Chapter 54 (continued)

After sinking into the water, he could clearly feel the water pressure pressing against his skin.

Relying on her memory, Qing Mengzhu struggled desperately in the water, trying to retrieve the little boy who had sunk to the bottom.

He felt his consciousness had left his body. At that moment, he seemed to be thinking of nothing, with only his body struggling desperately in the river. His consciousness, on the other hand, seemed to be in a daze, not knowing where it resided.

After a while, he touched a piece of clothing.

At that moment, Qing Mengzhu completely forgot the rescue posture he had learned before. He held the clothes as if they were a bag, gripping them tightly with one hand while paddling with the other, struggling desperately towards the shore.

The drowning child in his hands was like a kite he was letting fly.

Two dogs had somehow run down there and were waving their arms around, barking.

The Dharma Protector and Guard wanted to grab his clothes, but couldn't find a way to do so, so they could only accompany him as he swam to the shore.

Guided by the two dogs, Qing Mengzhu finally found the right direction and struggled to climb ashore. He could no longer hold back his cough, and he coughed violently.

The children gathered around, looking at the little boy who was no longer breathing, and cried out in terror.

Qing Mengzhu coughed a few times, suppressing her cough as she turned the little boy over. Looking at the boy's pale skin and wet appearance, she shuddered again.

His hands didn't stop; he lifted the little boy's clothes and began performing CPR and artificial respiration.

Qing Mengzhu had never formally studied first aid and didn't know if she was in the right position, if her chest compressions were adequate, or if her artificial respiration rhythm was correct.

As he busied himself, a sense of absurdity arose deep within him, a strange feeling that his soul was not inside his body, but rather watching from the sidelines.

Fortunately, the little boy was lucky enough.

After being pressed a few times, the little boy coughed and started vomiting water and filth. His breathing returned, but he remained unconscious.

Just then, the other adults who had been called by the children arrived.

Everyone took over from the exhausted Qing Mengzhu and rushed to the little boy's side to take care of him. They also hurriedly called an ambulance and the little boy's parents.

Qing Mengzhu sat to one side to rest, with his Dharma Protector and Guard close to him.

The two dogs weren't afraid; they seemed to simply know he wasn't feeling well.

The ambulance arrived quickly.

Someone called out to Qing Mengzhu, "Mengzhu, why don't you go and take a look too?"

Qing Mengzhu snapped out of her daze and shook her head, saying, "I'm fine."

The man looked at Qing Mengzhu's hands. Qing Mengzhu looked down at his hands and realized they were trembling slightly. He said wearily, "I'm exhausted."

Another villager seemed to remember something, patted Qing Mengzhu on the shoulder, helped him up, and said, "I'll take you home to rest."

Qing Mengzhu followed the man home, only to discover that he had jumped into the water without taking off his clothes and shoes, and that his shoes had long since been washed away.

Fortunately, the sun was warm, and walking barefoot on the slightly hot cement road was not uncomfortable; on the contrary, it felt warm and cozy.

Back home, Qing Mengzhu took a shower and washed her hair, then came out dressed in short sleeves and shorts, feeling refreshed.

Even though he had just used rather hot water, he still felt a chill after coming out.

He moved a small stool and sat in the sun to bask in the heat. The intense sunlight on his skin actually made him feel a bit more real.

The two dogs were unusually quiet, standing guard on either side of him.

Their fur was dry, their fluffy bodies were soft and warm, and they had a unique dog smell that was quite endearing.

Qing Mengzhu reached out and hugged the necks of the two dogs.

The Guard turned his head and gently licked his arm.

After basking in the sun for an unknown amount of time, Qing Mengzhu heard a knock on the door.

He thought someone had come to ask about the child who had fallen into the water, so he went to open the door, only to find Ming Chunxi standing outside looking anxious.

Qing Mengzhu opened her mouth, her voice a little hoarse. "Why are you here?"

Ming Chunxi suddenly took a step forward and hugged Qing Mengzhu tightly in his arms.

