Chapter 16

*Huh? Why does that sound a bit strange?*  

“You’re already here, and you brought the food. Let’s not waste it. Kids digest food quickly, and they’re probably hungry by now,” Su Qianqian said, asking the three children if they wanted to eat. They eagerly agreed—after all, noodles are easy to digest.  

Zhou Yun could only watch as Su Qianqian divided the pork trotters among the three kids, then scooped two large chunks into her own bowl.  

The meat was tender, melting in her mouth, and the flavor was decent.  

*Oh, it’s been so long since I’ve had meat. It’s so delicious!*  

She didn’t let the kids eat too much, just a small amount to try, as the dish was a bit greasy.  

“Cheng Yue, there’s still some left. Do you want it?” she asked, looking at him.  

When their eyes met, Cheng Yue felt a faint chill in her clear gaze. Without realizing it, he shook his head. “No, I don’t.”  

*Is this a case of a goddess willing but her king uninterested?*  

Judging by Cheng Yue’s indifferent attitude toward Zhou Yun, Su Qianqian thought it was worth observing further.  

“Miss Zhou,” Su Qianqian said with a polite smile, “there’s no need to trouble yourself with Cheng Yue’s meals in the future. After all, you’re not family, and it’s not appropriate. Cheng Yue is a strong man, but if he keeps eating food from your family, people might think he’s living off you.”  

She then collected the dishes and handed them back to Zhou Yun. “Thanks to your family for helping during this time. How much do we owe you for the food?”  

Zhou Yun’s expression darkened immediately. “What do you mean, Su Qianqian? Cheng Yue and I are good friends—so are my parents! You’ve just arrived, and you’re already ruining his relationships with others?”  

*Oh, already angry?* Su Qianqian chuckled internally.  

“Cheng Yue, what do you think?” she asked, tossing the question to him.  

“You make a good point,” Cheng Yue said after a moment’s thought. “Zhou Yun, your family has really helped me a lot during this time, but we should settle the cost.”  

“You all—!” Zhou Yun, clearly upset, stomped her foot and stormed out of the room.  

Su Qianqian watched her leave, bemused. *Wow, quite the temper.*  

“She seems upset,” Su Qianqian said, gesturing at the door slowly closing behind Zhou Yun.  

Cheng Yue glanced at Su Qianqian’s small movement and found it unexpectedly endearing. Then he caught himself. *I must still be dealing with the effects of a concussion. How could Su Qianqian be cute? That doesn’t even make sense.*  

“Why is she angry?” Cheng Yue asked, genuinely puzzled.  

“She probably thinks you’re being too distant.”  

“Shouldn’t I be?” Cheng Yue asked, looking even more confused.  

Su Qianqian smiled but didn’t respond. It seemed clear now that Cheng Yue had no romantic feelings for Zhou Yun—it was purely one-sided on her part.  

As it was getting late, Su Qianqian boiled some water to wash the kids’ faces and feet before settling them into the extra bed.  

“Are you going to sleep?”  

“Where will you sleep?”  

They spoke at the same time, then paused.  

“I can sleep sitting up,” Su Qianqian said. Given the circumstances, she could endure it.  

Cheng Yue glanced at the hospital bed, feeling conflicted. If he invited Su Qianqian to share the bed, he couldn’t predict what she might do. After all, she had a history—the three kids were proof of that.  

“How about letting Cheng Yuan watch the kids tomorrow?”  

“Let’s decide tomorrow.” Su Qianqian hesitated. The kids already lacked a sense of security, and she didn’t want them to overthink things. Back in the village, they would always manage to find her if she disappeared. But here, in an unfamiliar place, they could get into real trouble if they ran off.  

She glanced at the sleeping children before looking back at Cheng Yue. “Do you need to use the… restroom before bed?”  

“…I could hold it,” he replied stiffly.  

“I’ve heard holding it in too much can harm your kidneys,” Su Qianqian reminded him.  

Cheng Yue’s face stiffened. “Help me get there,” he said immediately.  

