Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 109

Zi Jin gazed silently at the girl who had transformed into an empress. You didn't want to, did you? You never wanted to, did you?

You are just as timid, just as cowardly, just as unwilling as I am. Why did they drive you to this point? Just to survive... is that so hard? Is that so hard?

You are just as humble, as poor, and as unwilling as I am. Because we have nothing, and have never asked for anything, we only have a precious life, a lowly life, so no matter what... no matter what, we must live on, mustn't we?

Who is it? Who is crying in my ear? The crying is so mournful, the pain so inexplicably gnaws at my heart, making me feel sorry for them.

Don't cry, don't cry...

Zi Jin tried hard to open her eyes, hoping to see the person in front of her clearly, but everything around her was floating and not very real.

"Xiao Zi..." A familiar voice came from beside him, but the voice was choked with sobs.

Zi Jin tried her best to open her eyes wide, and it took her a long time to see the person in front of her clearly.

A person sat under the dim light, still wearing that familiar white gauze dress. Although it was only a side profile, Zi Jin still saw him. His eyes, washed with tears, were red and swollen, and long eyelashes still held wet tears. His hands were clenched so tightly that his wrists ached.

A glint of wild joy flashed in Zi Jin's eyes as she tried to move the hand that was being held by that person.

Xiao Bai suddenly turned around, his eyes wide, staring blankly at Zi Jin. His eyes, which were brighter than glass and jewels, were filled with tears, shimmering with the unease and sorrow of a fawn: "Xiao Zi." He suddenly threw himself on Zi Jin, trembling as he leaned against her shoulder, "I'm scared, Xiao Zi, don't, go to sleep."

Zi Jin paused for a moment, then a long-lost smile appeared on her face: "I'm not afraid anymore, I'm not going to sleep. With Xiao Bai here, I won't sleep anymore."

"I miss you, I...I miss you so much. How could you...be so heartless?" Xiaobai buried her face in Zi Jin's shoulder, tears streaming down her face. The tears soaked Zi Jin's clothes and burned her skin.

"Little White, don't cry. I feel a little dizzy. Little White, can you get up?"

Xiao Bai sat up abruptly, tears still streaming down his face. He stared cautiously at Zi Jin's face, not daring to move, his eyes filled with grievance and unease.

Zi Jin shifted over to the side, patted the empty space next to her, and asked with a smile, "Want to sleep together?"

Xiao Bai's eyes were red again, and she shook her head desperately.

"Little White isn't scared anymore, I'm fine. Come on, I missed Little White too." Zi Jin tilted her head and smiled weakly.

Xiao Bai stared at Zi Jin, a hint of suspicion in his dark eyes, but dared not make any rash moves.

Zi Jin struggled to sit up, amused by Xiao Bai's hesitant gesture of wanting to help but not daring to. Leaning against the headboard, slightly out of breath, she gave Xiao Bai a reassuring smile and reached out her hand: "Come on, let me help Xiao Bai take off his robe."

Xiao Bai's dark, jade-like eyes were filled with struggle. Her feather-like eyelashes fluttered as she looked at Zi Jin for a long time. In the end, she could not resist the temptation and carefully bypassed Zi Jin, leaning her body forward little by little.

A hint of triumph flashed in Zi Jin's eyes. She deftly unbuttoned Xiao Bai's clothes, but halfway through, she suddenly let her hands fall limply and said weakly, "Take them off yourself, I don't have the strength."

Xiao Bai jolted awake and sat bolt upright, his eyes fixed on Zi Jin. He obediently took off his robes and tiptoed into bed. He lay stiffly in place, afraid to move, as if he were afraid of accidentally touching Zi Jin.

Zi Jin's lips curled up, and a glint of light flashed in her eyes: "Xiao Bai, I'm out of energy. I'm not feeling well. I want to lie down."

Xiao Bai quickly got up, timidly reached out, and shakily helped Zi Jin lie down slowly. Then he let out a soft breath and stiffly turned to lie on his side next to Zi Jin. His gentle eyes stared pitifully at Zi Jin, as if afraid that the person in front of him would disappear again.

Zi Jin couldn't hide her smile; it felt so good to bully someone. She suddenly reached out and hugged Xiao Bai tightly: "Xiao Bai, I missed you so much."

Xiao Bai was startled, her eyes instantly reddening, her pink lips pressed tightly together: "Xiao Zi, I'm scared, your face is so pale... you're sleeping so soundly... I'm in pain, don't sleep."

Zi Jin closed her eyes, a sweet smile on her lips, and a look of satisfaction and contentment on her face.

In the pitch-black night, only this white-clad figure, like the rising sun piercing through the clouds and mist, shone into people's hearts, drawing them closer step by step, until they saw the light and felt hope.

Zi Jin leaned closer to the light, nuzzled Xiao Bai's face, and took a deep breath. The cool fragrance emanating from her calmed the mind, allowing one to immerse oneself in the world and in life.

"I miss Xiao Zi." Tears welled in Xiao Bai's eyes, and her body trembled slightly as she reached out to hug Zi Jin. The two lay face to face.

Zi Jin chuckled: Now you know you miss me? When I missed you back then, why didn't you come to see me?

Seeing that Zi Jin kept her eyes closed and remained silent, Xiao Bai timidly reached out and gently combed Zi Jin's messy hair with her fingers.

Zi Jin sighed comfortably. She had been lying down for so long, and her head and back ached, but when she sat up just now, she felt extremely dizzy. She thought it must be because she had lost too much blood: had she gone too far?

A hint of joy crept into Xiao Bai's eyes. He leaned forward again, his slender, soft hands gently massaging Zi Jin's waist: "Feeling better now?"

"Mmm." Zi Jin hummed softly, unconsciously relaxing her whole body. Xiao Bai's hands seemed to have magic; just gently massaging her waist, her whole body felt as if enveloped in a warm current, making her feel so comfortable that she just wanted to groan.

"noob……"

"Um?"

"Please don't leave."

"good."

Zi Jin suddenly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the white-haired boy opposite her with a smile in his eyes: "Really?"

Xiao Bai leaned forward again, cheek to cheek with Zi Jin: "Don't be afraid, I won't leave."

Zi Jin suddenly hugged Xiao Bai tightly, buried her face in his neck, and tears silently streamed down her face: Let's never be apart again, okay?

After a long while, Zi Jin sensed a change in the person beside her. She tentatively kissed Xiao Bai's earlobe, gently licking and rubbing it, sliding her fingers over his earlobe, and lightly kissing his neck and his rapidly beating pulse. She reached out and deftly unbuttoned Xiao Bai's inner garment, her fingers gently caressing his smooth, jade-like skin.

Xiao Bai's face was flushed, his body trembled slightly, his breathing gradually became rapid, and he unconsciously rubbed against Zi Jin's body.

Zi Jin was afraid of startling him, so she only dared to rub her fingertips against his back, inch by inch. Her lips gently kissed his swollen eyes, his long eyelashes, his nose, and his cheeks, lightly licking his lips, teasing him little by little. Xiao Bai's eyes were filled with tears, his lips were half open, he was breathing rapidly, and his whole body went limp.

Xiao Bai let out a groan that sounded like crying, his body trembled violently, and a tear slid down his cheek.

Zi Jin looked up, staring blankly at Xiao Bai's flushed face: "You... don't like it?"

Xiao Bai's body was still trembling slightly, his lower body still pressed tightly against Zi Jin, but he lowered his eyes, his feather-like eyelashes covering his eyes.

"You don't like it?" Zi Jin asked Xiao Bai cautiously.