Marrying the Soft-hearted Villain

The tip of Ruan Qiuqiu's nose bumped against Mr. Big Grey Wolf's rather hard shoulder. She felt a twinge in her nose, and physiological tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

His large tail was tightly wrapped around her waist, and she was still in a daze—

Had… had Mr. Big Grey Wolf just pulled her into his embrace?

Her vision blurred. After Ruan Qiuqiu realized what had happened, she became flustered. Her forehead rested against his shoulder, the red robe feeling furry against her skin, making her forehead and chest itch. She didn't know whether to keep her arms resting on his thigh and back or to let them hang stiffly at her sides. In her panic, she subconsciously called out his name.

"…Yuan… Yuan Jue?"

Noticing that the wolf seemed to be trembling slightly, Ruan Qiuqiu bit her lip and slowly asked, "A-Are you… alright?"

As soon as she spoke, the wolf's tail tightened around her waist, but not painfully. Mr. Big Grey Wolf seemed to be trying his best to restrain himself, the tip of his tail almost curling into a spiral.

The big crying wolf's tears hadn't stopped yet. They dripped onto the side of her neck, icy cold, making Ruan Qiuqiu instinctively shrink back.

She wanted to look up to see Yuan Jue's expression, but as soon as she moved, a large paw gently touched her shoulder.

The wolf's deep voice, laced with emotions Ruan Qiuqiu couldn't understand, came from just above her ear. It was like the aroma of newly opened strong wine, instantly reddening her ears.

"…Good, don't move."

Ruan Qiuqiu: "…"

Although the wolf's voice still carried the remnants of his rather embarrassing sobs, her limbs felt weak, as if all her strength had been drained away, and she couldn't lift her head.

The tip of her nose brushed lightly against Mr. Big Grey Wolf's clothes. She didn't move again, but her heartbeat quickened.

Her thoughts drifted. His tears continued to fall on the side of her neck, sliding down her collarbone, making Ruan Qiuqiu tremble with sensitivity.

Yuan Jue, however, could no longer restrain himself. His other hand reached out to caress her back, pulling her even closer.

Ruan Qiuqiu's face was buried in his chest, and she almost couldn't breathe.

She knew Little Grey Wolf was a crybaby, but she didn't expect that after so many years, Mr. Big Grey Wolf would be… the same.

Her face was burning. She felt her posture was awkward and her arms uncomfortable. The warm air of her breath brushed against Yuan Jue, making the wolf shiver.

Ruan Qiuqiu's entire face turned crimson. She muffled a call of his name.

Mr. Big Grey Wolf seemed to finally realize what he had just done. He gradually regained his senses from the surge of emotions, his blood-red eyes misting over.

He gently released his wife from his embrace, and his overly familiar tail slowly loosened its grip.

Yuan Jue's large hands trembled slightly as he tried his best to make his voice sound gentle.

He softly said, "I'm sorry."

His voice, however, was heavy as a mountain, filled with unbearable pain.

Ruan Qiuqiu resumed a normal sitting position, taking small breaths. Hearing his apology, she felt a strange ache in her heart.

She tried to hide the inexplicable feeling of dejection, forcing herself to look up and say "It's okay" in a casual tone. But when she saw Yuan Jue's expression, she was momentarily speechless.

He looked so sad, tears constantly welling up in the corners of his eyes.

"…I'm sorry." Mr. Big Grey Wolf's lips moved slightly, the corners of his eyes red, his long black hair somehow disheveled.

He extended his large hand and gently clasped Ruan Qiuqiu's wrist, his lips pursed, his rough fingertips continuously rubbing the faint mark on her wrist.

Ruan Qiuqiu then realized that Mr. Big Grey Wolf wasn't apologizing for hugging her.

The feeling of dejection in her heart gradually disappeared. For the first time, Ruan Qiuqiu felt so embarrassed, her cheeks uncontrollably flushing.

"…" A tingling sensation came from her wrist. Ruan Qiuqiu shivered, as if trying to justify her sensitivity. She whispered, "It's okay. You haven't answered me yet. Can your eyes see something now?"

She smiled and just as she raised her hand to wipe away Mr. Big Grey Wolf's tears, she heard his hoarse voice ask, "Wife… are you very tired?"

While he was succumbing to his demonic transformation, while his consciousness was unclear, she had faced so much alone.

She had even almost been injured by Qing Ruyi because of him.

His little wife clearly knew that the demon only wanted his heart, yet she hadn't left him.

She hadn't abandoned him like countless humans and demons in his life.

She must be very tired, very, very tired.

Mr. Big Grey Wolf's eyes were still red. He rarely showed such vulnerability. He tried to curve his eyes into a smile, but the corners of his lips continued to droop, making his entire expression look particularly fierce.

Ruan Qiuqiu hadn't expected him to suddenly say this. She was stunned for two seconds, then subconsciously shook her head.

She wanted to say she wasn't tired, but looking at his expression, her heart ached for some reason. Her eyes gradually blurred, and her voice choked up, unable to utter a word.

