Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

Cai Lin's heart was screaming silently, and her soul was trembling.

"Mr. Su, how could you read that book!" She felt all the blood rush to her head, and her ears burned.

"It's over, it's over... He must know all about those silly things I did before, all those unspoken crushes!"

Overwhelmed by immense shame and panic, she was completely engulfed.

The Medusa Queen, who remained calm and composed in front of an army and decided the life and death of others with a smile, had completely vanished at this moment.

"If... if he brings it up now, or... if I take this opportunity to confess my feelings now, will he... will he say yes?" An absurd and audacious thought popped into my head uncontrollably.

"But what if he rejects me?! How can we get along after that? Where will my authority be? Wouldn't I become a huge joke?!"

"What should I do?!"

These last two sentences were filled with helplessness and confusion. Cai Lin's mind was blank and buzzing.

What about the future of the snake people?

What are the options for breaking through to the Dou Zong level?

What are the honors and responsibilities of Queen Medusa?

Everything seemed distant and unimportant at that moment.

At this moment, Cai Lin only wished that a crack would immediately appear in the ground so that she could crawl into it without hesitation and never see anyone again!

She didn't even dare to look Su Baichen in the eye anymore. Her gaze was unfocused, and she was at a loss for what to do. There was no trace of her usual calmness and domineering presence.

If outsiders were to see Queen Medusa before them, her cheeks flushed, her eyes darting around, and her whole being exuding the shyness and fluster of a young girl, they would be utterly astonished.

Elders of the Serpent Clan: This...this is really our ruthless and majestic Queen?

Sister Caidie: Sister... what kind of special cultivation technique has she practiced that has caused such a drastic change in her personality?

Those hostile forces that were once forcefully suppressed by Queen Medusa: This is definitely an imposter! How could that female demon who wouldn't even blink before chopping off our heads possibly have such an expression!

…………

Even Su Baichen, at this moment, was somewhat taken aback by the stark contrast in Cai Lin's appearance. The difference was simply too striking.

At this moment, Cai Lin was nowhere to be seen, not even a trace of her usual composure, elegance, or aloofness. She was exactly like a girl next door whose secret crush had been discovered, her blushing expression as if she wanted to disappear on the spot, which carried an amazing and unique charm.

However, recalling the sincere and even somewhat clumsy words he had just seen in that notebook, the lingering doubt in Su Baichen's mind—one of the world's great illusions about whether the other person liked him—completely vanished at that moment.

Cai Lin's reaction at this moment was more convincing than any words. Even a fool could see from her expression that the other party (Cai Lin) genuinely liked him (Su Baichen).

Thinking of this, Su Baichen's gaze fell on Cai Lin's bright red earlobes that were almost dripping blood and her slightly trembling eyelashes, and he himself fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

Does he like rainbow scales?

To be honest, I definitely like her. She's beautiful, strong, and intelligent, and the contrast she's showing now is even more captivating.

Who wouldn't admire or feel affection for such a near-perfect woman?

But Su Baichen also clearly realized that his current "liking" might stem more from appreciation and... well, an instinctive admiration for beautiful things. To put it bluntly, it was somewhat superficial, a kind of "desire for someone's body."

However, he is not a person without self-control, much less someone who falls in love with every woman he meets and indulges his emotions at will.

“Liking is not necessarily love; but love definitely contains liking.” Su Baichen pondered silently in his heart: “Which kind of feeling do I have for Cailin? Is it just superficial appreciation and liking, or is it possible for it to develop into something deeper... love?”

This question requires time and deeper interaction to answer. But in any case, the queen before him, mortified by the discovery of her secret, undoubtedly holds a heavier and more concrete place in his heart.

Chapter 45 Liking is not necessarily loving, but love definitely includes liking.

Seeing Su Baichen fall silent, Cai Lin's heart, which had just been filled with hope, suddenly sank rapidly, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

Although his hesitation lasted only a few seconds, it felt to Cai Lin as if centuries had passed.

Every subtle expression on his face was magnified and interpreted infinitely in her eyes.

"He...he hesitated...he doesn't like me!"

This thought, like the coldest venomous snake, suddenly bit into her heart. The fortress of confidence she had just rebuilt collapsed in that instant, the shards piercing her heart with pain.

