Ning Yin was a person without the five senses, never knowing what shame was.
In her previous life, when Yu Lingxi attended to his bath, he would often expose his cold-white, muscular body like this, like a bewitching water demon walking step by step from the steamy pool toward her, letting water droplets trail over fresh wounds on his skin and hidden places.
He had an almost numb indifference toward his own body—whether exposed or cut by knives, he remained unmoved. It was as if his body were just a piece of warm dead flesh, nothing to be discreet about.
Those cold-blooded traits from her previous life that she couldn’t understand and detested seemed to find vague answers after meeting the young Ning Yin.
How could one expect moral shame from a person who couldn’t even control his own life?
Coming back to her senses, as Ning Yin tried to continue undressing, Yu Lingxi stopped him in time: “Stop!”
Ning Yin raised his ink-black eyes, and that expressionless gaze gave Yu Lingxi a headache.
“This isn’t the Realm of Desire. In my place, you must understand propriety and shame.”
Yu Lingxi’s temple twitched slightly as she patiently said, “Go change behind the screen.”
Whatever bad habits he had in his previous life, in this life she would correct them all!
The screen was old, its silk thin and yellowed, faintly projecting the thin but not weak shadow of the young man.
The medicinal smell in the room was bitter. Yu Lingxi stood under the eaves with her sleeves gathered, breathing fresh air. After some thought, she tentatively asked, “What’s your name?”
Behind the screen, there was a moment of silence, then the answer: “Twenty-seven.”
Yu Lingxi asked, knowing the answer: “I mean, your name from before.”
Another moment of silence, then Ning Yin said, “I don’t remember.”
Couldn’t remember who he was, yet remembered to return to the palace for revenge; couldn’t remember who he was, yet could attain the position of Regent Prince.
If Yu Lingxi didn’t have memories from her previous life, she might have believed this nonsense.
“Whether you truly don’t remember, or it’s inconvenient to reveal your past, I’m returning this kitten to you.”
Remembering her purpose, Yu Lingxi ordered her maid to place the kitten on the bed and said to Ning Yin behind the screen, “Due to my special constitution, I cannot keep cats. In a few days when your injuries are better, take it with you and care for it well.”
Behind the screen, the young man seemed to understand something, noticeably pausing as he tied his belt.
She still had no intention of keeping him, even though he had said he was “willing to do anything.”
Seeing that Ning Yin didn’t respond, Yu Lingxi cleared her throat and explained, “The Realm of Desire has been destroyed. The people who worked there, having unclear origins, cannot be sold as household slaves. My brother says female slaves will be sent to the Teaching Institute, while male slaves will be dispatched to the borders as laborers. Though I am reluctant to send you to the border as a laborer with your severe injuries, I cannot keep you indefinitely…”
“I understand Miss’s meaning,” Ning Yin lowered his eyes, covering the emotions within, and walked out from behind the screen.
Yu Lingxi looked up, slightly dazed.
No matter how many times she had seen Ning Yin’s face, each time they met in a different setting or attire, she was still amazed.
He had tied back his hair, and the dark blue guard’s robe he wore made him indescribably handsome and impressive.
Ning Yin walked in front of Yu Lingxi. The seemingly thin young man was still a full head taller than her.
Yu Lingxi disliked this oppressive feeling and was about to step back when she saw Ning Yin lower his head, lift the hem of his robe, and kneel stiffly.
Before her thoughts could catch up, her body reacted first.
Yu Lingxi grabbed Ning Yin’s arm to support him and asked, “What are you doing?”
Ning Yin maintained his position, bent on one knee, about to kneel completely, a rare ripple passing through his pitch-black eyes.
During these years when he had been like a stray dog, everyone wanted to trample him underfoot, to push him into the mud. The woman before him was the only one who didn’t want him to kneel.
“I am bidding farewell to Miss.”
Ning Yin seemed to understand her difficulty and said with difficulty, “Although I wish to stay by Miss’s side and serve with all my might, I shouldn’t cause Miss any trouble.”
Yu Lingxi was slightly surprised—when had he become so understanding?
But it was better if he left a few days earlier, so she wouldn’t always be reminded of the broken accounts from her previous life whenever she saw him.
Moreover, Ning Yin’s identity as a prince was too dangerous; one misstep could draw the Yu family into factional disputes. She had never intended to keep him long.
Yu Lingxi lifted his arm slightly and said, “If you’re saying farewell, then say farewell. Why kneel? Stand up properly.”
She couldn’t accept this kneeling from him.
She could resent him, hit him, but would never humiliate him.
“I know my status is humble. Having received Miss’s life-saving grace, I should serve as your slave for life, weaving grass shoes and carrying rings in my mouth to repay you, but…”
Ning Yin glanced at Yu Lingxi, then quickly lowered his eyes again.
That glance was truly forlorn and pitiful. Pressing his bloodless lips together, he continued hoarsely, “But I am a fighting slave who escaped from the arena, more lowly than the lowest servant. It’s right that Miss doesn’t want to keep me by her side. I have already imposed on Miss for too long. I have nothing—even this life is given by Miss. Except for this one kowtow, I truly don’t know how else to thank Miss for her profound kindness.”
“You…” Yu Lingxi’s heart wavered as she turned to examine Ning Yin.
His current reluctant and pitiful appearance was completely different from the violent, bloodthirsty madman of her previous life!
As her resentment and prejudice were repeatedly destroyed, Yu Lingxi finally softened her tone and called Hutao in, “Go pack up the remaining set of clothes, prepare some dry provisions and noodles, and give them all to him to take away.”
But Ning Yin refused to accept.
“Although I am a slave, I am not a beggar.”
After a pause, Ning Yin looked at the sleeping kitten on the bed, “But this cat, please find another good person to adopt it.”
Yu Lingxi asked, “Why? Don’t you like it?”