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Chapter 43: Rising Tensions

As he walked through the estate\'s outer gardens, Li Tian\'s thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Well, if it isn\'t the rising star of the Li family."

He turned to see a woman standing just a few feet away. Her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and she wore a simple but elegant robe. Her eyes sparkled with a teasing glint that made Li Tian\'s heart skip a beat.

"Liu Mei," he said, a smile spreading across his face. He hadn\'t expected to run into her so soon after their intimate night together, but the sight of her brought a sense of calm amidst the chaos.

"You\'re not busy today?" she teased, walking toward him with a graceful step.

Li Tian shrugged. "Taking a break from all the meetings and strategies. I needed some air."

Liu Mei smiled and stood beside him, gazing out over the garden. The two of them stood in comfortable silence for a moment, but eventually, Liu Mei broke it.

"I\'ve been hearing things," she said, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

"Things?" Li Tian raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Oh, just rumors," she said playfully. "About how you\'ve been winning over the hearts of various women. I suppose I shouldn\'t be surprised."

Li Tian chuckled, shaking his head. "You\'re the one who keeps teasing me, Liu Mei. Besides, I\'ve never been shy about my intentions."

Her smile softened slightly as she looked up at him. "And what are those intentions, Tian? Do you plan on keeping all of us around forever? Or will one of us eventually take a special place in your heart?"

Li Tian met her gaze, feeling the weight of her words. For a moment, he wondered if she was truly curious, or if she was testing him. Either way, he couldn\'t lie to her.

"I won\'t deny it, Liu Mei. There are others in my life," he admitted, his tone serious. "But that doesn\'t mean I don\'t care about you. You\'re important to me."

Liu Mei\'s smile wavered, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "I suppose I should have known," she said softly. "A man like you... of course you wouldn\'t be satisfied with just one woman."

Li Tian reached out, gently cupping her cheek with his hand. "Liu Mei, you knew who I was before any of this happened. I won\'t pretend that I\'m like other men. But I promise you, if you stay with me, I will make sure you\'re happy. I won\'t neglect you."

She leaned into his touch, her eyes closing for a brief moment before opening again. "Do you really mean that, Tian? Because I—" She hesitated, her voice faltering. "I\'ve always had feelings for you. But I don\'t want to be just another woman in your life."

Li Tian\'s heart softened at her vulnerability. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace. "Liu Mei, I\'ve always known. And I\'m telling you now, I want you by my side. You won\'t be just another woman. You\'ll be special."

For a moment, Liu Mei didn\'t respond. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. When she finally looked up at him, her eyes were filled with both longing and uncertainty.

"And you\'ll keep your word?" she asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper.

Li Tian didn\'t hesitate. He tilted her chin up, his eyes locking onto hers. "I will. You have my word."

The tension between them shifted, the playful banter giving way to something deeper. Li Tian leaned in, pressing his lips to hers in a slow, tender kiss. Liu Mei responded almost immediately, her arms wrapping around his neck as she melted into him.

The kiss deepened, the world around them fading away as their connection intensified. Li Tian could feel the warmth of her body pressed against his, and the soft, rapid beat of her heart mirrored his own. For a moment, everything else was forgotten—the rogue cultivator, the politics, the responsibilities. It was just the two of them, lost in each other.

As they pulled away from the kiss, Liu Mei\'s cheeks were flushed, her breathing unsteady. She looked up at him with a shy smile, her eyes glistening with emotion.

"Li Tian..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Before she could say anything else, Li Tian swept her off her feet, carrying her back to the secluded area of the garden. The cool grass brushed against their skin as they lay down, their bodies pressed close together. The passion between them reignited, and as they shared another kiss, the boundaries of restraint began to blur.

Their intimate moment was inevitable. They had crossed a line, but neither of them cared. In the quiet of the garden, hidden from the world, they gave in to their desires.

The night stretched on, and by the time the stars were high in the sky, it was clear that their relationship had evolved into something far more profound than either of them had anticipated.

The next morning, Li Tian woke up feeling an unusual sense of calm. Liu Mei was still asleep beside him, her breathing slow and peaceful. He watched her for a few moments, a soft smile playing on his lips. He hadn\'t expected their relationship to take this turn so quickly, but now that it had, he felt a sense of clarity.

As he slipped out of bed and dressed, he couldn\'t help but feel that the challenges ahead didn\'t seem so daunting anymore. With Liu Mei by his side, and the growing alliance to back him, he was ready to face whatever the rogue cultivator would throw his way.

But before that, there was something more important on his mind. He glanced back at Liu Mei one last time before leaving the room. He had promised her that she would be special, and he intended to keep that promise.