Fortune Across the World

Chapter 173: Awakening to Tangled Emotions (Part 2)

Aunt Jade sat at the bedside with bandages and medicine in hand: "Of course. Back then, you hadn't been born yet, but Aunt Jade even touched you through your mother's belly!"

Aunt Jade? And she was a friend of her mother's? Le Zhuyi pondered this revelation when Aunt Jade called to Ding Qiyu, "Yu'er, come here and support Zhuyi. You made her pull her wound; don't want to take responsibility now?" From Yu'er's earlier blush, she was sure Zhuyi's wound reopening had something to do with her.

"Huh?" Ding Qiyu protested quietly, "Who's not taking responsibility?" Despite her muttering, she obediently followed instructions, carefully sitting on the bed and gently supporting Zhuyi as she had before, allowing her to lean against her chest.

Momentarily setting aside her curiosity about Aunt Jade, Le Zhuyi's beautiful eyes never left Ding Qiyu's earnest face, enjoying the care and attention with a sweet smile on her pale lips.

It seemed these two children harbored mutual affection. Aunt Jade didn't miss the emotions in Zhuyi's bright eyes, understanding their bond. She placed the bandages and medicine aside, reaching for the tie of Zhuyi's clothing to check her wound.

"Aunt Jade?" Le Zhuyi snapped back to reality, eyes wide with panic as she grasped her collar, her ears turning red. With her injuries, she wore nothing beneath her bandages. Aunt Jade might be okay with it, but exposing herself in front of this person made even bold Zhuyi blush.

"Zhuyi, don't be shy. This one woke up two days before you, so she has already taken a peek," Aunt Jade teased with a smile, dropping a bombshell.

Her words left both women blushing. Le Zhuyi was both embarrassed and annoyed—had this rogue seen everything? How many times? Biting her lip, she thought that if she weren't so weak, she'd definitely punish this rogue!

Ding Qiyu felt the questioning, embarrassed gaze from Zhuyi in her arms. The intense emotions in Zhuyi's eyes made her heart race, and she awkwardly looked away, her ears burning. She usually focused on Zhuyi's wounds, not her body, but now she realized she might have seen more than she intended.

Aunt Jade continued, "I've been changing your bandages these days, and she's always watching. You should hold her accountable. If she shirks responsibility, Aunt Jade will speak for you."

"Aunt Jade~" "Aunt Jade..." both protested simultaneously, Zhuyi in a shy reproach, Ding Qiyu pleading for the elder to spare them from further teasing.

Aunt Jade, amused by their reactions, pulled Zhuyi's hand from her collar and gently soothed, "Alright, let Aunt Jade see your wound." She added to Ding Qiyu, "Yu'er, no peeking."

Zhuyi looked up to confirm. Ding Qiyu pouted, feeling slightly neglected now that Zhuyi was awake and Aunt Jade's attention shifted. Closing her eyes, she declared, "I'm not looking."

Reassured, Zhuyi allowed Aunt Jade to untie her clothing to examine her injuries. Her shoulder wound had indeed been strained, and as Aunt Jade applied fresh medicine, she noticed Zhuyi, like Yu'er, frowned at her wounds. Aunt Jade assured her, "Zhuyi, don't worry. With Aunt Jade here, these wounds won't leave any scars."

"They... they can all be erased?" Zhuyi asked, thinking of Ding Qiyu's scar.

Aunt Jade nodded, "Yes, as long as they're new wounds." She glanced subtly at Ding Qiyu, still puzzled why Yu'er wanted to keep her facial scar, but refrained from mentioning it, not wanting to provoke a dispute between the two.

Relieved, Zhuyi thanked her, "Thank you, Aunt Jade." She glanced briefly at Ding Qiyu, who still kept her eyes closed. The open-shirted state left her feeling vulnerable, fearing the rogue might peek. Confirming Ding Qiyu's eyes were shut, she continued watching Aunt Jade work.

Ding Qiyu, eyes tightly shut, felt Zhuyi lower her head. She considered peeking at Zhuyi's wound, but the sight of her bare skin was too overwhelming. Though she'd seen it unintentionally before, Zhuyi had been unconscious, and Ding Qiyu hadn't focused on anything else. Now, with the situation laid bare, she couldn't help but notice.

Even after a brief glance, the image seemed etched in her mind. Trying to suppress her racing thoughts, she felt a tickle in her nose and tilted her head back discreetly, fearing a nosebleed would betray her.

Unaware of the sly glance, Zhuyi let Aunt Jade finish applying the medicine. Aunt Jade then closed her shirt again but couldn't resist exposing Ding Qiyu's mischief: "Zhuyi, Yu'er peeked again. I'll leave you two to talk, but be careful not to strain your wound again." With that, Aunt Jade left with the medicine.

"You—" Zhuyi began, but words failed her, leaving her face completely red with embarrassment and annoyance. Weak and unable to punish the rogue, she felt like Aunt Jade's suggestion of holding her accountable was too bold to voice. Yet, being held like this, a warmth filled her heart, frustratingly so.

Ding Qiyu, aware Zhuyi might be truly upset, worried for her health, blurted, "I'm sorry, Zhuyi, don't be mad. How about... you peek back?" She felt a pinch on her waist before she finished speaking.

"Shut up! Who wants to peek back?!" Zhuyi retorted, giving Ding Qiyu's waist a playful pinch, annoyed by her teasing. She crossed her arms protectively over her chest, feeling exposed beneath her clothing. The sensation of fabric against her sensitive skin heightened her self-consciousness, causing her to bury her flushed face into Ding Qiyu's neck, seeking comfort. She recalled seeing Ding Qiyu's bare torso on Moonwatcher night; there was nothing to see, unlike her.

Realizing her mistake, Ding Qiyu fell silent, waiting for Zhuyi to calm down and not aggravate her wounds.

After a while, Zhuyi asked, "How is Qianli Palace?" Apart from Ding Qiyu's safety, this was her primary concern. Having risked everything to save her, Zhuyi felt both guilt and responsibility toward Qianli Palace.

As the young palace master, Zhuyi knew she had abandoned her sisters to save Ding Qiyu. Despite her guilt, she didn't regret her choice. If given another chance, she'd still choose to save Ding Qiyu without hesitation.

"I don't know about Qianli Palace's situation," Ding Qiyu replied honestly. "I've asked Aunt Jade, but this place is a hidden valley, isolated from Qianli Palace. The only connection to the outside was the trap path we used. After we passed through, it triggered a self-destruct mechanism, and the path is now blocked by debris."

Over the past days, Ding Qiyu had inquired about the outside world, but Aunt Jade and Yan Huai were recluses, disconnected from worldly affairs. With the trap path destroyed, she couldn't verify their claims. If another way out existed, it would take time to find. She realized it had been over two months since she last saw Qing'er and more than half a year since she visited home.

Sensing Ding Qiyu's sudden melancholy, Zhuyi felt a pang of sadness and bitterness. After the Zhenxiao Sect threat was resolved, Ding Qiyu would leave Danying Mountain without looking back, returning to Xingcheng or Yinzou, reuniting with family or continuing her mechanical pursuits. Whatever the choice, she wouldn't stay, as Qianli Palace was never her home...