8 ：Bewilderme (第1/3页)

    Thedaysfollowingtheirescapewereabluroftravelandsecrecy.SukieandHanFenglingmovedfromtowntotown，ayingioolong，alwayswaryofbeingdiscovered.Thenightswerespenthuddledtogetherforwarmth，sharingwhisperedversationsandstolesofaffe.Eachpassingday，Sukie，sfeelingsforHanFenglingdeepened，andshecouldsensehisfeelingsmirroredherown.

    Theyfinallysettledinaquietvilgeledinthemountains，farfromthereachoftheirehevilgeicturesquehaven，withlushgreeneryandcrystal－clearstreams.Thesimplelifeofferedastarktrasttotheopulenddaheyhadleftbehind.Forthefirsttimeinwhatfeltlikeay，theyfoundasembnceofpeace.

    Oneevening，asthesundippedbelowthehorizon，castingagoldenglowoverthevilge，Sukiesatbythewindowoftheirsmallcottage，herthoughtsawhirlwind.HanFenglingwasoutside，choppingwoodforthefire.Shewatchedhimthroughthewindow，hisstrong，gracefulmovementscaptivatihesightofhimbroughtawarmthtoherheartthatshecouldn，tignoreanylonger.

    Ashefinishedandcameinside，Sukiegreetedhimwithasoftsmile.＂Youworktoohard，＂sheteasedgently.

    HanFenglingchuckled，wipingthesweatfromhisbrow.＂It，sgoodtostaybusy.Keepsmymindoffthings.＂

    Sukie，ssmilefadedasshelookeddownatherhands.＂Fenglialk.＂

    Hesetthewooddownandjoihetable，hisexpressionserious.＂What，sonyourmind?＂

    Takingadeepbreath，Sukiemethisgaze，herheartpounding.＂Fengling，I，tkeeppretendingthateverythingisnormalbetweenus.Iknowyoufeelittoo.This...ewehave.It，smorethanjustsiblings，morethanjustfriendship.＂

    HanFengling，seyessoftened，andhereachedouttotakeherhandinhis.＂Iknow，Sukie.I，vefeltittoo.ButI，vebeentryingtoprotectyou，tokeepyousafe.＂

    Tearsfilledhereyesassheshookherhead.＂Idon，tneedprotefrommyownfeelings.Ioknowthatwe，reinthistogether，thatwe，renotaloneinhowwefeel.＂

    Hesqueezedherhand，hisvoicegefirm.＂You，renotalone，Sukie.I，velovedyouforalongtime，lohanIevenrealized.Butourworldisplicated，andoursituationisdangerous.＂

    ＂Idon，tcareaboutthedanger，＂shesaid，hervoicebreaking.＂Icareaboutyou.I，tkeeppretendingthatI，mnotihyou.＂

    HanFenglingpulledherintohisarms，holdiightly.＂Iloveyoutoo，Sukie.Morethananything.Butwehavetobesmartaboutthis.We，tletouremotionscloudment.＂

    Shegtohim，feelieadybeatofhisheartagainstherown.＂Iknow.ButI，tkeephidinghowIfeel.Iobewithyou，trulybewithyou.＂

    Hekissedthetopofherhead，hisvoiceawhisper.＂Thenwewillbe.We，llfindawaytomakethiswork，nomatterwhatittakes.＂

    Theirversationwasinterruptedbyaknothedoor.Sukiepulledback，wipiears，asHanFenglioa.StandingoutsidewasLiZifeng，Sukie，soldfriendandfidantfromtheirpreviouslife.Hehadbeenasteadfastallythroughtheirordeal，andseeinghimbroughtawaveofrelief.

    ＂Zifeng！＂Sukieexcimed，rushingtoembracehim