Looks Like I'll Have to Handle This Myself

He could sense Tang Xiaoguo's feelings, and likewise, he could sense Jiang Yao's!

At this point, confessing to either of them would probably make them a couple!

Then, searching his heart, which one did he like more?

Even after thinking for ages, he couldn't come up with a definite answer!

He thought Lin Qianqian and Ning Shu were great too!

That was normal, though. All four girls had their own sweetness and their own charm. Choosing between them was practically a world-class problem!

Besides, once he started dating one of them, he would have to deliberately keep his distance from the other three!

He would have to watch every little thing when they spent time together afterward. That would neither help their survival nor do their friendships as classmates any good!

So the smart thing to do was keep things as they were!

As he thought about this, Lu Zhe grew sleepy too!

Just as he was about to doze off, he heard an "Achoo!"

"Who sneezed?"

"Me..." It was Ning Shu's voice!

Jiang Yao hadn't been sleeping soundly either and woke up too. "How's Guo'er?"

"Not only has Guo'er's condition still not improved, but I'm also... Achoo!"

As she spoke, she sneezed again!

Needless to say, the cold had affected her body too!

She sat up and hurriedly hugged a warm bottle, shivering nonstop.

"What about Qianqian?"

Parting the leaves, they saw Lin Qianqian holding Tang Xiaoguo by the firelight...

Jiang Yao couldn't help sighing. "Honestly, does reading too much yuri make everyone go weird?"

Ning Shu scratched her head. "I wouldn't act like her!"

Jiang Yao reached out to feel Lin Qianqian's hands and feet. They were icy!

She said worriedly, "If this keeps up, Qianqian might get chilled too!"

Hearing their voices, Lin Qianqian woke up too!

"It's okay, as long as I can help Guo'er... Achoo!"

Lu Zhe said, "You've caught a chill after all. Both of you have to stop now!"

"But Guo'er's body is still cold..." Lin Qianqian blamed herself. "It's all because my constitution is too weak. I can't maintain my body temperature..."

At that moment, Jiang Yao said, "There's no helping it. We girls are too physically weak!"

Then something suddenly occurred to her, and she slowly raised her head to look at Lu Zhe!

Her gaze made Lu Zhe a little uncomfortable. "What is it?"

"Although I still have some reservations, there's no other choice. The important task of saving Guo'er can only fall to you!"

"Me?"

"You're the strongest out of all of us. Even in weather this cold, your body is still nice and warm! With me as well, if we both hold Guo'er, we'll definitely help relieve her chill!"

"Well..."

As far as he was concerned, he wouldn't mind holding a pretty little girl, no matter which one it was!

But accepting outright would make him seem far too eager!

If he put on a show of refusing, though, he was afraid he might actually delay helping Guo'er!

At that moment, Ning Shu also said, "Although Guo'er might misunderstand, this is an emergency, and there's no other way now. Lu Zhe, just do it!"

Lin Qianqian added, "Even if Guo'er gets angry, I believe she'll forgive you."

Ning Shu pursed her lips. "She won't get angry!"

Since all three girls had said so, what else was there to worry about? He might as well do it!

"Then I'll reluctantly help her this once! By the way, class monitor, what about you and Qianqian?"

Lin Qianqian said, "Don't worry about us. The class monitor and I can hold each other for warmth!"

Lu Zhe nodded and cradled Tang Xiaoguo in his arms, with Jiang Yao on her other side!

The sand pit was originally two meters wide. Since everyone was huddling together against the cold, each person needed a little less room, and all five of them really did just barely fit!

Sure enough!

With this arrangement, Ning Shu and Lin Qianqian gradually warmed up, while Lu Zhe and Jiang Yao, with Tang Xiaoguo between them, provided her with a steady source of warmth too!

Only then did Tang Xiaoguo's condition truly stabilize.

"Xiao Zhe..."

"Hmm?"

Jiang Yao pressed her lips together and said, "Don't you think we're like a mom and dad holding their sick child?"

Tang Xiaoguo was only about 155 centimeters tall and looked petite and cute. In Lu Zhe and Jiang Yao's arms, she really did look like a sick little kid!

"Isn't your imagination a little too wild?"

"Hmm... If I had a daughter like this, I definitely wouldn't have a second child."

Jiang Yao smiled and took Lu Zhe's hand. "Don't you agree, Xiao Zhe?"

Lu Zhe gave an absentminded "Mm." He wasn't in the mood to play house with Jiang Yao!

He understood that they were only at the beginning of their struggle to survive, and they still hadn't found a sustainable source of fresh water!

He had to conserve his strength and keep his emotions in check!

Being willful and indulging himself would harm both Guo'er and himself!

He recited the "Memorial on Sending Out the Troops" twice, and even with a pretty little girl in his arms, he soon fell asleep!

He didn't know how long he had slept before the system woke him up!

"Ding! Congratulations, host. You successfully used your body heat to help your companion make it through the night..."

Lu Zhe lazily opened his eyes. The sky was gray and hazy!

Suddenly, a ray of sunlight shone down!

It passed through a gap in the broad leaves and fell on his and Tang Xiaoguo's faces!

It was a beautiful morning!

He checked his watch. It was 5:45 a.m.!

Holy crap, the night actually lasted eleven hours!

Tang Xiaoguo was still in his arms, the tip of her nose less than two centimeters away from him!

Her breathing was even, she was no longer talking deliriously, and even her body temperature had returned to normal!

Lu Zhe was secretly delighted!

Looks like Guo'er made it through!

Only then was he in the mood to look at Tang Xiaoguo up close!

Her face was as delicate as creamy jade, without a single freckle or acne mark, her eyelashes were long, and her breath was sweet. No wonder so many boys at school pursued her...

Without realizing it, he felt his heart stir for Tang Xiaoguo too, and unconsciously moved a little closer!

But just then, Tang Xiaoguo opened her eyes with a soft murmur!

At that moment, the tips of their noses were almost touching!

"Ah..."

Tang Xiaoguo was a little puzzled too!

When I went to sleep, I was lying with my besties. How did I wake up in Lu Zhe's arms?

What happened?

Her little face instantly flushed red!

Huh??

Is... is he going to kiss me?

Why did he stop?

Lu Zhe, you idiot, can't you be a little braver?

I won't blame you!

And why was Lu Zhe hesitating?

He understood that if he kissed Tang Xiaoguo, they really would have to start dating!

He was still holding Jiang Yao's little hand right now!

Just then, Tang Xiaoguo's body suddenly thrust forward, bumping straight into Lu Zhe's lips!

"Mmph..."

Their lips met...

Then she shouted irritably, "Who bumped into me?"

Behind her, Jiang Yao opened her sleepy eyes in confusion. "I didn't even move..."

Tang Xiaoguo pouted. "Yaoyao, you bumped into me and made me lose my first kiss!"

"Your first kiss?"

"And you, Lu Zhe!" Tang Xiaoguo gave him a light, annoyed punch. "I got bumped toward you. Couldn't you have dodged? Staying there without moving-you clearly just wanted to take advantage of me!"

"Guo'er, have some decency! Even bandits aren't as unreasonable as you!"

"Really...?"

Tang Xiaoguo blushed. "Mm... Whatever the case, my first kiss is gone now. Tell me, what are you going to do about it?"