Deep in the mountains, towering ancient trees stood like sentinels, their canopies blotting out the sun. The light was dim, yet the air remained scorching under the fierce mid-summer sun.
A soft, delicate sound rang through the forest, making ears almost ache.
Lu Yunyang seemed to catch the mischievous glint in the girl’s eyes. Though her raised foot didn’t yet show obvious swelling, the skin around her ankle was scraped, tinged a pale red.
She bit her lip, furrowed her brows slightly, and fine beads of sweat slowly rolled down her fair side face, dripping once into her collar.
It seemed as if she were trying to draw attention to a secret spot.
Seeing the man’s expression remain calm and unperturbed, Yutao gritted her teeth through the sting of pain. “Doctor Lu, my foot really hurts. I’m not joking.”
It wasn’t like a broken bone, but her ankle was twisted, and this man still looked on as if observing casually.
What was that supposed to mean?
Shouldn’t he have at least sat down to comfort her?
After a moment, Lu Yunyang’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, his voice hoarse: “There’s nothing urgent for a twisted ankle. Rubbing it might hurt more. Are you sure you want me to massage it?”
His expression remained serious, as if he were in his office treating a routine patient. Yutao moved her foot slightly, “Then just be gentle.”
Her furrowed brows and pitiful look made it impossible to refuse. Lu Yunyang inhaled slightly, lifted her foot into his hands, and placed his palm over her ankle with a measured force—not too heavy, not too light.
Before he could ask if the pressure was okay, the girl suddenly cried out in pain.
The sound was soft and delicate, like a child fussing, yet it pierced his ears sharply.
The man froze, furrowing his brows. His strength wasn’t heavy, and he barely pressed—why did it hurt this much?
He looked at the girl, lips parting slightly, “I just started.”
The girl clenched her teeth, her eyes glistening. “Doctor Lu, I’ve been afraid of pain since I was little. Don’t press so hard!”
“Mm.” The man’s thin lips moved. Suddenly, the foot in his hands seemed to burn. He glanced up—she bit her lip, eyes fixed on his hand as if fearing he would crush her foot.
He took a deep breath, pressed his lips, and lifted his head to look at her. “Endure it a little!”
Yutao’s cheeks flushed, her pupils shimmering. “Okay.”
Lu Yunyang lowered his gaze, moving his hands as gently and slowly as possible. Yet each time he pressed, the girl cried out, dramatic and intense.
Her foot didn’t seem seriously injured. He had handled similar cases before, but he had never seen pain cries so exaggerated.
Gradually recalling the earlier events, he understood.
He drew in a deep breath, controlling the pounding of his chest, and slowly lowered her leg, expression serious. “Looks like your injury is quite severe.”
Yutao nodded lightly. “Yes, it’s serious. I can’t walk…”
Before she could finish, he spoke, his voice deepening further. “You might have ligament damage, possibly even bone injury. I’ll make a splint; we’ll descend the mountain now.”
Yutao blinked, a moment behind. “Ah? Descend? Why descend?”
“Yes.” Lu Yunyang looked at her. “Go to the hospital to check, so treatment isn’t delayed.”
His gaze was solemn, his expression as grim as someone with a fatal illness. Yutao’s heart skipped. Suddenly, she felt guilty. “No… it can’t be that serious, right? Just a little sprain…”
“How could it not?” Lu Yunyang stood, his tone unflinching. “Although I can’t X-ray it here, as a doctor I must be precise. If early treatment is neglected, your foot could heal crooked.”
Yutao’s eyes widened in shock. “Crooked?”
“Yes.” He lowered his gaze to her. “You might even limp while walking in the future, so we can’t take it lightly.”
His face had been stern since suggesting they go down the mountain. Yutao lowered her eyes, inspecting her foot carefully, moving it slightly.
Pain came, faint but present. Could it really result in crooked bones and a limp?
“How is that possible?” she asked, looking up at him. “My foot doesn’t hurt much now. How could it be crooked and make me limp?”
She lifted it, moving it a few times to prove her point, protesting, “See? I can move it. You’re exaggerating—it’s not that bad.”
Suddenly, she sensed something off and looked up.
The man was watching her, brow slightly raised, lips curved in a subtle smile.
He was smiling?
Yutao realized immediately. The talk of splints, descending, and potential limp had all been a ruse—he was turning her exaggerated cries against her!
Though she had cried out in exaggeration during the massage, her sprained ankle really hurt.
