Chapter 03: He Is Her Medicine

In the summer, wearing thin clothing, the young girl’s body was soft and light. Like a frightened little animal, she trembled slightly, obediently leaning against the man’s broad chest.

Even though the man had just gone through an intense and perilous rescue operation, at this moment he still felt the soft warmth in his arms.

He instantly froze, beads of sweat seeping out on his handsome face.

He did not dare to move, wanting the girl to get up on her own. Yet she seemed frightened out of her wits and instead clutched his shirtfront even tighter, pressing her cheek hard into the hollow of his neck.

He did not dare to move, and in a low voice he reminded her, “You… get up first.”

Although her delicate figure was light and carried little weight, lying on top of him made it harder for him to breathe than if a great mountain were pressing down. It was like holding a live shell that could explode at any moment.

It had actually only been a minute or two, but the relief of having survived made time stretch endlessly, with a single minute feeling as long as forever.

“Educated Youth Lin, Educated Youth Lin, are you all right?” Several commune members ran over in a panic, shouting as they came.

Very soon, Ye Zhiting and Ye Manman also came running. The fear and worry on Ye Zhiting’s face, upon seeing the two of them entangled in such a shamefully intimate position, instantly turned into anger. He rushed forward, reaching out to pull Lin Yingying’s arm. “Lin Yingying, are you all right?”

Ye Manman also stepped up, crying tearfully. “Sister Yingying, you… you’re not hurt, are you?” Her eyes darted about, and when she caught sight of the bloodstains on the ground, she immediately covered her mouth, tears streaming down. “Blood… blood…”

Lin Yingying lay in the man’s arms, not wanting to move at all.

Her hand was so painfully numb, and her shoulders, back, arms, waist, and legs all felt as if they had been taken apart piece by piece. The pain made it hard for her to breathe, let alone move.

Of course, another reason she did not want to get up was sheer delight.

She suddenly noticed that the man carried a clean, crisp scent, like the fragrance of grass, trees, and spring water that filled a forest after rain. It was refreshing and pleasant, instantly lifting her spirits. All her discomfort seemed to ease at once, as if cool, sweet spring water had flowed into her parched throat, as if her weary, muddled mind had become clear and lively, and her irritable mood was soothed in an instant.

It was as comfortable and comforting as if she had eaten a ginseng fruit, making her feel so tranquil that she wanted to drift off to sleep and stay in that peaceful state.

What an unexpected surprise. Heaven had finally heard her prayers, and she was so overjoyed she could cry.

This was like long-awaited rain after a drought, like finding a cure after a lingering illness. Who would pass this up? Who would want to keep being irritable every so often as if suffering from bouts of mania?

She wanted him.

When Ye Zhiting tried to pull her, she even willfully pressed herself closer against the human cushion beneath her.

Huo Qingshan clenched his teeth, enduring the pain in his shoulder, elbow, and ribs as he pushed her away. He swiftly got to his feet, slipping the dagger back into the side pocket of his left leg. His expression was cold and stern, and he did not so much as glance at Lin Yingying. Ignoring the scrapes on his body, he raised his little finger to his lips and let out a clear whistle, and the black stallion came galloping over with a rhythmic thud of hooves.

“Qingshan, Qingshan, you’re not hurt, are you?” A commune member brought his clothes back to him.

Huo Qingshan took them and put them on. “I’m fine.”

He swung himself onto the horse, and just as he was about to spur it forward, the seemingly faint-about-to-collapse Lin Yingying suddenly rushed over and blocked the horse’s path.

Huo Qingshan’s expression was cold and stern. From his high vantage point, he lowered his gaze to look at her. “What is it?”

Lin Yingying grabbed the reins in one motion. The pain in her palm made her let out an “ah,” and with her tender hands trembling from the raw scrape, she lifted her pair of tear-filled eyes to gaze up at the stern man. “Thank you for saving me. May I ask… are you married?”

Huo Qingshan: “???”

Ye Zhiting rushed over. “Lin Yingying, what are you doing?”

Huo Qingshan had no desire to respond to such a pointless question. His sword-like brows furrowed. “Please step aside.”

The pain was already sharp for Lin Yingying, and now with her hand injured it felt as if her fingernails were being torn out, yet she still clutched the reins without letting go. Her small face carried a stubbornness that did not seem to belong to her. “Are you married?”

Ye Zhiting said, “Lin Yingying, don’t be willful. Come with me to see the barefoot doctor and check if you’re hurt.”

The commune member who had handed over the jacket called out, “Educated Youth Lin, his name is Huo Qingshan. He’s twenty-three this year and not married.”

