As darkness fell, the aroma of grains wafted from the kitchen. Li Tiezhu placed a steaming bowl of white porridge beside the kang (a heated brick bed).

When he realized that Shi Lan had fallen asleep again, he gently placed his hand on her forehead. After feeling the high fever on her forehead subside, his lips, which had been taut as a straight line, finally curved into a slight smile.

The warm, dry touch woke Shi Lan from her light sleep. When she opened her eyes, all she saw was darkness, and she could only hear faint sounds around her.

For a moment she felt a little lost, as if she were on a crossroads of time, unable to tell where she was.

"You're awake," a deep male voice woke her up at just the right time. Shi Lan blinked, and after her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could vaguely see a figure sitting beside her.

With a soft 'snap', a wisp of firelight illuminated the small room, and in the warm light, Li Tiezhu's angular face came into view. "Wife, it's getting late, get up and eat."

Shi Lan responded softly, lifted the covers, and slowly got up. After sleeping, Shi Lan felt damp all over, covered in sweat. The previous aches and pains had lessened somewhat, and although her head still hurt, it was much better than before.

Li Tiezhu busied himself stacking pillows high and placing them behind her so she could lean on them. He then covered her tightly with a blanket before picking up a bowl of warm, palatable white porridge and placing it in front of her.

Shi Lan picked up the bowl, lowered her head and slowly drank the porridge, sorting through the memories she had received in her sleep.

The reason the original owner married Li Tiezhu was because she had been injured and rescued by him. Later, she forgot everything and couldn't remember why she was here. As for why she married Li Tiezhu, Shi Lan only knew that the original owner took the initiative to propose it. Shi Lan wasn't quite sure why, but it was probably just a way to repay a debt of gratitude or a temporary measure to protect her reputation after being alone with him.

After finishing the porridge, Li Tiezhu cleared away the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash the pot, then brought over a basin of hot water.

"Soak your feet in hot water. There's medicine simmering on the stove. Drink it later, then take a nap. Your fever should be gone by tomorrow morning," Li Tiezhu said, putting the basin on the ground and coming over to take off her shoes and socks.

"I can do it myself. It's getting late. Go get the medicine, I'll drink it, and go to sleep early," Shi Lan said, her legs tucked in, looking very uncomfortable. She had never been served like this by a man during her several missions, and she certainly wouldn't let this relatively unfamiliar man do it for her now.

Li Tiezhu responded and obediently went out to get the medicine. Shi Lan took off her socks and put her pair of white, jade-like feet into the dark wooden basin. The water was slightly hot, which made her wince. The temperature was just right for her, which made Shi Lan feel more at ease and gave her a more accurate understanding of Li Tiezhu.

He may seem quiet and easily angered, but he is actually thoughtful and considerate, and knows how to take care of people. In their two interactions today, she could clearly feel his heartfelt care and love.

Although I don't know if this care is for the body or for the child in the womb, that's enough. As long as a man gives, he won't be indifferent to what he receives.

Shi Lan shrugged. Anyway, she was there to do a mission. As long as she completed her task, she didn't care about anything else, nor could she afford to. She knew very well that some feelings were not worth investing in, because she simply couldn't bear them.

Steady footsteps came from outside the door. Shi Lan hurriedly picked up the handkerchief by the basin to dry her feet, and quickly threw off the covers and shrank back inside.

Li Tiezhu walked in carrying a bowl and happened to see that dazzling white that had not yet been covered up.

Li Tiezhu's heart skipped a beat, and his hand trembled slightly, causing a few drops of the herbal soup in the bowl to spill out. The warm touch reminded him of a certain night when he had touched warmth in the darkness, and it was on that night that he learned the true difference between men and women.

Shi Lan was puzzled as she watched Li Tiezhu stand there blankly since he entered the room. He gripped the medicine bowl tighter and tighter in his hand, and she could almost hear the mournful sound of the bowl before it shattered.

Is the medicine still hot?

The room was bare, suggesting that the family didn't have many valuables. To prevent the only teacup from being damaged, Shi Lan decided to try to save it from its tragic fate.

"Huh? Oh, it's not hot anymore, it's perfect to drink now," Li Tiezhu's heart skipped a beat when Shi Lan asked him this, as if his secret had been exposed.

Li Tiezhu hurriedly placed the bowl on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), bent down to pick up the basin of water from the ground, and dashed out as if his pants were on fire.

Shi Lan glanced at the figure disappearing into the darkness, puzzled, picked up the medicine, pinched her nose, and gulped it down.

After taking the medicine, Shi Lan felt dizzy and drowsy. She leaned on the pillow, half-closing her eyes, pondering how to fulfill the original owner's wish in the future, and unknowingly fell asleep.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Shi Lan was groggily awakened by the chirping of birds outside.

Turning around, she saw Li Tiezhu lying fully clothed half a foot away from her, his hands clasped neatly against his chest. Shi Lan quietly observed him for a moment, then quietly lifted the sweat-dampened quilt and nimbly got off the bed.

After a night, perhaps the sweat had driven out the cold from her body, Shi Lan felt very light and refreshed. Apart from feeling a little weak, she no longer had the excruciating pain she had felt yesterday.

The countryside mornings are exceptionally fresh. Shi Lan stood at the doorway, took a deep breath of the cool air mixed with moisture, and then exhaled deeply, feeling the suffocating feeling in her body ease a bit.

Inside the room, Li Tiezhu heard a noise, opened his eyes alertly, and found that there was no one beside him. He quickly got up.

He jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed) and found the graceful figure he had been searching for standing in the doorway, which was not yet closed.

“It’s chilly in the morning, and you’re not fully recovered yet. Why don’t you come back and lie down?” Li Tiezhu, slipping on his shoes, walked a few steps to the door, trying to pull Shi Lan back.

Shi Lan turned to him with a bright smile, pointing to the magnificent sunrise slowly rising from the horizon, "Look, a new day has begun."

Li Tiezhu looked at her, puzzled. Shi Lan smiled and touched her hair that was loose over her shoulders before turning and going back into the house.

Li Tiezhu imitated her by touching his head, shaking his head, and going to the kitchen with a confused look on his face.

Inside the room, Shi Lan found a palm-sized bronze mirror in a box in the cabinet next to the kang (a heated brick bed).

She had seen Li Chunni's appearance when she rescued people before. She was beautiful and charming. Although her skin was tanned by the sun, her eyes were upturned, giving her a bewitching and charming look. If you add her full and moist lips, Shi Lan felt that few men could resist such sexy temptation.

Considering Li Chunni's ulterior motives towards Li Tiezhu, it would be impossible for Shi Lan not to feel a sense of urgency.

Out of a woman's nature, Shi Lan faced the increasingly bright light and carefully looked at the figure vaguely reflected in the dim yellow mirror.