Luo Yang had spent a great deal of money to buy this bird’s nest, and had even gone to snatch it early in the morning—it really pained him.

Ji Yunshu hadn’t expected these things were bought for her. Her heart stirred with emotion.

But she immediately suppressed this feeling.

She said, “I don’t like eating these things. You should take them back and return them!”

With this statement, Luo Yang exploded. He shot to his feet and stared unhappily into Ji Yunshu’s cold eyes, saying, “How can you be such an annoying woman? This young master went out to fight for these before dawn, and with one sentence about not liking to eat them, you want me to return them? Do you know that returning goods is very embarrassing? This Luo Yang doesn’t do that! Besides, this stuff is good for your health. Do you want to be sickly the entire journey to Yanjing? Or do you want to die on the road?”

“…”

Luo Yang pointed at the elderly physician again and said, “The physician said this stuff is nourishing. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”

The elderly physician hadn’t expected the focus to suddenly shift to him.

He continued from Luo Yang’s words, “Indeed, bird’s nest is a good thing—eating it nourishes the body. Miss, your body has excessive cold qi. If you eat more bird’s nest, it will indeed help. This young master really knows how to care for people. To buy this for you so early in the morning—such thoughtfulness is not something ordinary people possess. Miss, you shouldn’t refuse.”

Luo Yang said, “See? The old physician understands!”

Ji Yunshu: “…”

She had only said one sentence, and Luo Yang had rattled off so many in response.

Luo Yang quickly walked to the bedside with a domineering attitude and said, “Let me tell you, whether you want it or not, you must eat this stuff. If you don’t eat it, I’ll knock you unconscious and then forcibly pour it down your throat.”

This was something he could definitely do.

And for the sake of peace and quiet, Ji Yunshu could only compromise.

Luo Yang seemed as if he’d gotten a great bargain. That handsome face bore the smile a youth should have—spring breeze on his face, without a trace of heaviness.

Many times, Ji Yunshu envied him!

Such a person—daring to love and hate, even carefree and heartless—lived freely and unrestrained.

But reality was reality!

She couldn’t be like him. What she faced was still waiting and searching.

Waiting for Jingrong!

Searching for Jingrong!

On this path, her heart was full of longing, harboring hope. But how much farther must she go? How much longer? She didn’t know…

Later, she rested a while longer at the medical clinic. During this time, she frequently drifted into distraction!

Seeing this, Luo Yang waved his hand before her face several times. “What are you thinking about?”

She came back to her senses and shook her head. “Nothing.”

“I thought you were lost in wild thoughts again!”

“What wild thoughts could I have?”

“Your mouth really is stubborn.” Luo Yang clearly saw through her.

Ji Yunshu didn’t speak, her expression darkening.

Luo Yang didn’t continue either—it was enough that he understood clearly in his heart.

He cleared his throat and said, “Just now the physician told me your body is no longer in serious condition and you can leave! Since that’s the case, let’s return to the inn. Who knows what the situation is there now—whether the boat has been repaired? If it’s been repaired, we need to hurry back, lest that man surnamed Wen and his group leave us behind. I’m still counting on them to help me achieve success and prosperity in Yanjing!”

Always obsessing over this matter!

Although Ji Yunshu had considered not traveling with Wen Che and the others, yesterday Luo Yang had been right—if she traveled with them, she might encounter Lichuan. Thinking of this, she agreed.

She propped herself up to get out of bed!

But she was still somewhat weak. As soon as her feet touched the ground and she applied force, her body became terribly feeble and she fell downward. Fortunately, Luo Yang caught her with one hand and gathered her into his embrace.

In that moment, Ji Yunshu instinctively reached out to push him away. But with one push, her body shamefully fell downward again. As a result, Luo Yang forcibly held her in his arms and lightly rebuked her, “What are you moving for? Do you want to fall to your death?”

She braced her hands between them, her eyes stern as she said, “Let go!”

“Really!” Luo Yang asked.

“I’ll say it one more time—let go of me.”

“Fine, I’ll let go then!”

Then—

Luo Yang released his hands, and Ji Yunshu fell heavily to the ground.

Bone met ground with a thud.

She winced in pain, her brow tightly creased.

Seeing this, a flash of worry crossed Luo Yang’s face. Unable to bear it, he wanted to quickly help her up. But just as he extended his hand, he immediately dismissed this thought. The corners of his mouth immediately curved upward with a mischievous smile as he crouched down before her.

“How about that? Does it hurt?” He raised an eyebrow.

Ji Yunshu looked at him, beyond words with anger. After all, she had been the one to tell him to let go.

“You woman are just stubborn. I don’t know where this stubbornness comes from?”

“It’s none of your business!”

“You think I want to care? This young master has a kind heart—I can’t stand seeing someone looking sickly and half-dead in front of me. If you died in front of me, wouldn’t I have nightmares every night? That price is too high!”

Ji Yunshu shot him a look, then braced herself against the edge of the bed to get up.

Seeing her like this, Luo Yang’s heart became thoroughly angry. Was he really that bad? She would rather fall and injure herself all over than let him help. Thinking of this, his temper flared. He grabbed Ji Yunshu’s slender arm with one hand and then pulled her onto his back.

