13 – I’ve Got You, and That’s Final
Gu Pingting thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, “I know you’re just trying to fool me. You’ve been lying to me all along, and I don’t believe you anymore.”
Feng Shan raised an eyebrow. “You say I’m lying to you? What exactly have I lied about? Yes, I don’t believe you’re a princess. But Gu Pingting, you claim to be a princess with nothing but your word and no proof. Why should I believe you?”
Gu Pingting bit her lip again. Feng Shan had a point.
All the things that could prove her identity had been lost in the rushing river!
“And from the very beginning, I’ve said I would take you home, but on the condition that you recover from your injuries first. In your current state, you can’t go anywhere.”
He spoke clearly and logically, and Gu Pingting fell silent.
Seeing her quiet, Feng Shan asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything? Think about it carefully.”
After a long silence, Gu Pingting murmured softly, “It seems you’re right.”
Feng Shan’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. He tossed aside the large leaf in his hand and said, “Come on, let’s go home then. You must be hungry. I’ll make you something delicious.”
Feng Shan moved to pick Gu Pingting up, but she dodged him, unwilling. Feng Shan asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
Gu Pingting pouted. “We were arguing earlier, and so many people in the village saw it. I already said I was leaving, and now I’m going back. How embarrassing…”
Gu Pingting cared deeply about her pride.
Feng Shan chuckled and sighed. “Ah! Don’t worry. If anyone asks later, I’ll say I knelt down and begged you not to leave. How about that?”
Gu Pingting thought for a moment before replying, “Alright then.”
She still seemed reluctant. Feng Shan bent down, scooped her up into his arms, and strode back home.
Gu Pingting’s legs hurt too much to walk, so she let him carry her. “Even though I’m going back with you, I have to tell you something! I’m only following you now because I have nowhere else to go. Once I recover from my injuries, I’m definitely going back to the royal capital! I won’t be your wife, so don’t get any ideas about me!”
She laid it all out plainly, clearly cutting ties after crossing the bridge.
Feng Shan found it amusing and said with a laugh, “It’s only because I care about you. If it were anyone else, they’d leave you here and come back to pick you up tomorrow morning. By then, you’d be obedient and compliant.”
Gu Pingting pouted. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“It’s not that I wouldn’t dare; it’s that I can’t bear to.”
Gu Pingting huffed and didn’t respond.
The midday sun was blazing hot. Gu Pingting wrapped her arms around Feng Shan’s neck and buried her face against his chest to shield her eyes from the harsh light.
Her small head nestled against his chest, soft and delicate, like a gentle little creature curled up in his embrace.
Feng Shan glanced down at her, seeing only the dark bun atop her head. He smiled to himself. He had initially thought Gu Pingting was like a little white rabbit—gentle, soft, and adorable.
But after spending time with her, he realized she was more like a little puppy. Puppies were also gentle, soft, and adorable, but they could bite.
Feng Shan thought about it. If Gu Pingting was a little puppy, then he must be a big black bear.
Black bears were strong and fierce, clever but not cunning, safe and reliable.
Under the scorching sun, along the quiet mountain path, the big black bear carried his soft little puppy home happily.
Back at home, seeing how hot Gu Pingting was, Feng Shan went to fetch the watermelon he had hung in the well the night before, cut it, and gave it to Gu Pingting to eat.
The watermelon was fresh, red, and juicy. Gu Pingting, afraid that the juice would drip and stain her hands, said in a delicate tone, “The watermelon should be cut into small pieces and placed in a bowl.”
Feng Shan went to cut it into a bowl for her, and only then did Gu Pingting eat it.
The watermelon was icy and cool. Gu Pingting ate obediently with her eyelashes slightly lowered, her baby-fat cheeks puffing out, and her pink, moist lips opening and closing. Feng Shan stared at her, lost in thought.
What should he do? She was so adorable, and he liked her so much!
