Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

Without even glancing at Jiang Xiaochuan, she walked straight to Tian Ling'er, bent down, reached out, and easily picked up the curled-up Tian Ling'er in her arms. Her movements were swift and decisive, giving Tian Ling'er no chance to react or struggle.

Tian Ling'er gasped softly and instinctively grabbed Lu Xueqi's shirt.

Lu Xueqi hugged her, turned around, walked back to the tent in a few steps, bent down, and gently placed her on the bedding she had just slept on. Then, she straightened up, glanced at Tian Ling'er, didn't say anything, turned around and walked out again, and casually pulled the tent curtain closed.

The whole process took only a few breaths.

By the time Jiang Xiaochuan realized what was happening, Lu Xueqi had already walked back to his side and sat down next to him.

"You..." Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her.

"The ground is cold."

Lu Xueqi spoke succinctly, reaching out to pull him over. Then, she slipped her arm under his knees, wrapped her other arm around his back, and with a slight effort, lifted him up and placed him on her lap.

Jiang Xiaochuan was a little confused by her sudden movement, and subconsciously put his arm around her neck to steady himself: "Why are you awake? Why don't you sleep a little longer?"

Lu Xueqi pulled him into her arms, resting her chin on his shoulder. Her voice was muffled, a little hoarse from just waking up, and soft and gentle, a quality she only showed to him: "I can't sleep without you."

Jiang Xiaochuan chuckled and patted her on the back: "Don't give me that, you seemed to be sleeping soundly just now."

"I woke up right after you left."

Lu Xueqi looked up at him, her eyes shining brightly in the dim firelight.

"I can't sleep without you."

She spoke very seriously, not jokingly.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked into her eyes, which were so close to his own. His reflection was clearly visible in them, along with undisguised dependence and... a hint of grievance?

It was as if his unauthorized departure was some heinous crime.

His heart softened, and his tone softened as well:

"Sweetie, go and rest, okay? We still have to travel tomorrow, and we don't know what kind of monsters or demonic cult members we'll encounter. You need to conserve your energy; I'm counting on you to protect me."

Lu Xueqi remained unmoved, tightening her arms around him and burying her face in the crook of his neck, nuzzling him like a large, stubborn cat.

"I just want to be close to my husband."

Jiang Xiaochuan really couldn't do anything about her.

He felt both heartache and helplessness. He felt heartache for her exhausting daytime efforts and lack of rest at night, but he was helpless against her stubborn and opinionated nature.

"You..." Jiang Xiaochuan tried to reason with him.

"If you stay up this late, you won't have any energy tomorrow. What if you encounter danger? My cultivation level isn't as high as yours, so I'll have to rely on you. What will I do if you're not in good shape?"

Lu Xueqi seemed to hesitate for a moment, and loosened her grip on his arm a tiny bit.

But she quickly tightened her grip, her voice muffled yet unusually firm: "I'm not sleepy."

Jiang Xiaochuan: "..."

He felt like he was talking to a stone.

He sighed and gave up.

Knowing that there was no point in saying anything more, he relaxed and leaned against her.

Her embrace was warm, carrying her unique cool fragrance, and a hint of the warmth of the bedding; the night breeze didn't seem so cold anymore.

"Then you can hold him, don't move around, it's good for you to close your eyes and rest." Jiang Xiaochuan compromised.

Lu Xueqi hummed in agreement and then stopped talking. She simply hugged him quietly, her chin gently rubbing against the top of his head.

Her breathing gradually became long and steady again, as if she was about to fall asleep, but she never loosened her grip on his arm.

Jiang Xiaochuan initially tried to keep his eyes open, watching the leaping flames and listening to the night wind, but her embrace was too warm and reassuring. Her heartbeat was steady and strong, tapping against his back like a hypnotic rhythm.

Gradually, his eyelids began to droop, and his consciousness began to blur. Unable to resist the overwhelming drowsiness, he tilted his head, leaned on Lu Xueqi's shoulder, and fell into a deep sleep.

Feeling the person in her arms completely relax and their breathing become even and long, Lu Xueqi quietly opened her eyes.

She lowered her head and looked at her lover's unguarded sleeping face so close to hers. The firelight danced on his face, his long eyelashes cast small shadows under his eyes, his lips were slightly parted, and his breathing was shallow.

She looked at him for a long time, and then, very lightly and quickly, she lowered her head and placed a kiss on his forehead, a fleeting touch.

How can you call it stealing?

She thought it was perfectly reasonable.

This is perfectly normal between husband and wife.

She raised her head again, her gaze sweeping across the silent camp, over the vigilant figures of the night watchmen, and finally settling on the deep, inky darkness of the swamp in the distance, a darkness that seemed to devour everything. Her eyes regained their cold and sharp expression.

She held the sleeping person in her arms as if holding the most precious treasure in the world, remaining motionless, like the most loyal guardian.

……

The next morning, Tian Ling'er was the first to wake up.

She opened her eyes in the soft, dry bedding, still faintly scented. For a moment, she was disoriented. Memories of last night flooded back; she remembered being by the fire, Jiang Xiaochuan sitting beside her… and then…

I don't remember, but...

A strange warmth welled up in my heart. Was it him? After all, it could only be him.

She gently lifted the covers and sat up, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and hair, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the tent.

As dawn broke, a thicker gray fog enveloped the swamp, damp and chilling to the bone. The campfire had gone out, leaving only a pile of ashes, and the disciples on night watch were changing shifts.

Then, her gaze froze.

Not far away, Lu Xueqi was holding Jiang Xiaochuan, leaning against a relatively clean rock, her eyes closed, seemingly resting.

Jiang Xiaochuan was completely encircled in her arms, his head resting on her shoulder and neck, fast asleep, his cheeks still flushed with the faint blush of sleep, Lu Xueqi's arms firmly wrapped around him.

The warmth that had just begun to rise in Tian Ling'er's heart was extinguished completely, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, leaving only a cold, stinging pain.

Yes...it wasn't him who hugged her, it was Lu Xueqi. Yes, Jiang Xiaochuan was outside too, and later...they stayed together.

She stood there, her hands and feet icy cold.

Seemingly sensing her gaze, Lu Xueqi opened her eyes, looking at her with a cold gaze devoid of any emotion.

She gently patted Jiang Xiaochuan, who was still fast asleep in her arms, and then carefully, as little as possible without disturbing him, stood up while holding him.

She walked up to Tian Ling'er, her voice calm and even: "Awake? I saw you sleeping outside last night and was afraid you'd catch a cold, so I carried you inside. The ground was wet and cold. You're his senior sister; if you get sick, he'll be sad."

Tian Ling'er looked at her, at those cold, clear eyes that seemed to see through everything, and listened to her calm statement, as well as the phrase "his senior sister." The icy pain in her heart suddenly became sharp.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she only gave a soft "hmm," lowered her head, and avoided Lu Xueqi's gaze.

Lu Xueqi said no more, carried Jiang Xiaochuan to the extinguished fire, found a clean spot to sit down, and let him continue to sleep in her arms.