Chapter 15: I Like You
Lin Yiqiao was hurt pretty badly from the fall, but before she could catch her breath, she scrambled up to check on Qi Jun.

Blood was flowing even faster now. She quickly pressed down hard with her hand. The man’s brows were tightly furrowed, his face pale, sweat trailing from his temples to his jawline—but he didn’t let out a sound despite the obvious pain.

Lin Yiqiao couldn’t help staring at his lips. Just as she was lost in thought, Qi Jun lifted his eyes and caught her gaze.

Even being caught, Lin Yiqiao wasn’t flustered. She calmly looked away and shuffled a little closer to him, and the air around them suddenly felt warmer.

“People with major blood loss tend to lose body heat.” She paused, then asked, “Are you cold?”

She solemnly touched his long, well-defined fingers.

“I’m fine,” Qi Jun replied, his dark eyes fixed on her. His fingers twitched but didn’t pull away.

Lin Yiqiao didn’t say more. She tilted her head and pretended to look at the sky nonchalantly.

But then, more blood suddenly poured from the wound she was covering, and she panicked a little. “Press down on it yourself, hard!”

Then she walked to the edge of the pit, stepping on a tree root and grabbing the edge. With a tug—
She slipped and landed flat on her backside.

She rubbed her sore hip and got up quickly.

Qi Jun’s eyelids were heavy. When he looked up, he saw Lin Yiqiao flat on the ground, then scrambling back toward him.

“Don’t fall asleep. Keep your eyes open—I’ll talk to you.”

“Okay,” he nodded.

Lin Yiqiao could hear the weakness in his voice. Her hands were slick with his blood. No longer caring about whether it might attract the enemy, she shouted into the woods:

“Anyone there?!”

The sound was swallowed by the vast forest. Her voice even shook a little.

She suddenly felt someone pat her hand.

“You go first…”

Lin Yiqiao shook her head. “And leave you here? If I do that, you’ll have bled out by the time I’m back!”

But Qi Jun was exhausted. Her voice began to blur. Just before he drifted off, he heard her whisper in his ear:

“Don’t sleep. I’ll tell you a secret.”

“I like you.”

The words hit him like a thunderclap. Qi Jun couldn’t help but lift his eyelids to look at her.

She smiled. He was instantly wide awake.

Lin Yiqiao tore another strip of cloth and tightly wrapped it around his wound. Qi Jun watched her silently, his dark eyes locked on her.

Meeting his gaze, Lin Yiqiao blinked her bright eyes and said quickly, “Nope, I still have to get out!”

This time, she found her balance and practically floated up like she had learned martial arts.

Qi Jun leaned back against the pit wall, clutching the bandaged wound she had just treated. He felt a wave of warmth flow through him.

It wasn’t long before rapid footsteps could be heard above.

He knew instantly—it was her.

Sure enough, a small shadow darted into the pit like a fierce little lion. Her hair was slightly disheveled, hanging down around her chest, damp with night dew and carrying the scent of the forest.

Qi Jun watched her chewing on something. Before he could ask, she suddenly spit out a wad of green mush.

And smeared it right on his wound!

Qi Jun froze.

“What are you doing?”

“This is bleeding-stopper grass. You’re lucky I found some.”

Seeing his frown deepen, Lin Yiqiao continued, “Don’t look down on it. When I got hurt fighting as a kid, this stuff always worked best.” She spoke as she finished bandaging him. “And it’s not easy to find either.”

“You used to get into fights?”

“Mhm,” Lin Yiqiao said without elaborating.

She then took out the canteen she always carried, unscrewed it, and held it to his lips.

Qi Jun hesitated, then took it, lifting it carefully so his lips wouldn’t touch the spout.

Lin Yiqiao noticed his wet lips and sharp jawline and bit her own lip.

“Once we get out, can I pursue you?”

Qi Jun choked suddenly, coughing hard. Lin Yiqiao quickly patted his back.

“Slow down, no one’s stealing your water,” she said, amused.

He looked at her, both helpless and baffled.

“We need to figure out how to get out together.” Seeing him looking better, Lin Yiqiao got up and walked to the edge of the pit.

“This pit was probably dug by locals for hunting. Digging a hole in the cornerstones of socialism, huh!” She glanced back at Qi Jun and huffed.

Qi Jun leaned back and said, “This place… something’s wrong with it.”

You think?! She glanced at his wound and clenched her fists.

Seeing her thinking again, Qi Jun coughed a couple of times and said, “No need to waste energy. Someone will be here soon.”

He sounded more like his usual cool self, but there was a subtle closeness now.

Lin Yiqiao stood on tiptoe and peeked above the edge. Her eyes lit up with an idea.

This kind of once-in-a-lifetime chance—you better not waste it, Lin Yiqiao!

She turned around and knelt in front of Qi Jun like an obedient little kitten, eyes shining.

“How do you know?”

“Because,” Qi Jun said, eyes fixed on hers, “they’ve already been dealt with.”

Lin Yiqiao’s eyes widened. She looked like she wanted to ask more but didn’t dare. Qi Jun continued,

“They were spies.”

Spies?!

Lin Yiqiao’s heart leapt. So she’d guessed right.

Before she could ask more, a voice shouted from the mountaintop: “Commander!”

But Lin Yiqiao didn’t respond immediately. She raised a finger to her lips and went, “Shh.”

Then she tiptoed to peek outside.

Qi Jun saw her backlit silhouette and couldn’t help but smile.

Lin Yiqiao saw rows of soldiers in army green uniforms and flashlights. Leading them was Xiao Guohua.

She was so excited, she nearly cried.

“We’re here! Over here!”