Tsk! He wanted to kiss her…
His gaze was intense and focused. Even with her head lowered, Gu Pingting sensed it and looked up at him, only to find Feng Shan staring intently at her.
Gu Pingting said angrily, “Don’t look at me like that! I’ve already told you, I won’t be your wife!”
Feng Shan snapped out of his daze and chuckled at her words.
This isn’t up to you! I’ve got my sights set on you!
Feng Shan turned around to eat the remaining watermelon. Out of a large watermelon, Gu Pingting had only eaten a small bowl of the flesh, while he finished the rest.
After eating the watermelon, Feng Shan went to cook for Gu Pingting. Since the weather was hot today, he made cold noodles for her. Gu Pingting ate a small bowl and then sat by the bed, rubbing her legs.
Seeing her brows tightly furrowed and her face pale, Feng Shan knew she was in great pain and went over to massage her legs.
Gu Pingting dodged, not letting him touch her. Seeing her resistance, Feng Shan didn’t force it.
Take it slow. Now that this little woman knew his intentions, she was definitely on guard. It would take a few days of back-and-forth.
Seeing her in pain, Feng Shan went out to brew medicine for her and urged her to drink it while it was hot.
After drinking the medicine, beads of sweat gathered on the tip of Gu Pingting’s nose. She carefully wiped them away with an embroidered handkerchief and lay down on the bed to rest.
She had walked for half a day today and was utterly exhausted.
Gu Pingting closed her eyes, ready to sleep. Not long after, she felt a cool breeze blowing toward her.
Gu Pingting opened her eyes again and saw Feng Shan sitting by the bedside, fanning her.
His palm-leaf fan was large, and it made a whooshing sound as he waved it. Gu Pingting glanced at Feng Shan. He was as strong as an ox, wearing coarse clothes, with most of his body soaked in sweat.
He was hot too, yet he was fanning her.
Gu Pingting curled her lips slightly and stared closely at Feng Shan. He had a firm and resolute face.
It wasn’t an unattractive face; upon closer inspection, it looked mighty and imposing.
But Gu Pingting didn’t like it. She preferred refined gentlemen, those who were gentle, elegant, and sophisticated.
Feng Shan, this rough man, didn’t fit any of those traits.
Seeing her staring at him in a daze, Feng Shan grinned and said, “Why aren’t you sleeping? Go to sleep. I’ll fan you here.”
Gu Pingting snorted, turned over, and faced away from him. “I don’t want you fanning me. Don’t think that being nice to me will make me foolishly agree to marry you. Hmph! I’m telling you, I won’t fall for your tricks!”
Closing her eyes, Gu Pingting added, “I’ve been pampered and loved since I was a child. There are plenty of people who dote on me! Your little attempts to please me won’t win me over! Give up on that idea!”
Feng Shan nodded thoughtfully. Gu Pingting was a spoiled and willful little woman, clearly accustomed to being indulged. She didn’t lack love, so ordinary care wouldn’t move her.
Feng Shan waved the fan even faster, thinking happily to himself that he needed to treat her even better!
From now on, he would pamper and coax her twice as much! He’d best spoil this little woman to the heavens!
Then, she would naturally be willing to become his wife…
Hearing Feng Shan fall silent, Gu Pingting thought he was somewhat discouraged. Satisfied and at ease, she finally drifted off to sleep.
Feng Shan fanned Gu Pingtíng until mid-afternoon, when the heat subsided, before he shouldered his iron bow and headed out.
He was going up the mountain to hunt, specifically aiming for wild pheasants to bring back for Gu Pingtíng to eat. Gu Pingtíng loved chicken wings the most, so he planned to hunt at least five or six.
He would pluck off all the wings and give them to his sweet little wife to enjoy.
Carrying his large iron bow, Feng Shan made his way into the dense forested mountains. He was in excellent spirits, humming and walking with light steps along the path.
He had a wife now, and with a wife came children!
One child, two children, three children, four children!
Boys, girls!
Some looking like him, some like her!
Five children, six children, seven children—a whole bunch of kids!