CFSSIR

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"Elder Brother Lu Zhao!" Shen Qingyao cried out in pain, finally breaking free from that moonlit night.

She slowly opened her eyes, still gasping for breath under the despair from her dream. Her chest heaved as she tried to calm herself, staring at the canopy above the inn bed. Gradually returning to reality, Shen Qingyao felt dazed, as if unsure of the present moment.

She tried to speak but her throat burned like fire, too dry to form words. She moved her fingers lightly, only to be tightly grabbed by someone.

Shen Qingyao turned her head and saw Lu Zhao leaning beside her bed, his large hand clutching hers, deeply asleep yet gripping her hand instinctively.

He was still in the same clothes as their last meeting, dust and blood stains still vividly visible. He hadn't changed them, and upon closer inspection, his face, once like jade, now showed signs of wind and frost, with faint dark circles under his eyes and a stubble on his otherwise clean chin.

Shen Qingyao's nose tingled and her eyes suddenly welled up. She silently looked at Lu Zhao, as if engraving his face into her heart. Though they had only been apart for a few days, her fainting seemed like a fleeting moment, yet it felt like she hadn't seen him in years. She scrutinized him inch by inch.

As she continued to watch, Lu Zhao's eyes twitched, slowly opening. Startled awake, he seemed momentarily disoriented, then quickly regained his senses, tensing up immediately and vigilantly surveying the surroundings. He tightened his grip on Shen Qingyao's hand, meeting her tear-filled eyes.

He was first surprised, pulling her gently and saying, "Yaoyao? You're awake?"

Seeing her about to cry, his heart tightened again, thinking she might be feeling unwell again. He hurriedly asked, "Is your chest hurting again? Don't worry, I'll find the doctor for you!"

He started to get up to leave.

This incident had frightened not only Shen Qingyao but also Lu Zhao, who had lost his usual composure, afraid to think what might happen if she couldn't hold on.

A gentle force from her palm made Lu Zhao pause. Shen Qingyao didn't say a word but held onto him firmly. When Lu Zhao turned back, Shen Qingyao was lying on the bed, looking at him with pleading eyes, filled with sorrow. She shook her head slightly and sniffled softly, "I'm not in pain... Elder Brother Lu Zhao, can you stay with me...?"

Lu Zhao's heart immediately softened. How could he refuse? He sat down, finally releasing the tension he had been holding for days.

Shen Qingyao looked at his lively face and remembered the blood-red scene in her dream. Her heart ached, and she slowly raised her hand. Lu Zhao sensed her intention, smiled, and lowered his head in response.

Her cool fingers touched his face, lightly brushing past his eyes, causing his eyelashes to quiver. Finally, her hand rested gently on his cheek.

"Yaoyao?" Lu Zhao instinctively felt that something was amiss with the little girl's emotions right now. He called her name, but he didn't move, allowing her to touch him. As if triggered by his voice, Shen Qingyao blinked, and tears that had been building up for a long time streamed down her cheeks.

Lu Zhao was almost immediately flustered. Before he could say anything, Shen Qingyao struggled to sit up from the bed and threw herself into Lu Zhao's arms. Feeling the warmth of his chest and the strong heartbeat, it was nothing like the cold, stiff body from her dream. Shen Qingyao closed her eyes, her heart slowly settled down.

Her Elder Brother Lu Zhao was still here.

This realization dispelled the lingering panic in her heart. She rubbed against him in his embrace, wiping away a few tears that had fallen uncontrollably. Then Shen Qingyao lifted her head again, pouting as she said grievously, "Elder Brother Lu Zhao, why did you grow a beard... It doesn't look good at all..."