lingering fear
Clearly, Gu Sidu had misunderstood. Jiang Yufan looked at Gu Sidu's flushed face and unusual shyness, and sighed helplessly. She said, "Aren't you injured? Aren't you going to get some medicine?"
Gu Sidu's face froze, and when he came to his senses, he was already embarrassed and ashamed: "So that's why the Bodhisattva kept me here. I never told the Bodhisattva that I was injured. How did the Bodhisattva know?"
Gu Sidu was disappointed, very disappointed. He thought the Bodhisattva had finally seen the light, but it wasn't that the Bodhisattva had suddenly seen the light; rather, the Bodhisattva was just too thoughtful, and he was being too paranoid.
Jiang Yufan said, "When you went to rescue people, you said your foot hurt, so I guessed that you were probably injured. Quickly take off your shoes, socks and pants so I can see."
Gu Sidu was indeed injured. He had been climbing the tree to survive and had also been injured while dodging attacks from wild beasts. He sat on the small couch, obediently took off his shoes and socks, and rolled up his trouser legs to reveal his superficial wounds.
Jiang Yufan frowned as she applied medicine to Gu Sidu, looking at the streaks of blood and dried blood clots on the wound. Her movements were gentle, as if afraid of hurting Gu Sidu. She was focused and attentive, not noticing at all that Gu Sidu was hugging his legs, his head resting on his knees, staring at her.
Gu Sidu continued applying the medicine for as long as she did so.
Jiang Yufan stroked the area around the wound and gently blew on it. At this moment, Gu Sidu reacted. Gu Sidu breathed heavily for a few moments, which finally caught Jiang Yufan's attention, causing her to raise her head and look at Gu Sidu.
Only then did Jiang Yufan notice Gu Sidu's shyness and the blush on her ears. She realized that she had touched Gu Sidu's skin and put the ointment back into the medicine box: "Don't overthink it. I just want your injury to heal faster."
“I didn’t think much of it,” Gu Sidu said. “It’s just that in folk customs, if a man and a woman see each other’s bodies, they are expected to repay each other with their bodies. Now that the Bodhisattva has seen my legs and feet, I should naturally repay the Bodhisattva with my body.”
"But how come I remember that it was always the woman who looked at and touched the woman's feet, and those words of offering herself in return were said by the woman? If I don't want you, what can you do to me?" Gu Sidu had turned it around. He was a man, so what if he looked?
It's not good-looking, just so-so.
Jiang Yufan glanced at him again, and Gu Sidu immediately covered his feet, preventing Jiang Yufan from looking any further. At this moment, Jiang Yufan seemed like one of those lecherous men. Suppressing her laughter, Jiang Yufan felt a surge of teasing intent towards Gu Sidu, and she insisted on looking at him one more time.
Gu Sidu stopped dodging. As Jiang Yufan leaned forward, he stepped forward and embraced her, holding her tightly in his arms. He closed his eyes, concealing his playful thoughts, and held her very close.
Jiang Yufan sensed that Gu Sidu was acting strangely. She raised her hand and stroked Gu Sidu's back: "What's wrong?"
"Actually, I was a little scared. When I went into the mountains alone, I was also afraid that I wouldn't come back and would make you worry." Gu Sidu still felt dazed when he thought about it now.
He didn't have any great skills, but besides his courage, he also had some concerns. Before entering the mountains, he brought dry food and water, hoping that the boy would have something to eat and drink in the immediate aftermath of the rescue, and that this would help him get out of the mountains.
He hadn't thought about his own safety or whether he was injured, but now, thinking back, he still felt a lingering fear. What if he had died in the mountains? What if he hadn't rescued the boy? What if Jiang Yufan had just been waiting for him at home? What if his wish hadn't been fulfilled? What if the Qin family had been disappointed and heartbroken? What if others had gossiped and laughed? These were things that Jiang Yufan couldn't bear.
But his Bodhisattva always manages to help him through crises and out of trouble. Although Jiang Yufan is not a real Bodhisattva, everything she does makes her a true Bodhisattva at this moment.
"But I still hope that Bodhisattvas will not take such risks in the future, because I will be afraid."
“No,” Jiang Yufan said. “I believe we can all return safely. I’ve calculated it.”
Going with hope ensures you won't fall into the abyss, and so they all returned home safely, able to speak so calmly. Gu Sidu lowered his head, parted Jiang Yufan's brows, and gazed at her face. Jiang Yufan, with her captivating beauty and intelligent mind, was truly mesmerizing.
Gu Sidu's voice deepened: "Bodhisattva, I like Bodhisattva so much."
The candlelight reflected off their eyes, and their gazes flickered. It was the perfect moment. Gu Sidu lowered his eyes, his eyelashes trembled, and their noses were about to touch, their lips about to come closer.
Jiang Yufan watched nervously as Gu Sidu's lips drew ever closer. Her heart was pounding. She didn't want to push Gu Sidu away, but she was also worried that he might suddenly stop and give up on the kiss.
Both were preoccupied with their own thoughts and worried that the other would stop. Neither of them made any move and continued to get closer. Just a hair's breadth away, the sound of the candle flame exploding made the two, who were deeply moved, separate and dared not look directly into each other's eyes.