Cheng Yue’s left leg was severely injured, and his right leg also sustained damage. Su Qianqian helped him into a wheelchair and pushed him to the restroom.  

Struggling to stand from the wheelchair, he gritted his teeth, enduring the pain.  

“Do you… need to lean on me for support?” she asked. She glanced around and noticed there were grab bars meant to prevent patients from falling, but they seemed unsuitable for someone of Cheng Yue’s stature. Using her for support might be more practical.  

Cheng Yue’s ears immediately turned red. Gritting his teeth, he replied, “I can manage on my own. You wait outside.”  

“Alright.” She didn’t push further.  

While waiting outside, she suddenly heard a loud *“bang”*—the sound of something heavy falling.  

Rushing in, she found Cheng Yue in an awkward position. He hadn’t completely fallen to the ground but was supporting himself with his arms. However, the items around him had scattered everywhere.  

Cheng Yue quickly shielded himself with his hands when he saw her enter, his face flushing bright red.  

Su Qianqian froze in place, shocked.  

At that moment, only one thought came to her mind: *What the heck?!*  

She quickly shut her eyes.  

“I’ll help you up. Don’t worry, I won’t look,” she said hurriedly. *Seeing something like that might make it hard to sleep tonight.*  

Cheng Yue, embarrassed and frustrated, didn’t have time to figure out why he felt that way. With her help, he managed to stand up, leaning against her for support.  

Perhaps because her eyes were closed, her other senses seemed to heighten, making every little sound unbearably awkward.  

*So embarrassing.* She wanted to curl her toes into the ground.  

Thankfully, the ordeal ended quickly. She helped him back into the wheelchair, washed her hands, and returned to the hospital bed.  

Their eyes met briefly, and both faces turned red—though Cheng Yue’s was noticeably redder.  

*This guy seems more innocent than I imagined,* Su Qianqian thought.  

“Let’s sleep,” she said.  

One lay on the bed, while the other leaned on the bedside. Neither fell asleep right away. Whenever Su Qianqian closed her eyes, the earlier scene would flash in her mind. *I’ve seen pigs run before, but I’ve never seen one like that. What a surprise.* She needed time to recover from the shock.  

Forcing herself to think of something else, she began contemplating ways to earn money in this area.  

Cheng Yue, lying still, found his thoughts racing.  

His feelings for Su Qianqian were complicated. If he had truly cared for her, he wouldn’t have left home to join the army so resolutely. Yet now, the woman who reappeared seemed different—gentler, smarter, and occasionally even a bit endearing. Was she pretending? If so, how long before her true self emerged?  

Having lived like a monk for five years, he thought he had mastered self-control. But every time Su Qianqian got close, the faint fragrance she carried would disrupt his focus.  

*This is torture.*  

Eventually, neither of them knew when they drifted off to sleep.  

In her dreams, Su Qianqian noticed that her mystical spring seemed to have grown larger. Previously the size of a basin, it now appeared to have expanded slightly. Though the change wasn’t obvious, she was sure of it.  

When she woke up, she confirmed her suspicions. The spring had indeed grown. She still didn’t know what triggered its growth, but any increase was welcome. She needed the spring for so many things, and if it didn’t grow, it wouldn’t be enough.  

Having spent the night leaning against the bedside, her body felt sore and stiff. She quickly freshened up and drank a glass of water infused with the spring’s essence, instantly feeling much better.  

“Mom,” the three children called as they woke up. They were used to rising early, and the unfamiliar environment had made them restless, waking up at the slightest noise.  

Su Qianqian helped them wash their faces and brush their teeth. Brushing was a new habit for them, and while they had initially swallowed the foam, they had become more skilled now.  

She then styled the two little girls’ hair into matching braids, making them look adorable.  

“Where’s the hospital cafeteria? We’ll get some food there. It’s too late to cook at home,” Su Qianqian asked Cheng Yue when she saw he was awake.  

He looked at her and froze. Her loose braid, casually draped over her shoulder, seemed different from others’. For the first time, Cheng Yue realized that Su Qianqian wasn’t just decent-looking—she was actually quite pretty.