She seemed to hear the sound of something shattering—the fragile sound of her carefully cherished, yet never-to-be-realized, romantic fantasy crumbling before the face of reality.

Is my love going to end so quietly before it even begins?

However, Queen Medusa was still Queen Medusa. Years of experience in a high position and her inherent pride gave her extraordinary self-control.

Despite the turmoil and coldness in her heart, she forcibly suppressed her surging emotions, took a deep breath as if to inhale all her vulnerability and unease into her lungs and then crush it.

She raised her still bright eyes, yet with a barely perceptible tremor hidden within, and looked directly at Su Baichen. With all her might, she asked a question that was direct and almost reckless:

"Su Baichen, do you like me?"

She tried to keep her voice calm, but the subtle change in tone at the end of her voice betrayed the turmoil in her heart.

She paused, as if to avoid appearing too aggressive, or perhaps to leave herself a way out, and added, "If you don't like it, you can just tell me..."

This was the bravest thing she could do.

Get straight to the point, without any roundabout or evasive talk.

Cai Lin knew that she was gambling, betting all her dignity and courage in exchange for a clear answer.

As long as she didn't hear the word "rejection" from the other party's mouth, even if it was just a vague response, she felt that there was still a faint flame of hope flickering within her.

Su Baichen was incredibly perceptive; he naturally noticed the tremor in her voice, which she was trying so hard to conceal, and he clearly saw her face turn pale instantly, as well as the fleeting vulnerability deep in her eyes beneath her forced composure.

Seeing her like this, Su Baichen's last bit of hesitation turned into a helpless sigh. In the end, he couldn't bear to let her suffer like this.

He stepped forward and, to Cai Lin's somewhat surprised look, gently embraced the slightly stiff beauty before him. The embrace wasn't driven by lust, but rather by a silent comfort and support.

He gently wrapped one arm around her waist and back, while the other hand gently and rhythmically patted her slightly trembling back, trying to soothe her unease.

Then, his deep and gentle voice rang in her ear, like a warm breeze, trying to dispel the gloom in her heart: "Cai Lin, it's not that I don't like you!"

Feeling the body in his arms tremble slightly, he continued to explain patiently and clearly: "But this may not be the kind of 'love' you are looking for."

"Liking is not necessarily loving, but love always includes liking."

“I admire your beauty, your strength, your intelligence, and all your goodness makes me happy. But this feeling is perhaps more of an instinctive admiration for beautiful things than the deep, unique ‘love’ you crave.”

His words were almost cruelly honest, yet they carried a convincing sincerity: "I know that what you really want is that bond called 'love'."

"Therefore, I cannot and will not give you a vague 'like' to answer your question and give you unrealistic fantasies. That would be unfair to you."

Finally, he said softly, with a hint of apology, "I'm sorry, Cai Lin, I made you feel uneasy."

The colorful fish in her arms listened quietly to Su Baichen's explanation. The initial coldness and despair were gradually replaced by a complex emotion.

She sighed softly, a sigh that contained a sense of loss and relief, but even more so, a renewed fighting spirit.

Although this wasn't her ideal "I love you too" answer, the outcome was far better than the worst she had anticipated.

At least, Su Baichen admitted that he liked her, but it just needed time to settle. This was like leaving a crack in her tightly closed heart, letting in a glimmer of hope.

As for whether this "like" can be transformed into "love"... Cai Lin narrowed her captivating eyes slightly, a faint yet confident smile curving her lips.

Queen Medusa was confident enough! From now on, she would stay by Su Baichen's side day and night, and with her quirky younger sister Cai Die helping her out, she believed that love would grow over time. She was sure she could win over this seemingly nonchalant but actually very thoughtful man!

Little Su Baichen, won't you eventually fall at my feet?!

If she doesn't even have this much confidence and ability, then she, the dignified Queen Medusa, might as well just find a block of tofu and smash her head against it. What's the point of talking about leading the snake people to rise up?

Thinking of this, Cai Lin felt a sudden sense of clarity. She raised her head and looked at Su Baichen again. The panic and vulnerability that had been in her beautiful eyes had disappeared, replaced by a gentle tenderness and a determined resolve. The intense love she felt was almost overflowing.