Qing Mengzhu could clearly feel the pressure from his arm pressing their chests tightly together, their body heat transferring through the contact area, and the feeling of restraint brought a unique sense of security.

This feeling isn't bad.

Qing Mengzhu was stunned for a moment, then reached out and patted Ming Chunxi's back before hugging him.

Ming Chunxi's voice was equally hoarse. "I heard you saved a child, so I rushed over. Are you alright?"

"It's alright." Qing Mengzhu felt a sense of relief and couldn't help but tighten her arms around Ming Chunxi. "She's all better now."

What just happened feels like a dream, and holding Ming Chunxi in my arms now feels like a dream too.

Qing Mengzhu wondered if she hadn't woken up at all in the morning, and now that she opened her eyes, she could see the ceiling above her head?

After hugging for a while, Ming Chunxi released Qing Mengzhu and looked into Qing Mengzhu's eyes.

Qing Mengzhu was looking at him intently, her lingering and intense gaze unable to be withdrawn in time, and she met his eyes.

So much happened today that Qing Mengzhu's reaction wasn't as quick as usual.

Two seconds later, Qing Mengzhu's mind went blank for a moment before she realized that Ming Chunxi's expression was strange and that she must have noticed her odd gaze.

It's over.

Qing Mengzhu thought this, but her mood was strangely calm; she simply avoided Ming Chunxi's gaze.

Unexpectedly, Ming Chunxi reached out and grabbed his arm. "Mengzhu, let's be together."

Qing Mengzhu doubted whether she had misheard, and wondered if she was still dreaming.

A few seconds later, Qing Mengzhu heard her own voice say, "Where's Auntie?"

Ming Chunxi understood. "This is my matter, don't worry about my mother, I'll handle it."

Ming Chunxi held Qing Mengzhu's hand, staring at him and emphasizing, "Ms. Ming is not the kind of person who would mind her son's sexual orientation. Even if she did, it's because my own sexual orientation is somewhat niche, and it has nothing to do with others."

Qing Mengzhu opened her mouth, and said as if in a daze, "I need to think about it."

Ming Chunxi: "You like me, don't you?"

Qing Mengzhu paused for a moment, then quietly admitted, "Yes, but I hate change."

Ming Chunxi held his arm. "I've noticed. Sometimes you deliberately Zhao Hexi over, just to break the atmosphere when the two of you are alone."

Qing Mengzhu wanted to say something, but when the words reached her lips, explaining them proved to be extremely difficult.

Ming Chunxi said firmly, "I know everything, it's okay, we'll take it slow. Mengzhu, can I pursue you?"

Qing Mengzhu looked up at Ming Chunxi.

Ming Chunxi met his gaze. "You can gradually adapt to our new relationship. There's no rush, no need to be afraid."

Qing Mengzhu murmured, "But I don't want it to end."

He has had too many things come to an abrupt end.

He was happily being brothers with Ming Chunxi when his father suddenly told him that he had divorced Auntie Ming.

He was looking forward to university life when his father drowned unexpectedly, leaving him all alone.

Including the deaths of her mother, grandparents, and maternal grandparents when she was young—many times, Qing Mengzhu wondered if the essence of life is just a series of separations.

He didn't want to separate again, and he didn't want to start anything new; it was too exhausting.

Ming Chunxi guessed Qing Mengzhu's thoughts and grasped his wrist. "I know you don't want changes, but in reality, things have already changed. No matter what, we can't go back to yesterday."

Qing Mengzhu looked up.

Ming Chunxi's voice was very firm. "We can only go in two directions now, either becoming more and more estranged, or becoming more and more intimate."

Ming Chunxi: "This relationship is made up of two people. I only want it to move towards intimacy. Now, I'll see what you think."

Qing Mengzhu was completely stunned; she never expected Ming Chunxi to say that, let alone that Ming Chunxi would personally initiate their new relationship.

His eyes met Ming Chunxi's, and he was about to say something when Ming Chunxi gently stopped him, "Don't rush into a decision. Think about it some more, okay?"