When Feng Dingchu entered to see Chu Qianli, she was still wrapped in a quilt, shivering from the cold.
"You, you don't try to find... your own end again. I don't have the strength to stop you now... Achoo!"
Outside, Granny Sun whispered, "Young Master, I've boiled a bowl of ginger soup. Perhaps... you could give it to the young lady first?"
Feng Dingchu usually paid no attention to the people here, only occasionally making fireworks and candies with the children.
But this time, Granny Sun's words finally elicited a reaction from him.
He walked to the door and reached out to take the bowl from Granny Sun's hand.
Granny Sun was stunned for a long time, not reacting.
The young master was finally willing to acknowledge them?
After a long while, Granny Sun quickly and carefully handed him the bowl, her movements stiff, as if afraid she might accidentally touch one of his fingers.
Feng Dingchu took the bowl, said nothing, and quietly walked to Chu Qianli's side.
The bowl of ginger soup was presented to her.
Chu Qianli sneezed again before taking it with both hands and gulping it down.
She still felt cold.
Having already taken medicine to prevent a cold, and now with a bowl of ginger soup, although still cold, her stomach felt faintly warmer.
After a while, a little fine sweat appeared on her forehead, and her body finally stopped trembling.
She let out a long sigh.
It was cold, and also very tiring.
"A Chu..."
"I will not seek my own end." This was the first calm and collected sentence Feng Dingchu had spoken since being poisoned in the palace.
Chu Qianli's heart stirred, her fingertips instantly tensing. "You... would you mind saying that again?"
"I will not seek my own end, and I never will again, from this moment on."
This time, Feng Dingchu's voice held more certainty. Although it was still not as warm and jade-like with a faint smile as when they first met, it now seemed to carry a hint of tranquility.
Yes, tranquility.
It was that sense of peace that followed a settling down.
Chu Qianli was both excited and touched. This fellow finally truly didn't want to die.
"Why? Is it because you feel guilty for causing me to fall ill?"
Feng Dingchu's gaze fell upon her eyes. After a moment, he stood up and left.
Chu Qianli still felt a little uneasy. When the cold subsided a bit, she quickly got out of the quilt.
She casually threw on an outer robe and chased after him.
Feng Dingchu stood by the river. The wind was cold, blowing against him, yet it seemed to carry a warm aura.
He was still wearing the outer robe she had prepared for him.
The robe had fluff on it, looking very warm.
Chu Qianli hurried to his back. "A Chu..."
"It's cold here, why did you come out?" Feng Dingchu turned and glanced at her.
With a wave of his hand, the outer robe fell onto Chu Qianli.
Chu Qianli almost sneezed again.
She clutched his outer robe and quickly wrapped herself tightly in it.
It was indeed very warm, carrying his body heat.
"I said I wouldn't seek my own end again. You don't need to be so nervous."
"How can I not be nervous? You don't know how terrifying it was to see you standing on a pile of corpses, covered in blood."
Chu Qianli felt a hint of resentment. Anyone who had seen him in that state couldn't help but be nervous.
At that time, he had no trace of human warmth about him, only the scent of death.
Feng Dingchu, however, suddenly curved his lips into a faint, indifferent smile. "You're easily surprised! How much of my time fighting enemies on the battlefield have you actually seen?"
Chu Qianli remained silent, her gaze fixed on his lips.
The faint smile at the corner of his lips was thus etched into her heart.