She thought she was strong, that she would never give up no matter what difficulties she faced.

But from the day she was used as a bargaining chip by the Wind Lion Tribe for salt stones until now, the situation was much more serious than she had imagined. The fear and the terror of being chased by demons weren't like smoke that disappeared without a trace.

She was indeed a little scared.

At first, she was afraid he was a bad wolf.

Gradually, she became afraid that he wouldn't recover, afraid that he would die.

She was also afraid that she wouldn't be able to hold on and would die with him this winter.

But when these fears and exhaustion were voiced by Mr. Big Grey Wolf, Ruan Qiuqiu felt that she wasn't so tired after all.

She blinked her sore eyes, and the wolf's fingers brushed against the corners of her eyes.

Even though he was crying more than she was, the wolf gently wiped away her tears.

"…Wolf will get better soon. Wolf will protect you."

Yuan Jue spoke softly, as if pouring all his courage into those words.

He didn't know if Qiuqiu's feelings for him were out of responsibility, or a dependence born from shared hardship, or perhaps, a deep affection and love that he dared not hope for, afraid that he would lose her if he spoke.

He knew what he looked like now.

Sometimes, Yuan Jue couldn't help but wonder, why hadn't he met her before the beast tide?

Or, why hadn't he tried harder, much harder before?

That way, at least he could stand before her with all four limbs intact.

He wouldn't have to sneak around, only daring to peek at her with his demon consciousness.

He narrowed his long eyes, which were still somewhat unaccustomed to the shifting light, looking as still as a blood-soaked painting.

Yuan Jue's promise was swift and passionate. The aloof and awkward big wolf seemed to have transformed back into the shy but honest little wolf from her memories.

Ruan Qiuqiu's heart softened and warmed. She couldn't help but smile.

She was rarely this close to him. Looking at Mr. Big Grey Wolf's features, much more defined than when he was young, her heart beat faster and faster.

No matter how slow she was, Ruan Qiuqiu realized—

Her feelings for the wolf in front of her weren't just those of an ordinary friend or comrade.

She still found his scarred face handsome, felt sensitive to his gentle touch, and her first reaction to being pulled into his embrace wasn't to struggle but to feel shy…

A thought suddenly flashed through her mind, like a rainbow piercing through the mountain mist and rain, making her realize something.

She probably, at some point, had gradually fallen for this periwinkle grey wolf…

Ruan Qiuqiu's heart pounded, the places he touched hotter than the rest of her body.

Regarding his promise to protect her, Ruan Qiuqiu felt both joyful and embarrassed. She thought for a moment before softly replying, "…Mm."

She didn't understand why she suddenly became so nervous and strange. She reached out and gently held Yuan Jue's large paw, trying to alleviate her nervousness by talking.

"…Um, your eyes, do they hurt? I knitted some wool strips this afternoon…" Ruan Qiuqiu stammered. She originally wanted to call Mr. Big Grey Wolf "husband."

But after realizing her own changing feelings, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

After all, she didn't know how Yuan Jue felt about the wife that had been forced upon him.

Ruan Qiuqiu stammered for a long time, then sighed and blurted out, "Would covering your eyes be better?"

As soon as she said it, she felt something was wrong. Covering his eyes with soft wool strips sounded like a prelude to something indescribable.

Ruan Qiuqiu's face burned. She hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean anything else…"

But the wolf, completely inexperienced in these matters, both practically and theoretically, had no idea what she was thinking. He thought her "nothing else" meant she was afraid he would misunderstand her as being repulsed by his eyes. He didn't object, only replying in a calm, indifferent voice, "I'll listen to my wife."

Ruan Qiuqiu: "…"

She felt her face redden even more. Why could this wolf say such tempting words with such a straight face?

Was this some kind of natural talent?

Ruan Qiuqiu took out the two-finger-wide, half-meter-long white wool strip she had knitted that afternoon from her backpack and hesitated. "…Shall I start?"

Mr. Big Grey Wolf nodded reservedly, indicating he was ready.

Ruan Qiuqiu: "…………" She tried to suppress the feeling that she was doing something inappropriate to this wolf. She slowly brushed aside his sideburns and gently wrapped the wool strip around his eyes.

His vision suddenly darkened, but the stinging pain lessened considerably. Mr. Big Grey Wolf couldn't help but curve his lips into a smile.

"Is it tight?" Ruan Qiuqiu asked.

"Very comfortable," Mr. Big Grey Wolf replied with rare honesty.

His voice was pleasant and husky, and although he was simply answering her question, Ruan Qiuqiu felt something was amiss.

She quickly shook her head, trying to dispel the chaotic thoughts, but her heartbeat quickened like a drum.

Ruan Qiuqiu tied the wool strip securely, but Mr. Big Grey Wolf's deep, sexy voice suddenly came from beside her ear, "Wife."

Ruan Qiuqiu's hand trembled. "?"

She saw Yuan Jue's big tail swish behind him, his voice full of shyness, "Can wolf bite you?"

Ruan Qiuqiu: "…………？？?"

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

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