That afternoon, Qin Lie didn’t go into the mountains.
Instead, he and Arui spent the day planting all the vegetable seeds together.
Aunt Wang had given them two large packets, just enough to fill both plots of land.
Arui carefully watered every little mound of soil, quietly hoping the seeds would sprout and grow as soon as possible.
Qin Lie followed behind her, watching her slight figure.
Suddenly, his brows drew together.
“You’re bleeding.”
Arui was wearing a white dress, and a large crimson stain had spread across the back, impossible to miss.
Qin Lie had witnessed countless injuries and deaths on the battlefield, but never had he felt this panicked.
Forgetting the boundaries between them, he strode forward and scooped her into his arms.
Still dazed, Arui barely had time to react before the world spun around her.
In her confusion, she’d completely forgotten that her monthly cycle had arrived.
Warm blood continued to flow as Qin Lie carried her into the room and gently laid her on the bed.
When she saw his large hand reaching for the waistband of her trousers, she hurriedly grabbed his wrist.
“B-Brother Lie… I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding this much. How could you possibly be fine?”
His face remained stern, his tightly pressed lips filled with concern.
When someone’s life was at stake, what did propriety between men and women matter?
If he’d cared so much about appearances, he never would have saved her that night.
Arui was so embarrassed she nearly burst into tears.
Holding tightly onto his wrist with both hands, she stammered,
“I… I’m really alright. It’s just… my monthly cycle.”
Her cheeks burned bright red.
The words barely left her lips before she wished she could disappear from sheer embarrassment.
Qin Lie’s hand froze instantly.
Although he’d spent most of his life surrounded by soldiers, he wasn’t completely ignorant.
He knew women had a monthly cycle.
He simply had no idea it involved this much bleeding.
Frowning, he slowly withdrew his hand.
“Then… what should you do?”
Surely she couldn’t just let herself keep bleeding.
Even someone made of iron couldn’t withstand losing that much blood.
Covering her face with both hands, Arui spoke in a voice no louder than a mosquito’s hum.
“Could… could you buy me some needle and thread?”
When she’d left the Zhou Family, she’d brought nothing but two sets of clothes.
Now she had to sew a menstrual cloth herself.
Although Qin Lie didn’t understand why she needed sewing supplies, he immediately went out to buy them.
Taking advantage of his absence, Arui changed out of her stained clothes, bundled them up, and hid them inside the cupboard.
Lying on the bed, she couldn’t stop herself from feeling mortified.
Qin Lie was tall and walked quickly.
After stopping by the embroidery shop, he returned not only with needle and thread, but also a new outfit for Arui.
The day he’d brought her back from the Qin household, he’d noticed how few belongings she’d carried.
Now that one set of clothes had been stained, he worried she wouldn’t even have a clean change of clothing.
Seeing the pale yellow dress in his hands, Arui felt her nose sting.
Not even her own mother…
Had ever treated her this kindly.
After placing everything down, Qin Lie walked back outside.
There wasn’t even a door separating the inner room from the main hall, so he deliberately stood with his back facing her.
“I’m right outside. If you need anything, just call.”
“…Alright.”
By now, the embarrassment she’d felt earlier had been replaced entirely by gratitude.
Without Qin Lie today…
She could only imagine how much more humiliating things would have become.
After sewing and changing into the menstrual cloth, Arui took a deep breath before stepping outside.
Qin Lie was standing in the courtyard.
Hearing her footsteps, he turned around.
Aside from her pale complexion, she looked perfectly normal.
Still…
Losing that much blood couldn’t possibly be good for her health.
His expression remained as serious as ever, but Arui no longer found him quite so frightening.
Aunt Wang had been right.
Brother Lie simply looked cold on the outside while having a soft heart.
She had only been living here for two days and had already caused him so much trouble.
Not to mention…
The new dress must have cost him another considerable sum of money.
Clenching her hands, Arui felt increasingly indebted to him.
She had nothing she could offer in return.
All she could do was cook his meals and wash his clothes.
“Brother Lie, shall we have simple noodle soup tonight?”
Noodles were easy on the stomach.
There were also leftovers from lunch, making it the perfect meal.
Qin Lie nodded.
Arui happily walked into the kitchen.
To her surprise, he followed her inside.
