Seeing this, Jing Zhe felt heartbroken.

He quickly strode forward, intending to untie the ropes binding her, but as soon as his hand touched the ropes, Zhou Ziqiong shrank back, dodging his hand with a look of terror on her face.

"Mmm~"

Because her mouth was stuffed with cloth, she couldn't speak and could only make "mmm" sounds.

"Sixth Sister, don't be afraid, it's me!"

"..."

Zhou Ziqiong's body visibly stiffened, and she obediently stopped moving. Jing Zhe then untied the ropes binding her, and removed the towel stuffed in her mouth and the blindfold from her eyes.

Perhaps because she had been blindfolded all night, even though the light in the thatched hut wasn't very bright, Zhou Ziqiong's eyes still couldn't take it and she shielded them with her hand again.

After a moment of adjustment, Zhou Ziqiong lowered her hand and stared at Jing Zhe with her big, watery eyes, her voice somewhat broken: "I knew... Zhe'er would... come to save me!"

After saying that, Zhou Ziqiong couldn't hold back any longer and burst into tears. Jing Zhe hugged her tightly and gently patted her back, letting her cry it out.

If the original Zhou Ziqiong had encountered this situation, she could only wait for the Zhou family to pay her ransom, or even if the Zhou family paid the ransom, these robbers might not let her go.

But this time was different. Actually, she wasn't too scared because she always felt that Jing Zhe would come to save her.

But as time went by, Jing Zhe still hadn't come, and her mood gradually sank, with feelings of grievance and fear beginning to spread.

Upon suddenly seeing Jing Zhe, she could no longer control her emotions and burst into hysterical tears.

After she finished crying, Jing Zhe cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her, wiping away the tears on her face little by little.

Zhou Ziqiong was being held by Jing Zhe, and she didn't dare to look at him, but she didn't stop him. She let his lips wander over her face, and even felt a little expectant, because she knew that he was going to kiss more than just her face!

Then she thought again, if Jing Zhe hadn't drunk so much last night, or if she hadn't dodged when Jing Zhe's head leaned in, then what hasn't happened yet would have happened last night. In that case, she definitely wouldn't have left Wenxiangju alone late at night, and she wouldn't have been caught here...

However, after kissing away the tears on her face, Jing Zhe did not proceed further. Instead, he lightly kissed her forehead and then moved away.

"Sixth Sister, let's go outside!"

"Hmm~"

Although she felt a little disappointed, Zhou Ziqiong still gently agreed. Just as Jing Zhe was about to help her up, Zhou Ziqiong suddenly let out a soft moan and sat down on the ground again.

Then, her pretty face turned bright red.

"What's wrong, Sixth Sister?"

"I…"

Zhou Ziqiong stammered, unable to speak.

"I...didn't have a bathroom break last night..."

"..."

Everyone has to relieve themselves sometimes, and Zhou Ziqiong is no exception.

Last night, she was kidnapped by Gou Maoxin and tied up all night, so she was naturally feeling very uncomfortable. She would never tell anyone that she needed to relieve herself. Now that she was safe, that feeling surged up again, like a dam about to burst.

"Sixth Sister, can you hold on a little longer?"

"..."

Zhou Ziqiong's face turned even redder. She bit her lip, thought for a moment, and then shook her head.

If she hadn't been rescued, if she had remained quietly curled up in the corner, perhaps Zhou Ziqiong could have held on. But now that she's been rescued, she feels she can't hold on any longer.

“There are many people outside. If Sixth Sister can hold on, I will take her to the farmer’s house in front to relieve herself. But if Sixth Sister can’t hold on now, then she can only stay here.”

Perhaps fearing that Zhou Ziqiong would be embarrassed, Jing Zhe added, "Don't worry, Sixth Sister, I won't peek when I go out."

After saying that, he stood up and prepared to leave.

But he didn't move, because Zhou Ziqiong had already reached out and grabbed his arm, looking into his eyes with a very serious expression.

"Zhe'er, do you see me as your sixth sister now, or as your woman?"

"..."

Jing Zhe's mind raced to the left as he recalled certain scenes from last night. It seemed that it wasn't a dream, but reality.

So he took Zhou Ziqiong's hand very seriously and said, "From last night onwards, I will consider you my woman."

"..."

Zhou Ziqiong's eyes lit up, and then she softly hummed in agreement, feeling a weight lifted from her shoulders.

"Since I'm your woman, there's nothing wrong with you staying in the house, is there?"

Zhou Ziqiong seemed to be asking Jing Zhe, but it was more like she was asking herself.

After saying that, he added, "Zhe'er, turn around."

"Sixth Sister is already my woman, so it's no big deal if I glance at her a few times!"

"..."

Zhou Ziqiong's mouth gaped open; she thought Jing Zhe really wanted to see, and she was a little at a loss.

However, Jing Zhe wasn't that thirsty; he was just teasing her, and then turned away.

Then he heard a rustling sound of clothes being undressed behind him. The sound lasted for a long time before stopping. Jing Zhe thought that Zhou Ziqiong had already taken off her pants and that he was just waiting for the "whoosh" sound, but he waited for a long time and didn't hear it.

"Sixth Sister?"

Jing Zhe was a little curious and called out.

Judging from Zhou Ziqiong's expression just now, she must have been holding it in really hard. If that's the case, why doesn't she just resolve it quickly?

"Zhe'er...I...I..."

As she spoke, Zhou Ziqiong's voice became choked with sobs.

Jing Zhe quickly turned around but didn't see anything inappropriate for children. Zhou Ziqiong was still sitting on the ground, her hands on her clothes, looking pitiful with tears streaming down her face.

"What's wrong, Sixth Sister?"

"Zhe'er... I... my hand is numb..."

"..."

Jing Zhe instantly understood. In such cold weather, Zhou Ziqiong had been tied up with ropes and had been in the same position all night. Her hands and feet must have been numb long ago. How could she possibly exert any strength at this time?

Quickly helping her up, Jing Zhe said, "Sixth Sister, let me help you!"

"..."

Zhou Ziqiong was stunned for a moment.

She needs to use the restroom, how can Jing Zhe help her?

I helped her take off her clothes, and then what?

Not only were her hands numb, but her legs and feet were too. So even though the ropes were untied, she could only sit up. But she couldn't sit up to relieve herself—so it was embarrassing enough for him to take off her clothes, let alone help her…

Thinking of certain images, Zhou Ziqiong's face burned frighteningly, and her legs felt even weaker, but she still refused, saying, "Zhe'er, no... I can't!"

Jing Zhe didn't press the matter, but instead asked with a smile, "So, it seems that Sixth Sister can hold on for a while longer, right?"

"..."

————