Ye Manman also came closer, reaching out as if to steady her but not quite touching, seemingly to guard Lin Yingying from falling. “Sister Yingying, does your body hurt?”

Lin Yingying snapped, “It hurts to death!” She knew full well that Lin Yingying was especially afraid of pain and still had to remind her—what kind of intention was that?

She ignored Ye Manman and instead tilted her head slightly, giving Huo Qingshan a beautiful smile.

Her delicate face was streaked with tears and smudged with a bit of dirt, while her curved, thick lashes held glistening droplets of water. She truly looked pitiable. Even women, seeing her like this, would feel sympathy, let alone men—iron would melt into softness wound around a finger.

Her fingers trembled so much she could barely hold onto the reins, yet her smile was as beautiful as fragile glass, and her voice was soft and sweet. “Hello, Huo Qingshan, my name is Lin Yingying. I’m nineteen years old, and I want to marry you!”

Crack—

No one knew whether it was distant thunder in the sky or in their minds, but it boomed so heavily that everyone present was stunned in place.

They stared blankly at this peerless little beauty. Had she hit her head and gone crazy? She actually wanted to marry a rough man?

Even though this rough man was tall with long legs, sword-like brows, and starry eyes, she was a rich flower of the big city. How could she be planted in the black soil of the countryside?

Ye Zhiting froze for a moment, then immediately barked in a low voice, “Lin Yingying, are you insane?”

But Ye Manman gently tugged at him, saying timidly, “Brother Ting, don’t be angry. Sister Yingying had no choice. Just now, they both… both…” She had seen clearly—Lin Yingying had been lying properly on top of that man. Although his hands had been placed to the sides without touching her, chest to chest and abdomen to abdomen, that level of closeness was… was truly mortifying.

Back in the days of their parents, when men and women were not to have physical contact, just one embrace like that would mean the two had to get married.

Lin Yingying ignored everyone else and kept her eyes fixed on Huo Qingshan. She was in so much pain, and this man was so cold and unyielding.

Huo Qingshan still wore a stern expression, but the sudden widening and swift narrowing of his dark eyes showed that he had been no small amount startled. His brow bones were high, his thick, long, black eyebrows accentuating the depth and allure of his eyes. Yet his gaze was cool and sharp, and when he looked directly at someone, it carried a certain intimidating force.

Lin Yingying, however, was not afraid. The old man at home was even more frightening when angry, and she had still been spoiled and pampered all the way to adulthood.

She straightened her chest, lifted her graceful, slender, fair neck, and met his gaze without backing down. “Didn’t you hear me clearly? I said I want to marry you!”

The firm line of Huo Qingshan’s jaw tightened, his voice low and cold. “Why?”

Lin Yingying said, “You hugged me!” She was determined to hold him responsible.

Huo Qingshan frowned, the lines at the corners of his eyes tightening for a moment before relaxing. He said lightly, “It was an emergency. You don’t need to take it seriously.”

Ye Zhiting also tried to persuade Lin Yingying, speaking in a low voice to remind her, “Lin Yingying, don’t be foolish. There are many ways to thank someone for saving you. You don’t have to do this. Think about your parents—do you want to drive them to their graves?”

Lin Yingying ignored him and kept her gaze fixed on Huo Qingshan. She had long since made a vow that if she could find a cure for the side effects of her time-travel, she would be willing to pay any price. What was more, this man had saved her, had not taken advantage of her, and did not seek to use his merit to demand repayment. His character passed the test.

She liked him.

She gave a faint smile, wanting to show him her most beautiful side. Unfortunately, the pain in her body was so intense she could barely hold on, so she resorted to acting spoiled. “I don’t care. Anyway, you saved me and hugged me, so I’m going to marry you. Whether you agree or not, you have to.”

Miss Lin’s skill at acting spoiled had been cultivated since childhood. She could do it with such righteous confidence that anyone who refused her would be accused of having no sense.

Huo Qingshan clenched his fist, then released it. He bent down, his large hand still marked with blood grabbing hold of the reins she was holding. Lowering himself so their eyes were nearly level, his cool, sharp gaze stabbed into hers like a blade. “No. Not unless you’ve lived enough.”

The cold light in his eyes startled Lin Yingying enough that she leaned back slightly, and the reins were pulled from her grasp. From the saddlebag on one side of his horse, he took out a small bottle and tossed it into Lin Yingying’s arms. Turning his head toward the brigade leader who had just ridden up on a bicycle, he said, “Third Uncle, I have urgent matters to attend to. Please explain it to her for me.”

With that, he squeezed his legs together, urging the horse forward. The black stallion sped away quickly, and in no time it was nothing more than a black speck in the distance.