Yan Ning's eyelids felt like they were weighed down with lead, and she struggled to open her eyes.

Above us was the deep night sky, dotted with a few scattered stars.

My head aches heavily, like it's been hit by a hammer.

She shifted, and beneath her lay not the hard grass she had imagined, but...

A soft, slightly wrinkled piece of fabric.

It carries a crisp and clean scent.

She propped herself up and looked down to see that she was sitting on Xie Huaiye's black coat.

The owner of the coat was sitting alone by a campfire not far away.

The flickering firelight outlined his handsome profile; his shoulders were straight, like a silent tree.

The others slept sprawled on the grass, snoring softly.

"woke up?"

Xie Huaiye's voice came first, gentle and deep, like a stream flowing in the night.

He turned his head, his gaze falling on her face with a hint of concern:

How are you feeling?

Yan Ning rubbed her throbbing temples and said, "My head hurts so much... Am I poisoned?"

Xie Huaiye poked at the campfire, and a few sparks rose lightly and then disappeared.

The firelight illuminated his focused face.

"Yes, they are poisonous mushrooms. All of you have been affected."

He pointed to an empty small pot next to him, "I found the antidote in your backpack, ground it into powder, boiled it in water, and they all drank it. They were fine after a good night's sleep."

Yan Ning's gaze involuntarily fell back to the expensive coat she was wearing, which had been wrinkled from being pressed down on it.

A strange warmth welled up inside her, but she also felt a little guilty.

"you……"

Her voice softened, "Why did you use your clothes as a mat? The floor is so dirty."

Xie Huaiye paused for a moment.

He looked up at her, the campfire dancing in his deep eyes.

The corners of his mouth seemed to twitch upwards very slightly, but it was gone in an instant.

"fine."

He spoke casually, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary: "It's just a coat."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over her thin clothes. "It's chilly at night, and the ground is even colder. It'll be more comfortable if you have something on to lie on."

His voice was not loud, and his words were simple.

But it was like a small pebble, gently thrown into the tranquil lake of Yan Ning.

That slight feeling of guilt, mixed with a strange warmth, quietly spread.

"Thank you so much..."

Yan Ning was silent for a moment, then opened her mouth and said softly.

At this moment, the other people nearby also woke up one after another.

Sun Wuji rubbed his temples, grimacing as he sat up.

"My goodness, my head is buzzing like it's been slammed in a door!"

Qi Minghao, standing next to him, also opened his eyes groggily, looking completely bewildered.

"I think I just saw a herd of deer flying by in the sky, the kind with colorful wings! I thought I had ascended to heaven!"

"Who was so wise and powerful to save us?" Sun Wuji looked around.

Yan Ning pointed to Xie Huaiye by the fire and said, "It was Xie Huaiye. He found the antidote in my bag, ground it into powder, boiled it in water, and forced it down our throats."

"Wow!"

Sun Wuji immediately perked up, exaggeratedly clasping his hands in thanks, "Thank you, young master! I will never forget your life-saving grace!"

"You are handsome, kind-hearted, and compassionate—a modern-day Lei Feng!"

Xie Huaiye waved his hand, "That's an exaggeration. That was Yan Ning's medicine. I just cooked it for everyone to drink."

Sun Wuji continued, "There are so few people as humble and handsome as Young Master Xie. If I were a woman, I would fall in love with you!"

"Sun Wuji, your desire to curry favor is a bit too obvious!"

"You're quite the flatterer, aren't you! You bootlicker!"

Sun Wuji's words amused everyone, and they all laughed and called him a sycophant.

In the corner, Su Muyao also woke up.

She wasn't as loud and boisterous as Sun Wuji.

She simply sat there quietly, but her gaze unconsciously locked onto Xie Huaiye.

The flickering firelight illuminated Xie Huaiye's cool profile as he intently tended to the firewood with his slender fingers.

Su Muyao's heart felt like it had been rippled by a small pebble.

In those ripples, there was gratitude, appreciation, and a hint of...

An indescribable bitterness and longing.

These days, she has been trying to find an opportunity to get close to Xie Huaiye and talk to him, just like when they were children.

But his gaze always seemed to deliberately avoid her.

After a while, Xie Huaiye got up, picked up the kettle, and walked to the stream not far away to fetch water.

Su Muyao's heart skipped a beat.

The opportunity has arrived!

She bit her lower lip, and almost without hesitation, quietly got up and followed.

She walked very lightly.

The stream babbles, shimmering silver in the moonlight.

Xie Huaiye had just bent down when he keenly sensed footsteps behind him.

He straightened up and turned around.

Upon seeing that it was Su Muyao, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, his voice carrying a touch of detachment:

"Why are you here? Is something the matter?"

Su Muyao felt a little awkward under his gaze, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

She shook her head, her voice soft, carrying a barely perceptible hint of expectation:

"No...nothing special. It's just that we haven't had a chance to have a proper chat these past few days..."

She mustered her courage, raised her head, and looked into his eyes. "Brother Huaiye, it's been so long since we've talked alone."

The term "Brother Huaiye" carries a sense of old intimacy.

Xie Huaiye's reaction, however, was like ice water extinguishing a weak flame.

His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his voice grew even colder:

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