Qin Xiao and Matsumoto Sayuri walked side by side down the corridor leading to their reserved private dining room, their figures enveloped by the soft, warm lighting of the restaurant.
Despite the pleasant surroundings, the remark Yamadaro had just made was like a pebble thrown into the calm surface of a lake, sending ripples through both of their hearts. Their paces seemed steady and composed, without the slightest hesitation, yet each could feel the warmth rising in the other's palm. Their fingers, already tightly interlocked, wove together even more firmly, as if to transmit a greater surge of strength and support.
Yamadaro's words had been a subtle stone dropped into still waters—though they created only the faintest, almost imperceptible ripples, to the sensitive minds of Qin Xiao and Matsumoto Sayuri, the hidden meaning was unmistakable. It was an insidious attempt to draw a clear boundary between them, a deliberate and covert suggestion of distance. Yet precisely because of this malicious probing, a fire was lit deep within their hearts, kindling their profound affection for one another. Instead of driving them apart, it acted like a strong adhesive, bonding their two hearts even closer together.
Chapter 1738