Super God Golden Crow Record

Chapter 50 Pushing Away

For the next few days, He Xi always acted like she was very busy.

During the day, she was among the wounded, changing dressings for one and feeding water for another, constantly busy. At night, she would carry a pile of crystal plates into the cave, saying she wanted to find clues from the mine records, and she would stay in the cave all night.

Liang Bing went to find her, but she only said that she was busy and didn't have time.

Every time Zhao Chen went to find her, she was never there. The first time, Liang Bing said that Sister He Xi had gone to the east to check on the wounded. The second time, before he even reached the cave entrance, He Xi had already come out. She glanced at Zhao Chen, said, "I'm going to check on those wounded on the west side," and then walked past him sideways.

Zhao Chen stood still and did not chase after him.

Liang Bing suddenly peeked out from the side, glanced at He Xi's departing figure, then looked at Zhao Chen, and asked in a low voice, "Brother-in-law, did you make Sister He Xi angry?"

Seeing that Zhao Chen didn't speak, Liang Bing leaned closer, her face full of gossip: "He Xi hasn't been talking much these past few days, and she doesn't eat with us either—"

"Liang Bing." Keisha's voice suddenly came from behind her.

Liang Bing quickly shrank her neck and slipped away.

Keisha walked to Zhao Chen's side, looking in the direction He Xi had left. "What exactly happened to her?"

Zhao Chen looked at Keisha, feeling inexplicably guilty. "I don't know either. She's been like this ever since I saw Sumari."

Keisha nodded, asked no further questions, and turned to leave. Watching Keisha's departing figure, Zhao Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief; he had finally managed to fool her.

At night, only Zhao Chen remained by the campfire. Liang Bing had gone to bed early, and Keisha was still organizing supplies in the cave. He Xi sat on a rock in the distance, her back to Zhao Chen.

Zhao Chen quietly walked over and sat down beside her. He Xi didn't move, nor did she seem inclined to speak to Zhao Chen. The firewood crackled and popped, sparks flying up from time to time, only to be scattered by the passing night breeze.

"What are you hiding from?" Zhao Chen asked.

He Xi did not answer. The moonlight shone on her profile, and the soft light made her face look much gentler than during the day.

"I didn't hide," He Xi finally spoke. "I'm busy."

Zhao Chen didn't expose her. He leaned against the rock, gazing at the starry sky. He Xi also quieted down, making no sound. The two of them sat there in silence.

After a long silence, He Xi suddenly spoke. "What you said that day—"

"Um."

"I'm serious. Now is not the time."

Zhao Chen turned to look at her. He Xi didn't look at him, but stared at the distant starry sky, her voice very soft. "Those sisters are still in the mine, Hua Ye's pursuers could come at any moment. Keisha's mind is full of these things right now, I can't—"

She lowered her head before she could finish speaking.

Zhao Chen was silent for a moment. He reached out and suddenly grabbed He Xi's wrist. He Xi stiffened abruptly, and before she could react, Zhao Chen had already leaned down and kissed her.

He Xi suddenly pushed Zhao Chen away.

The force was unexpected, and Zhao Chen was pushed backward. He Xi hurriedly stood up, taking several steps back, her chest heaving. In the moonlight, her face flushed and paled in turns, her lips were tightly pressed together, her fingers were clenched into fists, and her nails dug deeply into her palms.

"I already said," He Xi's voice was low and trembling. "Now is not the time to consider this."

Zhao Chen just looked at her quietly without saying a word.

He Xi took a deep breath and steadied her voice. "Those sisters are still in the mine, and Hua Ye's pursuers could arrive at any moment. Keisha—" She paused, her voice softening further, "Don't you know how Keisha regards you?"

Zhao Chen stood up. "I know."

"Then you shouldn't have—" Before He Xi could finish speaking, she had already turned her head away and refused to look at him anymore.

Zhao Chen walked up to her, and He Xi quickly took a step back. "Don't come any closer."

Zhao Chen stopped. The two stood two steps apart, neither moving. He Xi had her head down, so Zhao Chen couldn't see her expression, but he could see that her shoulders were tense and her fingers were trembling.

"About that day," He Xi said slowly, her voice hoarse and unlike her usual self, "let's just pretend it never happened."

Zhao Chen just looked at her. "I'm sorry, I can't agree to that. I also can't pretend it never happened."

He Xi suddenly looked up, her eyes reddening. "Then what else do you want? To tell Keisha? To say that you kissed me in front of Sumali, that you like her sisters, that the two people she trusts most are now cheating on her—" He Xi suddenly couldn't continue, and could only bite her lip and turn her face away.

A moment of silence fell over the scene. Only the crackling of the fire could be heard intermittently, and the night wind blew between the two.

It was a long time before Zhao Chen finally spoke. "I won't hide it from her."

He Xi was startled.

"But now is not the time to tell." Zhao Chen looked at He Xi. "You said yourself that now is not the time. Wait until the war is over, until all the sisters are rescued, until Hua Ye's matter is resolved—"

"That's different." He Xi interrupted him. "I said it at the wrong time, I meant you shouldn't—" Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Chen interrupted her.

Zhao Chen stared at her. "Don't what? Don't like you?"

He Xi didn't speak or look at him.

Zhao Chen took a tentative step forward; this time, she didn't back down. "You can stop me from kissing you, you can push me away, you can ignore me. But you can't control what I think."

He Xi looked up and stared at him. Her eyes held a mix of emotions—anger, grievance, panic, and things she herself wouldn't admit to.

"you--"

"I can wait," Zhao Chen said, "until the day you say it's okay."

He Xi suddenly froze.

Zhao Chen took a step back, creating some distance. "I'm not doing this for thrills, nor am I trying to compete with Su Mali for anything. I just like you. Whether you accept it or not is your business. Whether I like you or not is my business."

He Xi stared at Zhao Chen for a long time, her eyes still red, but no tears fell. She forced a deep breath, trying to regain her usual calmness in her voice. "Then you can wait patiently."

After saying this, she turned and left. Her steps were much faster than usual, but she didn't run. She paused at the cave entrance, but didn't turn around; only a very soft voice came from behind her.

"Zhao Chen".

"Um."

"Don't tell me these things in public anymore."

Then she disappeared into the cave without looking back.

Zhao Chen was still standing by the campfire, looking at the enclosed cave, a slight smile playing on his lips. Leaning against the rock, Zhao Chen closed his eyes.

In the distance, Liang Bing rolled over in the cave, muttering in her sleep again. Keisha's cave was dimly lit, and the projection of the crystal panel on the cave wall flickered, without making a sound.

The campfire flickered. Three people, three caves, each in silence.

It's almost dawn.