When Xia Weiliang heard the sound, she looked up and saw a tall, thin man blocking her way. He wore a baseball cap and a mask, with the hood of his windbreaker pulled over his head, so his face was completely obscured.
Her steady heart seemed to reactivate, beating powerfully. Though she recognized him at a glance, she suppressed the urge to call out his name.
The snake's head, peeking out slightly, swayed left and right before slowly retracting back into the pocket of his clothes.
Xiao Yi gritted his teeth, his eyes fierce. If Yan Zhi hadn't intercepted the charging man, Li Dashu would have suffered more than just a kick.
"Baby's daddy!" the woman shrieked, rushing over and wailing, "A celebrity hit someone! A celebrity hit someone! Help, they're bullying us!"
Director Huang and the others had all returned by then. Hearing the commotion, they gathered around. "What's wrong? What happened?"
Xiao Yi no longer glanced at the pair. He turned, crouched down, and helped Xia Weiliang up. His voice, tight, revealed he was deliberately suppressing his emotions. "Are you hurt?"
Xia Weiliang shook her head and pulled Xiaojin, who was in her arms, out. "It's just that Xiaojin was wronged."
Seeing the young girl's face, several of the men from the crew became enraged. "Who did this?"
"Is that even her father? I think he's a human trafficker!"
"If there weren't so many people here, I'd beat him until he couldn't find his teeth!"
Li Dashu paid no mind to them, claiming he couldn't get up and pointing at Xiao Yi, insisting it was because of the kick he'd just received.
Yan Zhi placed his hands on his hips and stepped forward. "Open your dog eyes and see, it was Grandpa who kicked you just now!"
"If it wasn't you, it was him!"
The woman chimed in, "It was him, it was him! Don't think we don't know, he's a very famous big star. It was him who kicked, he can't escape!"
Yan Zhi sneered, "I already told you, it was Grandpa who kicked. Stop slandering others!"
Situ and the others exchanged glances and nodded in unison. "That's right, we can be witnesses."
Everyone pointed at Yan Zhi collectively. "It was him who kicked."
Yan Zhi, as if having accomplished something remarkable, held his head high. "You have the strength to hit your daughter but not the ability to join the disaster relief efforts? You call yourself a man? Bah! So what if Grandpa hit you!"
Lang Yue also rushed back. Seeing the situation, she guessed what had happened. "You still have the nerve to be parents? I won't let this matter slide!" She took Xiaojin, cradling her and heading to get her treated.
Xiao Yi, too lazy to deal with them, helped Xia Weiliang back to the tent.
Behind them, no matter how much Li Dashu and his wife made a scene, no one paid them any more attention. Instead, they drew many scornful looks.
Uncle Qu, in particular, upon hearing that Uncle Li had almost beaten his disciple, came over with a shovel! Li Dashu was so scared he didn't dare to come out. It was the crew members who managed to persuade Uncle Qu to go back.
As Xiao Yi brought Xia Weiliang back to the tent, before he could say anything, he was embraced tightly.
Xia Weiliang buried her face in his chest, her hands clasped around his waist, feeling his warmth in reality.
The him in her dreams was too unfamiliar, too heartless…
Xiao Yi looked down at her, removed his mask, and raised a hand to stroke her head. "Did that scare you just now?"
She shook her head and, out of the blue, asked, "Xiao Yi, what if I lost you? Would you forget me too?"
Thinking that yesterday's experience had frightened her, he helped her sit down properly and, in the process, checked the injury on her leg.
He slowly rolled up her pant leg, revealing a section of her fair calf, and said slowly, "We've slept together, how could I forget?"
She paused, her fingers digging into his shoulder, "Is it only because of this? Then… do you remember everyone you've slept with?"
He raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. "How would I know."
He lowered his head again and casually picked up the nearby cotton swab to disinfect her wound. "You're the only one I've slept with."
Her heart began to pound wildly. She lowered her gaze to look at him, a smile threatening to break free. She said, "Who knows if that's true… you have such good technique…"
"Praise my technique?" Xiao Yi looked up at her, his eyes ambiguous. Xia Weiliang blushed and lowered her head, remaining silent.
Xia Weiliang wished she could disappear into a hole, but then she suddenly realized something and glared at him. "You want to be responsible for me because of this relationship?"
Xiao Yi stared at her, stood up, leaned forward, and gripped the edge of the bed, trapping her completely in his embrace. "You don't really believe men who say things like 'being intimate with a woman is out of my control,' do you?"
"So, you knew it was me from the beginning?"
Or, did he… because he knew it was her…
"Mhm."
"What does your 'mhm' mean?"
"It means I knew it was you."
"You…"
It felt as if she had discovered something incredible, but she dared not analyze it too closely. What was this torturously sweet feeling?
He gently pulled a stray hair from her forehead and then looked at the bruise on her forehead. "Don't think about those useless things. Even if I did lose you, you wouldn't have to find me; I would find you."
Xia Weiliang was unusually well-behaved, lowering her head and smiling softly as she murmured "mhm."
"Oh dear, oh dear, excuse me~ Boss, I didn't see anything, I didn't see anything at all!"
Yan Zhi pushed aside the curtain and entered, immediately closing his eyes and walking blindly inward. "I just wanted to report to you that the road has been repaired and is passable. Jun Ge has already sent people to pick you up. If you're not at ease, you can leave our people here to help."
"I know."
"Also, Jun Ge told you to be mentally prepared. Your affairs here have already been fermenting online. Every move you make is being closely watched." Su Dan Novel Net
"Mhm."
This was expected.
The disaster itself had already captured people's hearts, and with it being a popular variety show, the double attention naturally drew the eyes of the entire internet.
"You two, continue, I'll go out now!" Yan Zhi was very professional and, still in the dark, went out.
Just as he reached the door, he heard Ah Ning's voice. "Is my sister inside? I want to go see her."
"Oh, she's fine, nothing to see…"
"No, I'm worried, I have to go in and see!"
"How can you be so stubborn! I told you she's fine, go, go, go!"
It became quiet outside again.
After treating her wounds, Xiao Yi brought hot water and soaked a towel to wipe her face.
It was hard to imagine that someone who had always lived on the big screen would do such small things for her. It felt like a god descending to earth.
Xia Weiliang gazed at him without blinking, suddenly tugging at his clothes. "Xiao Yi."
"Mhm?" He obligingly took her hand and gently wiped it with the towel.
"Are you… scared?"
The movement of his hand paused. He lowered his gaze and remained silent for a moment before finally replying with an "Mhm."
Then, as if nothing had happened, he pulled the quilt over her and tucked it in. "You should rest first. I still have things to handle."
He lifted the curtain, then paused again. He suddenly turned back, cupped her face, and kissed her—
While she was lost in the moment, he lifted his head to look at her. "Don't ever scare me like that again."
Xia Weiliang watched him leave, her heart growing more at ease. That dream felt further and further away.