Why did he look like he was in so much discomfort?

Zhen Jiu’er instinctively lowered her gaze.

Just one glance nearly made her scream.

Her knee was pressed right against… the one place on him that absolutely should not be touched.

“I didn’t mean to!” As she scrambled to get down, she wasn’t sure where to brace her hand, and accidentally pressed it against his chest again.

That wasn’t intentional either!

Realizing something was wrong, she tried to pull back immediately, but with her knee still on his leg, the motion only made things worse for him.

…In short, it was an utterly humiliating mess.

Once she was off him, Zhen Jiu’er’s whole face burned, red as a ripe tomato.

“I really… wasn’t doing it on purpose, I didn’t know…”

She didn’t know how to explain herself.

Lu Beicheng, on the other hand, had already regained his composure. His gaze landed on her arm, and his eyes darkened slightly. “Come here.”

“What?” Jiu’er was still flustered.

No — more than flustered. She didn’t dare take a single step closer.

“Come here.” Lu Beicheng’s patience today seemed unusually good.

Zhen Jiu’er let out a breath and reluctantly walked over. “I really didn’t mean it — what do I have to do so you won’t be angry?”

She knew what she’d just done was quite improper, especially toward a cold, aloof man who didn’t like being touched by others.

But she truly hadn’t meant it.

Still, when you make a mistake, you have to accept the consequences — whether that meant being scolded or something worse, she was ready to take it.

“What do you think I’m going to do?” Lu Beicheng raised an eyebrow, looking almost amused.

Was she really preparing herself for some grand punishment?

Did he really seem that vicious and cruel to her?

“Your arm’s injured.” He tapped lightly on the wheelchair’s armrest, and a small compartment slid open from beneath it, revealing a tiny first-aid kit.

“Roll up your sleeve.” Lu Beicheng took out the disinfectant.

Only then did Zhen Jiu’er remember the scratches on her arm from the thorns.

If she ignored it, she could pretend it wasn’t there — but the moment it was mentioned, it suddenly began to sting fiercely.

She quickly rolled up her sleeve. Sure enough, there were several puncture wounds.

“These wild plants out here — there’s no telling if they carry anything toxic. Come here, let me clean it up for you.”

“I can do it my—”

“Don’t waste my time.”

That left Zhen Jiu’er with no room to argue or resist. She quickly held out her injured arm.

Just as Lu Beicheng finished applying the medicine and bandaging her arm, there was movement from the bushes nearby.

Jiu’er immediately tensed, on guard.

But Lu Beicheng only glanced at her, his expression calm. “That’s Old Ji and the others.”

“You can even recognize footsteps?” Zhen Jiu’er looked at him in surprise — she certainly couldn’t tell.

But people walking through grass just made noise, not distinct footsteps, did they?

Lu Beicheng said flatly, “No killing intent.”

Jiu’er thought about it for a moment before it clicked.

No killing intent meant they weren’t enemies.

Out here, aside from Ji Mingyu, Qin Fei, and the rest of their group, pretty much everyone else fell into the category of potential enemy.

Sure enough, soon even Jiu’er could see clearly — A’Ke was tall, easy to spot at first glance.

“Ninth Master!” Qin Fei was the first to burst out of the bushes. “Ninth Master, are you hurt? Jiu’er, what about you?”

“You’re hurt!” There was blood on her sleeve.

“Just scratched by thorns, nothing serious. Already treated,” Jiu’er explained.

Ji Mingyu and A’Ke also emerged from the bushes. Ji Mingyu’s gaze immediately landed on Lu Beicheng’s clothes.

Seeing the finger marks pressed into his shirt, Ji Mingyu’s face darkened at once. “How dare they be so disrespectful to Ninth Master!”