Chapter 34: I Won’t Let Go

Xie Zhaoran lay reclined on a bamboo chaise lounge woven from vines, her injured leg—sandwiched between two wooden splints—propped up on a stool they’d dragged out earlier. The leg rested slightly higher than the rest of her body.

Shi Yuning washed her hands clean and dried them, then rubbed them together to warm them before gently pressing her palms to Xie Zhaoran’s flat abdomen. She massaged the Tianshu and Zhongwan acupoints with light, careful strokes.

Back at the martial hall, she’d learned not just punches and kicks but also acupoint massage and muscle relaxation techniques—skills every fighter found useful.

These points on either side of the abdomen, along with the Zusanli point on the leg, all helped promote digestion and clear out indigestion.

With Xie Zhaoran’s leg injured, Shi Yuning skipped the Zusanli and focused solely on the abdominal points.

“How’s that? Feeling any better?” she asked after about fifteen minutes.

Xie Zhaoran shook her head. “No, still uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable.”

Shi Yuning couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. How much had she stuffed herself?

“You couldn’t eat, so why did you force down so much?”

Xie Zhaoran offered a weak excuse. “Didn’t want to waste food.” Shi Yuning had been off brewing medicine at the time, and she truly hadn’t realized the pot of porridge included lunch.

Though she did feel overstuffed, after Shi Yuning’s massage, the discomfort had mostly faded. Still, she wanted her to keep going—the gentle pressure on her belly felt wonderfully soothing.

Shi Yuning felt a twinge of responsibility. “You grew up in the lap of luxury in the Imperial Capital. You wouldn’t know about rural life.”

“Out here in the countryside, there’s no dedicated chef or cook. Folks can’t always make three full meals a day. Sometimes villagers prepare all their food first thing in the morning, freeing up time for fieldwork.”

She’d made extra that morning not because she lacked time at noon, but because the heat might spoil Xie Zhaoran’s appetite. She figured room-temperature porridge would go down easier.

“I was ignorant,” Xie Zhaoran admitted. Raised amidst clanging bells and steaming cauldrons of luxury, she knew little of country ways. A flush of shame warmed her cheeks.

Seeing her take it to heart, Shi Yuning teased lightly, “You already know plenty. There have to be some things I know that you don’t, or how else would I seem clever too?”

Xie Zhaoran smiled softly. “You know just as much as I do—if not more. This time, I survived thanks to you. You’re smart enough to be my teacher.”

Shi Yuning blushed at the praise. She was barely literate, knowing just enough characters to fill a basket. How could she teach Xie Zhaoran?

Xie Zhaoran kept going. “That Protagonist Rule of yours? Thinking back, it’s brilliantly clever.” In her heart, she added the part about finding treasures in desperate straits.

Hadn’t she just found the world’s one-and-only supreme treasure?

Xie Zhaoran felt boundless relief and joy. From rock bottom to the peak of fortune—what a feeling.

“When did you start liking me?” she asked, still half-disbelieving.

Shi Yuning’s hands paused. How had the conversation jumped there so fast?

She kept her head down, avoiding Xie Zhaoran’s gaze, her fingers still moving as if casual. “You first. When did you start liking me?”

Xie Zhaoran watched her feign composure, but the pressure on her abdomen grew noticeably heavier.

It started to hurt.

She quickly grabbed Shi Yuning’s hand, rescuing her belly.

Shi Yuning looked puzzled. “Not massaging anymore?”

Xie Zhaoran grinned. “Mm, not uncomfortable now.”

“Oh.”

Shi Yuning felt scorched by Xie Zhaoran’s gaze and tried to pull her hand back, but Xie Zhaoran wouldn’t let go.

She tugged a few times—the more she pulled, the tighter the grip. Finally, Shi Yuning gave in and let her hold it.

But that warmth from her palm seemed to travel up her arm and burn her face.

Xie Zhaoran smiled as she lightly stroked each of Shi Yuning’s fingers, like they were some delightful toy. If Shi Yuning looked up then, she’d see Xie Zhaoran’s earlobes tinged with pink.

“From the start.”

Xie Zhaoran’s sudden words startled her.

“What?” Shi Yuning asked blankly.

Xie Zhaoran curved her lips. “From the very first time I saw you, I liked you.”

“What????” Shi Yuning’s eyes went wide. She’d imagined many possibilities, but not this.

“Your ‘from the start’—you mean our first meeting in the palace?” It seemed impossibly early.

Xie Zhaoran nodded solemnly, a shy flush rising. “The first time I saw you, you captivated me.”

Shi Yuning stared into those earnest eyes, utterly stunned.

Then a thought struck her.

“So back in the palace, why did you always avoid me?” Shi Yuning had assumed Xie Zhaoran disliked her.

Though Xie Zhaoran had later explained she hadn’t disliked her, she’d never said why she dodged her.

Hearing the topic come up, Xie Zhaoran awkwardly wanted to rub her nose—but it was her injured hand, wrapped thickly in bandages. Pain shot through as she lifted it.

She lowered it quickly and switched to the other.

“Afraid that if I got too close, I wouldn’t be able to hold back.”

