Good heavens, she's only been gone a short time, and her older brother has already arranged for someone to stay at his house?

"You still dare to say that?" Lin Xiao turned to look at Lin Qixia with a reproachful expression. "Your senior brother treats you so well, how could he let him suffer in the wind and rain?"

"How can it be acceptable for them to spend their days in trees or sheep pens?"

Lin Qixia, "..."

It's true he slept outdoors, but as for eating in the wind? This guy ate pretty well every meal.

She turned to look at Huo Yanqing.

The boy was covered in blood and his face was deathly pale; he was indeed quite pitiful.

For a moment, Lin Qixia felt a little guilty and swallowed her words of accusation.

To be honest, I really treated him too badly.

In order to prevent others from discovering his existence, he was kept hiding outside, and it was thought that he would eventually find a good place to hide. Who knew that this guy was so stubborn and actually lived such a miserable life.

No wonder his injuries were healing so slowly.

Living such a rough life, it's no wonder you can recover quickly!

"Okay, it was my fault," Lin Qixia said apologetically.

However, Huo Yanqing immediately shook his head, "Xia'er did nothing wrong! Don't blame yourself!"

Lin Qixia twitched the corner of her lips and simply changed the subject: "Alright, let me bandage your wounds first."

"Okay." Huo Yanqing was even happier upon hearing this.

However, Lin Xiao's words the next second made the smile on his face disappear: "I'll take care of this."

His second sister is a girl, after all. How could she personally change that boy's dressing?

Lin Qixia coughed slightly upon hearing this, "It's alright, we shouldn't be so taboo when treating and saving lives."

After all, she had already changed it for Huo Yanqing before.

"Lin! Qi! Xia!" Lin Xiao was angered by Lin Qi Xia's words.

Lin Qixia, who was about to change Huo Yanqing's dressing directly, trembled at her older brother's shout.

Helpless, he said to Lin Xiao, "Fine, then you can switch, I'll direct from the side."

"That's more like it." Lin Xiao was finally satisfied.

Afterwards, Lin Qixia handed the medicine box to Lin Xiao, and Lin Xiao led Huo Yanqing into the room.

Lin Qixia stood outside, directing Lin Xiao to apply medicine to Huo Yanqing's wounds.

After they finished applying the medicine and came out, He Zhilan called out, "Come and eat, everyone."

"Great! I've been starving!" Lin Qixia replied and quickly ran over.

Seeing the stir-fried wild vegetables and eggs, steamed meat and rice that He Zhilan had made, I felt my mouth watering. "Sister-in-law, these dishes look delicious!"

He Zhilan said with a smile, "Try it quickly. These wild vegetables were picked this morning, so they should still be quite fresh."

"Okay!" Lin Qixia replied, picking up a piece of wild vegetable stir-fried with eggs.

Although the wild vegetables are slightly bitter, they taste delicious when paired with eggs.

As Lin Qixia ate, she exclaimed with satisfaction, "I'm so lucky to be back safe and sound today and be able to have a bite to eat!"

Her words caused the previously cheerful group at the table to display complicated expressions.

After all, today's events were truly terrifying, and Lin Qixia almost didn't make it back.

It was because those adults were incompetent that they failed to protect her.

Huo Yanqing also looked guilty, after all, he was entangled by those hateful masked men at the critical moment, and even though he knew that Lin Qixia was in danger, he was unable to rush over to save her in time.

He even made her come to him, another adventure.

Lin Qixia noticed the atmosphere had suddenly become much more somber, and was somewhat puzzled. "What's wrong? I'm fine now, you don't need to be so unhappy!"

As she spoke, she placed a piece of food on Lin Xiao's and He Zhilan's plates, saying, "Everyone, let's eat."

"Okay," He Zhilan replied, feeling both sad and touched.

Lin Xiao then said, "Big brother will get better soon and protect you and Dong'er. Our family will never experience anything like what happened today again."

"Okay!" Lin Qixia encouraged him, "Then good luck, big brother!"

After that, the family ate together in a harmonious atmosphere.

Huo Yanqing, sitting to the side, felt that Lin Qixia was very far away from him.

She returned to that state, always interacting warmly and lively with others, blending in with them.

He, however, was always excluded.

For a fleeting moment, he wanted everyone in front of him except Lin Qixia to disappear, so that he could have her all to himself.

Huo Yanqing's expression darkened for a second, and he buried his head in his food to hide the terrible thoughts in his heart.

"Here, eat this." At this moment, a piece of meat suddenly appeared in his bowl, which Lin Qixia had put on his plate.

Huo Yanqing paused, looking up at her with some surprise.

The girl in front of me smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling. "Just eating rice isn't enough! My sister-in-law's smoked meat is delicious."

“…Oh.” Huo Yanqing nodded blankly.

Then, he silently picked up the piece of meat and took a bite, a strong, indescribable emotion welling up inside him.

It seemed as if it was about to burst out of its throat.

Even so, he remained calm and smiled at Lin Qixia, "You're right, it really is delicious."

"Hehe, then eat more."

Lin Qixia responded with a smile, but inwardly she thought, "What a load of crap! His 'darkening' level just went up so fast!"

If the system hadn't alerted her, she wouldn't have bothered to appease the boy.

Fortunately, this trick worked.

By the time we finished eating, it was already quite late.

He Zhilan took out an extra quilt and spread it out for Huo Yanqing in the sheepfold.

Although it was simple, at least I didn't have to sleep on a pile of dry firewood and straw anymore.

Even so, Huo Yanqing seemed to be in a good mood. "Thank you," he said to Lin Xiao and He Zhilan.

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