Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 65

Dugu Xihui waited for a long time without any movement, then turned to Zi Jin and smiled gently: "Is it my turn this time?"

Zi Jin almost reflexively snatched the wine from the teacup, her face turning extremely pale as she looked at it. She looked pleadingly at Lou Shuo: "That's enough, isn't it time to wrap this up?"

Lou Shuo turned his face away, not looking at Zi Jin, as if to say, "It's none of my business."

Dugu Xihui stared at the teacup in Zi Jin's hand with suspicion, as if to say, "Why aren't you drinking it yet?"

Zi Jin pinched her sleeve with one hand, clearly feeling the wine spilling out. If she spat it into her sleeve again, it would spill onto the ground, and Dugu Xihui would notice. But Yu Luo had repeatedly warned her that her constitution was different from ordinary people and she couldn't drink alcohol casually. This bowl of wine felt like a branding iron, burning Zi Jin's hands until they trembled.

"What's wrong?" Dugu Xihui asked, a smile flashing in his eyes.

"Uh...nothing, nothing." Zi Jin's hand trembled, and she met Dugu Xihui's expectant gaze. Zi Jin glared at Lou Shuo resentfully, bit her lip secretly, picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. This time she didn't wipe her mouth with her sleeve; wiping it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

After downing a bowl of wine, Zi Jin felt her blood surging, and the dull ache in her chest turned into sharp, throbbing pain. She steadied herself, placed the teacup on the table, and gave Dugu Xihui her most natural smile.

Dugu Xihui withdrew his gaze, picked up the dice again, and casually tossed them.

Zi Jin watched Dugu Xi Hui's actions and secretly groaned inwardly, but didn't know how to stop him.

After Dugu Xihui finished rolling the dice, he didn't see Zi Jin come to check the score, so he looked at Zi Jin questioningly. He saw that Zi Jin's face was unusually pale, and she looked at Lou Shuo for help. Dugu Xihui felt bored and said, "I'm not playing anymore."

Upon hearing this, Zi Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She wanted to rub her chest but dared not, and could only hope that Dugu Xihui would leave quickly.

"Come with me for a walk in the garden." After saying this, Dugu Xihui got up and walked towards the door without turning his head.

Zi Jin stood there dumbfounded, looking questioningly at Lou Shuo, who was lagging behind: Are you talking to me?

Lou Shuo's eyes flashed with a deep smile, and he nodded quietly: "Let's go quickly. The master is in a bad mood today, so don't upset him."

Zi Jin looked at Lou Shuo in surprise. Apart from the time he pleaded with her at "Jin Yu Man Lou," Lou Shuo had never spoken such a long sentence to her before. Could this be considered his way of expressing gratitude? Although she was lost in thought, Zi Jin dared not disobey Dugu Xi Hui. She followed Lou Shuo's footsteps, and when no one was looking, she vigorously rubbed her chest, which was throbbing with pain, not daring to walk too fast.

Under the moonlight reflected on the lake, Dugu Xihui, dressed in white, sat quietly on the grass by the lake. His long black hair was casually draped behind his head, fluttering in the wind, making him seem like an immortal descended to earth. His alluring and ethereal figure reminded Zi Jin of the mysterious white-haired youth in the Moon Kingdom's palace.

Zi Jin sat down three steps away from Dugu Xi Hui.

The moonlight was bright, a subtle fragrance wafted in the air, and the lotus leaves in the distance swayed, casting various shadows on the lake. After sitting down, Zi Jin felt short of breath, so she simply lay down.

"Is it beautiful?" Dugu Xihui asked with a sigh, gazing blankly at the lotus leaves in the lake.

"beautiful."

"The lotus leaves in that palace are ten or even a hundred times more beautiful than here. Have you heard of it?"

"without……"

"It's a pity that the lotus leaves there haven't bloomed for many years... That palace... is not mine." Dugu Xihui suddenly turned to look at Zi Jin, speaking so casually, yet one could sense his deep loss and resentment.

Zi Jin stood there stunned, her first thought: I know it's not yours. But she would never dare say that, even if you killed her. Fortunately, Dugu Xihui didn't really want an answer and turned her face away again.

Dugu Xihui seemed to have thought of something, and blankly touched the scars on her face, a look of deep sorrow and resentment flashing in her eyes: "Now that my face is ruined, how could she possibly build that palace for me? Ha... I couldn't compare before, and I certainly can't compare in the future..."

