Chapter 19 – Let Me Hold You

Wen Qinghe had a dream.
In the dream, she was targeted by a hungry wolf.

She ran in terror, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape that scorching, sticky gaze.

At last, when she was utterly exhausted, she decided to give up struggling. Unexpectedly, the wolf carried her back to its den.

It didn’t seem to want to eat her. She felt slightly relieved—until the moment she relaxed.

The wolf’s face suddenly changed. It became Yan Xiao’s face.

He pounced on her, pressing her beneath him.

His hot breath sprayed against her sensitive ear.

“Qingqing… Qingqing…”

…

“Ah!!”

How horrifying was that! Why would she dream of something like this?

And why would that man appear in her dream?

Just as she was reeling from it, a knocking sound came from the door.

Knock knock knock.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Yan Xiao.”

“Ah, you… what do you need?”

Thinking of the scene from her dream, she suddenly didn’t know how to face him.

“I brewed some medicine for you. Yesterday, Physician Li said the effect would be better if paired with decoctions.”

“Then… alright. Wait a moment.”

“Mm.”

Wen Qinghe glanced at the wooden door lock. After confirming she had locked it, she slipped into her space to wash up.

…

Yan Xiao stood outside the door holding the medicine. Hearing her answer, he patiently waited.

In spite of himself, his mind wandered to the enchanting moonlit fairy from last night.

What was she doing inside now—dressing herself?

His Adam’s apple moved slightly, and his ears pricked unconsciously.

But why was there no sound?

He was sure his hearing was sharp, yet inside there wasn’t the faintest noise—not even the sound of breathing… nothing…

Realizing something, his pupils shrank, and his tall body trembled uncontrollably.

“Wen Qinghe! Wen Qinghe! Qingqing!”

Just as he was about to kick the door open, he heard the faintest breathing and light footsteps inside.

Confirming there was indeed the presence of life, the burning panic in his body slowly ebbed.

But separated by only a door, he dared not think too deeply about why, for a moment, he couldn’t sense a living person’s presence.

An illusion. Yes, I was hallucinating!

Until the wooden door opened from inside, and that delicate face with arched brows, rosy lips, and pearly teeth appeared before his eyes.

His breathing eased, his body steadied, but his hand still reached uncontrollably to touch her cheek—only for her to dodge in puzzlement.

That fleeting warmth against his palm wasn’t fake.

Thank heavens! She wasn’t an illusion.

Wen Qinghe felt Yan Xiao was acting strange. The moment she opened the door, he looked at her with the same expression he had when she woke up yesterday.

In those dark eyes were disbelief, sorrow, and brokenness, along with emotions she couldn’t make out.

Then, his large hand lifted, and instinctively, she flinched away.

The next instant, he brushed past her, placing a small jar on the bedside cabinet.

Her waist softened, and suddenly she was pulled into a warm, broad embrace.

Yan Xiao felt the small hand pushing weakly at his chest, along with her soft warmth, and only then did he truly feel she was real.

“Be good… let me hold you. Just for a moment…”

Hearing this, Wen Qinghe stopped moving. She didn’t know why he looked so fragile just then.

But she could sense that at the moment she opened the door, he had been vulnerable.

Considering the difference in their size, with her slender arms and legs, once wrapped in his arms she had no chance of resisting.

And judging by their interactions, he wasn’t the kind to force others. If it was just a hug, she could endure it. Making him angry would only bring more trouble…

Noticing she had stopped resisting, Yan Xiao’s lips curved slightly. He lowered his head, inhaling the fragrance lingering in her hair.

So fragrant—it was real.

So soft—he didn’t even dare to hold her too tightly, only encircling her lightly.

But with the door still open, he reluctantly released her.

At this hour, everyone was already at work. Only the two of them remained in the educated youth compound. Still, there was no guarantee no one would pass by—he had to consider her reputation.

“Sorry, I was presumptuous just now.”

“What happened to you just now?”

They both spoke at the same time. Yan Xiao caught her question.

“Nothing.”

In truth, he wanted to ask her why there had been no sound from inside earlier.

But perhaps it was a private matter—everyone had their own secrets. As long as she was safe, that was enough.

Then he remembered the purpose of his visit. She must have just woken up; her face still held traces of water.

His gaze flicked, almost imperceptibly, to the dry washbasin in the room. His dark eyes dimmed slightly, and he spoke in a low voice:

“I brought medicine for you. You haven’t had breakfast yet, right? This needs to cool before drinking. Sit quietly and wait here—I’ll go get food for you.”

He pressed her back onto the bed, then walked out, turning his head three times with every step, as if to make sure she stayed put.

Wen Qinghe couldn’t help but laugh and cry. His eyes looked as though she might vanish the next second…

…

Less than ten minutes later, he came back, panting.

So fast?

In his hands were pumpkin millet porridge, egg pancakes, and shredded cucumber salad.

She was astonished. “You came back so quickly?”

“Mm. Eat.”

The egg pancakes and cucumber were freshly prepared using the stove’s leftover heat.

The pumpkin millet porridge had been cooked earlier that morning. He had originally wanted to bring it together with the medicine, but worried she might still be asleep, he held back.

Later, seeing the time, he decided to drink it himself.

Wen Qinghe took a sip of the porridge.

Mmm~ sweet and delicious!

The millet was stewed until tender, with the natural sweetness of pumpkin.

She bit into an egg pancake, only to find the man gazing at her with gentle indulgence.

Her movements immediately became more refined and delicate.

“Mm… did you eat already?”

“I did.”

In truth, he hadn’t. He had risen around three in the morning to brew the medicine, which took over four hours. He hadn’t had the chance to eat.

But he was long used to it; he rarely ate breakfast anyway.

Watching her take dainty bites of the pancake and sip porridge, like a soft little animal, just looking at her made his heart melt.

When she had eaten half a bowl of porridge and half a pancake, her brows furrowed slightly. Concerned, he asked:

“Where do you feel unwell? Not to your taste?”

“Uh, the porridge and pancake are delicious… it’s just… I’m full.”

Ah, heavens knew she was already eating her hardest, but the pancake seemed endless.

Given how scarce food was in this era, if others knew she was wasting food, she’d probably be dragged out and criticized.

“Just as well—I didn’t eat enough this morning. Give it to me.”

While she fretted, he took the pancake from her hand, still bearing the delicate imprint of her teeth.

He didn’t know if it was deliberate, but starting from the exact spot where she had bitten, he quickly finished the rest.

Then, using the same utensils she had just used, he downed the rest of the porridge and cucumber in a few gulps.

What took her nearly ten minutes, he finished in just one.

Wen Qinghe stared, dumbfounded.

That wasn’t the most shocking part—the shocking part was that he’d eaten using her chopsticks! And eaten what she had left!

Yan Xiao’s eyes gleamed with laughter.

“It really is delicious.”

Uh… why did it feel like he was hinting at something?

Was this man… teasing her?

Looking at his handsome features softened by the smile, the sharpness of his edges blurred, fused with his bronze skin radiating wildness, he looked inexplicably alluring.

Wen Qinghe’s face, rarely flushed, grew warm. She didn’t dare look again.