"You're badly injured. We need to bandage you right away, or you'll be left with scars. Luckily, I have some medicine."
In a cave on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Qin Yuan looked at Zhu Zhuqing's pale face with an earnest, sincere expression.
At the mention of scars, Zhu Zhuqing grew flustered. What girl didn't care about her appearance?
But her wounds were in a sensitive area, and she hesitated. No man had ever seen her body before.
Qin Yuan immediately saw what was troubling Zhu Zhuqing. He took some medicine from his Storage Soul Tool, placed it in her hand, and smiled.
"Miss Zhuqing, you can apply the medicine yourself. I'll step outside. Just call me when you're done. I'll be right out here."
With that, he stood and left, walking out of the cave without a trace of hesitation or reluctance.
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Qin Yuan gratefully. Once the young man had left, she tried moving her arm to take off her clothes and change the dressing. But as soon as she moved, the motion tugged at her wound, sending pain through her whole body and drawing a groan from her lips.
She was unable to move. Looking at the medicine in her hand, she wore a pained expression.
Outside the cave, Qin Yuan's lips curled into a smile. He casually tore a long strip of cloth from his clothes and tied it over his eyes, as if preparing for something.
"Big brother Ling Tian, c-could you help me apply the medicine?"
A little while later, as expected, Zhu Zhuqing's shy, troubled voice trembled from inside the cave.
"That wouldn't be proper, would it? We are, after all, a man and a woman." Qin Yuan put on the air of an honorable gentleman, sounding reluctant.
"Zhuqing... I-I don't mind," Zhu Zhuqing replied shyly from inside, though it was clear she didn't mean it.
Hearing this, Qin Yuan's lips lifted into a smug smile.
He was set on winning Zhu Zhuqing over. Even Dai Mubai couldn't stop him.
When Qin Yuan liked something—or someone—he never chose to wait. He took the initiative.
Of course, before their relationship had reached that point, he wouldn't do anything out of line. At most, he would create an intimate, romantic atmosphere for the two of them to be alone together, making it easier to grow closer.
The cloth over his eyes was part of that plan.
Zhu Zhuqing's pale cheeks flushed faintly as she heard footsteps drawing nearer. Shyness filled her beautiful eyes.
Yet she felt none of the resistance she had imagined. Instead, a hint of anticipation stirred within her, leaving her confused.
What's going on? Why am I acting so... close to a young man I've known for less than half an hour?
Zhu Zhuqing didn't know that growing up in the Star Luo Empire, where it was kill or be killed, had made her sensitive and constantly on edge.
On top of that, her fiancé—the person she had relied on—had run away. No matter how fiercely she tried to steel herself, deep down she still longed for someone strong to lean on.
Earlier, when she had been at her most helpless, Qin Yuan had appeared and swept away every danger with thunderous force.
The feeling of being protected by someone powerful filled her with a deep, almost intoxicating longing.
But she had been used to standing strong on her own for so long that she hadn't yet realized it.
What's more, the person who made her feel so safe was a young man not much older than she was. It was only natural that she couldn't help developing affection for Qin Yuan and wanting to be close to him.
Qin Yuan entered, but a strip of black cloth covered the eyes on his Golden Dragon Mask, obscuring his vision.
When Zhu Zhuqing saw this, she froze for a moment, her shy expression caught off guard.
Then her beautiful face softened, and the corners of her full lips lifted slightly. She was clearly pleased.
With his eyes covered, Qin Yuan could only sense Zhu Zhuqing's general position, not the precise location of her wounds. He could only have her guide him aloud to keep from touching the wrong place.
After a few accidental touches, the medicine was finally applied. Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face had turned bright red.
After helping her get dressed, Qin Yuan removed the blindfold. Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful face was flushed with embarrassment.
He looked away and said solemnly, "Zhuqing, you've just had the medicine applied. You can't move for now, or you'll pull your wound open and be more likely to scar.
"So for the next little while, until you've recovered, we'll have to live here together."
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment, then said with some embarrassment, "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you, Big Brother Ling Tian? You're losing so much time because of me."
"It's no trouble. I have nothing else to do anyway," Qin Yuan said with a light laugh.
Blushing, Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head.
For the next half month, Qin Yuan and Zhu Zhuqing lived together in the cave.
Every day, Qin Yuan changed Zhu Zhuqing's dressing. She went from shy and uneasy at first to only a little embarrassed.
Their relationship grew from awkwardness into easy familiarity. They became like friends who had known each other for years.
But in the girl's gaze, there were tender feelings hidden for the boy.
Half a month of constant, thoughtful care had deepened her feelings for him.
But good times never lasted long. After half a month, Zhu Zhuqing's injuries had mostly healed, and she could walk freely again.
At dawn that day, a young man and woman stood outside the Star Dou Great Forest. The morning light stretched their shadows long across the ground.
They walked side by side until they reached a fork in the road, where they finally stopped.
"Zhuqing, let's part ways here." After a moment of silence, Qin Yuan pointed to the road on the left. "This is the way to Shrek Academy."
Zhu Zhuqing bit her red lips. "Big Brother Ling Tian, why don't you come with me to Shrek Academy?"
"No. I've decided to go somewhere else." Qin Yuan shook his head, then patted Zhu Zhuqing's head and set off down the other road.
Suddenly, Zhu Zhuqing threw herself at Qin Yuan and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. Her soft, shapely body and lovely face pressed against the young man's back.
White clouds drifted across the sky, blocking the sun and casting the two of them into shadow.
After a long silence, Zhu Zhuqing seemed to summon all her courage.
"Big Brother Ling Tian, I like you. Do you like me?"
"I..." Qin Yuan was stunned for a moment and was about to say that he liked her too, but Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly cut him off, afraid of hearing an answer that would break her heart.
"Don't answer me now!" Zhu Zhuqing clung to Qin Yuan, reluctant to let go. "I'll come find you in Heaven Dou City. When we meet again, you can tell me your answer."
After saying this, Zhu Zhuqing immediately used Martial Soul Possession and darted down the road to Shrek Academy, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Watching her lovely figure flee down the road, Qin Yuan smiled helplessly.
He could use Teleportation to catch up with Zhu Zhuqing at any time, but there was no need.
Since Zhu Zhuqing wanted to hear his answer the next time they met, he would tell her then. It could be their little game.
Qin Yuan put his hands behind his head and walked down the other road toward Heaven Dou City, the corners of his mouth raised. At last, he removed his Golden Dragon Mask, revealing a face of peerless beauty.
He hadn't gone far when a figure sprang from the shadows beside the road. It was Li Fu.
"Young Master," Li Fu said respectfully. He had been hiding nearby the whole time and hadn't shown himself.
Qin Yuan glanced at Li Fu, then looked up at the sun shining brightly overhead. He gave a quiet "Mm" and smiled.
"This trip went perfectly. Let's go home!"
Before you continue