Chapter 3

She was brought here to ward off bad luck!

The Gu family paid a hefty bride price of eight hundred yuan! If her groom died on their wedding night, that would be disastrous!

Yan Qingqing, panicked, hurriedly called to him:

“Gu… Gu Chi… wake up! I—I’ll go find a doctor!”

She quickly searched her own pockets. Though her birth mother and foster mother treated her poorly, after she grew up, Yan Qingqing sometimes found ways to gather herbs and secretly sell them for a little money—always keeping some on her just in case.

If she remembered correctly, she should have three yuan on her.

But when she felt around—nothing!

Those three yuan had probably been stolen during the chaos of the wedding!

Yan Qingqing was so anxious she searched every pocket but only found a peach pit the little fox had given her.

On the bed, the man’s life seemed to be slipping away.

Her blood stained the peach pit, and her tears dripped onto it!

They say Heaven never truly cuts off all hope—so why, Heaven, are you doing this?

What had she done wrong? What had Gu Chi done wrong?

Why force them both to die like this?!

All of the Gu family’s money had been handed over as a bride price—now in the hands of her birth and foster mothers—and she didn’t have a single coin on her. What could she do?

Yan Qingqing gripped the peach pit in despair, guilt filling her heart as big teardrops fell.

Her tears and blood soaked into the peach pit—suddenly, Yan Qingqing felt dizzy and appeared in a completely unfamiliar place!

It was utterly strange—and breathtaking!

Towering skyscrapers, bustling traffic, clean, beautiful streets, and lively, prosperous shops lined both sides!

Yan Qingqing stood stunned. And right behind her was a pharmacy!

No time to think about how she got here—she rushed inside to see if there was any fever medicine, planning to buy some on credit and get it into Gu Chi’s mouth!

As if the world could sense her thoughts, the moment Yan Qingqing stepped inside, a box of fever medicine appeared in her hand.

Startled, she tried thinking of something else—bandages, iodine for wounds?

The next instant, more items appeared in her hand!

Yan Qingqing’s heart leapt with excitement—but there was no time to waste. She silently thought: I want to go back!

Instantly, she was standing beside Gu Chi’s bed again.

What kind of special ability was this?!

Trembling with both fear and excitement, Yan Qingqing opened the medicine and fed Gu Chi a pill, calling anxiously:

“Gu Chi, Gu Chi! You can’t die! Hold on—I’ll find medicine, I’ll find a doctor!”

Just then, Gu Mother groped her way inside. “Qingqing, the water’s ready. How is Second Son?”

Her voice carried sorrow, and tears slipped down her face. “You’ve suffered, girl. My second son’s been hanging on for a month now, never waking up. The town doctors say there’s no cure. We married you to him just to bring some luck… But if he really can’t make it, our Gu family won’t blame you!”

No sooner had she spoken than Gu Father’s quiet, desolate voice came from next door:

“Second Son’s life is bitter—stuck with parents like us. He had a fever days ago, and even the village doctor stopped coming—they can’t do anything!

Even if we took him to town, it would just torture him for nothing… Wife, if Second Son doesn’t make it through the night, send the girl home in the morning. We can’t ruin her life too.”

On the bed, pain shot through Gu Chi’s spine, drenching him in sweat—it was worse than death itself.

He clearly heard Yan Qingqing crying and calling his name.

This family has already fallen into hell, he thought. Why drag a kind girl down with us?

Gu Father clenched his fists tightly, despair burning in his eyes.

Marrying Yan Qingqing to Second Son wasn’t only for warding off misfortune—it was also to fulfill his dying wish.

That eight hundred yuan was the very savings Second Son had scraped together as a bride price for his future wife.

Once Second Son breathed his last and Yan Qingqing left the Gu family, this broken man intended to end his own life too.

Gu Mother choked out: “Alright, alright… Qingqing, spend the night in the kitchen, and tomorrow morning go back to your mother’s house. I’ll tell the villagers you’re pure and untouched. Second Son likely won’t last the night. I’ll stay with him…”

Hearing both parents’ words, Yan Qingqing’s eyes stung.

