Guiying stared at him.
Liuxian rarely spoke so openly about his own mistakes, which only made the apology feel more genuine.
"If you'll come home with me, I'll do better."
A faint smile appeared on Liuxian's face as his thumb brushed away another tear.
"I'll learn to listen instead of deciding everything by myself. I'll involve you when things concern you, and I'll stop treating you like someone who needs to be protected from every difficult thing in the world."
His gaze softened even further.
"You're my partner, Guiying. I should have acted like it."
For the first time since he arrived, Guiying laughed through his tears.
The sound was shaky and uneven, yet it carried a warmth that Liuxian had missed desperately.
Liuxian smiled in return before allowing his gaze to travel across Guiying's face.
"You've gained weight."
The observation earned another watery laugh.
"I think these villagers have been feeding you far too well."
