Unfortunately, no matter how many shades of color passed over Yu Jingfeng’s face, Qiao Mu seemed not to notice at all.

Qiao Mu tore open Yu Jingfeng’s clothes, and together with Feng Jiu’er, one on each side, pinned him down to clean his wound.

Yu Jingfeng was extremely uncomfortable, but the woman didn’t treat what bothered him as anything worth minding.

Feng Jiu’er certainly had no particular thoughts about it — it was just his upper body, and he was a man besides. She’d seen more than she could count.

As for Qiao Mu, her mind was entirely occupied with the image of Yu Jingfeng saving her; she hadn’t even glanced at the part of him he was so self-conscious about.

And so, Yu Jingfeng was surrounded by two beautiful women for a full hour, his face flushing red and turning pale, then flushing again — he’d lost count of how many times.

“Whether there’s a problem or not, Jiu’er decides!” Qiao Mu had no intention of letting go.

“Lie down for a while, and get up once we’re ashore.” Feng Jiu’er finished packing up her things and glanced back.

“Lie still, understood?” Before withdrawing the hand pinning down Yu Jingfeng’s shoulder, Qiao Mu didn’t forget to remind him.

“All right.” Yu Jingfeng nodded and lay obediently still.

“Go check on Jian Yi first. I won’t move around.”

Qiao Mu swept a glance over Yu Jingfeng, then stepped around the bed and walked toward Feng Jiu’er.

“Let’s go, Jiu’er. We should go see how Jian Yi is doing — it’s been a full hour.”

“I kicked Chen Hong with quite a bit of force just now. Couldn’t help it, I lost control.”

Feng Jiu’er hoisted her small medicine chest onto her shoulder, turned, and looked ahead.

“It’s fine. I’ll definitely think of a way to save Jian Yi.”

When Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu made their way to the other cabin, Long Shiyi was guarding the door.

“Miss Jiu’er, Jian Yi is awake.” Seeing Feng Jiu’er, Long Shiyi immediately stepped forward.

“Did he say anything?” Feng Jiu’er asked in a low voice.

“No.” Long Shiyi shook his head. “Not a single word.”

“All right.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “Go get ready. We’ll talk once we’re back.”

She still hadn’t had the chance to look into how the fire had been dealt with — for now she had to go check on him first.

“Mm.” Long Shiyi bowed his head to accept the order.

“Qiao Mu, go tell Sister Hua and the others — the sooner we head back, the better.” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand and stepped toward the cabin door.

“Jiu’er.” Qiao Mu stepped forward, uneasy.

“It’s fine, go on.” Feng Jiu’er opened the door, closed it, and vanished from the two of them.

When Feng Jiu’er entered, Jian Yi was sitting cross-legged on the wooden planks, eyes closed, settling his spirit.

Sensing a familiar presence, he opened his eyes.

“Jiu’er.”

At this moment, Jian Yi’s eyes had returned to their usual clarity, which put Feng Jiu’er’s mind slightly at ease.

Feng Jiu’er went over and sat down on the planks, raising her head to look at the man beside her.

“Jian Yi, how are you feeling right now? Don’t hide anything from me.”

She hadn’t forgotten — when Chen Hong fainted, Jian Yi had also collapsed on the spot.

Which meant her suspicions, and what Chen Hong had said, were both correct.

If Chen Hong died, Jian Yi would die too. Wasn’t that so?

“I’m fine.” Jian Yi shook his head lightly, withdrawing his gaze from Feng Jiu’er, and closed his eyes.

The way he said it, anyone could tell he wasn’t fine at all.

Feng Jiu’er turned to the side, picked up his hand resting on his legs, and took his pulse.

Jian Yi didn’t move, didn’t speak, and kept his eyes closed.

After checking his pulse, Feng Jiu’er knelt facing him, studying him up close.

“I want to know how much you know about what happened today.”

“Jian Yi, open your eyes and look at me!”

Jian Yi didn’t refuse, and opened his eyes.

“Tell me!” Feng Jiu’er gave him no room to think.

The more he thought about it, the more it would just become an excuse. An excuse.

“I want the truth. You don’t want Yu Jingfeng to have been hurt for nothing, do you?”

Jian Yi looked at Feng Jiu’er for a moment, his fine eyes blinking.

“I remember everything now.” He suddenly spoke up.

“Jiu’er, kill Chen Hong!”

Thinking of the woman, Jian Yi’s expression instantly darkened.

“You know Chen Hong can’t be killed, don’t you?” Feng Jiu’er lifted her chin, looking into those clear eyes.

“Since you can remember, it means you haven’t been completely controlled by Chen Hong.”

“No!” Jian Yi lowered his head, avoiding Feng Jiu’er’s gaze. “I can’t control myself — otherwise I wouldn’t have attacked you.”

“Or… hurt Yu Jingfeng.”

“But you didn’t use your full strength against me.” Feng Jiu’er’s voice continued.

Right now she badly wanted to pry open Jian Yi’s skull and see clearly what he was thinking.

Could this man trust her, and tell her the truth?

“Because I remember my wife — she looked exactly like you.” Deep feeling welled in Jian Yi’s eyes.

“I know clearly that Chen Hong isn’t my wife, yet I nearly hurt my own wife anyway.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Jian Yi reached out both arms and pulled Feng Jiu’er into his embrace.

“Jiu’er, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have attacked you, shouldn’t have made you worry, and especially shouldn’t have failed to even remember my own wife.”

“Jiu’er, I’m sorry!”

Jian Yi held Feng Jiu’er tightly, with an urge to fold her into his very blood.

Only that way could he truly protect her, keep her from harm — wasn’t that so?

Feeling the man trembling, Feng Jiu’er didn’t push him away right away.

She had thought he’d truly remembered everything, but instead he still believed she was his wife.

What should she do?

Jian Yi held Feng Jiu’er for a good while before gently letting her go, lowering his head to kiss the top of her head.

Kissed by this man again, Feng Jiu’er suddenly snapped back to her senses.

She pushed him away at once and stood up.

“Jian Yi, don’t do this! We aren’t that kind of relationship.”

“Maybe one day, once you remember, you’ll regret what you’ve done.”

“Chen Hong said that if she dies, you’ll die too — for now, I will definitely spare her life.”

“Jian Yi, none of us can afford to lose you, do you understand?”

Feng Jiu’er closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then slowly opened them again, looking at the man before her.

“So please, don’t give up! And don’t leave.”

“In fact, you’ve helped us a great deal, haven’t you?”

“With you steadying the ship, we broke through the whirlpool formation; with your help at the end, we broke through Chen Hong’s barrier.”

“We’re all one family — none of us can leave any of the others!”

“Don’t let your thoughts run wild. Rest well, and recover well.”

“You need to trust everyone, trust yourself. With this many of us, there’s no way we can’t handle just one Chen Hong.”

“Understood?”

“Jiu’er.” Jian Yi looked at Feng Jiu’er, his gaze growing somewhat hazy.

Indeed — the rims of his eyes had reddened a bit more.

“Do you like me? Are you willing to spend the rest of your life with me?”

Jian Yi stood up and came to stand before Feng Jiu’er, only a fist’s width away.

“Are you willing, or not?”

Feng Jiu’er nearly shook her head right then, but could she, right now?

If she shook her head, would he go back to hiding away and licking his wounds alone? What then?

Not knowing how to answer, she reached out, took his hand, pulled him along, and walked out the door.

—