"It's getting late, so I'll go to sleep now." Gu Sidu coughed a few times, covering his mouth, to ease the awkwardness.
"Oh, go ahead." Jiang Yufan pursed her lips, looking quite flustered.
People are always awkward when they're embarrassed. Jiang Yufan waited until Gu Sidu got up and left before turning her head and covering her face. Her face was burning hot. Even though Gu Sidu was gone, Jiang Yufan lay in bed for a long time, unable to fall asleep. Gu Sidu's face kept appearing in her mind.
It's so annoying, why is this person always hanging around in front of me?
Jiang Yufan wasn't the only one tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
The next day, Jiang Yufan got up early. The courtyard was lively today. Jiang Yufan went out of the house and saw that Daoyun was practicing martial arts with Qin Zhiyi. Daoyun did get up to practice martial arts every day, but today there was a noisy boy by his side, chattering away, which always attracted attention.
Qin Zhiyi didn't know any of these moves, but as he watched Daoyun perform them with fluid grace, he became more and more excited and clapped his hands, saying, "Sister, you're so amazing! Can you teach me, sister?"
"Sister's sword is so beautiful. If I learn martial arts, I want to be like her and use my sword to fight for justice!"
Dao Yun ignored him; she disliked the noise. She changed the direction of her sword, aiming it directly at the boy. The sharp sword stopped in front of the talkative boy, pointing precisely at Qin Zhiyi's nose.
It looks like it was all planned out.
"Sister, you scared me to death!" Qin Zhiyi clutched her chest and immediately took a few steps back to find a safe spot.
Fortunately, after being frightened like this, Qin Zhiyi shut her mouth and stopped talking. Dao Yun's goal was achieved. She sheathed her sword and turned around, only to meet Jiang Yufan's eyes.
"Buddha, you've gotten up."
"Wow, Bodhisattva sister!" Qin Zhiyi's eyes lit up again when he saw Jiang Yufan. He went up to Jiang Yufan and said, "I didn't get to thank you last night. Thank you so much for saving my life, sister."
"I'm glad you're alright. Have you changed the dressing on your wounds?" Jiang Yufan patted Qin Zhiyi's head.
"Everything's ready. Sister Daoyun said she'll take me home after you've all gotten up and eaten." Qin Zhiyi raised her head, so that Jiang Yufan could use less effort.
“You’re different from last night,” Jiang Yufan said with a smile, pinching Qin Zhiyi’s cheek. “After you recovered, you’ve become more talkative and more likable.”
"Buddha, what's so likable about him? He's so noisy and chattering." Dao Yun curled his lip and said coldly, crossing his arms.
"You like martial arts?" Jiang Yufan stopped them from arguing. "If you like it, you can learn it yourself when you're older."
"Okay, now that I've mastered martial arts, I'll protect my family!" Qin Zhiyi nodded, but just then, she heard a hurried sound coming from inside the house.
The hurried footsteps and shouts told them to let go and stop pulling and tugging at each other.
As soon as Jiang Yufan and Qin Zhiyi turned around, they saw Gu Sidu rushing over.
Gu Sidu's worry stemmed from Jiang Yufan touching Qin Zhiyi's face. Jiang Yufan had never touched Gu Sidu's face like that before. Gu Sidu reacted quickly, stepping between the two, pulling Jiang Yufan's hand away, and raising an eyebrow at Qin Zhiyi: "This is my Bodhisattva, you can't come near her."
Dao Yun rolled his eyes and sighed from behind.
Here we go again. Dao Yun had already told Gu Sidu yesterday that the boy standing in front of him was only thirteen years old, no, fourteen years old, and posed no threat at all. Gu Sidu didn't need to be so wary of him.
Gu Sidu wouldn't listen to these words, nor did he want to believe them. In his eyes, no man was acceptable; any man would fall in love with the Bodhisattva. He was the first to fall in love with her.
Jiang Yufan also felt helpless. She pinched Gu Sidu's arm, telling him to stop saying such things; he really was just a teenager. Having received Jiang Yufan's signal, Gu Sidu finally calmed down and stood obediently beside her.
The important matter is that we need to take the person back after the meal, so as not to worry the Qin family.
Having not seen her family for a long time, Qin Zhiyi returned home and saw her family waiting at the door. Her eyes immediately filled with tears. She dismounted and ran into her family's arms. The family hugged each other and cried, refusing to let go.
Jiang Yufan and Gu Sidu stood there watching them reunite, their hearts filled with joy.
That's probably the meaning behind their rescue mission in the mountains.
Jiang Yufan was very pleased. She tugged at Gu Sidu's sleeve and whispered, "Let's go, let them have a proper reunion."
Gu Sidu nodded and followed Jiang Yufan away.
When the people who had been weeping in despair looked up to thank their benefactors, they had already vanished. The Qin family sighed, wondering how they could ever repay such a debt of gratitude. It was truly a miracle; without them, how would this family have survived?
Qin Zhiyi was not worried. His eyes lit up and he said to his family, "I know where they live. I can repay this kindness!"
He knew where the Gu residence was, and he remembered the way!
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