Chapter 36.1

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Qiao Ziman said, “Can you give me a little time?” This time, I need to ask my heart.

Chi Yin didn’t ask anything or say a word; she simply tightened her grip on the person on her back to prevent her from slipping off. Qiao Ziman instinctively pressed her cheek against the thin yet reassuring back. The moon was bright, the stars sparse, and the shadows of swaying trees danced around them. Their intertwined figures stretched long in the moonlight.

Listening to the rhythmic sounds of their breathing and heartbeats, Qiao Ziman softly called out, “Chi Yin.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you this good to everyone?”

Without hesitation, Chi Yin replied, “I’m only this good to you.”

Liar. Even an innocent flower can lie. Unable to hold back, Qiao Ziman opened her mouth and bit down on Chi Yin’s shoulder. She didn’t hold back much, but the person in front merely paused for a moment before continuing forward as if nothing had happened.

Qiao Ziman exhaled slowly, a flicker of tenderness flashing in her eyes. Her lips curved into a faint pout as she hummed in protest. “You even taught Jiang Zaozao how to ride a horse.” She paused, her tone sharpening. “You almost took a bath with Jiang Zaozao! And you’re supposed to sleep together too!”

At the thought, Qiao Ziman let out another indignant hum and turned her head away, refusing to speak. Angry? Or jealous? Chi Yin couldn’t help but smile.

The sound of Chi Yin’s crisp laughter reached Qiao Ziman’s ears, making her even angrier. She wriggled, attempting to jump down. “Chi Yin!”

“Move again, and I might just kiss you.”

The innocent flower really dares!

Qiao Ziman froze, instantly halting her struggle. Chi Yin’s voice softened as she explained, “That little girl is a bit clingy. But since I promised President Wang to look after his daughter, I couldn’t just ignore her. So, I took her riding.”

Qiao Ziman blinked in confusion. ???

Chi Yin smirked. “The laps we rode this afternoon were enough to make someone who doesn’t exercise sore for days. By tomorrow, she won’t even have the energy to cling.”

Qiao Ziman’s eyes widened. Oh my, the cunning little flower. Feeling mollified, she stretched out her arm and said, “Then bite me back. If you bite me back, we’ll be even.”

But the pain she anticipated didn’t come. Instead, a warm, burning kiss landed on the back of her hand. Qiao Ziman’s fingers curled slightly. Flustered and annoyed, she exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

Chi Yin replied calmly, “Don’t you like a little give and take? If you have the guts, kiss me back.”

“You!” Did she really think I wouldn’t dare? Taking a deep breath, Qiao Ziman dropped a threatening line. “Just you wait!”

Their banter continued as they walked on, and before long, they reached the edge of the woods. Qiao Ziman glanced around, spotting flashlight beams cutting through the darkness, darting back and forth over the creek. Voices called her name loudly. Among them, Ji Yun’s was the most distinct, carrying over the noise.

Qiao Ziman’s face fell, her vision darkening. She muttered under her breath, “It’s over. It’s over. My lifelong reputation is about to be ruined in an instant. All these years of struggling in society, only to be found crying in the woods because I’m afraid of the dark? Oh my God.” She groaned and briefly considered digging a hole to bury herself on the spot.

Chi Yin listened to her ramblings with a barely contained smile. Clearing her throat, she said, “I’m a bit tired.”

Qiao Ziman snapped out of her thoughts and quickly patted Chi Yin’s shoulder. “Let me down; I can walk myself.”

Chi Yin gently set her down and pulled out her phone to call Ji Yun. “We found her,” she said, glancing at Qiao Ziman. “She’s okay.”

Qiao Ziman let out a sigh of relief. “Tell the staff to head back; they’ve worked hard.”

The figures by the creek gradually dispersed. Only then did Qiao Ziman and Chi Yin emerge from the woods.

“Are you okay?” Chi Yin asked carefully, supporting her.

“My bones are fine; I just scraped my skin. See?” Qiao Ziman slowly rotated her ankle.

That’s good, Chi Yin thought, looking at her profile with a touch of affection.

Suddenly, Qiao Ziman turned her head, her gaze locking onto Chi Yin. “What happened to you?”

It had been pitch black in the woods earlier, so she hadn’t noticed. Now, under the light, Chi Yin’s disheveled state became apparent. Her usually pristine makeup was smeared with sweat, and bits of grass clung to her hair and clothes. The skin on her neck, arms, and other exposed areas was dotted with small red marks.

What should I do? I feel like crying a little, Qiao Ziman thought as she rushed forward to grab Chi Yin’s hand and check her over.

Chi Yin’s gaze flickered for a moment. “It’s nothing; there are a lot of mosquitoes in the woods.”

I was scared to death. Qiao Ziman carefully examined the marks, then sighed in relief and teased, “Your skin is pretty tender; if someone didn’t know better, they might think someone had kissed you.”

Chi Yin’s expression stiffened. She remained silent for a moment, then said, “Let’s go.”

The two made their way back to the resort. Qiao Ziman went to the infirmary to tend to her foot injury. The doctor disinfected the wound with iodine and gave her advice for the next couple of days. “It’s fine; they’re all surface wounds, nothing serious. Just keep the wounds dry for the next couple of days, and try to eat light.”

Qiao Ziman asked, “What about taking a shower?”

Ji Yun chimed in lazily, “That’s easy; just ask your little flower for help.”

Qiao Ziman nodded. “That works.”

Ji Yun looked puzzled. “Wait, can I ask what happened back in the woods? How did Chi Yin manage to break through my sister’s tough defenses?” She leaned back, then added, “By the way, where’s Chi Yin?”

“She was called out by a colleague for drinks,” the doctor said. “After all, she’s the leader and has to make an appearance to represent the company and say a few polite words.”

Drinks?