Serena Feng froze on the spot. Her hand, which had been examining William Wang Jinling’s eyes, slipped downward and ended up resting on his face. For a moment, she forgot to pull back.
From a distance, it looked as if she were caressing a lover’s face. Their previously straightforward doctor-patient relationship suddenly took on a hint of intimacy.
They were so close that a single breath would let them catch each other’s scent, and the air around them seemed to grow warmer.
William Wang Jinling gazed steadily at Serena Feng, not even blinking.
Serena quickly withdrew her hand, avoiding William’s gaze. She forced a dry laugh and said, “Jinling, you’re joking. I won’t be anyone’s concubine.”
No matter what, the charm of a handsome man was still irresistible.
Whether or not you liked him, having a man with good looks, good family, and good temperament propose—if your heart didn’t race, you’d be lying.
“Serena, I meant as my wife. A concubine is something else.” William knew this was Serena’s way of refusing him, but he couldn’t help feeling a little unwilling.
For the first time, he felt the urge to marry. He truly wanted to walk through life hand in hand with Serena Feng.
“Jinling, you’re the eldest son of the Wang Clan.” Serena had regained her composure and smiled as she spoke.
It was impossible for them.
In this era, marriage had nothing to do with love.
For the great clans, marriage was a duty—a union of two surnames, honoring the ancestors above and continuing the family line below.
The Wang Clan’s future matriarch could never be a rootless woman like Serena Feng.
“But I’m still William Wang Jinling.” Even as he said it, William sounded uncertain.
If his eyes hadn’t been cured, maybe he could have married Serena Feng. But now...
It was impossible now!
So this is how it is—whatever you gain, you must pay a price.
That was the cost of regaining his sight.
His long lashes trembled, hiding his loneliness.
William knew that he and Serena Feng could never be together in this life. Even if the Wang Clan agreed, with Serena’s temperament, she’d never marry into such a strictly ruled family.
The atmosphere turned awkward; Serena’s smile faded. She picked up the teacup on the table and drained it in one go. “Jinling, your eyes are recovering well. Keep resting and don’t strain them. I’ll come check on you again tomorrow.”
With that, she set down the cup and headed out.
Serena thought she was handling things gracefully, but in reality, she was fleeing in embarrassment.
William burst out laughing, sweeping away his earlier gloom.
“Jinling, that’s not fair.” Serena stopped at the door and shot him a glare.
This guy... seriously.
Maybe his proposal wasn’t about love either.
She was overthinking it. In times like these, who really falls in love that easily? She was just being narcissistic.
“I never thought I’d see you so flustered, Serena.” William’s bright laughter was a far cry from his usual gentle, refined self.
“It’s all because of you.”
“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault. Serena, just pretend I never said anything. I don’t want us to lose our friendship.” William sighed.
Proposing marriage really was impulsive.
He hadn’t acted on impulse like this in years.
Serena nodded firmly. “We’re better off as friends. Or maybe, someone like me just isn’t suited to be a wife.”
“Marrying you would be way too much pressure.” William nodded in agreement, easing the awkwardness between them.
“It’d be even harder for me to marry you! Look at you—you’re better looking than me, have better manners, a better temper, and let’s not even mention your family background. Standing next to you, I feel like I don’t measure up at all.”
“A man shouldn’t be described as beautiful.” When he was blind, William never thought in terms of beauty or ugliness.
“But it’s the truth, and you can’t deny it. The Wang Clan’s Jade Gentleman—your looks rival flowers and the moon, your bearing is outstanding. Once you officially enter the capital’s social scene, you’ll have countless admirers. Just don’t get swept away by it all, Jade Gentleman.” Serena teased him with a smile.
‘Jade Gentleman’ is a term for men of remarkable looks and talent—only those outstanding in both appearance and ability are called that.
William truly deserved the title.
“It’s always a joy talking with you. We really are better as friends. But I won’t keep you any longer—your complexion doesn’t look great. Go rest early, and don’t let yourself fall ill after curing me. That would ruin your reputation as Dr. Feng.” William’s concern was gentle and sincere.
One moment they talked of marriage, the next they were laughing together. Both were almost frighteningly rational; William’s proposal was nothing but a momentary impulse.
Serena nodded and turned to leave without a second thought.
William was a good man, but he wasn’t her destined match.
Back in her room, a steaming bowl of brown sugar water sat on the table, along with a big bag of red dates.
Serena drank the brown sugar water, ate three dates, washed up, and went back to sleep.
She was exhausted!
Everything that happened at the palace, and William’s sudden proposal...
A life-saving favor, repaid with a marriage proposal.
She never imagined it would happen to her one day.
Serena gave a bitter smile, her mind full of worries, but forced herself to sleep.
Crack... a barely audible sound came from outside the room.
Serena was alert, but even awake she was only a bit sharper than an ordinary woman—compared to true martial experts, she was worlds apart.
To Serena, that sound meant nothing.
Lance Quinn slipped into Feng Manor at midnight, alerting no one. He pried open a window and climbed inside.
Soft moonlight streamed through the window. By its faint glow, Lance Quinn watched Serena lying on the bed.
Maybe it was the beauty of the night, or maybe Serena’s guard was down as she slept. To Lance, the sleeping Serena seemed as gentle as a cat, utterly defenseless—so different from the bristling, guarded woman she was by day.
Lance Quinn stepped lightly to her bedside and sat down.
He stared at Serena’s face for a few seconds, then smiled wryly to himself. What was he even doing here?
Just one look?
But what difference would looking make?
If Serena wanted to survive, she had to be able to protect herself.
He shook his head, about to leave, when he noticed Serena was holding her left wrist tightly in her sleep.
Concerned, Lance gently pried open Serena’s right hand and lifted her left wrist to examine it.
“What happened?” He stroked the slightly bruised wound with his fingertip, wondering when Serena had gotten hurt.
Serena wasn’t dead—if someone grabbed her hand and she didn’t react, all her years on the battlefield would’ve been wasted.
She wasn’t as alert as Lance Quinn, but she was definitely awake now.
She just didn’t dare move and kept pretending to sleep.
The tiniest shift in her breathing, the way her body tensed and relaxed—all of it was caught by Lance’s keen senses.
A faint smile played at Lance’s lips. He boldly took Serena’s hand in his own.
“Since you’re awake, why pretend? I’m not going to eat you.”