She took a few quick steps into the room and saw a young woman standing by Qin Jizhi’s bed, holding a handkerchief and about to step forward to wipe his sweat.
Yu Qiaoqiao raised an eyebrow—wasn’t this Wang Cuicui from the same village?
She had heard before that Wang Cuicui liked Qin Jizhi, but the Wang family wanted a son-in-law who could work in the fields. There was no way they would accept someone bedridden like him.
She had thought the matter was long over, but it turned out Wang Cuicui was still devoted—even after Qin Jizhi had married.
Before the woman could get any closer, Qin Jizhi shouted sharply, “No need!”
His voice was so loud it startled even Yu Qiaoqiao. Wang Cuicui murmured softly, “Brother Qin… do you dislike me?”
“Comrade Wang Cuicui, men and women should keep proper distance. Besides, I’m married. You shouldn’t come to my house again to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”
Wang Cuicui’s eyes reddened as she twisted her handkerchief. “But Brother Qin, I’m not afraid of misunderstandings. I just want to take care of you. I know your marriage wasn’t your choice—you don’t like that woman. Let me take care of you, okay? I promise I won’t disturb your life.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a series of claps rang out—clap, clap, clap—startling Wang Cuicui into turning around.
Qin Jizhi also saw Yu Qiaoqiao, covered in dirt. His face filled with concern. “Qiao’er, are you hurt?”
Yu Qiaoqiao ignored him completely and smiled at Wang Cuicui. “Wow, how touching, Wang Cuicui. Even the ‘Top Ten People Who Moved China’ wouldn’t be as dramatic as you.”
Wang Cuicui shot her a glare. “Yu Qiaoqiao, you’re a shameless woman. You’re not worthy of Brother Qin. If my family hadn’t objected, the position of his wife would never have been yours!” she said indignantly.
Yu Qiaoqiao let out a laugh. “Wang Cuicui, this is the first time I’ve seen someone make shamelessness sound so elegant. Whether I’m decent or not isn’t your concern. But you—coming to my house to take care of my man while I’m away—you’re really enthusiastic.”
Wang Cuicui’s face flushed red. Just as she was about to argue back, Qin Jizhi suddenly spoke in a deep voice, “Wang Cuicui! I hope this is the first and last time you slander Qiao’er like this. She is my wife—not the kind of woman you describe. Now leave my house immediately, and don’t appear before me again.”
Anger made more sweat bead on his face, his chest rising and falling.
Wang Cuicui glanced at him, covered her mouth, and ran off crying.
Once the room was left with just the two of them, Yu Qiaoqiao glanced at Qin Jizhi. That saying was true—only when a man is hanging on the wall is he truly safe. Even in his condition, there were still people coveting him.
Qin Jizhi looked at her a bit nervously. “Qiao’er, you…”
Before he could finish, Yu Qiaoqiao pulled a long face and walked straight out into the yard. She plopped down and started fiddling with the herbs she had gathered. But after sitting for a moment, she irritably stood up again, went back inside, walked to Qin Jizhi’s bedside, grabbed a towel, and roughly wiped the sweat off him. Without waiting for him to speak, she went back out to the yard and sat down again.
She was angry.
She had gone out of her way to gather herbs for him—nearly got bitten by a snake and almost fell to her death. And what was he doing? Flirting with a young woman at home.
Even if Qin Jizhi hadn’t done anything—he probably hadn’t even looked at Wang Cuicui twice—the thought of that woman’s affectionate expression made Yu Qiaoqiao feel inexplicably suffocated.
She tossed the herbs in her hand onto the ground. She didn’t feel like working anymore.
Whether he could walk again or not—she didn’t care!
“Qiao’er,” Qin Jizhi called from inside.
“What is it!” she snapped.
“Can you come in? I want to say something. I… can’t move.” His tone carried a hint of pleading and humility. It was all his fault, but he couldn’t even move to explain himself.
Worried he might feel inferior, Yu Qiaoqiao angrily crushed the herbs in her hand, got up, and went inside.
Standing by his bed, she said, “What is it?”
Qin Jizhi looked at her. “Qiao’er, are you hurt?”
“None of your business.” She looked like a sulking little girl.
“I’m sorry.” He lowered his eyes. “It’s all my fault. If I could move, you wouldn’t have had to go up the mountain, and you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
Seeing him like this, most of Yu Qiaoqiao’s anger faded. “Qin Jizhi, do you even know why I’m angry?!”
At a time like this, shouldn’t he be explaining that nothing happened between him and Wang Cuicui? Why was he apologizing instead? What a blockhead.
“Is it because I couldn’t help you, so you feel wronged?” he asked.
Yu Qiaoqiao took a deep breath. “Qin Jizhi, you’re driving me crazy! I’m angry because I saw you alone with Wang Cuicui, and she was trying to take advantage of you. If I hadn’t come back just now, would you have let her touch you and wipe your sweat?”
Qin Jizhi hadn’t expected that. He shook his head quickly. “Of course not! How could I allow her to touch me? It’s improper.”
“Just because it’s improper? So emotionally—you’re fine with it?” she pressed.
“Emotionally? Of course not! I’ve barely even spoken to her,” he replied stiffly.
Though awkward, his explanation calmed most of Yu Qiaoqiao’s anger.
She had just been a little unreasonable earlier. Given Qin Jizhi’s character, even if he could move freely, nothing would have happened between him and Wang Cuicui—let alone now. She knew this, but when emotions ran high, people weren’t always rational.
“Oh.” Yu Qiaoqiao sat awkwardly on the edge of his bed, still with dirt on her hands.
Seeing her mood improve, Qin Jizhi continued, “How did you get hurt? Where?”
Thinking of what had happened earlier, Yu Qiaoqiao’s eyes reddened. The pain she hadn’t noticed before now became unbearable. She held out her scraped palm. “Qin Jizhi, it hurts.”
When he saw her injury, something in his heart tightened painfully. He gently took her hand, brought it to his lips, and softly blew on it. “Does that feel better?”
Last time, she had asked him to do the same, saying it helped.
This time, he didn’t care about propriety—his first instinct was concern.
His warm breath brushed against her palm, making it tingle. For once, Yu Qiaoqiao’s ears turned red. “It still hurts.”
Qin Jizhi frowned deeply. “I’m sorry, Qiao’er. It’s all because of me.”
Yu Qiaoqiao leaned against his bedside like a small cat, watching him blow on her palm. His eyelashes were long, his peach blossom eyes especially beautiful. When he lowered his head in concentration, he looked even more attractive.
Looking into his eyes, she spoke softly, “Qin Jizhi… my face hurts too.”