Rolling up his sleeves, he took the mixing bowl from her hands.
“I’ll do it.”
Her face was so pale it looked as though a gust of wind might blow her away.
How could she possibly have the strength to knead dough?
Unfortunately, Qin Lie had never cooked before.
Naturally, he had no idea how to make dough.
He shoved both hands into the flour and kneaded it randomly.
Before long, sticky dough clung to every finger.
Frowning, he shook his hands hard, nearly flinging the dough across the room.
It was the first time Arui had ever seen him struggle with anything.
She wanted to laugh but didn’t dare.
Instead, she patiently explained,
“Knead the dough in one direction. If there’s still dry flour left, add a little water. Keep kneading, and it’ll come together.”
Making dough and hand-pulled noodles required patience.
Fortunately, Qin Lie wasn’t an impatient man.
He listened carefully and followed every instruction.
Before long, he’d successfully finished the dough.
His great strength made the noodles especially chewy.
Once cooked, all they needed was a splash of soy sauce and some chopped scallions to create a wonderfully flavorful broth.
After finishing a steaming bowl, warmth spread through Arui’s entire body.
When dinner was over, Qin Lie didn’t allow her to lift a finger.
He washed all the pots and bowls himself.
Leaning against the doorway, Arui quietly watched him.
Moonlight spilled across the courtyard, bathing him in its pale glow as he crouched beside the well washing dishes.
For some reason…
She suddenly thought of her father.
Scholar Zhou always prided himself on being an educated gentleman.
He firmly believed that a proper man should stay away from the kitchen.
Even when her mother was sick, she still had to prepare his meals.
Arui had always believed all men were like that.
Until she met Qin Lie.
This rugged, broad-shouldered man…
Was more thoughtful than anyone she’d ever known.
Sensing someone watching him, Qin Lie turned around.
Startled, Arui hurried back inside.
She covered her burning face, her ears growing impossibly warm.
That night, she went to bed earlier than usual.
But after falling into the river a few days ago, the chill she’d caught came back to haunt her.
In the middle of the night, her stomach began to ache terribly.
Qin Lie was sleeping in the outer room.
Half-asleep, he heard the young woman’s muffled sobs.
Arui had always been frail.
Not only did her monthly cycle come later than most women’s, but every month it brought unbearable pain.
After catching cold, the cramps were even worse than usual.
Curled tightly into herself, her pale face was covered in cold sweat.
Qin Lie walked to the bedside.
Lightly touching her shoulder, he called softly,
“Arui… wake up.”
Arui was already drifting in and out of consciousness from the pain.
Hearing someone call her name, she slowly opened her eyes.
The room was dark.
She couldn’t see his face.
But she could feel the warmth radiating from his body.
Qin Lie was large and broad, his body as warm as a furnace.
Arui had always feared the cold.
Without thinking, she grasped his fingertips and pressed them against her cheek.
In a trembling voice, she whispered,
“It hurts…”
Her hands were icy cold, her palms damp with sweat.
Qin Lie bent down.
With his free hand, he touched her forehead.
It was cool.
She didn’t have a fever.
Then why was she in such agony?
“Where does it hurt?”
His voice softened.
Tears streamed down Arui’s cheeks.
She rubbed her face lightly against his palm before guiding his hand to her lower abdomen.
“My stomach…”
It felt as though an invisible hand was twisting everything inside her.
The pain was so intense she wished she could simply stop existing.
Her tears soaked the hair at her temples.
Qin Lie stiffened, his palm resting awkwardly over her lower abdomen, afraid to move.
Yet the warmth of his hand alone brought her noticeable relief.
She clung to his hand desperately.
“Rub it… please… rub it, and it won’t hurt so much.”
Qin Lie sat down on the edge of the bed.
One arm gently supported her waist while his other hand slowly massaged her lower abdomen just as she had asked.
Arui wasn’t someone who complained easily.
But pain like this could make anyone long for comfort.
His broad palm was warm and dry.
Little by little…
The agonizing cramps eased.
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
She buried her face against his chest.
It reminded Qin Lie of that night in the ruined temple, when she’d clung to his arm and begged him to hold her.
The only difference now…
Was that both of them were fully dressed.
Qin Lie’s entire body went rigid.
His gaze grew darker with every passing moment.