Folding Heart

As dusk fell, the calls of birds returning home echoed across Xiaosui Mountain.

"If you wish to see, we can come again tomorrow."

Although the sky wasn't completely dark yet, it had already donned a dark cloak, indicating that it would soon begin to rain here.

Mei Sheng couldn't see the stars she wanted to see.

Pei Jue turned to the side and reached out his hand again, saying, "Pull me up. The terrain here is rugged, and we could easily fall. Besides, it's getting dark..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the woman, who looked even more alluring in the darkness, step over the slope and look at him strangely.

It's as if it's saying: Is this difficult?

This was an expression Pei Jue had never seen on Mei Sheng before.

The images of those rebellious, ordinary, and stubborn women flashed quickly through his mind, while his memories were slowly being invaded by those clear and moving eyes.

Could there be some kind of spirit or monster in these mountains that transformed her into a different person?

He must have thought of this, but he hadn't considered anything else. For example, Mei Sheng's actions didn't seem like he was visiting this mountain for the first time.

"Cough cough... You've gone through a lot, I'll be here for you from now on..."

He could only imagine that during these three years, he had not been by her side, and she had worked hard for a living for many days, which was why she had transformed from such a delicate young lady into such a spirited and capable woman.

He vowed never to let her suffer like that again.

Mei Sheng loosened the hem of her dress, lightly stepped over a small puddle on the ground, and looked to the distance to her left. Behind the dense forest, she remembered there was a clear pool there.

Perhaps because she exercises regularly, Mei Sheng wasn't too tired at the moment, only unable to suppress her joy.

If what I dreamt last night were real...

if!

"good."

As we walked halfway up the mountain, the wind began to pick up.

Mei Sheng was trying hard to figure out where she was going and didn't hear what the man next to her was saying. Besides, she wasn't paying attention to this, so she didn't have time to listen.

In the morning, Pei Jue saw that she was not fully recovered and did not want her to come. He said that she should rest for a few more days and come when she was fully recovered.

But the opportunity was fleeting, or perhaps it was the dream that night that was reminding Mei Sheng.

Faster, even faster.

After she had arranged things down the mountain, she came in a hurry.

As always, the climate in these mountains remains strange.

As for the person behind him, Mei Sheng regarded him as just some noise, like the birds in the mountains, and never paid him any attention.

It's just a pity that Lele is still too young.

Thinking of this, she hesitated, and her steps faltered.

If she disappears in the future, will Lele cry and shout, "Where is Auntie?"

It's likely that Xiaoqin and the shopkeeper will take good care of Lele, and the money she left behind should be enough to ensure Lele grows up to be an adult.

Mei Sheng couldn't help but sigh slightly.

However, she quickly regained her composure and continued walking.

Just this once, be selfish, just this once...

Unfortunately, the weather was unfortunate today; dark clouds were everywhere, making people feel uneasy, which also made Mei Sheng feel rather unhappy.

She parted the grass in front of her and saw a tree in front of her. The tree was very tall and lush, but unfortunately, one side was crooked, making the tree look a little crooked.

She pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

Isn't this the little twig she casually stuck in the ground when she first arrived? She never expected that the tree would grow so tall.

Pei Jue, who was still three steps away from the tree, frowned. The smile that had been on his face just now had almost completely disappeared.

Aren't we supposed to go down the mountain?

He was supposed to lead the way, but Mei Sheng said he wanted to try and see if he could remember the route so he could come back tomorrow.

Pei Jue naturally agreed.

For no apparent reason, Pei Jue felt a lump in his throat and said to the woman who had taken the wrong turn, "This direction..."

But looking into those eyes, Pei Jue swallowed the words he hadn't yet spoken. Oh well, let's just pretend they were enjoying the spring outing.

Although three or four years had passed, Mei Sheng was still very aware of the paths she had taken in the mountains, given her recent arrival in this strange world and her already remarkable memory.

Before long, Pei Jue sensed something was wrong; she had become familiar with the mountain roads.

If you have doubts, you'll naturally ask them.

“In the past, we often went up the mountain to collect medicinal herbs.”

This explanation seems plausible, yet it also seems incomprehensible; it all depends on how one interprets it.

Pei Jue understood and said, "So, you used to live in this north area? Your home is close to here, so why didn't you let me visit your uncle and aunt? Such behavior seems rather impolite."

"Um?"

Seeing the woman's bewildered expression, he suddenly became excited and said, "When I was young, an accident happened in my family, which caused my father and mother to be at odds and even hate each other. Those days were really difficult. Later, I joined the army and guarded Wu County for several years. It was only in these years that I gradually became familiar with my family."

This seems to explain why he is so distant from both his maternal and paternal grandmothers' homes.

What do you think?

A willow branch fell beside Pei Jue, and when the wind blew, a few fallen leaves floated on his head, making him look particularly comical.

"ah?"

Mei Sheng, who was concentrating on walking, was suddenly pulled to a stop.

Mei Sheng steadied herself and hesitated for a moment before saying, "So, you're saying you're pathetic?"

The two looked at each other, each seeing an unreadable emotion in the other's eyes.

