He didn’t even ask what the agreement was before hurriedly agreeing to it.
The moment Yu Qiaoqiao saw his reaction, she knew he was just embarrassed.
She deliberately leaned in a little closer. “But Jizhi, you haven’t even asked what the agreement is yet.”
Qin Jizhi lowered his eyes to look at the woman who was now almost nose-to-nose with him. His breathing grew uneven. Yet Yu Qiaoqiao looked completely serious, as if she were simply asking an innocent question.
He closed his eyes briefly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “What is it?”
Yu Qiaoqiao let out a soft laugh. “The agreement is that from now on, you’re not allowed to say ‘thank you’ to me. We’re husband and wife—doesn’t it feel distant if you keep saying that?”
Qin Jizhi nodded stiffly.
She continued, “And if you do say thank you, you’ll be punished with a kiss.”
Qin Jizhi didn’t understand how Yu Qiaoqiao could be so bold. He hadn’t had much experience with women, but the few he’d met were either gentle and reserved or shy and timid. Someone as forward and enthusiastic as her—this was the first time in his life.
The problem was, he had no way to handle it.
“Qiao’er… that wouldn’t look proper,” he said, using it as an excuse.
He simply couldn’t bring himself to do something like kissing her in front of others—it felt more uncomfortable than anything.
“You don’t even go out, so what’s there to worry about? Can’t we just kiss at home?” Her expression dimmed slightly. “Or… do you still dislike me and don’t want to be close to me?”
How could he dislike her? The fact that she didn’t mind that he was bedridden already made him feel guilty. “Qiao’er, that’s not what I mean. I just…”
His flustered attempt to explain, while failing to find the right words, almost made Yu Qiaoqiao laugh. She held it in and glanced at him. “Well then, since you already said thank you just now, you should follow the agreement and show me.”
As she spoke, she leaned her face closer to him.
Qin Jizhi stared at her smooth, fair face—soft like a peeled egg—and couldn’t bring himself to take the initiative.
He hesitated, frozen in place. Seeing this, Yu Qiaoqiao pretended to turn away. At that exact moment, Qin Jizhi seemed to make up his mind and leaned forward with his eyes closed.
But just as he did, Yu Qiaoqiao turned back—
Their lips met.
Both of them froze, eyes wide open.
Yu Qiaoqiao, all bravado gone, jumped back first and ran out into the courtyard in silence.
Sitting outside, her face burning, she slowly raised a hand to touch her lips.
Inside the room, Qin Jizhi did the same—lifting his hand to his lips, gently brushing them.
This was their first real kiss.
Though it lasted only a moment, for people of this era—especially someone as reserved as Qin Jizhi—it was enough to make his heart race and his face burn.
After sitting outside for a long while to calm down, Yu Qiaoqiao finally returned. She cleared her throat and glanced at the man whose face was even redder than hers. Instantly, her own embarrassment faded.
Look at him—he’s even more flustered than I am.
If this were modern times, their level of innocence would probably be laughed at even by elementary schoolers.
Yu Qiaoqiao sat by the bed, sorting through the herbs. “Jizhi, after applying the medicine yesterday, did you feel anything?”
Qin Jizhi’s mind had been buzzing. Only when he heard her question did he slowly come back to his senses and shake his head. “Nothing very noticeable.”
While she was applying the medicine, her hands had been moving all over him, leaving him distracted and restless. Afterward, he barely dared to move, his thoughts nowhere near his condition. Even if there had been any slight sensation, he likely ignored it.
“It’s okay. Today I’ll combine it with acupuncture.” She handled the silver needles in her hand and lifted his blanket.
He hadn’t been paralyzed for long, so the muscle lines in his lower body were still faintly visible. Even his thighs were firm, showing how well-built he had once been.
Though he was lying down, Yu Qiaoqiao estimated his height to be at least 1.8 meters.
One by one, she inserted the needles into his legs. Then she went to bring his medicine. Since he couldn’t move, she fed him spoonful by spoonful. Despite the strong, bitter smell, Qin Jizhi didn’t even frown as he drank it.
After he finished, she picked up a handkerchief to wipe his mouth. He quickly reached out. “I can do it myself.”
She dodged him slightly. “I’ll do it. You can’t see properly.”
She carefully wiped his mouth, then went back to sorting the herbs. Glancing at him, she thought about what had happened in the county.
The old man from the Ye family had told her to discuss the matter with her parents. But Yu Qiaoqiao had no mother—only a useless father, Yu Dahai. She had no intention of consulting them. If her family found out she had connections with such a wealthy and influential household, they would cling to her like parasites.
After thinking it over, the only person she could discuss it with was Qin Jizhi.
What a miserable situation—being transported into another time was one thing, but landing in such a terrible family was another. And the man she had finally found? He was bedridden.
She might just be the unluckiest transmigrated heroine ever.
“Jizhi, something happened when I went to the county today.” She casually looked up at him.
Qin Jizhi lay on the bed, holding the book she had bought, flipping through it carefully. Hearing her, he set it aside and looked at her. “What is it?”
Yu Qiaoqiao carefully chose her words and told him everything that had happened, including the Ye family wanting to take her in. “Jizhi, what do you think?”
Qin Jizhi hadn’t expected her to have such abilities. He didn’t doubt her story at all—this was the kind of skill that could bring people back from the brink of death. Deep down, he even felt a trace of pride.
“Qiao’er, from your description, they sound like a responsible and upright family. If you don’t feel uncomfortable with them, you can try getting along with them.”
He knew her life in the Yu family had been difficult. And as her husband, he himself was in such a helpless state. If she could find people willing to support her, he genuinely felt happy for her.
At least then, when he couldn’t be by her side, she would still have someone to rely on and wouldn’t be bullied.
Yu Qiaoqiao’s eyes showed both longing and happiness. “Jizhi, aren’t you afraid that if I meet capable people, I’ll leave Qingshi Village and go far away?”
Qin Jizhi hadn’t thought about it that way. But hearing her say it, a dull ache suddenly spread through his chest.