Chapter 142 (1/2)

Chapter 142

Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Her tender white skin was now swollen red. Zhuge Yue bellowed, ”How can you still tell me it is not in pain?” Despite pouring scoop after scoop of cold water, the swelling had not reduced even slightly. Just as Zhuge Yue was about to call his servant to bring medicine, he lifted his head up, only to see how Chu Qiao's upper body was soaked, her curves showing through the thick clothes. That, along with her messily scattered hair, was surprisingly seductive.

Noticing Zhugu Yue's gaze, Chu Qiao leaned away with her hands covering her chest, while bellowing, ”What are you looking at?”

Feeling awkward in his heart, Zhuge Yue stubbornly retaliated, ”Such an androgynous figure could not rouse me even if I looked.”

Chu Qiao frowned, and was obviously angry at his humiliating comment. Seeing that Zhuge Yue was about to stand up, she sabotaged him by pulling on a corner of his clothes, and yanked hard on it while he was still unaware! The room was originally very slippy. With a loud crash, Zhuge Yue landed on the ground in an exaggerated manner, without any elegance or grace.

Seeing his state, Chu Qiao started laughing out loud, but little did she expect that Zhuge Yue countered her in the same way. Grabbing onto her calves, and taking advantage of how she was still in a relatively weak state, Zhuge Yue yanked with all his strength. And coincidentally, she crashed right into his bosom!

This shower room was constructed out of bamboo. With the roof open, one could see the stars at night while taking a warm bath that was connected to a natural hot spring. The light from the two sides was not particularly bright, faintly illuminating the entire room. The moon was especially bright and white on that night, as it hung high in the cloudless night sky. The fragrance of the blossoming crabapples was brought along by the night breeze. The veils of the door drooped down with its thin green ends lightly swaying in the wind. The night was dead quiet.

After what seemed like an eternity, the water clock sounded off, breaking this silent dream. Zhuge Yue's warm hand were pressed on Chu Qiao's shoulders, and his sleeves brushed ticklishly on her nape. The background was painted a crimson red by the crabapple trees. Swaying hypnotically in the wind, it seemed as though the entire scene was merely just a dream. In the foreground, one could Zhuge Yue's jet black irises. Firmly locking his gaze onto Chu Qiao's eyes, Zhuge Yue inched forward.

Startled by his advance, Chu Qiao struggled, wanting to break free, but suddenly she felt something hard pressing on her lower body. The burning sensation was so alien she froze up completely, and her eyes were wide open in surprise. Once she came to her senses again, she righted herself, and quickly shifted away from Zhuge Yue. The awkwardness translated into a deafening silence, covering the entirety of the room.

Chu Qiao squeezed out a retort to break this awkward silence, although her voice was brimming with anger, ”Didn't you say that I was so androgynous? Why did you still react like that?” The moment she said that, Chu Qiao turned bright red from embarrassment. The situation just took a strange turn from her words.

Zhuge Yue's expression was also rather stiff, but nonetheless, he still kept his cool, and replied with his usual sarcasm, ”Whether you are a man or a woman is unknown, but it seems like I am obviously a man.”

Chu Qiao finally reached her boiling point, as she roared, ”You are so shameless!”

Looking at her from the corner of his eyes, Zhuge Yue shrugged her comment off. ”You have yet to seen worse.”

After arguing like they usually did, the atmosphere somewhat normalized. With the awkwardness vanishing between them, they suddenly started to feel the chill of the night wind that had been blowing all along. This open-air bath would have really been chilly for anyone not in the water.

Zhuge Yue stood up, and asked, ”Can you walk?”

Chu Qiao could walk, but with her clothes almost completely soaked, it would be rather awkward to walk around like that.

Cursing under his breath, Zhuge Yue walked up. Removing his outer robe, he walked off coolly. After walking a few steps, he realized that Chu Qiao had not followed behind as he expected her to. Frustrated, he bellowed, ”Are you coming or not?”

Chu Qiao was still wearing the robe, and given her burn, her movements would naturally be rather sluggish. Hearing him chiding her, she naturally felt upset as well, as she snapped back, ”Why are you so loud?”

Seeing how she was struggling to wear the clothes, Zhuge Yue walked over with a huge frown plastered on his face. With just a few quick moves Zhuge Yue helped her don the robe properly, and pulling on her sleeves, he dragged Chu Qiao towards the bedroom.

Being pulled along by him, Chu Qiao stumbled and almost fell. Annoyed, Chu Qiao retorted, ”Can't you take it slower? Have you been eating gunpowder?”

”You dare to talk about me one more time?”

”What can you do, huh?”

After the servant brought the medicine for the burns, Zhuge Yue picked up Chu Qiao's injured hand and deftly applied the layers of the cream onto her still red and swollen skin with a brush.

”Rub the cream twice every day; once in the morning and once at night. It will heal in just a few days. Do not let it touch water, and avoid spicy food.”

The brush was made using thin animal fur, and was particularly ticklish when in contact with the skin. Zhuge Yue was sitting on a chair that was slightly higher than the bed. With his clothes giving off a soft gleam from the candlelight, his handsome face seemed rather absent-minded, but he carefully dipped the brush in the cream, and applied it evenly over the swollen area.

”Zhuge Yue, I need to go, I really need to go.”

Lifting up his head, Zhuge Yue fixed his gaze on Chu Qiao. With her face completely serious, Chu Qiao looked at him firmly, her eyes crystal clear with resolve.

”I know that just saying thanks does not mean anything. You helped me so many times and endured so much risk and stress just to help me out. All the sacrifices you made for me, I will remember them well.”

While listening to her, Zhuge Yue did not speak, as he put down the brush, and slowly replaced the lid of the medical cream.