Seeing that Mei Sheng had exposed him, Pei Jue coughed a few times and looked at her expectantly.

"And you?"

The topic changed so quickly that Mei Sheng couldn't keep up and just silently looked back.

"I have never heard you talk about the past."

Mei Sheng paused for a moment and said, "I was raised by my maternal grandfather."

Having said that, she stopped talking, turned around and continued walking, unaware that a light had appeared in the eyes of the man behind her.

"Then when shall we go and see your maternal grandfather?"

"Later."

Hearing that the woman in front of him had not refused but instead mentioned the specific time arrangement, Pei Jue's smile grew wider and wider, and he was extremely happy.

—

Throughout her journey, Mei Sheng never stopped, sometimes stepping over bushes, sometimes walking along narrow paths.

The mountain roads are indeed quite difficult.

Seeing a familiar spot, Mei Sheng cleared her throat and said awkwardly, "I'm not feeling well. Could you wait here for me for a moment?"

After saying this, her face flushed slightly, and she couldn't lift her head.

Pei Jue's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he said, "How about I go with you?"

Although Pei Jue had sent people up the mountain to scout ahead of time after mentioning that he had come here, and had transferred all the guards in the mountain away, he also knew the overall layout of this small mountain.

There is no danger in the mountains.

However, there was a clear pool very close by, and it was getting dark. Pei Jue was still a little worried if she were to go there alone.

What if I accidentally fall into the water?

"No need, just wait for me here. What, are you afraid I'll run away?" Mei Sheng pointed in a direction and chuckled.

"impossible."

Pei Jue regretted saying those words as soon as they left his mouth.

Does this mean he has already planted people in the mountains? Yes, this woman is good at escaping; sometimes she can even fool him.

He dared not gamble.

A few moments later, Pei Jue took off his outer garment, wrapped it around the woman, and said, "It's getting cold, don't let your illness relapse. Go on."

As dusk drew to a close, the last rays of light fell on Mei Sheng's cheeks, making them rosy and even more dazzling than the snow-covered plum blossoms of winter.

Mei Sheng nodded, and he stood there waiting. He watched as Mei Sheng went into the bushes on the left. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, she plunged in headfirst.

Why are you in such a hurry?

Perhaps because we were getting closer to the pool, there was a hint of dampness in the wind.

Without hesitation, Mei Sheng took off Pei Jue's outer garment, then rubbed her cheeks with both hands, softening her stiff face.

Mei Sheng felt truly uncomfortable with someone who even controlled her when she walked alone.

In these three years, she has suffered and been exhausted, but she has never felt like she can't breathe, even now that she is here.

She could still faintly hear the words Pei Jue and she had spoken when they first entered the mountains.

"This mountain reminds me of the day we first met..."

On the day we first met, you were the butcher and I was the fish on the chopping block; how could we possibly be at peace?

What's more, it's Mei Sheng who loves freedom so much.

She was not afraid of hardship or toil, but only of confinement and lack of freedom.

If she could die for freedom, she would gladly keep her promise.

Mei Sheng naturally knew that as long as a person is alive, there is no place that is completely in line with her wishes. Even in her own world, she would be emotionally constrained by her family.

Such as getting married, having children...

But now, Mei Sheng doesn't care about the future; she just wants to live in the present.

Since she is suffering right now, she should do everything she can to find her own freedom, instead of staying behind a man as his concubine or appendage.

Nameless, inhuman.

Even if Pei Jue offered her the position of wife that everyone longed for, Mei Sheng would still disdain it.

Regardless of whether there was any affection between the two, Mei Sheng's entire personality would probably be changed after they got married.

The thought that all Mei Sheng would have in this world in the future was Pei Shi in her mansion made her feel like a taut string, unable to have a moment of good mood.

She regards her husband as her heaven and bears children for him.

Everyone has the right to pursue freedom, doesn't they?

Despite the man's heart-wrenching cries and desperate calls of her name from behind, Mei Sheng still wouldn't turn around.

The water on the mountain was unusually cold for some reason. The river water gradually submerged her mouth and nose, causing her consciousness to become increasingly blurred. Her survival instinct told her to struggle, to get ashore, and to call for help.

But she suppressed this instinct in her mind and swallowed mouthful after mouthful of river water.

Just before she fainted, a question came to her mind.

Is this water... clean?

The river water washed over her body from front to back. Suddenly, a faint light emanated from a spot on her chest, which quickly dimmed.

The dark clouds on the mountain dispersed, revealing a crescent moon as red as blood.

It felt like half a century had passed, yet it also felt like a fleeting moment.

Mei Sheng propped her head up and opened her eyes. Having just come out of the water, her vision was still a little blurry, and she could only vaguely hear anxious voices around her.

It's a girl.

"Hey kid, are you alright? Should I take you to the infirmary?"

Mei Sheng shook his head, touched the tree trunk and stood up, then laughed inexplicably. The laughter grew louder and louder, as if he had gone mad.

The woman who had woken her looked over cautiously. Mei Sheng suppressed her smile, thanked her, and looked back.

In a corner where no one could see, her eyes welled up with tears, and even though she looked a little disheveled, it couldn't hide her joy at that moment.