CHAPTER 114: HEARTS IN CONFLICT

The night dragged on, stars glittering faintly above the Li estate, but Li Tian’s courtyard was far from quiet. Inside, Zheng Wei still lingered, her slender form bathed in the lantern’s glow. Her violet robe slipped slightly off her shoulder as she sat by the low table, her teacup untouched. Her thoughts were a storm, circling endlessly around Li Tian’s words.

He had admitted it without hesitation. Other women. He had spoken as though it were natural, inevitable. And yet... when his eyes locked with hers, she couldn’t help but feel he meant every word when he said she was his.

Li Tian leaned casually against the doorframe, watching her with that same easy confidence, as though he could read her turmoil with a glance. His calmness only frustrated her more, though it also made her heart pound.

"You’re too composed," Zheng Wei finally said, her voice low. "Do you not care that your woman is sitting here, torn between walking away and staying?"

Li Tian crossed the room in slow strides, each step deliberate, until he stood before her. He crouched slightly, placing a hand on the table, his face close to hers. His voice dropped, steady and magnetic. "If you were truly going to walk away, you would have already done so. Instead, you’re still here."

Her lips parted, but no words came. He was right, and the realization made her chest tighten.

[System Notification: Quest Progress — Hearts in Conflict

: 20% Completed.]

The system’s cold chime rang in Li Tian’s head, though his expression didn’t change. He simply smiled faintly, reaching out to gently brush a stray strand of hair behind Zheng Wei’s ear.

"You want me all to yourself," he murmured, "but that’s not the man I am. I won’t promise you something false. What I can promise is that no matter how many women stand by my side, no one will ever stand where you do."

Zheng Wei’s breath grew uneven, her eyes shimmering as her emotions warred. Part of her wanted to slap him, scream at him for his arrogance. Another part wanted nothing more than to surrender to his certainty, to let him consume her doubts as he consumed everything else in his path.

"You..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "You make it sound so simple. As though my heart isn’t being torn apart by this."

Li Tian cupped her chin, tilting her face upward until her eyes were forced to meet his. "Then let me put it back together."

Before she could protest, his lips pressed against hers—gentle at first, testing, before deepening with undeniable dominance. Zheng Wei’s eyes widened, then fluttered shut as her resistance melted under the heat of his kiss.

Her teacup slipped from her hand, shattering softly against the floor, forgotten in the haze that engulfed her.

[System Notification: Quest Progress — Hearts in Conflict

: 65% Completed.]

When the kiss finally broke, Zheng Wei was breathless, her cheeks flushed, her body trembling. "You... you can’t solve everything with a kiss..."

Li Tian smirked, his forehead resting lightly against hers. "It’s only the beginning."

He leaned back slightly, his hand sliding to hold hers firmly. "Wei’er, I don’t need you to accept everything today. But understand this—while others may seek to claim me, you’re the one who has the right to stand by me openly, proudly. You’re not just one among many. You’re my fiancée, and soon, you’ll be my wife."

Her heart skipped at the weight of his words, the sincerity threading through his otherwise audacious tone. Tears threatened at the corners of her eyes, but she swallowed them down, clutching his hand tightly.

"...I hate you," she whispered weakly.

Li Tian chuckled. "And yet you’re still holding on to me."

[System Notification: Quest Completed — Hearts in Conflict. Reward Granted: Dual Harmony Technique.][Description: A rare cultivation method allowing partners to synchronize Qi circulation, enhancing breakthroughs and increasing compatibility between souls.]

The system’s chime echoed one last time before fading, leaving Li Tian’s lips curled into a satisfied grin. Another step forward, another bond secured.

Zheng Wei, unaware of the system’s role, only felt the warmth of his hand, the certainty of his presence. Despite her jealousy, despite her doubts, she knew walking away was no longer an option. He had tied her to him, heart and soul.

Outside, the night wind rustled through the trees, carrying faint whispers of the storm that was yet to come.