Hearing “hold back” again, Shi Yuning straightened up abruptly, putting distance between them. They were still in the courtyard, after all.

Hesitant, she stammered, “Back then… you already couldn’t hold back?”

Xie Zhaoran blinked, then burst into laughter. “Hahaha! What are you thinking? Hahaha!”

Shi Yuning saw tears streaming from her laughter and knew she’d misunderstood—but could you blame her? Xie Zhaoran’s words were so easily misconstrued.

She shot her a glare. “Stop laughing. Talk properly.”

Seeing Shi Yuning annoyed, Xie Zhaoran forced herself to stop, wiping tears from the corner of her eye. She nodded. “My fault.”

With such a good attitude, Shi Yuning’s irritation eased. “Fine, explain. Why did you avoid me back then?”

Xie Zhaoran grew serious, recounting the misunderstanding. “That first glimpse of you, I thought: How could there be such a lovely girl in this world? Your smile makes your eyes crinkle, so genuine and simple with everyone.”

“Pure and bright like light itself. But back then, I couldn’t like you—not that I didn’t want to. I just couldn’t.” It was her fate to be a moth to a flame, but she hadn’t been ready to indulge her feelings.

So she’d kept her distance, refusing to sink.

It was the first time anyone had praised her like this. Was she really that wonderful?

But Xie Zhaoran’s gaze was so steadfast, as certain as declaring the sky blue on a clear day—and it was indeed a brilliant blue.

Shi Yuning believed her. Accepting that changed everything.

“So when you shot the sachet, you did it to help me on purpose? Not just because you couldn’t stand Prince Yu?”

“Mm.”

“And when the Crown Prince had me join you for the hunt, that was your idea?”

“Not exactly. He figured out my feelings and created the chance for me to get close to you.”

“The Emperor knew back then that you liked me? How? Did you tell him?”

“You’re the only one who didn’t see how I felt about you.”

“Ah? So Qiangdi knew? The Princess too?”

“Mm.”

Shi Yuning was floored. Everyone had seen it but her.

Now she understood why the Princess had targeted her that evening—using her to tease Xie Zhaoran, serving her soup and picking dishes for her.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I thought you saw me as some freak!” Shi Yuning grumbled. After realizing her own feelings, she’d moped for days, unsure how to face Xie Zhaoran.

Those nights, she’d lain awake, heart in turmoil. If she’d known Xie Zhaoran felt the same, she wouldn’t have suffered.

Xie Zhaoran chuckled ruefully. “Mm, my fault. I should have told you sooner.” The moment she’d learned Shi Yuning liked her back, she’d regretted her cowardice.

Luckily, her Ningning had been bold enough to steal a kiss—and she’d caught her red-handed.

She shook their joined hands. “I’ll tell you everything from now on, first thing. Can you forgive me this once?”

Shi Yuning wasn’t truly angry. Xie Zhaoran’s sincere apology only made her embarrassed.

“Fine. You sit tight—I’ll check on the stewing medicine.” She wiggled their clasped hands. “Let go first.”

Xie Zhaoran refused, her thumb gently caressing the back of Shi Yuning’s hand. Smiling, she guided it to her own cheek.

“No. Unless you kiss me.”

Shi Yuning’s eyes bulged. ???

What had gotten into Xie Zhaoran? Had the fall addled her brain? She seemed like a different person—demanding a kiss in broad daylight, right by the wide-open gate. No one around, sure, but still.

Her face burned.

Xie Zhaoran pressed on. “Didn’t you say we needed to even the score? You kiss me, and we’re square.”

“W-who said anything about evening the score—” Shi Yuning blurted, then realized how wrong it sounded.

If she kissed Xie Zhaoran to “even” it, and Xie Zhaoran kissed back… they’d never catch up.

Tugging back and forth in the light of day—she didn’t dare imagine it. Her face felt like a steamed bun ready to burst.

Shy and annoyed, she stomped her foot. “Let go, or I’ll bite!”

Xie Zhaoran gazed at her fierce-but-blushing act, finding it utterly adorable.

Her beloved: eyes crinkling when she smiled, cheeks puffing pink when shy, eyes rounding wide when mad. Every expression vivid and charming, stirring the heart.

Regretfully, Xie Zhaoran released her—not out of fear of a bite, but because she smelled something burning.

Sure enough, soon a cry rang out. Her beloved stormed back, brandishing a scorched-black medicine jar.

“Look what you did—”

Before she could finish, Xie Zhaoran raised her hands in surrender. “Sorry, all my fault. Punish me—no medicine today.”

Shi Yuning couldn’t hold back a laugh, shooting her a sidelong glance. “In your dreams. You’ll drink two jars today.”

Xie Zhaoran feigned dismay. “Fine. Medicine from Ningning—even if it stuffs me, I’ll drink it.”

Shi Yuning dissolved into giggles again.

“You two young ladies—what’s so amusing, having you laughing like that?”

Abruptly, a shrill, high-pitched woman’s voice sounded from the gate.

Shi Yuning and Xie Zhaoran turned together. A strange middle-aged woman pushed open the courtyard gate without permission and strode right in.