Because Hua Mu refused to say a word, Bai Zhen ultimately decided to carry her back to the beach first. Hua Mu buried her head in Bai Zhen’s chest, not making a sound the entire way, as if she didn’t exist.

Bai Zhen didn’t disturb her. To be honest, she also needed a moment to digest what had just happened.

What exactly did the Young Lady mean? Did she mean what I think she meant? Can I interpret it that way?

Bai Zhen could no longer force herself to ignore it, no longer stop herself from her “wishful thinking”—what if it wasn’t wishful thinking?

No Sentinel would ever want to miss their destined Guide, and Bai Zhen was no exception. But Hua Mu’s status had always kept her from daring to think too much. Her master’s teachings, a soldier’s mission, and a guard’s duty also forbade her from ever considering it.

Most importantly, Hua Mu’s past attitude toward her had been anything but friendly. Even though they had grown closer on the island, she had only attributed it to a normal reaction to their shared misfortune.

Any further intimacy was something to be strictly avoided. If this was all just the Young Lady’s delusion, how would they face each other after they returned? And how would that make her any different from a deceiver taking advantage of a crisis?

But Hua Mu’s words just now made her realize something. If her wishful thinking wasn’t just wishful thinking, then this hadn’t started after they were stranded on the island, but before.

It was an utterly unbelievable thought. Bai Zhen racked her brain but couldn’t figure out when it could have possibly begun.

Their reunion after so many years had not been a touching scene. The Young Lady had only been six years old back then, so it was only natural that she didn’t remember her. But after they reunited, the Young Lady hadn’t been as hostile as she later became; on the contrary, she had seemed somewhat curious and interested.

But for some reason, the longer they spent together, the colder the Young Lady grew toward her.

The Sentinel had wondered more than once if it was her own dull and uninteresting nature that had annoyed the Young Lady, which made her become even more taciturn, trying to minimize her own presence as much as possible.

So, how could it be possible? Something like a dream come true could never happen to her.

But, if that wasn’t the case, what did the Young Lady mean just now?

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find any other answer.

Hua Mu kept her eyes shut the whole way, playing dead. Her explosive confession had left her so mortified she wanted to roll on the ground, scream, and wish her brain would just shut down and stop thinking. Was it easier to kill the Sentinel or to kill herself? Or maybe just turn back time?

No, no, no, maybe brainwashing Bai Zhen was more feasible. Weren’t there some Guides with that ability?

Ah, just let her die. Let her go to her death with royal dignity and grace, and pretend none of that ever happened.

Hua Mu felt herself being gently placed on the bamboo bed—they were back at the beach. She lay stiffly on the bed with her eyes closed, not daring to breathe. Bai Zhen seemed to leave for a moment but returned quickly, carefully tending to her wound.

The wound had a burning, painful sensation, and there seemed to be some hard lumps, but it certainly didn’t feel like a deadly poison. Compared to the trauma her shame had inflicted on her mind and body, this was utterly insignificant.

Bai Zhen was full of questions and a faint, hidden hope, but Hua Mu’s reaction told her that she didn’t want to talk about what had just happened. So, she kept her feelings suppressed. It was only after she finished treating Hua Mu’s wound that she called out softly.

“Miss…”

Hua Mu’s heart leaped into her throat. She didn’t dare to answer. But not answering was too awkward and cowardly. In the end, she stiffened her neck and managed a reply.

“Wh-what is it?”

Her tone sounded intimidating, but it couldn’t hide the fact that she was all bluster.

Bai Zhen wasn’t sure how to ask. She chose her words carefully, “Just now, you…”

“I-I-I, what about just now? I don’t remember!”

“Uh… but just now…”

“Nothing happened just now!” Hua Mu rolled over to a corner of the bamboo bed and covered her face with Bai Zhen’s jacket.

Bai Zhen pressed her lips together, not forcing the issue.

“Then please rest well. I’m brewing your medicine, so I’ll go check on it.”

“Wait!”

She thought she was about to die, for crying out loud! After something so huge had happened, didn’t this idiot know she should stay with her for a bit?

Agitated, Hua Mu sat up.

“Miss, what are your orders?”

Bai Zhen kept her head bowed, not daring to look directly at her, afraid her gaze would be too intense and make Hua Mu even more embarrassed and ashamed.

“You… you come here…”

That wasn’t how Hua Mu saw it! She thought she was dying and had made an incredibly heartfelt and mortifying confession, yet this idiot had no reaction at all—you could at least be moved, shed a tear!

Bai Zhen knelt and moved to Hua Mu’s side, assuming a posture of one ready to receive instructions.

But Hua Mu herself wasn’t ready to talk about it. Now that Bai Zhen was beside her, she didn’t know how to begin.

They sat in silence for a while, and in the end, it was Bai Zhen who spoke first.

“Miss, I’ll stay here with you. Would you like to sleep for a while?”