This man had tricked her, making her worry her beautiful leg might be ruined.
She felt a surge of anger, her face visibly puffing as she called his name, “Lu Yunyang!”
He responded instantly, “Does it hurt again?”
His expression remained calm, as if seeing through her act.
Yutao’s question about whether he had a heart at all, about cherishing the delicate, stuck in her throat.
Forget it.
Though he exaggerated earlier, causing her worry, she had also overreacted. After all, he was the man she liked, and he had saved her life once. They were even.
Adjusting herself, Yutao got up and glared at him. “I’ve rested enough. I can walk now.”
“Really?” Lu Yunyang pursed his lips, skeptical. “Don’t push it. You can sit here and rest. I’ll find something for you.”
Yutao knew he was teasing, so she stayed silent, glaring.
She furrowed her brows, her dark eyes clear and lively. Even glaring, her expression held a hint of coquettishness. Lu Yunyang felt the girl before him was different from the Su Yutao he knew.
But given how little they had interacted before, he couldn’t pinpoint why.
“Let’s go.” He tossed the words and strode forward with his basket.
Yutao watched his long back, let out a low hum, and limped along obediently.
He slowed his pace to accommodate her injured leg. After a short distance, he suddenly stopped.
Yutao, looking ahead at him, tensed. She had heard wolves roamed the mountains of Honghe Village. Could it be…?
She didn’t dare imagine further. Her pain vanished instantly, and she crouched behind him, holding her breath. “Why… why did you stop?”
Lu Yunyang turned, eyes curious. “You wanted the honeycomb, right?”
Yutao nodded. He raised a hand, pointing ahead. “Look at that tree.”
Following his gesture, Yutao saw a massive dead tree nearby. Something seemed to be inside the hollow trunk.
She stared for a moment, then her voice brightened. “A honeycomb?”
Her eyes sparkled like jewels.
The mood seemed contagious. Lu Yunyang’s lips twitched slightly. “Yes, though it may not be very big.”
“That’s enough!” Yutao’s brows curved happily. “I just need enough for now. If someone in the commune sells it later, I’ll get more.”
She bent to pick up a stick from the ground and offered it to him, eyes shining, “You’re tall. Can you knock it down for me?”
Lu Yunyang glanced at the short stick, lips twitching, and did not take it.
Yutao blinked, continuing to plead, “Doctor Lu, you’re so kind. You wouldn’t let an injured girl fetch it herself, would you?”
Cherry-red lips, teeth like pearls, eyes sparkling like stars. Lu Yunyang’s chest jolted, heart racing.
“Wait here.” He quickly averted his gaze, set down his basket, and went to get it.
Yutao hadn’t reacted yet, still waving her stick. “Doctor Lu, aren’t you using tools?”
He didn’t look back. “Not needed for now.”
She nodded. He bent to gather branches efficiently, then stacked them under the tree.
Her thoughts turned. He was going to use smoke to drive the wasps away.
No wonder his expression was unreadable earlier, and he said it wasn’t necessary.
Yutao pouted. Previously, she could use her magic to deal with wasps easily. Now it was far more troublesome.
Following the man had been the right choice; alone, she would have returned empty-handed.
He used firewood to generate thick smoke. Yutao heard wasps buzzing away. The man remained calm, watching as if admiring his work.
Seeing that it would take a while, Yutao sat and noticed colorful flowers underfoot. A new idea sparked in her mind.
She collected the flowers, bundled them, and by the time they were ready, the man returned holding the honeycomb.
“Doctor Lu, amazing!” She smiled, inspecting the honeycomb and him. “Did you get stung?”
“No.” He handed it to her. “It’s down. How will you carry it?”
“I have a small bag.” Yutao accepted it, smiling. The golden honey inside glimmered, sweet aroma filling the air.
“So fragrant.” She lightly sniffed, dipped her fingertip into the honey, tasted it. “Mmm, so sweet!”
Her delicate finger moved casually to her mouth, yet somehow, the man sensed a subtle, almost intimate allure.
His expression shifted slightly. He bent to pick up his basket, just as a bundle of flowers was handed to him.
The girl’s smile was radiant. “Doctor Lu, this is for you.”
Lu Yunyang paused, looking at her exuberant smile, remembering the heart-shaped gesture she made at the hospital.
He raised an eyebrow, voice slow after a moment, “This… is your heart again?”
“Not that many hearts.” Yutao smiled, offering the flowers again. “This is my love!”