Zi Jin turned her face helplessly to look at the person under the moon. What a stubborn fool! There are plenty of fish in the sea. She can't see or know why you're acting like this. You're living a life of luxury and power; why do you need to do this?

Under the bright moonlight, the scar the size of a little finger on Dugu Xihui's perfect profile looked exceptionally ferocious, making Zi Jin feel guilty and secretly blaming west Le for being too ruthless.

Dugu Xihui slowly hugged his knees and buried his head between them. The soft moonlight shone on his profile, casting a faint glow and creating a beautiful shadow, like a lifelike petal that had just withered at its most beautiful moment.

Zi Jin's heart stirred slightly: This posture is something only someone who is extremely insecure would do. How could someone as handsome and elegant as Young Master Jinyang be so self-conscious and desperate?

"She made many promises to get me to eat a few more bites of food... I have a chronic illness, and I was afraid that person would provoke me to drink, so she told many lies to coax me. When I was cold, she would hold me; when I cried, she would make me laugh; when I was bullied, she would feel helpless and secretly heartbroken. She has always been so good to me, so very good... But... why did she build a palace for someone else, leaving me to watch from afar?"

Dugu Xihui's voice was so low it was almost a sigh, yet every word and phrase seemed to resonate so clearly in Zi Jin's heart. Zi Jin suddenly couldn't bear to look at Dugu Xihui's desolate figure. Perhaps it was the aftereffects of the wine, but Zi Jin felt a burning sensation throughout her body, a tightness and pain in her chest, causing her breathing to become erratic. She struggled to suppress the churning, metallic taste in her throat.

Lost in his thoughts, Dugu Xihui did not notice Zi Jin's unusual behavior. He slowly moved to Zi Jin's side, his gaze unfocused: "Why did she lie to me?" His tone was hesitant and helpless, breaking one's heart.

Dugu Xihui's long, feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly, like a butterfly falling into a flower garden. Her amber eyes were dull and unfocused, her face filled with caution and hesitation.

Zi Jin slowly rose and reached out her hand, tenderly touching Dugu Xi Hui's trembling cheek. She felt drunk, so drunk that her blood was churning, her heart ached slightly, and she couldn't tell who the person in front of her was, nor even who she was.

Dugu Xihui's eyes were gentle and warm, and he stared at Zi Jin as if bewitched.

Zi Jin felt a sharp pain in her chest, her blood rushing to her head, and waves of a metallic taste churning within her. She abruptly pulled her hand back, covering her mouth, and blood seeped from between her fingers.

Dugu Xihui's pupils dilated little by little, and her crystal-clear face instantly changed color.

Zi Jin tried to smile and tell him she was alright, but the person in front of her became increasingly blurry until she was completely indistinct. Zi Jin lost her balance and slowly fell backward. She heard shouts, but couldn't make out what they were saying…

Dugu Xihui hugged Zi Jin and ran towards the garden gate like a madman, calling out, "Doctor! Doctor!" His voice was so hoarse that it was completely distorted.

Zi Jin's eyes widened slightly, her pupils unfocused, and she coughed up blood incessantly, staining her light blue robes crimson. She couldn't see who was in front of her, nor could she hear the sounds around her. She remembered with horror the rage overflowing in Dugu Xihui's dilated pupils.

Lou Shuo knelt at Dugu Xihui's feet with his head down, his eyes filled with remorse.

Dugu Xihui kept a straight face, watching wave after wave of doctors come and go, but none of them could give a clear answer. His eyes were already extremely cold.

When the last doctor shook his head and left with his servants, Dugu Xihui's face instantly turned icy cold. He slammed his fist into the table beside him, shattering it: "Useless! All of you are useless!"

Lou Shuo raised his head, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Speak!" Dugu Xihui turned his head sharply to look at Lou Shuo and coldly uttered a single word.

"The fact that you've mobilized such a large force suggests that the news has already spread. Suppressing a pulse is not something that can be done overnight. If Miss Zi is truly as important as you imagine, I'm afraid that person is far more anxious than you are. I think... someone will definitely come to treat Miss Zi within two days. But I fear... in that person's heart, she is not as important as you think..."

"No, although we are sworn enemies, we grew up together since childhood, and I would never be wrong about this matter," Dugu Xihui said after a moment of contemplation.

Lou Shuo raised his eyes and said, "In that case, Master need not worry. If Miss Yu Luo learns of this, she will surely hurry to meet you."

Dugu Xihui frowned and slowly sat down. After a long while, his brows gradually relaxed, and a hint of joy quietly crept into his eyes.