The fish leaped into the water, spreading crimson ripples that expanded in widening circles across the surface.
Ming Yuelin’s fish spear had struck shallowly, merely piercing the abdomen and tail. The fish broke free from the spear and flew toward her.
A crisp smack landed on her forehead, carrying the scent of fish and mud. The plump fish, with its powerful tail, struck with such force that it sent her tumbling to the ground.
Shi Jianli raised her fingers to touch her forehead. It stung a little, and water dripped down, clinging to her eyelashes. She wiped it away with her thumb.
Ming Yuelin snapped out of her daze, dropped the fish spear, and hurried over to help her up. Guilt filled her eyes as she stared at the reddened skin on Shi Jianli’s forehead. “Pear Sister, does it hurt? I’m so sorry!” she asked anxiously.
Thankfully, it hadn’t hit her eyes—otherwise, Ming Yuelin would have felt utterly wretched.
Shi Jianli shook her head. Her thoughts shifted calmly, and she replied without haste, “It’s nothing. I was just stunned by the impact. It was an accident, not your fault. Could you check if there’s any cut?”
A fish’s tail fin could be sharp and hard, and she worried it might have left a wound. Sometimes, pain took a moment to register.
Ming Yuelin carefully brushed aside the strands of hair stuck to Shi Jianli’s damp forehead and examined it closely, her eyes filled with lingering fear.
Footsteps approached, followed by a familiar voice. “Miss Shi, are you all right?”
Ming Zhaohuan crouched beside her, his expression concerned.
He had ridden over to fetch Ming Zhouqing so they could pick up their aunt and cousin together. Noticing the two girls playing here, he had paused for a moment, intending to call them after his sister made her spear thrust. But the mishap had unfolded too quickly.
Shi Jianli turned toward the voice and met Ming Zhaohuan’s caring gaze.
“Pear Sister, luckily, there’s no cut,” Ming Yuelin sighed in relief, on the verge of tears.
A facial injury, if severe, could leave a scar.
Hearing this, Shi Jianli shook her head at Ming Zhaohuan. “Thank you for your concern, Heir. As long as there’s no cut, it shouldn’t be serious.”
“I’ll never try to catch fish again,” Ming Yuelin slumped her shoulders in dejection.
Shi Jianli turned to comfort her. “We came out to have fun and enjoy ourselves. This was just an accident—no one could have predicted it.”
“I’m really fine, Lin Sister. Don’t dwell on it too much. You can still catch fish in the future.”
She didn’t want the girl to develop a lasting fear or feel guilty every time she saw fish.
“Pear Sister, you’re so kind. I caused you to get slapped by a fish, and you’re comforting me instead,” Ming Yuelin said, her eyes reddening.
“The stone is cold, Second Sister. Help Miss Shi up,” Ming Zhaohuan reminded her.
“Oh, right!” Ming Yuelin quickly assisted her to her feet.
As Shi Jianli stood, she felt slightly dizzy, her vision blurring and unfocused.
She blinked and followed Ming Yuelin onto the bank but stumbled forward a couple of steps.
Ming Yuelin swiftly reached out to steady her.
At the same time, someone grasped her arm. Once she regained her balance, she turned to the person who had caught her. “Thank you, Heir.”
“Still, it’s best to escort you back to the estate for a proper check. In the future, bring more attendants when you go out to play.” Ming Zhaohuan’s usual gentle expression faded as he glanced at Xuan Yun, who was running over. “Go summon your Third Young Master. Also, have a carriage prepared to return to the estate, and bring the Second Young Master along.”
“Yes, Heir!”
Shi Jianli cautiously glanced at Ming Zhaohuan’s expression. Would he report their skipping lessons?
Noticing her wary look, Ming Zhaohuan allowed a slight smile. “I’m not angry. If I were, it would be at the careless one.”
Ming Yuelin hung her head in shame.
Shi Jianli also lowered her head and said to Ming Yuelin, “When cousin comes over later, you…”
Forget it, so what if it’s embarrassing—she really was slapped by a fat fish wider than her face.
One must tell the truth during a medical examination, otherwise it’s hard to treat properly.
“What?”
