Chapter 46

Sheng Tunan was chanting a “calling back the soul” rhyme. When he was a child, he would get a high fever and couldn’t sleep, crying all night long. Grandma would hold him and sing this rhyme.

Although it was against feudal superstition now, it was hard to buy antibiotics in the countryside in this era, and there were no good Chinese medicine practitioners in the village. Children often got fevers, and when they were delirious with high fever, adults would hold them in their arms and sing “calling back the soul” songs to lull them to sleep.

These things were done at home, so no one reported them, and they were passed down from generation to generation.

“I know, Xinyue will be fine, she will always be fine.” Sheng Tunan loosened his embrace slightly and looked at Zhan Xinyue.

It was hot, and Sheng Tunan’s embrace was even hotter. Zhan Xinyue stepped out of his arms, her entire face flushed, her eyes seemed to be filled with water, but also like stars in the sky, shining brightly. She looked at the silver ring snake at Sheng Tunan’s feet, still feeling a little scared, and involuntarily shivered.

Sheng Tunan quickly said, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, it’s dead.”

Then, he cupped Zhan Xinyue’s face and kissed her forehead, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here, no snake will bite you.”

The warm touch on her skin made Zhan Xinyue stunned for a second, then her heart started racing uncontrollably. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, why was she so hot?

“I, I, I have to go back and eat lotus leaf rice.”

“No, I still need to cut down the honey. This is the best linden honey, I want to give it to Grandma. It’s good for her health.”

Zhan Xinyue started talking nonsense. The person she liked had kissed her, she was so excited, so embarrassed, and she didn’t know what to do.

Should she kiss him back?

Forget it, she should go back and calm down first. “I, I have to go home.”

Zhan Xinyue blushed and stammered.

“Xinyue, what’s wrong with you? Are you allergic?” Sheng Tunan took out a handkerchief in annoyance and wiped Zhan Xinyue’s forehead. He had been too impulsive, forgetting about Zhan Xinyue’s allergy to saliva.

“Huh,” Zhan Xinyue blinked and touched her forehead, “It doesn’t seem swollen, and it doesn’t itch either.”

She had been too excited about the kiss that she hadn’t noticed if she was allergic, but she didn’t feel anything unusual.

“Maybe I’m not allergic anymore?” Zhan Xinyue stared at Sheng Tunan’s lips, “Why don’t you try again?”

Sheng Tunan’s eyes narrowed, he said in a hoarse voice, “Get in the car.”

If she was allergic, they could drive directly to the clinic.

“Okay.”

Sheng Tunan kicked the silver ring snake’s body away and took Zhan Xinyue’s hand, “Follow me, I’ll walk in front, scare the snakes away.”

“Okay.” Zhan Xinyue’s hand was enveloped by Sheng Tunan’s big hand, warm, strong, with calluses from years of holding a gun, and even some sweat from excitement and nervousness, a little sticky, but Zhan Xinyue didn’t want to pull her hand away at all, she didn’t find it repulsive.

At this moment, she felt a sense of security she had never experienced before.

She wanted to stay like this, being held by Sheng Tunan, walking to the end of the world.

“Xinyue, we’re here. You get in the car first.” Sheng Tunan opened the car door, but his hand didn’t let go.

Zhan Xinyue got in the car with one hand, the other hand still held tight, her head lowered, looking at their intertwined fingers, her heart pounding.

Sheng Tunan wasn’t much better. He was a tall man, standing by the car door, at a loss.

“You get in first.” After a long silence, Zhan Xinyue finally spoke up.

“Yes.” Sheng Tunan agreed, and quickly got into the driver’s seat. As soon as he got in, he grabbed Zhan Xinyue’s hand, trying to calm the emptiness in his heart.

“Your forehead seems to be fine. Can I, can I try again?”