Chapter 31

 "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Pei Yuan hooked his eyebrow with his finger, his voice hoarse. "You spent half the day yesterday on this?"

Bao Ning couldn't discern his true emotions from his tone and stood there feeling at a loss.

"Otherwise, should we forget about it?" she tentatively asked, her voice tinged with disappointment. "It's okay if we don't try. It might not succeed anyway..."

Before Bao Ning could finish, Pei Yuan interrupted, "Let me see it."

Bao Ning smiled.

"I made it for you." She stepped forward, placed the thing in her hand on the kang, and moved to help Pei Yuan up. As her hand touched his arm, he grabbed it tightly.

Pei Yuan pulled her towards him, causing Bao Ning to cry out in surprise. Suddenly, she found herself sitting on Pei Yuan's lap, his left hand around her waist, chin against his neck, their bodies pressed closely together.

The masculine scent from him filled Bao Ning's nostrils, making her hold her breath.

Pei Yuan gritted his teeth and whispered in her ear, word by word, "You always have this ability to make me want to give my life for you."

...

Bao Ning supported Pei Yuan as they walked around the courtyard. He didn't use a crutch, and at first, he was a bit unsteady, but after a few more laps, he no longer needed assistance.

"It's pretty good." Bao Ning looked at him happily, gesturing. "It's just that the strap around your waist is a bit tight. I made it according to your previous measurements, but you've gained weight these past few days. I'll adjust it later."

"Not gained weight," Pei Yuan glanced at her. "Just gotten stronger."

Bao Ning didn't argue with him and agreed, "Right, stronger, stronger."

This device was much more useful than a crutch, and with trousers covering it, it was barely noticeable. Once Pei Yuan mastered it, his walking speed was only slightly slower than normal, appearing slightly lame.

Bao Ning quietly watched Pei Yuan pacing in the courtyard. Feeling unsatisfied, he went to get Sai Feng and wanted to mount it.

Bao Ning was startled and quickly stopped him. "What are you doing?"

"Going for a ride."

Shaking her head, Bao Ning said, "How can that be? Let's wait a couple more days to adapt. What if you can't ride steadily and fall? Besides, Aunt Ruming specifically instructed me that you shouldn't engage in vigorous exercise and should rest quietly."

She thought for a moment. "How about you sunbathe here? I'll make stir-fried river snails for you later. Do you want it spicy or mild?"

Pei Yuan still held the reins, incredulously asking, "Are you giving me orders?"

Bao Ning stopped, realizing she had been chattering away at Pei Yuan like an old mother. He probably didn't like to hear that.

Bao Ning lowered her eyelids, changed her approach, and smiled at him, "Let's not ride today, okay? We can do it another day." Her voice was soft, not as relaxed as before, somewhat restrained.

Pei Yuan stared at her steadily, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Actually, he had just casually asked earlier, without any accusation or other emotions. He just felt that today's Bao Ning was different from before when she stopped him.

Now he understood what was different. In his impression, when Bao Ning spoke to him, she usually asked with a probing tone. She had never been so direct and decisive, telling him what to do.

Her attitude was always gentle; she wouldn't explicitly show whether she liked something or not. If he showed any sign of refusal, Bao Ning would quickly give up.

Except last night, when Bao Ning told him that she didn't like having maids in the room.

Pei Yuan felt she was like a rabbit, cautious and constantly testing.

Such Bao Ning made him feel sorry.

"I'll listen to you." Pei Yuan let go of the reins and walked towards her, naturally putting his arm around her shoulder.

Pei Yuan lowered his head and flicked her curled eyelashes with his finger. "After dinner, let's go out for a walk. Where do you want to go?"

Bao Ning looked at him in surprise. She felt uncomfortable.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "How about going to the riverbank? The cuckoos on the mountain across are blooming, and I'd like to see them."

"Yeah, I'd like to see them too."

Pei Yuan put his arm around her and walked towards the kitchen in silence for a moment. Seemingly casual, he said, "Just tell me what you want to do directly. Don't always hide it from me. I'm not a tiger; I won't bite."

Bao Ning glanced at him again but didn't speak.

She thought to herself that although Pei Yuan wasn't a tiger, he was close enough. Who knows when his temper might flare up?

After waiting for a while without a response, Pei Yuan pinched her earlobe, his tone not very pleasant. "I was talking to you, didn't you hear?"

"I heard, I heard! Ouch!" Bao Ning responded, raising her hand to rescue her ear. See, she said she wasn't a tiger.

They walked to the door, and Bao Ning slipped out of Pei Yuan's arms and stepped into the house ahead of him.

"You silly thing," Pei Yuan rubbed her hair from behind

The river snails were stir-fried with small red peppers, fresh and fragrant, coated in a layer of red oil. Bao Ning tasted one first; it was so spicy that it made her squint, but incredibly delicious.

It wasn't mealtime yet; this was just a snack. Bao Ning wrapped the river snails in oil paper and washed two pears, preparing to take them outside to eat.

Pei Yuan was still in his wheelchair. Bao Ning was afraid he would be uncomfortable walking too long and insisted firmly. Pei Yuan followed her lead. He wasn't a gentle and kind person; changing him would take time, but he was trying.

Bao Ning laid a cloth by the riverside, and they both sat down to enjoy the scenery.

The small river wasn't far from the courtyard, quite long and wide. The water wasn't very clear, and in early spring, they could see waterfowl. Long beaks, sharp claws, they skimmed the water's surface like the wind, diving in and emerging with a big fish in their beaks. Bao Ning was mesmerized, nibbling on river snails.

Pei Yuan broke the silence, "Let's go out tomorrow."

Bao Ning realized he was talking about the matter with Qiu Mingshan and replied, "Okay."

Pei Yuan said, "Don't you have any other questions?"

"What do you mean?" Bao Ning tilted her head, puzzled.

"I mean," Pei Yuan chose his words carefully, "if you have any opinions, places you disagree with, bring them up, talk to me about them."

Bao Ning shook her head, "I don't."

"Don't be distant from me," Pei Yuan said, "Look at other couples; they're always arguing. Don't think that saying something will make me angry. A few words won't matter. Over time, there will be bumps, teeth and lips might bleed, even for a couple."

Bao Ning said, "I haven't seen what other couples are like."

Her response caught him off guard, and Pei Yuan couldn't say the rest.

He plucked a tuft of foxtail grass nearby, stuck it in his mouth, and didn't say anything else with drooping eyelids.

Bao Ning continued to watch the birds in the sky. Having spent so much time in the deep courtyard, even ordinary natural scenery seemed luxurious; she couldn't get enough.

After about half an hour, they finished the food they brought. Bao Ning helped Pei Yuan up and started to head back. They chatted along the way, some of the talk was trivial, but it kept them company.

Halfway there, they suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves behind them.

In this remote place, who could be passing by? Bao Ning was surprised and hurriedly pushed Pei Yuan to the side of the road to give way.

Unexpectedly, a group of riders stopped behind them.

Bao Ning turned around and saw seven or eight people, all dressed in black with knives at their waists, their gazes unfriendly.

At the forefront, a man with an elegant demeanor sat atop a tall horse. He had a jade-like face, wore a purple robe, and had fair skin. He smiled gently.

He spoke, his voice smooth, "Fourth Brother, it's been a long time. Did you forget about having me as your brother?"

At his words, Pei Yuan's pupils contracted suddenly.

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