Lu Yuan, caught off guard, fell into the warm spring water.
While this hot spring wasn’t as large as the one outside, it was still deep in so parts and shallow in others. For soone who couldn’t swim, it could be quite dangerous.
Lu Yuan’s first reaction was to push her up, preventing her from being pulled underwater with him.
Imdiately, he broke through the water’s surface and, with a cold face and gritted teeth, said, "ng Xiaojiu!"
ng Qianqian looked completely innocent. "Oh no, it was an accident."
Lu Yuan stared at her icily.
ng Qianqian had no idea he was worried she couldn’t swim. If she had known, she would’ve told him that her swimming skills were excellent.
She blinked her eyes innocently and said, "Well, since we’re already down here, why not soak for a bit? I’m serious, your cold ailnt can’t be treated with harsh dicine. A hot spring soak is a cure-all redy with no side effects. I tested it for you earlier—it really works. It’s a rare chance we’ve co to the hunting grounds; you might as well make the most of it."
Lu Yuan gave a cold snort.
ng Qianqian couldn’t tell if he was agreeing or disagreeing, so she continued coaxing, "It’s just for treatnt, nothing else. Or are you... worried I’ll take advantage of you?"
ng Qianqian raised her hand and swore, "I won’t. I’m very proper."
After saying that, as if to prove her integrity, ng Qianqian scooted away to the other side, putting enough distance between herself and Lu Yuan to sit three Treasure Piggies in between.
In the end, Lu Yuan stayed.
The two of them leaned against the edge of the pool, silently sitting without a word.
ng Qianqian discreetly stole a few glances at him.
His expression appeared calm, but sotis, understanding soone didn’t just rely on sight; it required feeling with one’s heart.
When her mother gave birth to her, she died from complications. But Qianqian didn’t grow up alone and helpless. She had her father, her brothers, her master’s sect, her uncles and aunts, and her younger siblings.
They showered her with as much love as they could.
Later, she was adopted by King Chu. In her fragnted mories, King Chu’s family had also genuinely cared for her.
She was unfortunate, but at the sa ti, she was lucky.
Their love nurtured her, preventing her from becoming a shell driven solely by hatred on her path of revenge.
But not everyone was as fortunate as she was, to find salvation in the depths of despair.
ng Qianqian steadied herself, smiled, and asked, "Have you been here before?"
Lu Yuan replied softly, "When the Crown Prince was alive, I ca here with him."
ng Qianqian: "..."
Way to hit a sore spot.
The mood wasn’t right to begin with.
Undeterred, ng Qianqian pressed on, "So, who was the last Military General here?"
"Soone from the Han family, the Great General Han’s younger brother, Han Fengnian."
"That na sounds so familiar."
"He was killed in action during the battle against Beiliang."
ng Qianqian closed her eyes, wishing she could punch herself. "Why does it always end up being soone deceased?"
Why couldn’t her mouth just ask about a living person?
After a mont of silence without hearing her voice, Lu Yuan asked faintly, "Why did you stop asking?"
ng Qianqian muttered, "I’m afraid I’ll ask soone else into nonexistence."
What kind of logic was that?
The people had already passed away; she just happened to ask about them afterward.
Lu Yuan gave her an exasperated sidelong glance, hesitating to respond.
ng Qianqian quietly scooted half a Treasure Piggy closer to him.
After moving, she secretly watched his face. Seeing that he didn’t react, she stealthily inched another half Treasure Piggy closer.
One, two, three steps.
They were touching now.
ng Qianqian mustered her courage and softly said, "Grand Commander, when my father was upset in the past, he’d hug and feel better. Do you want to try?"
Lu Yuan gritted his teeth. "ng Xiaojiu, I’m not your father!"
ng Qianqian responded, "Just try it. When Zhaozhao feels upset, it works for her too."
Lu Yuan snorted. "That little rascal actually has tis when she’s upset?"
