After that night's argument, there was a stalemate between Ahya and Xie Jie.

Xie Jie will still come to the courtyard at night, toss and turn, and then leave before dawn the next day.

Aghia also stopped refusing, only ever cold and numb, like she was completing an unavoidable task.

Only when pushed into a rout will a few sobbing woos spill out from between the lips.

The more she did, the more exasperated Xie Jie became and the ...