Exiled!? Ha! I have An Infinite Space-Chapter 98 -

I stayed in the water for a moment longer before finally moving.

The warmth had already faded slightly, and my skin felt light from soaking too long. I reached for the cloth, washed quickly, and then stepped out of the basin.

The air felt cooler immediately.

I dried myself slowly, then picked up the inner clothes Fu Sheng had prepared earlier. The fabric was simple, but clean and soft. I put it on without hurry, tying it properly before letting my hair fall loose behind me.

It was still wet.

Drops of water slid down the ends, soaking slightly into the back of my clothes.

I ran my fingers through it once, pushing it back.

My face felt a little warm, but also slightly pale from staying too long in the bath.

After a moment, I walked toward the door and pushed it open.

The room outside was quiet.

Only one candle was lit.

Its small flame flickered gently, casting soft shadows across the walls.

I stepped out.

Fu Sheng was sitting on the bed.

He had already changed and looked more relaxed now, but he was not lying down. He sat upright, one leg slightly bent, his hand resting on his knee as if he had been waiting.

His eyes lifted the moment I walked in.

For a second, he did not speak.

His gaze moved over me quietly.

My hair was loose.

Still wet.

My clothes were simple, without any outer layer.

I noticed the way his eyes paused for a brief moment before he looked away.

"You took a long time," he said.

His voice was calm, but a little lower than before.

I walked further into the room.

"The water was warm," I replied. "I stayed a bit longer."

I stopped not too far from him.

The candlelight flickered between us.

He looked at me again.

This time, his gaze did not move away as quickly.

"Your hair is still wet," he said.

"I know."

I reached up and lightly squeezed the ends.

A few drops fell to the floor.

Before I could say anything else, he stood up.

I paused slightly.

He walked toward me without speaking, then reached for a cloth placed on the side.

"Sit," he said.

I looked at him.

"For what?"

"To dry your hair."

I blinked once.

"...You?"

He did not react to that.

"If you sleep like this, you will wake up with a headache," he said simply.

There was no embarrassment in his tone.

No hesitation.

Just a straightforward statement.

I looked at him for a second longer.

Then I turned and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"...Fine."

He stepped behind me.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then I felt the cloth touch my hair.

He moved slowly and carefully.

I did not speak.

Neither did he.

The room stayed quiet except for the faint sound of the cloth moving through my hair and the soft flicker of the candle.

After a while, I spoke.

"You did not sleep."

He did not stop.

"I was not tired."

"That is a lie."

"I was waiting."

I paused slightly.

"For me?"

"Yes."

His answer came without delay.

I did not turn around.

"Why?"

The cloth paused for a brief second.

Then continued.

"...I wanted to make sure you were fine."

I lowered my gaze slightly.

"I am fine."

"I know."

"Then why wait?"

This time, he did not answer immediately.

The cloth moved slower.

"...Because I wanted to."

His voice was quieter now.

Simple.

But clear.

I stayed silent.

The candlelight shifted slightly as the flame moved.

After a moment, I spoke again.

"Tomorrow, I want to go out early."

His hands stilled briefly.

"Where?"

"To look at the land."

"What for?"

"I am going to start farming."

He did not move for a second.

Then—

"You already decided?"

"Yes."

The cloth resumed moving.

"Do you know how to farm?" he asked.

"Yes."

"You sound very sure."

"I am."

He let out a small breath.

Then he said,

"I will go with you."

I turned my head slightly.

"There is no need."

"There is."

"I can handle it."

"I know."

"Then why?"

The cloth stopped again.

His hand lowered slightly, resting against my hair.

"...Because I do not want you to go alone."

I looked up at him.

He was already looking at me.

His expression was calm.

But firm.

I held his gaze for a moment.

Then I looked away.

"...Suit yourself."

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

He did not say anything else.

He only continued drying my hair.

After a while, the cloth stopped moving.

"My hair is dry enough," I said.

He did not answer immediately.

Instead, I felt his fingers move through my hair again, slower this time, separating the strands gently.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"So it will not bother you when you sleep," he replied.

His voice was calm.

I felt his fingers gather my hair, then begin to braid it loosely.

Not tight.

Just enough to keep it in place.

I blinked slightly, surprised.

"You know how to do this?" I asked.

His hands paused for a brief moment.

Just a second.

Then they continued.

There was a short silence before he spoke.

"...I learned."

I tilted my head slightly.

"From where?"

This time—

He hesitated.

His fingers slowed down.

For a moment, it felt like he would not answer.

Then he spoke.

"...When I found out she was pregnant," he said quietly.

My expression did not change, but I listened.

"With twins."

His voice remained steady, but softer than before.

"I learned from my mother."

His fingers continued moving carefully through my hair.

"In case one of them was a girl," he added.

There was a small pause.

"I thought... if she stayed..."

His hand stilled slightly before continuing again.

"...then I would help take care of the child."

I did not speak.

The room felt quieter.

"She said she would leave after giving birth," he continued.

"So I prepared."

His words were simple.

I lowered my gaze slightly.

"And you believed her?" I asked.

"Yes."

I let out a small breath.

"...You are too straightforward."

He did not respond to that.

After a moment, his hands stopped.

"It is done," he said.

I reached back slightly and touched my hair.

It was neatly braided.

"...Not bad," I said.

A faint smile touched his lips.

"I had practice."

I turned slightly to look at him.

"For a child that never came?"

He met my gaze.

"For something that could have."

I held his eyes for a moment.

Then I looked away.

"...You think too far ahead."

"And you do not think enough," he replied.

I almost laughed.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

There was no hesitation in his answer.

I shook my head slightly.

Then I stood up from the bed.

"It is late," I said. "You should sleep."

"And you?"

"I will sleep too."

He nodded.

Without saying anything more, he moved to lie down on one side of the bed, leaving space for me.

I walked around and lay down beside him.

The candlelight flickered softly.

The room was quiet again.