you sure you still want to seduce me?"
A small smile tugged at her lips. Slow and purposeful. A rare kind of smile from Linyue that promised trouble.
"Try me," she said.