Just that one sentence, and for some reason, the grievances in Hua Mu’s heart seemed to find an outlet.

Her eyes welled with tears, and her voice was hoarse as she asked, “Will you be my pillow?”

Bai Zhen sat down beside her. “I’ll be your pillow.”

As tears streamed down her face, Hua Mu said in a choked voice, “Hold me.”

Bai Zhen boldly moved closer, wrapping her arms around her.

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere else?”

Hua Mu buried her face in Bai Zhen’s chest, feeling both wronged and reassured.

“I’m uncomfortable everywhere…”

“I failed to protect you.”

Bai Zhen lay down with her, letting Hua Mu rest on top of her as she gently stroked her long, platinum-blonde hair.

“I was the one who ran off on my own…”

Hua Mu didn’t want Bai Zhen to feel guilty. She just… just wanted this person to be a little quicker on the uptake, to understand her heart a little better.

Of course, understanding was one thing, but it was better not to say it out loud. She had to save some face.

“I’m glad you’re alright. I won’t leave your side again.”

Hua Mu loved hearing that. “Mmm…”

“Miss…”

Bai Zhen appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly, her turbulent emotions had not settled since earlier. She desperately wanted to know the exact meaning of Hua Mu’s words, but her status ultimately prevented her from seeking confirmation.

But that didn’t stop her from expressing her own feelings. While she was in no position to make any promises, she could guarantee Hua Mu’s protection with her life. No matter what happened, she would always be by the Young Lady’s side and never let her be harmed again.

“Wh-what is it…”

“I… am a dull and uninteresting person, just as you see. You are intelligent, wise, and quick-witted. I often fail to properly understand your meaning… But I-I am not ungrateful. You are too good… and I am just an ordinary guard.”

The Sentinel spoke slowly, choosing her words with care, trying to express herself clearly without touching on the raw wound of Hua Mu’s embarrassment.

Hua Mu’s heart ached to hear this, unsure if it was for herself or for Bai Zhen.

“Your definition of ordinary is too strange…”

A person like Bai Zhen should never be classified as ordinary. Whether in appearance, ability, or character, she was far from being just another face in the crowd. Even from the most worldly perspective, as the Inner Tower’s most outstanding graduate in nearly a decade, as the Leader’s only disciple, and as the youngest member of the royal guard, she was in no way ordinary.

And what she valued had nothing to do with any of that. What she valued…

Hua Mu subconsciously rubbed her face against Bai Zhen’s chest, her palm gently stroking the muscles of her arm.

Bai Zhen had never hurt her. From their very first meeting, she had been constantly protecting her. Even if, to Bai Zhen, it was perhaps just her duty, it wasn’t just that to her.

This resolute and powerful Sentinel had planted a seed in her twelve-year-old heart. After they met again, several years of being together had fertilized and watered that seed, allowing it to grow strong and tall.

Bai Zhen probably had no idea how popular she was among the common people as her guard. Her exotic features, tall stature, athletic physique, and the clean efficiency of a soldier gave her a unique charm. The few times she was accidentally caught on camera were enough to make her a topic of public conversation after dinner.

The trend of female Sentinels had risen unconsciously just like that.

Currently, besides the Leader, Bai Zhen was the only female Sentinel in the Inner Tower. Never mind the public, how could Hua Mu not know who her own friends and confidantes were coveting?

In truth, not every noble lady was as pure and elegant as she appeared to the public. Among them were many who were bold, passionate, and even fond of certain games. A Sentinel like Bai Zhen—with a fine figure, delicate features, an honest personality, and outstanding abilities—would be eaten alive by this group of noble ladies, if only for her rarity.

Hua Mu had even heard through the grapevine that a group of noble ladies were secretly plotting how to seduce the Sentinel together and make her their lover.

She had gone to great lengths to prevent this, not allowing her personal guard to accompany her to gatherings, and having to pretend to be indifferent in front of her other friends… Did she have it easy?

“But in front of you, everything is just ordinary…”

This was what Bai Zhen thought.

In front of Hua Mu, everything was just ordinary. In fact, it wasn’t just herself; she felt that no one was worthy of Hua Mu.

But this wasn’t something she was qualified to judge, and she was well aware of the selfish desires that fueled this thought. The only person she could restrain was herself, not others.

Hua Mu had heard countless sweet nothings. The eloquence of those noble young masters could make something worthless sound like a heavenly marvel. As for those with substance and ability, they all seemed scheming in Hua Mu’s eyes.

Alright, her eyes couldn’t see anyone else anyway.

Because this idiot Sentinel, this Sentinel who sometimes couldn’t even speak a full sentence, truly put her in the most important place. That was why the words she occasionally spoke were so sincere and moving, making all other sweet nothings unable to enter her ears.

For this sentence alone, Hua Mu would not regret falling for her.