A man’s thoughts were all reflected in those burning bright eyes.
Feng Mingshu felt inexplicably flustered, quickly avoiding his gaze as she pushed away the chocolate. “No need, I don’t like eating any sweets, nor do I like anything else.” She added, “You helped me tonight, I should thank you. Please wait a moment while I prepare a gift of gratitude.”
After speaking, she turned toward the staircase.
“Comrade Feng Mingshu, please wait.”
Zhou Jinshan strode over to the staircase entrance, blocking her path.
The wall lamp’s light shone over, casting his shadow that completely enveloped her, making Feng Mingshu immediately feel pressured. “What do you want?”
Sensing her tension, Zhou Jinshan shifted aside a step. The light fell back on Feng Mingshu’s face, revealing the fine down on her fair forehead that glowed golden under the lamplight, softening one’s heart at the sight.
Zhou Jinshan lowered his gaze to her eyes, striving to make his voice gentle. “Comrade Feng, I don’t need any gift of gratitude. You know what I want.”
The man’s words were blunt, as he’d always disdained concealment. Feng Mingshu lifted her face to glare at him. “You’re clearly exploiting a favor to demand repayment.”
Zhou Jinshan leaned closer to her and chuckled softly. “Then are you willing to repay?”
“What if I’m not?”
“Then I’ll keep pursuing you until you’re willing.” Zhou Jinshan straightened up, creating distance between them, but his gaze remained fixed on her, carrying a smile.
Feng Mingshu felt as if she’d punched cotton, irritation rising in her heart as she pointed toward the door. “Leave, get out now!” If he didn’t go soon, her conscience might falter.
Seeing the girl’s angry brows and eyes, Zhou Jinshan found them lively and beautiful. He thought to himself that there must be some inherent mischief in his bones.
But since he hadn’t won the girl over yet, he still needed to coax her.
“Alright, I’ll go. Don’t be angry.”
Zhou Jinshan bent to soothe her before straightening up and walking straight out.
Feng Mingshu could hardly believe he’d left so readily this time.
The main door opened, and Zhou Jinshan truly stepped out.
“Zhuzhu, why did you let him leave so soon?” Yu Jingqiu came downstairs with a disapproving expression.
Feng Mingshu suddenly understood the man had set up this aftermath, feeling annoyed. “Should I have let him stay at our house instead?”
“You child… Fine, go see him out. It’s proper manners.” Yu Jingqiu’s tone carried a hint of sternness when mentioning etiquette.
Knowing she’d been impolite, Feng Mingshu didn’t refuse further, stepping outside though somewhat sluggishly.
She thought that at the man’s pace, he should have reached the bus stop by the time she exited the building, sparing her further struggle with her conscience.
But her expectation didn’t come true. Just outside the building entrance, she saw the man bent over at the foot of the western-style house’s steps, hands on his knees, looking unwell.
Worried the man might be scheming again, Feng Mingshu stopped where she was and called to his back, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, go back inside.”
The man spoke without turning his head, then straightened up and started forward. But after just a few steps, his body suddenly swayed and he pitched face-first to the ground.Feng Mingshu did not enter the house. At the sight before her, she gasped “Be careful!” and rushed down the steps, dashing to the man’s side. She reached out to support his arm and blurted out, “What’s wrong with you?”
Zhou Jinshan hadn’t fallen to the ground. At the last moment, he managed to brace himself with his hands, landing on one knee with one leg, which made the situation appear less awkward.
He turned his head and forced a smile at Feng Mingshu. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. My leg just hurts a bit. I’ll be able to walk after a short rest.”
The man’s expression was so nonchalant that Feng Mingshu couldn’t tell whether he was genuinely in pain or putting on an act.
“Zhuzhu, quickly help him inside,” Yu Jingqiu urged as she hurried out upon hearing the commotion, immediately assessing the situation.
“Auntie, there’s really no need. I’ll be fine in a moment,” Zhou Jinshan declined politely, struggling to stand up. However, the veins on his forehead bulged, and beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down, clearly indicating he was enduring immense pain.
Feng Mingshu suddenly remembered how he had been covered in blood when she saw him at the hospital half a month ago. Her heart clenched, and she gripped his arm, demanding, “Has your injury not healed yet?”
Seeing her anxious expression, Zhou Jinshan suddenly felt that this embarrassing fall was worth it. “It still needs some time to recover.”
“Then why did you run out recklessly?” Feng Mingshu exclaimed anxiously, her Bincheng accent slipping out. “Wang Ma, go next door and ask Uncle Yan to pull a rickshaw. Hurry!”
Night buses were hard to catch and slow, far less efficient than having someone ride over on a bicycle.
Wang Ma promptly ran to the neighboring house. In less than two minutes, Uncle Yan rushed into the courtyard on a pedicab.
“I can take the bus, really, there’s no need to call a rickshaw…” Zhou Jinshan began, but before he could finish, Feng Mingshu shot him a glare that silenced him. “If you don’t get on this rickshaw, don’t ever come to my house again.”
Only after the words left her mouth did Feng Mingshu realize what she had said. But before she could take it back, the man had already cooperatively climbed onto the pedicab, leaving a small space beside him and looking at her with his eyes.
Uncle Yan also chuckled and called out, “Shu girl, my rickshaw can fit two. Get on and sit with your sweetheart.”
Feng Mingshu hesitated. “…Maybe I shouldn’t go. It’ll be too tiring for you to pull two people.”
“Tiring? My rickshaw has three wheels! It pedals smoothly and moves fast. Not like the old days when we had to rely solely on our legs to run,” Uncle Yan declared proudly as he mounted the front seat.
“Zhuzhu, take your scarf. Don’t catch a cold. Go early and come back soon,” Yu Jingqiu said, emerging from the house. She wrapped the scarf around Feng Mingshu’s neck twice and urged her with a smile.
With no further excuse to refuse, Feng Mingshu adjusted her scarf and climbed onto the pedicab.
Uncle Yan cheerfully called out and began pedaling, creating a gust of wind as they set off.
The wind was cold, but Feng Mingshu didn’t feel particularly chilled. The seat was small, forcing them to sit close together. She could feel each other’s breath, which made her extremely uncomfortable, and she tried to shift as far to the side as possible.
At that moment, Zhou Jinshan suddenly spoke. “Comrade Feng, I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”
Feng Mingshu was somewhat annoyed, but she couldn’t vent her frustration on someone who was injured. She could only reply, “It’s no trouble.”
Zhou Jinshan wanted to coax her further, but the pain from his wounds intensified again. He had to clench his teeth to avoid groaning aloud.
At first, Feng Mingshu didn’t notice anything unusual. Later, she realized the man beside her was breathing heavily, and the air he exhaled felt hotter.When asking him what was wrong yielded no response, Feng Mingshu immediately reached out to touch his forehead, only to find it covered in sweat. Her heart jolted with alarm, and she called out to the front, “Uncle Yan, stop the car and let me out. Please take him to the hospital as quickly as possible.”
Uncle Yan grunted in acknowledgment and promptly hit the brakes.
But just as Feng Mingshu was about to jump out of the car, a scorching hand suddenly gripped her wrist. The man leaned closer, his hoarse voice and feverish breath brushing against the back of her ear: “It’s dark outside. Don’t get out. I can hold on.”