"Of course! She’s a child, not a wooden stick. Can’t win the dog’s food, can’t eat the cat’s food, can’t beat Tan’er..."
ng Qianqian counted the little one’s troubles on her fingers with a level of familiarity fit for listing family treasures.
Lu Yuan’s head buzzed from it all. "That child faces so many issues every day?"
ng Qianqian pouted, "What did you expect? And, if you co ho late, she’ll get mad too."
"That’s worth getting angry over?"
Lu Yuan was genuinely puzzled. "I think she does it on purpose. At such a young age, her mind is more complicated than a wasp’s nest."
ng Qianqian raised an eyebrow. "Like father, like daughter, huh?"
"ng Xiaojiu!"
"I was wrong."
Lu Yuan closed his eyes, refusing to say more.
ng Qianqian tilted her head and snuck peeks at him.
One glance, two glances, three glances.
Upon her fourth glance, Lu Yuan extended his arm and pulled her into his embrace.
ng Qianqian’s cheek pressed against his firm and muscular chest.
She could clearly hear the drum-like beating of his heart within his chest.
"Don’t move."
His voice was hoarse as he spoke.
ng Qianqian obediently nodded.
In her mory, aside from her closest relatives, he was the first man she’d ever had such close physical contact with.
His embrace reminded her a bit of her father’s, but it wasn’t quite the sa.
It was a feeling she couldn’t quite describe—novel and not unpleasant.
In fact, there was even a hint of fondness.
She gently wrapped her arms around his lean waist, feeling the defined and powerful muscles beneath.
Taking a deep breath, she murmured, "Grand Commander, you sll really nice."
She’d always noticed the faint, unique fragrance he carried—a masculine scent that was distinctly his, one she’d never slled on anyone else.
But Ban Xia and Nanny Li both claid he slled like plain soap without any special fragrance.
Lu Yuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily, and his arms around her tightened slightly.
He slowly opened his eyes, gazing at ng Qianqian, who was lying comfortably against his chest with her eyes contentedly closed.
Lowering his head, he pressed his lips to her soft ones.
"Sister!"
ng Qianqian imdiately shoved Lu Yuan, subrging him into the water.
Tan’er ca running in with quick steps and asked, "Sister, N is here? I thought you went outside to fight!"
ng Qianqian replied solemnly, "Finished fighting."
Tan’er stomped her foot. "Why didn’t you call to join the fight?"
ng Qianqian: "Next ti, I’ll call you."
"Where’s the Grand Commander?" Tan’er asked.
"Went back to his room. You should go to bed too. I’ll take you hunting tomorrow."
"Okay!"
Tan’er hopped and skipped as she left.
ng Qianqian let out a long sigh of relief and fished Lu Yuan out of the water, mumbling sheepishly, "Don’t say anything, I’ll admit my mistake first!"
Lu Yuan was stuck between annoyance and helplessness, a breath caught in his throat, neither in nor out.
He let out a long sigh. "Forget it. It’s late. You should head to your room and rest."
ng Qianqian: "Oh."
Lu Yuan stood and exited the wooden hut.
The hut had none of his clothes, only hers.
ng Qianqian assud he’d left, so she leisurely changed and walked out, only to find him waiting by the doorway all along.
Lu Yuan said, "I’ll sleep in the front hall."
The backyard had too many won, so he decided to squeeze in with Yu Zichuan instead.
So he waited all this ti just to tell her this?
ng Qianqian thought of that dragonfly-like, fleeting softness in the bath and uncertainly touched her lips. "Did you just... perhaps..."
Lu Yuan’s hands were clasped behind his back, and the tips of his ears were flushed red in the darkness of night.
He didn’t deny it, rely giving a cold "Mn."
ng Qianqian was stunned, lightly touching her lips as she muttered, "Wasn’t that... a bit too fast?"
"Indeed, it was my mistake," Lu Yuan stated seriously. "I will restrain myself next ti."
ng Qianqian mumbled softly, "I ant I didn’t even have ti to react... and it was already over..."
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