"Yes, I understand what you mean." Her voice returned to its usual coolness, but with a touch of gentleness: "It's okay, I will make you fall in love with me."

After speaking, as if to assert her dominance, or perhaps to draw more warmth, Cai Lin reached out and hugged Su Baichen tightly, even gently rubbing her cheek against his chest before closing her eyes and wholeheartedly enjoying this moment of warmth and peace from her beloved's embrace.

At this moment, she was no longer the queen who had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of her people, but just a little woman immersed in the thrill of first love.

Seeing the beauty in his arms quickly adjust her mindset and even reveal such a confident and even "domineering" side, Su Baichen was stunned at first, and then couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The smile contained a hint of helplessness, a hint of appreciation, and perhaps even a touch of doting affection that he himself was unaware of.

He released his embrace, but did not step back. Instead, he stood there, his gaze filled with a mixture of amusement and curiosity as he looked Cai Lin up and down.

A youthful and vibrant version of Queen Medusa!

Hey!

Chapter 46 Be Yourself

Feeling the embrace loosen, Cai Lin opened her eyes in confusion. Then, she met Su Baichen's undisguised gaze, filled with admiration and amusement.

She seemed to be appraising a rare treasure, her gaze moving from her flushed cheeks to her slightly disheveled hair, and then to the long dress she was wearing, which was quite different from her usual style.

Moreover, that's not the most important thing. The most important thing is that while the other person was looking them over, they would occasionally reveal a mischievous smirk!

That gaze and smile made Cai Lin's heart, which had just calmed down, suddenly race again, and a mix of shyness and slight anger welled up in her heart.

The blush on her face was hard to tell whether it was from the lingering effects of the intimate contact or from being angered by the other person's "malicious" gaze.

"What... what kind of look is that?" Cai Lin tried to remain calm, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she attempted to use her queenly authority to mask her inner turmoil.

Hearing Cai Lin's question tinged with embarrassment and annoyance, Su Baichen not only did not restrain himself, but laughed even more "wickedly". He deliberately dragged out his tone and said slowly, "Hehe, Cai Lin, I was just thinking... the style of your clothes is really completely inconsistent with your usual noble, aloof, and domineering queen aura."

He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and continued with a knowing look, "This fresh and elegant design, this soft color scheme... the more I look at it, the more I feel it's similar to Cai Die's style."

A sly glint flashed in Su Baichen's eyes as he deliberately guessed in an exaggerated tone, "Tsk tsk, you wouldn't have... mistakenly thought I particularly liked this style because I occasionally glanced at Cai Die's similar outfits when we were playing around, and then... deliberately 'borrowed' Cai Die's clothes to wear, would you?"

He deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "borrow," and his wicked smile almost overflowed.

"Oh my, the older sister is stealing her younger sister's clothes to 'seduce' her sweetheart? That's really... a very interesting thing!"

Seeing Cai Lin's cheeks turn redder and redder at a visible speed, almost to the point of bleeding, and her eyes begin to dart away, Su Baichen thought his guess was pretty much right.

He knew when to stop, but he wasn't one to mince words. He changed the subject, offering a mix of teasing and sincere advice:

“However—” he drawled, his gaze sweeping over Cai Lin’s entire body again, this time with pure appreciation: “This strong contrast, worn by you, has a unique charm. It’s quite nice, and it shows me a different kind of beauty from Her Majesty the Queen.”

He smiled, his tone softening slightly, but still tinged with amusement: "In the future, why not try different styles of clothing? Maybe... you can discover a more captivating side of yourself that you haven't even noticed before? I'm really looking forward to it, Your Majesty."

As soon as Su Baichen's teasing voice fell, two blushes instantly appeared on Cai Lin's cheeks, and even the tips of her ears turned crimson.

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she immediately retorted, "That's not how it is!"

Her voice carried a hint of embarrassment and annoyance, but her eyes involuntarily darted away.

She clutched the slightly immature, neatly tailored, brightly colored light purple dress she was wearing. The delicate butterfly patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs were indeed incongruous with her usual domineering and sharp style.