boyutpedia Chapter 23: It was all her wishful thinking.
Chapter 23: It was all her wishful thinking.
He admitted that he was not a gentleman.
He's capable of taking advantage of someone's misfortune.
Jiang Wan's relaxation at this moment, her soft panting in his arms, drove him to madness with desire.
He could even imagine her shoulders, her waist, and every curve of her body beneath her clothes.
In every night he indulged in his past life, he sketched her image.
From her earlobes to her ankles, from her most sensitive spots to her subtle, almost imperceptible reactions.
He knew every tremor in her brow and every soft moan that escaped her throat intimately.
But just as he was about to unbutton her clothes, Xiao Hengzhi suddenly stopped.
He wanted her, but he wanted her love even more.
He wants her body, her heart, and everything about her.
He wanted her to truly succumb, to hear her uncontrollable gasps, to feel her passion in his arms.
He must have used a great deal of willpower to finally regain some of his rationality.
He slowly released her, gently pressed his forehead against hers, his breathing ragged, and gazed tenderly at her face, his heart churning with complex emotions.
Jiang Mian's eyes were moist, her tear tracks still wet, her gaze lingering between reality and illusion.
Xiao Hengzhi tightened his grip slightly, pulling her into his arms. His lips lightly touched her cheek, then unconsciously slipped back to his lips.
He kissed her gently, as if it were a silent confession.
After a long time, they finally let go.
He took a few deep breaths, took off his outer garment and draped it over her shoulders, then moved to the cave entrance.
He closed his eyes briefly and exhaled a long breath. The damp, cold air pierced his lungs, instantly waking him up completely.
Looking down at his disheveled appearance, he laughed self-deprecatingly.
Much later, he heard a cough coming from behind him.
Turning around, she saw Jiang Mian clutching her chest, struggling to sit up.
"Cough cough..."
He went in, poured her a glass of water, and remained calm, showing no sign of anything amiss.
"Xiao Hengzhi?" Jiang Wan raised her head slightly, her eyes filled with confusion. She looked around, rubbed her head, and asked, "Where is this? How did I get here?"
Xiao Hengzhi picked up a stick and poked at the firewood, then answered slowly, "It rained heavily all night. You encountered villains and a flash flood, so you took refuge here."
Jiang Wan rubbed her forehead, her voice weary: "Then why are you here?"
"..." Xiao Hengzhi paused, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, before replying, "I came to find some medicine to treat my injuries, as I'm trapped here."
The excuse was rather clumsy, but Jiang Mian didn't suspect anything.
After all, given the beatings he received some time ago, it's only natural for him to come to the mountains to find some medicine.
She sat up to drink some water, and as her mind cleared a bit, she quickly asked, "How long have I been unconscious? Did I miss the banquet?"
"Cong Shuang went to town to look for a carriage. We'll have to wait for her to return to find out if there's any mistake."
Jiang Mian then realized that Cong Shuang was not there; only she and Xiao Hengzhi were present.
Then she noticed that Xiao Hengzhi's clothes were draped over her shoulders, and she quickly looked down to check her neckline and dress.
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Hengzhi turned his face away to hide his embarrassment.
Jiang Mian looked around and saw that he was unharmed. She handed the clothes she was wearing back to him and said, "I'm not cold anymore, you should put them on."
Her voice sounded weak from exhaustion, but to Xiao Hengzhi it sounded full of concern.
He unconsciously stared at her lips again, glistening slightly in the firelight, and his heart stirred once more.
Jiang Wan noticed his gaze and asked in confusion, "Why are you looking at me?"
Xiao Heng smiled and looked away: "I noticed that the Second Miss looks much better, so she should be alright."
Jiang Mian rubbed her neck, stretched her aching body a little, and slowly stood up while holding onto the stone wall.
Outside the cave, a light drizzle fell, sprinkling finely on the muddy ground.
She asked, "How long has Cong Shuang been gone?"
Xiao Hengzhi glanced at the sky and replied, "It's only been an hour. She's probably just arrived in town by now."
Jiang Mian nodded gently, then dragged her feet to lie down on the straw mat. She was still a little weak, and after lying there for a while, she fell into a drowsy sleep again.
When I woke up again, it was already dark.