Shi Jianli shook her head, “It’s nothing.”
“Pear Sister, are you dizzy?”
“A little, and also a bit nauseous.” She slightly raised her head to look at the sky.
Ming Yuelin held her by the shoulder, “So serious, could there be any problems?”
“Leaning for a while will make it better.” Shi Jianli rested her chin on Ming Yuelin’s shoulder and met Ming Zhaohuan’s gaze again. She paused for a moment before asking, “Isn’t the Heir going to pick up Aunt Yuan? Cousin can take me back to the estate later.”
“No hurry, second brother hasn’t arrived yet.” Ming Zhaohuan shook his head, “Didn’t we agree this morning that you should call me cousin? Why are you calling me Heir again?”
The previous few times he saw her, she was as quiet as an orchid; this was the first time he had seen her in such a sorry state.
Shi Jianli lowered her gaze briefly, then looked at him again, “You call me Miss Shi, so naturally I should call you Heir.”
If she called him cousin while he addressed her formally, it would seem as if she were being presumptuous, as if she were the one being overly familiar and enthusiastic.
“Alright, that was my oversight.” Ming Zhaohuan smiled gently, “I’m used to it for the moment, Li Biao Mei, please don’t mind.”
Shi Jianli wanted to shake her head, but halfway through she felt dizzy, so she nodded instead.
When the incident happened, Lanxing had already run over. Seeing her being held by Ming Yuelin, Lanxing could only stand beside her, watching with concern.
Seeing her leaning weakly against her younger sister, Ming Zhaohuan looked in the direction Xuan Yun had left.
After leaning for a while, Shi Jianli felt a bit better and supported herself on Ming Yuelin’s shoulder to stand steady.
The nausea had passed, but her forehead now throbbed with a fiery pain.
Ming Yuelin pulled her back again, “Pear Sister, lean on me a bit longer, let me atone a little, otherwise I won’t feel right about this.”
Shi Jianli helplessly hummed in agreement.
Not long after, Ming Zhouhe hurried over, followed by Ming Zhouqing.
He was still catching his breath when he saw Shi Jianli being held and the reddened patch on her forehead. Anxiously, he asked, “What happened? Who hit you?”
When Xuan Yun ran to find him earlier, he had grabbed him and dashed off, saying, “Young master, it’s bad—the young lady is injured!”
Ming Zhouhe hadn’t even had time to ask what kind of injury his cousin had suffered before he shook off Xuan Yun and rushed over.
A hint of grievance and embarrassment showed on Shi Jianli’s face, “A fish hit me.”
“Who?” Ming Zhouhe was astonished. He stepped forward to examine her forehead—there was no wound, but faint red streaks were visible, a stark, glaring red against her fair skin.
Ming Yuelin admitted fault, “I didn’t spear the fish properly. When I lifted it, the fish struggled free and flew over, slapping Pear Sister with its tail.”
“That fish was quite plump, wider than a palm. It knocked Pear Sister right onto the ground.”
Ming Zhouhe shot her a sidelong glance, then looked at Shi Jianli’s complexion, “You still need someone holding you—are you unwell? Are you dizzy? Does it hurt?”
“I’m not dizzy for now, but it hurts a bit. It’s just that Linmei says she won’t feel right if she doesn’t hold me.” Shi Jianli tugged at his sleeve, “It was an accident, cousin, don’t blame her.”
Ming Zhouhe let out a relieved sigh, “Mm, once the carriage is ready, I’ll take you back to the estate to see the physician.”
“Alright.” Shi Jianli obediently agreed.
Ming Zhouqing poked Ming Yuelin’s head, “You’re the one who caused trouble, yet it’s Li Biao Mei who suffers.”
Ming Yuelin behaved very obediently and did not argue back.
Before long, the coachman arrived with the carriage. Ming Yuelin and Lanxing helped Shi Jianli aboard, while Ming Zhouhe also mounted the carriage, and they all returned to the estate together.
Ming Zhouqing turned to Ming Zhaohuan, who was staring distractedly at the departing carriage. “Elder Brother, didn’t you say we were going to fetch our cousins? If we don’t leave soon, we’ll be late.”