She had already calculated the date and carried a menstrual belt on her body in case her period suddenly arrived.
Her period came at just the right time, which was a huge help to her.
As she emerged from the outhouse, Mu Bai came to greet her, intending to help her up.
However, due to the strict separation between men and women, he managed to pull his outstretched hand back.
Su Ruanruan was almost amused by this well-behaved little puppy.
The next moment, she stumbled and almost fell to the ground. Mu Bai panicked and quickly reached out to support her.
Su Ruanruan leaned into his arms.
She had a faint sour smell about her, but Mu Bai's cheeks were instantly flushed with two wisps of smoke.
He quickly helped Su Ruanruan up, then swiftly withdrew his burning hands so she wouldn't see his embarrassed state. "Ruanruan, are you alright?"
Seeing him withdraw his hand, Su Ruanruan lowered her eyes and muttered, "Are you disgusted that I was kidnapped by a flower thief...?"
"No, no, Ruanruan, I didn't." Mu Bai waved his hands repeatedly, afraid that Ruanruan would misunderstand his meaning.
Su Ruanruan chuckled to herself and continued to entice him.
"My family will definitely worry if I go back like this."
Mu Bai nodded, "Then... find a place to freshen up first, or I can help you to an inn to stay, and after you're all settled, I'll take you to the oxcart?"
"No, even if we only stay at the inn for an hour, we'll have to pay for a whole day's room. That's not worth it."
"What should we do then?"
"How about we go to your place?" Su Ruanruan smiled slyly.
Mu Bai was surprised, "But I live alone. If you go, the neighbors will gossip, which may tarnish your reputation."
Upon hearing this, Su Ruanruan's eyes were already brimming with tears.
“I know that the news of being kidnapped cannot be kept secret. It may spread throughout the streets and alleys by tomorrow. You are a scholar, so it is only right that you keep your distance from me.”
"I have troubled you greatly today; it is my fault. Young Master Mu, please return!"
"Ruan Ruan!" Mu Bai was at a loss. Hearing her distant and polite words, he knew that he had angered Ruan Ruan again.
He hurriedly blocked Su Ruanruan's path, a hint of regret appearing on his handsome face.
"Ruanruan, you know that's not what I meant. I'm just afraid you'll be wronged. I'm all alone, and their gossip doesn't mean anything to me. I'm just afraid they'll say even worse things to you."
"I'm not afraid, then can I go to your... house?"
Su Ruanruan winked at him mischievously.
Mu Bai looked at Su Ruanruan with doting eyes, "I am naturally delighted that Ruanruan is willing to visit my humble abode."
"But my feet hurt, I can't walk that far..." Su Ruanruan said coquettishly.
Mu Bai's ears turned red as well. "Then... I'll carry you on my back."
Su Ruanruan lay on Mu Bai's back, hugging his neck. He had a faint scent of ink and soap.
Although Mu Bai's shoulders were thin, they were not weak.
It felt very reassuring and comfortable.
In the teahouse, a man who witnessed this scene darkened his eyes and slammed his teacup down on the table.
The two people downstairs, however, were completely unaware of what was happening and, unconcerned about the stares of others, continued walking towards their homes.
Mu Bai first boiled some water and then found a clean change of clothes.
"These are my mother's old clothes. If you don't mind..."
Su Ruanruan took the clothes and smiled faintly, "I don't mind."
Her smile, with her eyes crinkling and her lips slightly parted, was like warm sunshine shining into Mu Bai's heart. He stared at her for a few more moments, lost in thought.
Su Ruanruan coughed lightly, breaking the silence in the room.
Mu Bai quickly looked away, her ear tips turning slightly red, and hurriedly ran away, saying, "I'll go out first. If you need anything... call me."
Watching his departing figure, Su Ruanruan found it even more amusing. Who wouldn't love such an innocent, puppy-like appearance?
Since she was menstruating, she naturally couldn't take a bath; she could only wipe herself with a cloth and wash her hair.
Her gaze fell on the bottle of ointment on the table, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips.
Mu Bai stayed in the kitchen to boil brown sugar water, but heard a "thump" coming from his bedroom.
He quickly put down his work and rushed to the bedroom.
But then Su Ruanruan fell to the ground, and a small round stool was still rolling on the ground.
"How could you be so careless? Are you hurt?"
Mu Bai helped Su Ruanruan up and made her sit on a stool next to him.
Only then did he notice that Ruan Ruan was barefoot, and he quickly turned his head away.
"Brother Mu Bai, my body hurts so much."
Mu Bai pushed the ointment on the table forward again. "There's some ointment for sprains and bruises here. It won't hurt so much if you apply it. I... I'll go check the fire in the kitchen."
Seeing that he was about to leave again, Su Ruanruan quickly grabbed his hand.
A small, warm hand touched him, and Mu Bai's heart pounded like a drum, as if a deer were running wild.
"Brother Mu Bai, my back hurts, my feet hurt, and even my wrists hurt. It's really inconvenient for me to apply medicine myself. Can you help me?"
"But...but men and women shouldn't touch each other..."
Su Ruanruan pulled up her sleeve, revealing a section of her arm with scratches, and said aggrievedly, "But it really hurts."
Upon hearing this, Mu Bai turned his head slightly to look at that delicate but not fair arm.
Sure enough, there were several scratches on it, and my heart ached.
"Ruanruan, you've been wronged."
He couldn't bear to see her get hurt again, so he could only pick up the ointment and gently apply it to her.
Her heart was pounding, and her fair face turned as red as a ripe shrimp. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Ruan Ruan.
Su Ruanruan almost couldn't help but laugh. Are all the young men here so innocent?
After finally applying the ointment and bandaging his soft wrist, he quickly fled the stuffy bedroom.
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