She hurriedly said, “It’s fine! Your eyes aren’t good—you shouldn’t struggle alone. Let me help you watch him! If the doctors won’t help, we’ll help him ourselves. I’ll help you wipe him down and lower his fever first!”

A mother never gives up on her child so easily. Gu Mother wiped her tears and fetched towels. She mixed hot and cold water into warm water, lifted Gu Chi’s shirt, and began wiping his body.

Since Gu Mother’s vision was poor, Yan Qingqing naturally stepped in to help.

But when Gu Chi’s clothes were lifted, she froze in shock!

Her own belly was soft and pale—but his chest… it had strong, clearly defined muscles, firm and solid!

As Yan Qingqing wiped him, her face grew hotter than his fever.

Good thing Gu Mother couldn’t see!

They worked hard for a long while, sweating as they carefully wiped Gu Chi’s face, arms, legs, and chest.

Finally, his breathing grew steadier—not so faint as before.

Whether from the medicine or from wiping him down, his fever gradually subsided.

But as Gu Chi improved, Gu Mother herself nearly fainted. Yan Qingqing quickly persuaded her:

“Go rest! I’ll watch him. I’m young—I can stay up all night. His fever’s gone down and his breathing is normal now. I’ll wipe him again later, just to be safe.”

Gu Mother hesitated: “Better you rest in the kitchen… If Second Son doesn’t survive, it’ll harm your reputation.”

This family is too kind, Yan Qingqing thought. Even now, they’re worried about me?!

She reassured her: “You paid to marry me—I should take care of him at least one night. If you collapse tomorrow, this home will really fall apart!”

Gu Mother knew she was on the verge of fainting and reluctantly went to her room.

Once she left, Yan Qingqing took out the peach pit again. This time, without tears or blood, just a thought whisked her back to that shining world!

Delighted, she quickly explored it.

There was a huge shopping plaza selling everything—food, clothing, medicine, all in one place. Beyond it was a massive library, and farther still a crystal-clear lake like polished jade. A sign stood by the water:

“Welcome to Fox World!”

The lake sparkled under the sun. Yan Qingqing tried a sip—the water was sweet, refreshing, and soothing!

She drank a few more mouthfuls, feeling her exhaustion fade. Even the pain from her wounds eased, and they began to heal slightly.

Amazing! Could this be Heaven’s compensation for me?

Overjoyed, Yan Qingqing forgave fate for now.

She treated her injuries, had a hot meal, and nearly cried with happiness.

It was the first time in her life she’d ever eaten to her fill—even if it was just a simple bowl of fine noodles with an egg.

So this is what it feels like to be full!

Once she finished tending herself, Yan Qingqing hurried back to check on Gu Chi.

She found a wound on the back of his head that hadn’t healed. She washed it with the spirit lake water and applied antiseptic medicine.

She even gave Gu Chi some of the lake water to drink, then took out a precious Angong Niuhuang Pill and fed it to him.

This legendary medicine was said to revive those on death’s door.

After finishing, she touched his forehead—it was cooler, and his breathing even. Exhaustion hit her like a wave, and she collapsed beside him to rest.

When someone’s truly exhausted, they fall into deep sleep.

So at dawn, Yan Qingqing didn’t notice that the man beside her slowly opened his eyes.

He turned his head toward the girl curled around his arm, fast asleep—and his brain completely froze.

This must be because I woke up wrong, Gu Chi thought, shutting his eyes and reopening them.

But there she was again, clinging to his arm, her little foot resting on his leg!

Her cherry-pink lips brushed against his arm, her delicate pale face peaceful, lashes fluttering softly as she slept soundly and sweetly.

Gu Chi didn’t even dare breathe heavily, lying stiff as a board like he’d been struck by acupuncture.

He stared at her for a whole hour—still unable to figure out how he’d gone to sleep alone, only to wake up with a girl in his bed!