Wei Ling had just happily found himself a small stool and was preparing to sit down so everyone could sit in a circle and chat, but seeing that there was no more room for a chair, he said, "……I’m heartbroken."
Zhongli Ting ignored his dramatics.
Ruhuahua was currently lost in thought and hadn't heard him either.
Just as Zhongli Ting had reached out, her gaze had fallen directly onto his arm. Wrapped around his right elbow were layers of neatly bound white cloth, with a spot of blood seeping through at the very top.
Zhongli Ting idly flipped through the clothes Wei Ling had brought. As his right arm moved, the bloodstain on the bandage swayed along with it.
Ruhuahua stared fixedly at that speck of blood, her brow furrowed tightly. "Brother is bleeding……"
Zhongli Ting turned his head, seemingly only just noticing it, and casually drew his arm back. "It’s nothing."
Ruhuahua: "Bleeding…… it must hurt a lot……"
Zhongli Ting let out a light chuckle, completely lacking any hero-complex in front of the child: "Yeah, it hurts Brother so much."
Ruhuahua was suddenly at a loss. "What should we do……"
Zhongli Ting beckoned her over with a playful crook of his finger, teasing the child on purpose. "Come and blow on it for Brother, and then it won't hurt anymore."
Wei Ling, watching from the sidelines: "?" This guy is even swindling a child; he’s truly shameless.
Ruhuahua, however, actually bent down and earnestly blew on his arm. Her breaths were as light as could be, and afterward, she looked up at Zhongli Ting with a mix of shyness and anticipation.
Zhongli Ting hadn't expected the child to actually blow on it. That soft kindness and earnest expression gave him a sudden twinge of guilt for tricking her. He gave a light cough. "It doesn't seem to hurt anymore—"
Ruhuahua's eyes brightened, as if filled with stars. "Really?"
Zhongli Ting pulled his elbow back, hiding the bloodstain. "Of course. The Zhongrong people don't lie to the Zhongrong people."
"Then call me again when it hurts, Brother."
Zhongli Ting waved his hand, agreeing.
In truth, he wasn't badly hurt—just grazed by a bandit’s blade. It didn't affect his daily activities at all; he just needed a few days to recover.
Ruhuahua frowned, her little face twisting as she began to reproach herself: "……It’s all because of me. If it weren't for me……"
"What do you mean, 'because of you'? I got hurt because I was careless, and I brought this on myself. I’ll take responsibility for my own actions; it has nothing to do with you." Zhongli Ting frowned. "Don't listen to nonsense, and stop overthinking. Oh, and one more thing: you are not allowed to blow on anyone else’s wounds. Do you remember that?"
Ruhuahua looked at Zhongli Ting, wanting to say something but holding back.
Zhongli Ting: "Speak your mind."
Ruhuahua asked earnestly: "Is Brother Wei 'anyone else' too?"
Zhongli Ting shot a glance at Wei Ling and scoffed, "Yes, he doesn't deserve it either. Except for me, everyone else is 'someone else'."
Wei Ling looked toward the heavens: "……Contemplating the vastness of heaven and earth, I am left alone to weep!"
Ruhuahua nodded blankly.
She asked again, "What’s wrong with Brother Wei?"
Seeing her focus had drifted again and fearing she hadn't remembered a single word, Zhongli Ting repeated himself: "Did you remember everything I just said?"
"I remembered."
"Our little Flower is so obedient." Zhongli Ting smiled with satisfaction.
Afterward, Zhongli Ting teased Wei Ling a few more times until the man bristled and couldn't be awkward anymore, at which point he finally pulled him aside to discuss matters regarding the military camp.
Although he wasn't severely injured, it was best for him to rest for two days. Since his daily troop training would inevitably be affected, he simply decided to temporarily hand over some of his duties to Wei Ling.
Ruhuahua tilted her head, lost in thought. When Zhongli Ting tossed her a hand warmer, she suddenly looked up, dazed. "Brother……"
"Hmm?"
"Brother was punished because of me, so Brother should punish me instead."
Zhongli Ting: "What did I just say?"
Ruhuahua: "Brother said it had nothing to do with me, but I feel……"
"Little one, did I also say that my words are not to be treated as wind passing by?" Zhongli Ting laughed in frustration. He couldn't help but lean over and mischievously ruffle her long hair. "Besides, you aren't one of my soldiers, so why would I punish you?"
Ruhuahua touched her hair, not angry in the slightest. Instead, she blurted out, "I can be Brother's soldier, too."
Zhongli Ting and Wei Ling exchanged a glance and both laughed.
"Little friend—"
Ruhuahua pursed her lips, emphasizing, "I’m not little!"
"Fine, big friend," Zhongli Ting finally rose lazily and hoisted her up with his left hand. "Let's go. Go back and get a good night's sleep. Be a good girl and grow up, and Brother will consider that your atonement for your crimes."
And so, Ruhuahua was hauled back.
It is said that the return of warmth is often deceptive, and that is no lie. While the daytime temperature was gradually rising, the mornings and evenings still held a biting chill.
Ruhuahua hadn't slept well the night before. When she woke up, the sky was already bright; she had been frozen awake by the cold air because her quilt wasn't fully pulled up.
The tent was silent. Ruhuahua stepped into her shoes and hurried to wash up. Thinking Zhongli Ting would have been long gone, she peeked over. On the other side of the tent, the youth was still lying peacefully in his bedding, fast asleep.
Ruhuahua set fresh hot water at the washstand, shuffled over, and knelt beside the low bed. She gently nudged the quilt and whispered, "Brother."
The youth’s eyes remained tightly shut, his body still, but his brows were furrowed, his breathing heavy and hurried.
Ruhuahua looked closer and realized something was wrong.
The youth on the bed had pale lips, yet his cheeks were flushed, and his brows were knit tight.
Ruhuahua carefully reached out to touch Zhongli Ting’s forehead.
He was so hot.
She had felt cold when she woke up, so why was Brother so hot?
Ruhuahua immediately grew anxious. She scrambled up from the floor and, after a moment's thought, pulled the quilt covering Zhongli Ting away.
That way, Brother wouldn't be so hot, right?
Thinking this, Ruhuahua struggled to carry the large bundle of bedding to a high chair on the side.
Returning to the bed, she heard Zhongli Ting muttering something.
Ruhuahua leaned in and crouched by the bedside.
Zhongli Ting’s teeth were chattering, his eyes tightly closed, and fragmented words drifted from his lips: "……Cold."
The voice was too weak, shattered by his chattering teeth. Ruhuahua hadn't heard clearly, so she braced herself against the low bed and leaned in closer, trying to catch what Zhongli Ting was saying.
As she pressed her fingers against Zhongli Ting's shoulder, her small braids slid forward, lightly brushing against his neck. Just as she steadied herself, the world suddenly spun around, and she let out a small cry of alarm. The next moment, she felt her back hit the bed, and at the same time, her throat was gripped tight. The lack of air forced her to pry her eyes open.
The cold glint in the youth’s eyes as he loomed over her had not yet fully faded. His ink-black eyes stared at her fixedly. A moment later, he withdrew his right hand—which had been clamped like a claw around her neck—rubbed his fingertips together, and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice: "Flower?"
Having escaped death, Ruhuahua scrambled from beneath the youth, clutched her neck, and retreated half a step, then another. "Brother……"