The rain outside gradually subsided, and the air was filled with a damp and refreshing scent. Occasionally, a few blackbirds chirped softly from the bamboo forest.
Jiang Mian got up and sat by the fire, pressing her hand to her chest, still coughing from time to time.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Hengzhi silently walked out of the cave, and soon returned, holding several newly cut bamboo sections in his hand, which he placed over the fire.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Mian asked.
"Bamboo sap can soothe the lungs and stop coughing. You'll feel better after drinking it."
His voice was gentle, and his movements were calm and practiced, as if he was already used to taking care of others in this way.
Before long, half a bowl of bamboo sap had been boiled.
Xiao Hengzhi poured the contents into a wooden bowl and handed it to her. She took a sip and frowned.
Bamboo sap should be refreshing, but perhaps because she was ill, it tasted somewhat sour and bitter.
Seeing this, Xiao Hengzhi peeled a piece of candy for her: "If you have a piece of candy in your mouth, it will taste sweet when you drink it."
Jiang Mian did as she was told, sucking on the sugar and drinking a bowl of bamboo sap.
Then she suddenly began to think back: Was Xiao Hengzhi always so caring towards people?
She can't remember.
She hadn't noticed it when she was with him in her past life.
But judging from his appearance, he seemed very familiar with taking care of people, just like...
It's as if he had taken care of others in the same way before.
Jiang Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Hengzhi, have you... ever taken such good care of others before?"
Xiao Heng was taken aback, then calmly raised his eyes and asked, "What do you mean by that, Second Miss?"
"It's nothing. I... I just saw that you were very skilled at doing these things, but I had never seen you do them before at the Jiang residence. I was just curious and asked casually."
Xiao Hengzhi nodded, but did not speak.
Seeing that he did not deny it, Jiang Wan became even more certain and pressed on, "Am I right?"
"Hmm." Xiao Hengzhi lowered his gaze slightly, gently tossed the used bamboo section aside, and said slowly, "There was once a person. Whenever she fell ill, I had to stay by her side day and night, adding or removing clothes and blankets for her, for fear that she would catch even the slightest cold."
Jiang Mian pressed further, "Who is that person to you? Why did you go to such lengths?"
Relatives? Friends?
Her mind raced with various guesses, yet she couldn't suppress her desire to know the answer.
Xiao Hengzhi looked into her eyes and replied, "She's very delicate; you can't coax her without putting in some effort."
Her heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.
Although he didn't say it directly, Jiang Wan could tell how much indulgence and tenderness was in his words.
It's obvious...
He has someone he likes...
"Then, where is that person now?" Jiang Mian asked unconsciously.
"Also in the capital."
Do you still have contact with each other?
"Ah."
Jiang Wan was stunned for a moment, and the emotions that had been lingering in her heart exploded instantly.
So, it turns out that Xiao Hengzhi didn't like her at this time?
Was she just imagining things?
The thought flashed through her mind, and she suddenly felt irritated, her voice turning colder: "In that case, after returning home, call off the engagement to avoid interfering with your relationship with that woman."
After saying that, she turned over and lay down, her back to him, and stopped talking.
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Hengzhi couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile.
As night fell, the bamboo grove was serene and tranquil after the rain stopped.
Logically speaking, Cong Shuang was just looking for a carriage, and four hours would have been enough for the round trip.
A bad feeling rose in Jiang Wan's mind. Cong Shuang had served her since she was a child and rarely went out alone. She was also very simple-minded. Could she have been deceived? Or sold?
The more she thought about it, the more worried she became. She stood up and said, "Xiao Hengzhi, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw that Xiao Hengzhi had already packed his bags, and he knew what Jiang Mian was thinking.
He stood up and said, "Let's go. Let's travel in the dark. We should be able to get there by dawn."
She noticed his tired face and realized he hadn't had a proper rest for several days, considering he had taken care of her for two days after all.
She felt a pang of pity and said, "Why don't you leave at dawn? Get some rest tonight."
"It's alright. If you're going to find someone, don't waste time."
He tore off a piece of fabric from his clothes, shoved one end into Jiang Mian's hand, and said, "It's dark in the bamboo forest at night, hold on tight and stay close to me."
His tone was indifferent, but when Jiang Mian looked into his eyes, her heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.