Chapter 271: Ling

On the way back, Wu Qingsong’s mind was in a daze.

What exactly had just happened? Why did it turn out this way? What would he do when Liuli woke up? How was he supposed to explain this to Ling? And most importantly, how was he supposed to face them both from now on?

A whirlwind of thoughts swirled chaotically in his mind. Before he could process one, another would pop up, leaving him feeling completely overwhelmed.

He sighed.

Getting together with a girl—something so wonderful—had always been one of the moments he looked forward to the most. But for it to happen so suddenly, not only that, but for him to be pushed down by the one he least expected—Liuli—it left him with an indescribably complicated mix of feelings. 

After the sweet and wild sensation passed, all that remained was a lingering sourness.

Ling had carefully dressed the still-sleeping Liuli in her skirt and carried her ahead, Wu Qingsong couldn’t help but notice her struggle. Without her abilities awakened, Ling’s movements were clumsy and labored.

After all, Liuli had grown a lot. She was no longer the little girl who could easily be carried in someone’s arms or slung over a shoulder. And Ling, unlike Nina, didn’t have the strength to handle it effortlessly.

“Ling…” Wu Qingsong finally spoke.

She faltered, her steps suddenly uneven, and she nearly dropped Liuli to the ground.

“We need to talk,” Wu Qingsong said firmly.

In moments like this, some people might choose to brush things off, to avoid the issue and hope it resolved itself. But that was never Wu Qingsong’s way of dealing with problems.

Since the situation had already unfolded, Wu Qingsong knew he had to take full responsibility—not just for Liuli, but also for Ling, who had witnessed everything.

He was certain that this must have been a huge shock to Ling. Her heart was likely in even more turmoil than his. After all, the relationship between the three of them was different from anyone else.

If he didn’t handle this properly, it could deeply hurt Ling. She was never the type to express her emotions openly, and Wu Qingsong had no doubt that if he didn’t help her untangle the knot in her heart soon, it would fester. It would become a nail driven deep into her heart, one that would hurt her, yet she would never speak of it.

“This is all my fault,” he said, catching up to her and taking hold of her arm.

He wouldn’t place the blame on Liuli. While Liuli’s actions had started everything, none of it would have happened if he had managed their relationship better. No matter how impulsive Liuli might be, she wouldn’t have acted this way if he had set clearer boundaries. And more importantly, if he hadn’t given in or cooperated, Liuli—just as inexperienced as he was—would never have succeeded.

Ling shook her head silently, but Wu Qingsong saw tears streaming down her face. It was a painful sight. Gently, he took Liuli from her arms and laid her carefully on the soft grass nearby. Then he pulled Ling down to sit beside him.

“Ling,” he called her name softly, wiping away her tears with his hand. 

But the more he tried to comfort her, the more her sadness grew, and the tears kept falling.

“Do you hate us now?” Wu Qingsong asked quietly.

Ling shook her head firmly.

“I’m sorry. I never imagined things would turn out this way,” Wu Qingsong said.

Ling shook her head again. “It’s not your fault.”

In truth, she didn’t know who to blame.

Wu Qingsong couldn’t be at fault, he had been forced into it. But could she blame Liuli? She had simply pursued her own happiness, acting on her usual impulsive nature. What was wrong with that?

Then who was to blame?

If no one was wrong, why did her heart ache so much?

“No, this is my fault,” Wu Qingsong said, gripping her hand and speaking earnestly.

It was only now that he realized how much he had failed in handling this situation, how completely he had overlooked their feelings.

Ling and Liuli had been with him for over two years, yet he had never truly considered what they might feel.

He knew Ling liked him, and he knew Liuli had always joked—perhaps not jokingly—about wanting to have children with him. But he had deliberately or unconsciously ignored them, brushing off Liuli’s words as childishness and never taking them seriously. He had never thought about addressing their emotions or making any decisions. While he outwardly called Ram his fiancée, he had made no such promises to Ling or Liuli. He had simply taken their presence by his side for granted.

Ram was considered the co-leader of Orgrimmar. But what about Ling and Liuli?

Most people saw them as his personal attendants. But Wu Qingsong knew very well that, in his heart, their place was far more significant than that.

He had grown so used to having them by his side—used to Ling quietly turning his wild ideas into reality, used to her silently following him, taking care of him without a word. He couldn’t imagine what he would do if they both suddenly left.

“I’m sorry.” 

With complete honesty and without holding anything back, he confessed all these thoughts to Ling and sincerely apologized. His words caused her tears to pour out like a river breaking through a dam, unstoppable and overwhelming.

“It’s all my fault,” Wu Qingsong said, cupping her face in his hands and looking into her eyes. “It’s all my fault. Ling, please forgive me.”

“I’ve never blamed you. Not once,” Ling said, her emotions shifting suddenly. 

Tears continued to flow uncontrollably, but the suffocating feeling of something blocking her chest disappeared with Wu Qingsong’s words, carried away along with her tears.

“I know,” Wu Qingsong said, overcome by a sudden impulse, pulling her tightly into his arms. “I know, Ling. That’s exactly it, you’re always so good to me. You’ve made me take everything for granted, and I’ve ended up neglecting you. I’m so sorry. I really am. Ling, I promise I’ll never do this again.”

Ling felt herself completely melt in his embrace, her mind spinning. The sadness, pain, unease, and worry—all of it vanished like a dream fading away.

Wu Qingsong had hugged her before, but she could feel that this time was different. Instinctively, she tightened her arms around him as well, holding him in a way that felt entirely new, like she wanted to merge herself with him completely.

Then, Wu Qingsong softly whispered in her ear, “Ling, this might feel sudden, maybe even rushed, but I have to ask you something. Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?”

Ling was completely stunned. It took several seconds for her to realize her face had grown unbearably hot.

“Ling?” Wu Qingsong’s voice felt like it was coming from far away.

“Yes! Of course, I will!” Ling replied without hesitation. “But…” she quickly fell back into her usual worry. “I’m just… a half-breed…”

“So what?” Wu Qingsong said firmly. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks. To me, you’re the best. Ling, please become my wife. I can’t promise to love only you, but I swear I’ll love you, cherish you, protect you, and share everything I have with you. If anyone dares to look down on you or question you, I’ll smash their heads in. I’ll make sure the whole world knows that you, Ling, are my wife—and the most noble, the happiest woman in this world.”

“Wu…” Ling didn’t know what to say. 

At that moment, Wu Qingsong gently cupped her face and began to kiss her—softly, sweetly.

And Ling completely lost herself in that feeling, something she had never experienced before. She even forgot the rest of the world.