The wild boar meat was roasted to a crispy perfection, seasoned only with coarse salt, yet its aroma was irresistibly enticing.
A Sheng cut the best portion of the roasted leg and brought it to Wei Chenheng. Wei Chenheng used his dagger to slice the wild boar meat into small pieces, feeding them directly into Ning Wanwan’s mouth.
Ning Wanwan took one bite, and her eyes instantly lit up.
He curled his lips into a smile and ruffled her hair. “Is it good?”
“Delicious.” She took another bite, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed.
Wei Chenheng, worried about dirtying her hands, continued cutting the meat into small chunks, placing them on a broad leaf for her to pick at.
After eating for a while, Ning Wanwan began to feel full and stopped.
She looked up and saw Wei Chenheng using his dagger to spear pieces of meat, eating slowly and elegantly. Even in this harsh wilderness, he maintained the demeanor of a nobleman.
Ning Wanwan uncorked Wei Chenheng’s wine pouch, tilted her head back, and took two consecutive gulps of strong liquor without so much as a flush or a flinch.
Wei Chenheng’s face remained expressionless, but a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
His strong liquor would typically leave ordinary people dizzy after just one sip, yet she drank it as if it were water, completely unaffected.
Setting down the wine pouch, Ning Wanwan stared at her hands, troubled by the greasy residue.
Seemingly reading her thoughts instantly, he handed her a handkerchief, carefully grasping her small hand and wiping it meticulously.
“Do you want to bathe?”
Ning Wanwan paused. “Is there a place to bathe here?”
“There’s a stream nearby. I’ll take you.”
Admittedly, the suggestion was incredibly tempting. Since leaving Wei Manor, she hadn’t had a proper wash, and after today’s journey, covered in dust, she felt thoroughly uncomfortable.
He summoned a horse, leaping onto its back with agile grace, his black robes fluttering in the wind as he reached out a hand to her.
Ning Wanwan clutched her change of clothes with one hand and extended her other small hand to him. The man’s strength was formidable; he pulled her up effortlessly, settling her onto the horse.
The sound of hoofbeats gradually faded into the distance.
Wind whistled past her ears as the man held her tightly in his embrace. She felt both fearful and nervous.
“Scared?” His voice was deep and magnetic.
“Not at all!” Her brave, determined expression elicited a soft chuckle from him.
Before long, Ning Wanwan heard the sound of flowing water. The horse came to a stop, and the man dismounted first, then lifted her down.
The stream before them was crystal clear, its sand soft and fine.
Ning Wanwan froze for a moment, her face instantly flushing red. “We’re bathing here? Could someone see us?”
Wei Chenheng smiled faintly. “No.”
“But then…”
Under the moonlight, the man’s back appeared broad and solid, every muscle defined as if carved to perfection, gleaming with an alluring sheen.
Ahem.
“Do you need my help?” The man’s calm voice broke the silence.
“No, I can manage.”
He walked over to her and asked, “Can you swim?”
“Yes.”
A glint flashed in his eyes as he suddenly, playfully, scooped her up and tossed her into the water.
Caught off guard, Ning Wanwan plunged into the stream, shivering from the shock before buoyantly resurfacing with the current.
The night air carried a chill.
A breeze swept by, and she sneezed, immediately retreating back into the water. The temperature in the water was starkly different from that of the air.
“Cold?”
“A little.” She scooped water to splash her face, her movements brisk. “We just need to wash faster.”
Seeing her face pale from the cold, he took the wine pouch from his horse.
He fed her the wine sip by sip.
Though she had a good alcohol tolerance, she couldn’t withstand the strength of the strong liquor. Soon, her pale little face gradually flushed with a rosy hue, no longer feeling so cold.
“Still cold?”
Wei Chenheng’s breath brushed against her face. For some reason, even such a lightly spoken word of concern made her cheeks burn hot, her heart feeling as if it might leap out.
“Not cold anymore.”
“I’m cold.” His voice was somewhat hoarse. “Wanwan, help warm me up.”
(The platform’s content restrictions are limiting this author’s creativity!)
The night was intoxicating.
A flash of white light swept by!