Fortune Across the World

Chapter 66: Warm Affection in the East Courtyard, Schemes Afoot

"Oh~ not angry, are you?" Ding Qiyu nodded meaningfully, teasing the blushing person in her arms with a playful tone, "Then I must have had something sour for lunch, because I smell vinegar everywhere." She chuckled at her own joke.

"You—what nonsense are you talking about!" Lu Weixi's face turned a deeper shade of red, flustered by the implication of her words. She wanted to hide and turn away from Ding Qiyu's embrace.

Sensing her struggle, Ding Qiyu tightened her hold, feeling even more delighted at having teased her beloved. The smile on her face grew wider.

Unable to break free, and feeling both shy and frustrated, Lu Weixi could only protest softly, "Let me go..."

Ding Qiyu chuckled, not wanting to truly upset her, finally releasing her hold and stepping back to sit down. She held out her injured hand, putting on a pitiful expression, "Xi'er, please continue with the medicine. It really hurts~" Though it was her leg and backside that hurt more from the fall, it was worth it to see Weixi's anger dissipate and enjoy her gentle care.

Lu Weixi bit her lip, meeting Ding Qiyu's gaze for a moment. Her eyes were filled with shy reproach, while Ding Qiyu's were full of innocence. She quickly relented, blushing as she nodded and sat down to apply more ointment.

After a while, Lu Weixi finished tending to Ding Qiyu's hands, her demeanor returning to calm. She tugged at Ding Qiyu's sleeve, prompting her to stand, and inspected her from head to toe with concern, "Did you hurt yourself anywhere else from such a high fall?"

"Uh... no, nowhere else." Ding Qiyu couldn't very well admit to falling on her backside and ask Weixi to tend to it. Imagining such a scenario made her blush.

Seeing Ding Qiyu's flushed face, Lu Weixi seemed to understand, her own cheeks reddening. She called Qing'er over to fetch some medicinal wine for bruises, handing it to Ding Qiyu with an awkward reminder, "This is for bruises. You should... apply it yourself, or ask Brother to help. It will heal faster..."

Feeling more embarrassed for being so easily read, Ding Qiyu accepted the wine, nodding, "Alright, thank you."

Lu Weixi noticed Ding Qiyu's torn sleeve and offered, "Your sleeve is torn. Let me mend it for you."

Ding Qiyu's eyes widened in surprise, "You can sew?!" The idea of a lady like Weixi being able to sew was astonishing to her, challenging her perceptions.

"Our Miss is renowned for her talents. Surely sewing is no challenge for her," Qing'er chimed in proudly.

Seeing Ding Qiyu's astonished expression, Lu Weixi found it amusing, feeling she had given Ding Qiyu a pleasant surprise. For the first time, she felt her sewing skills were worthwhile. She asked Qing'er to bring a sewing kit and turned to Ding Qiyu, slightly embarrassed, "Um, you'll need to take it off."

"Oh, right." Ding Qiyu snapped out of her surprise, obediently removing her outer garment and handing it to Lu Weixi, revealing the wooden exoskeleton underneath her white inner clothing.

Both Lu Weixi and Qing'er were intrigued. Qing'er curiously asked, "What are these wooden contraptions for, Young Master Ding?"

Ding Qiyu patted the wooden armor with a smile, explaining, "It's my new invention. It helps me be better in a fight!"

The explanation amused them, and Qing'er teased, "You should add wings, so you don't fall when climbing walls, haha!"