Chapter 19

Inside the shabby, dilapidated thatched hut, an invisible vortex surged like a torrent, enveloping the two of them layer by layer.

In the moment their blood mingled, Jiang Henian once again felt her heart pumping violently, blood rushing like a flood — even stronger than last time, as though it was resonating with something deep within.

Pressing closely against He Jinshan’s cold lips, she looked up to observe his expression.

Miraculously, the man who had been frowning in intense pain just moments ago now had a faint hint of ease between his brows.

It worked!

Relief surged in Jiang Henian’s heart. In her tear-reddened eyes flickered a firm determination. Steadying his strong jaw with both hands, she lifted it slightly, then bit the tip of her already-numb tongue once more. Blood welled up, and she fed it into his mouth.

He Jinshan’s heartbeat, previously faint and erratic, grew heavier and gradually synchronized with hers. The pale color of his face slowly warmed, and the life-giving energy flowing between them grew swifter and stronger, like a stream of warmth rushing through them.

Maintaining her half-crouched posture over him to feed him her blood, Jiang Henian’s neck and elbows ached. Just as she saw that his condition had stabilized and was about to pull away, something soft and wet brushed against the tip of her tongue.

Her peach blossom-shaped eyes, half-lowered under long lashes, suddenly flew wide open like startled cat eyes.

Terrified, she recoiled — only for a large hand to clamp down on the back of her neck and press her right back down. Their lips and tongues, separated by just a sliver of space, were forcibly sealed once more.

A domineering tongue wrapped around hers, prying and invading, sucking and tangling, biting and kissing, like a famished beast greedily devouring its prey.

“Mmm! Mmm—!”

Jiang Henian panicked, her hands switching from supporting to pushing him away. But the man, who should’ve been weak and feeble, didn’t budge an inch.

The palm on her damp, delicate nape grew hotter, locking her in place, as if he would devour her whole.

Gulp.

Jiang Henian’s lips parted, and she was forced to swallow a mouthful of mixed saliva and blood — oddly infused with the freshness of grass, its revitalizing energy spreading from her chest to her limbs.

Her struggling hands weakened from the intense kiss, her soft body pinned tightly against the man’s bandaged and muscular frame.

She had never experienced anything like this — completely defenseless.

Her tongue went numb, her tongue root ached, and she looked up pitifully at the man with his eyes still closed.

Desperate, she started patting He Jinshan’s shoulder with both hands, even biting at his lips a few times.

She couldn’t breathe.

He was alive, and she was about to suffocate!

Moisture pooled in her reddened dark eyes…

When He Jinshan opened his eyes, he was greeted by a pair of shimmering, helpless, and tearful cat-like eyes full of accusation. Even the little mole at the corner of her upturned eyes seemed flushed pink.

Their noses touched, eyes locked.

He Jinshan: “…?”

Jiang Henian: “!!!!”

Frantic, she blinked rapidly. A large teardrop that had been hanging on her lashes fell with a plop right onto He Jinshan’s lower eyelid.

It was warm — but inexplicably scorched his chest.

The hand gripping her damp neck reflexively tightened, then instantly loosened and moved away.

Their lips and tongues, entwined for what felt like an eternity, silently parted by a few inches. A strand of silver thread stretched between them, clinging before it finally broke.

Jiang Henian: “…”

Feeling the cooling thread bounce back onto his lips, He Jinshan’s eyelid twitched. His eyes then fell directly on her flushed face, red as if she’d been ravaged, with blood stains on her chin and a cut at the corner of her lips.

She looked utterly bullied — pitiful, yet deeply enticing.

Did I do that?

He Jinshan’s gaze darkened, deep and intense, his still expression brimming with a raw, unspoken dominance.

Now breathing properly again, Jiang Henian sat back on her knees, head slightly lowered, not daring to meet his eyes.

All she could think was: I’m doomed, doomed, doomed… oh no, what have I done!

The suffocating tension thickened in the room. Picking at her fingers, she forced herself to speak. “I…”

“We’re here, just up ahead!”

A voice suddenly sounded from outside, followed by several unfamiliar male and female voices — approaching quickly!

Jiang Henian spun toward the patched-up wooden door, spotting shadows outside moving toward them through the cracks.

Startled, she jumped up, eyes darting around the bare hut. With nothing to hide behind, she stomped anxiously on the heated brick bed.

“Oh no, oh no… I’m really doomed this time…”

Panicked, she stepped on He Jinshan’s long leg and slipped — falling right into the arms of the man who had just managed to sit up.

Just ten meters outside the door.

A middle-aged woman, carrying a bamboo basket on her arm, pointed to the hut ahead, speaking with excited conviction:

“I came by at noon to check on Shan’er, and he was doing much better! He wasn’t bleeding anymore! Someone even wrapped him up with white strips and stuffed in twigs! It must have been a goddess who saved him!”

“Whoa now, Aunt He, you shouldn’t talk like that. We’re not supposed to be talking about superstitions anymore!”

“Hahaha, that’s right! The brigade leader is right here, mind your words or we’ll be having a meeting again tonight!”

Wang Jianping, head of the Huagou Village production team, walked behind them with a hoe slung over his shoulder. He chuckled and said:

“I’m just here to check in on Jinshan. But if there really is someone with divine medical skills, we must invite them to our brigade. I, Old Wang, will risk everything to apply for us to open a clinic here in Huagou!”

“As for you, A-Wei, if you really want to hold a study meeting, come to the office tonight. I’ll host a whole night of it for you myself!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

He family matron Zhang Fengying, seeing the crowd didn’t believe her, quickened her pace. “You’ll see when we get there — Shan’er might even wake up tomorrow!”

One woman pointed at Jiang Yanqiu and shouted loudly, “If you ask me, it’s probably because his fiancée came by, and his heart couldn’t rest — that’s why he woke up!”

“Aunt He, sounds like your family’s got another wedding on the way!”

Jiang Yanqiu, walking beside Zhang Fengying, went stiff at the words, her expression darkening.

These gossipy women! Damn witches!

Don’t go home after work, but catch a whiff of gossip and swarm like flies. Nearly twenty people had followed her here!

Still, that worked in her favor. The more witnesses, the better. Catching them in the act and breaking off the engagement would be much easier.

Zhang Fengying, a kind soul, thought Jiang Yanqiu was just being shy and said:

“Autumn girl has a good heart — she just told me she wanted to come visit Shan’er.”

With a few casual remarks, the group arrived in front of the hut.

Jiang Yanqiu fixed her gaze on the battered wooden door, a victorious smirk rising on her lips.

Jiang Henian, just wait.

With a creak, the wooden door was pushed wide open.

Bathed in the golden afterglow of the setting sun, those standing at the front could see everything inside the hut in one glance.

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

Gasps echoed all around…