“You…” Ji Yunshu’s eyes widened as she was about to struggle!

Luo Yang shouted with a face full of fury, “What’s so shameful about admitting defeat?”

Uh!

“You just want to keep everyone at a distance. But you’re still a woman—without someone by your side, you’ll just wait for death.”

Ji Yunshu said with a somber face, “I walked alone for three years across heaven and earth, and I’m still alive.”

“You…” Luo Yang was at a loss for words, but maintaining his usual rogue nature, he said, “I don’t care whether you were alone or not! In any case, be quiet now. If you make trouble again, I really will leave you here alone to fend for yourself. Then let’s see how you find the person you’re looking for!”

Uh!

If something happened to her, how could she find Lichuan?

Only by staying alive could she find Lichuan!

Thinking of this, she quieted down and stopped struggling.

Seeing her behaving on his back, the fury in Luo Yang’s heart gradually dissipated. He turned his head and asked, “Not pushing anymore?”

Ji Yunshu’s eyes darkened, but she didn’t speak.

“If you behave a bit, you won’t suffer, and I won’t suffer either. How nice!”

“Didn’t you say we were going back to the inn? Why aren’t we leaving!” Ji Yunshu’s tone was cool.

Luo Yang secretly smiled and called out, “Let’s go!”

He carried her out of the medical clinic, preparing to return to the inn.

By now, the sun had come out and Qiaoshi Town had become lively. People came and went on the streets. Many merchants doing business were calling out on both sides of the street. On the way back to the inn carrying her on his back, Luo Yang couldn’t help but wander around, looking at the stalls on both sides, seeing many interesting things that weren’t in Zhuxin City.

He became quite excited for a while.

Ji Yunshu lay on his back, having no choice but to “wander” along with him.

The more Luo Yang browsed, the more excited he became. Finally, at one stall, he took a liking to a monkey mask. The monkey was painted vividly with rich colors. Because he was carrying Ji Yunshu and had no hands free, he said to the vendor, “Take it down so I can see.”

“Right away!” The vendor took it down and said, “Young master, this monkey mask looks so lifelike when worn on the face. Buy one!”

“Alright!”

“Thank you, young master. I’ll wrap it up for you right now.”

The vendor busied himself wrapping it in paper. Luo Yang turned his head to Ji Yunshu and said, “Reach into my clothes and get the silver out.”

“What?” Ji Yunshu’s expression changed.

“I’m carrying you right now. If you don’t help me get it out, how can I?”

“Then put me down.”

“What if you fall to the ground? There are so many people here. If you’re not afraid of embarrassment, then I’ll put you down.” Luo Yang’s tone carried a threat.

Ji Yunshu glared at him. After a moment’s hesitation, she looked at the people passing back and forth around them. Finally, extremely unwilling, she asked, “Where’s the money?”

“At my chest!”

“…” She was truly grinding her teeth, knowing she’d boarded his pirate ship.

Right now she could only reach her hand into his chest to get the silver. But her fingertips hesitated to reach all the way in, so after fumbling for a while, she still hadn’t found the silver.

“Hurry up!” Luo Yang urged.

The vendor had already wrapped the mask and was holding it out before him.

Ji Yunshu wore an expression of resentment but could only reach further in. She touched Luo Yang’s burning chest. Her fingers froze for a moment. Finally finding the silver, she quickly pulled it out, took a few coins and gave them to the vendor, then took the mask.

The corners of Luo Yang’s mouth curved in a smile, which he didn’t let her see.

He contentedly carried her toward the inn.

Ji Yunshu lay on his back and asked curiously, “You’re such a grown person—why are you buying a mask?”

“That’s for Xiao Ba!” Luo Yang said. “Xiao Ba has always loved monkeys. Before in Zhuxin City, I also saw people selling this kind of mask, but at that time I had no money and couldn’t afford it.”

“You really are good to him!”

“Of course. He’s my only relative. If I’m not good to him, who will be?” Luo Yang said this.

Ji Yunshu didn’t continue further.

After the two returned to the inn, Ji Yunshu had just entered the room and sat down when Xiao Ba rushed in. “Brother, Miss Ji.”

“How is it? Has the boat been repaired?” Luo Yang asked him.

“Not yet. It probably won’t be ready until evening.” Xiao Ba looked at Ji Yunshu, whose complexion had improved. “Miss Ji, how are you? Are you better? Yesterday I wanted to visit you, but if I left and they abandoned us, that would be terrible. So I stayed at the inn to keep watch on them.”

Now he’d gotten smart!

Ji Yunshu said, “I’m fine now.”

“That’s good. I was quite worried all night.”

Ji Yunshu smiled slightly.

It was rare for Luo Yang to see the corners of her mouth reveal even a trace of a smile. Though it passed in a flash, to those who saw it, it felt like a ray of sunlight shining down into the heart—warm and comfortable, yet also making his heart involuntarily skip a beat.

He quickly snapped back to attention, secretly shaking his head, then stuffed the mask he’d bought into Xiao Ba’s hands. “Alright, alright, don’t disturb her rest. Look what your brother bought you!”

Xiao Ba looked curiously at the paper-wrapped object in his hands. When he unwrapped it, he discovered it was a mask.

“Brother, it’s a monkey mask!”