She stepped into the stirrup with her left foot, and as soon as her right foot left the ground, her left foot couldn't support her weight, her knee buckled, and she fell down again.
Fortunately, Wang Hongbo was standing nearby and gave her a push from behind, preventing Chu Wan from falling to the ground like before.
"Let's rest a bit longer and grab something to eat," Wang Hongbo said.
Chu Wan twisted the ribbon holding her purse, feeling guilty, and said, "It's all because I'm so useless."
“It’s not your fault.” Wang Hongbo said as he walked around, picking up some dry branches and piling them together. He lit them with a torch and gestured for Chu Wan to sit down by the fire.
The game they had hunted during the day was still on Wang Hongbo's horse. He picked out the fattest pheasant, skewered it with an arrow, and roasted it over a fire.
The aroma gradually filled the air, and Chu Wan, starving, rubbed her flat stomach and waited eagerly.
"I wonder if Shuangshuang has eaten anything?" she asked, a little worried.
Wang Hongbo was also worried, but he had previously found a mark he had made on a large tree, realizing that the two of them were lost. If they continued recklessly forward, not only would they not find Wushuang, but the two of them would also likely not be safe. It would be better to calm down and rest for a while before continuing their journey.
"Don't worry, didn't you say she brought a bag of green apricots right away? That should be enough to fill our stomachs if we get hungry."
Wang Hongbo gently comforted Chu Wan, making no mention of getting lost.
"Oh right!" Chu Wan laughed. "Luckily, all the green apricots were with Shuangshuang."
That way, Wushuang can eat more.
"Yes, you two are both very smart," Wang Hongbo casually complimented.
A sharp cry suddenly rang out, and Chu Wan shrank into a ball in fright, wiggling her little bottom as she moved closer and closer to Wang Hongbo.
“Don’t be afraid, it’s just a bird,” Wang Hongbo said. “We’re following the imperial entourage, and the places we’re stationed in have been carefully selected; there won’t be any wild animals there.”
A wild beast?
If Wang Hongbo hadn't mentioned it, Chu Wan would never have imagined that there would be wild animals in the woods.
"Which kind of wild beast are you talking about?" Her voice trembled uncontrollably. "A green-eyed wolf, or a bear with a hand bigger than a human head?"
Wang Hongbo frowned and asked, "You've seen it before?"
"Seventh Brother...Seventh Brother said it!" Chu Wan almost burst into tears. "Wanwan doesn't want to become wolf food. Even if I die, I want to look beautiful, not be slapped to pieces by bear paws... Waaah..."
Wang Hongbo was speechless.
Because of Wuxia, he was quite familiar with the Chu brothers, Chu Ye and Chu Xu. They usually seemed like upright gentlemen, but he never expected them to be so ruthless and cruel when scaring their little cousin.
“Don’t worry, there are no wolves or bears here,” Wang Hongbo said.
"Really?" Chu Wan asked, half-believing. "Seventh Brother said he sees it every time he goes hunting..."
To deal with the fabricated and frightening claims, Wang Hongbo had to find another way: "Bear paws are delicious. If there were really bears around here, with so many of us here and staying for so long, they would have all been hunted down long ago. As for wolves, they are afraid of fire. We've lit a fire, so they won't come near."
He spoke with such conviction that Chu Wan believed him completely. Calming herself down, she took out a handkerchief and took the roasted chicken leg from Wang Hongbo, chewing it slowly and carefully, bite by bite. The roasted meat was coated with fresh honey, its sweet aroma filling her mouth, so delicious that she almost swallowed her tongue along with it.
"Brother Bo, is honey bear paw really this delicious?" Chu Wan asked, looking up as she intently finished eating the whole chicken leg.
“There’s a restaurant in Beijing that specializes in bear paws. I’ll take you and Shuangshuang there to eat sometime.” Wang Hongbo handed her another chicken leg.
He saved the tender chicken legs and wings for her, while he started eating the dry, tough chicken breast.
Chu Wan had a small appetite, and although she was extremely hungry, she was full after eating two chicken legs. Fearing that something might go wrong, Wang Hongbo coaxed her to eat more. Chu Wan then ate most of a chicken wing, her belly bulging out. She pouted, threw the rest of the chicken wing aside, and lazily yawned.
"If you're sleepy, take a nap," Wang Hongbo said. "Let's recharge before we continue." If we get lost again, going around in circles like a ghost, we might not have enough energy to find a way out.
"Okay, sure." Chu Wan responded softly, quickly lay down, and unceremoniously rested her little head, which was styled in a bun, on Wang Hongbo's lap.
Men and women should not touch each other. Chu Wan, a twelve-year-old girl, should have avoided Wang Hongbo. However, she had been spoiled by her older brother and cousins since childhood and was used to being close to them. In addition, she was innocent and genuinely regarded Wushuang's brother as her own brother, so she did not feel anything was wrong.
Wang Hongbo felt a little embarrassed. He was about to dissuade her, but when he looked down and saw Chu Wan sleeping soundly with her eyes closed and a smile on her lips, he felt he couldn't bear to disturb her, so he gave up.
About an hour later, when Chu Yao personally led the Lingguang Guards to find them in the woods, this was the scene that greeted them—Wang Hongbo was leaning against a tree trunk, Chu Wan was resting her head on his lap, and they were not only being overly affectionate, but they were also fast asleep.
Chapter Index 102 | 0.100.101
Chapter 101:
When Chu Yao left, he told Wu Shuang to rest assured, but since Chu Wan and Wang Hongbo hadn't returned, she couldn't possibly feel at ease. After a hasty dinner, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
Wu Hui and Wu You went to bed one after the other. The candles in the tent were blown out, and in the dim light, Wu Shuang finally felt sleepy and closed her eyes wearily, only to be awakened by the noise outside the tent.
She rubbed her sore eyes and sat up, then swayed as she walked out of the tent, wanting to see what was going on.
No sooner had they gone around the screen than the curtain was lifted, and Chu Wan, carrying a small bundle on her back, ran in pouting.
"Shuangshuang, you have to take me in." Her voice was trembling with tears.
By the moonlight, Wushuang saw Liu'er following behind Chu Wan with a helpless expression.
Regardless of other matters, at least Chu Wan returned to the camp safely, so she no longer needed to worry.
The tent where the three Wushuang sisters lived was divided into two halves by a mahogany and marble screen about ten feet wide. The front half, closer to the tent entrance, occupied a larger area and was furnished with low tables, stools, and a desk, used for the three girls' daily living and meals, and also for reading and writing when they were not going out. The back half, farther from the tent entrance, had three beds placed side by side, serving as their bedroom.
Qiqiao quietly lit a small lamp in the living room. The flame was dim, not enough to disturb Wuhui and Wuyou who were sleeping behind the screen, but enough to illuminate Wushuang and Chuwan so they wouldn't have to talk in the dark.
Wushuang yawned, pulled Chuwan to sit down at the low table, and then asked her, "What's wrong with you?"
"I hate my brother! I'm running away from home and I'm never talking to him again!" Chu Wan clenched her little fists, trying her best to look righteous and stern, but her appearance was too soft and cute, which made her look ridiculous and like a dog trying to draw a tiger but ending up with a dog.
Wu Shuang wanted to laugh but could only hold it in, so her expression was a little strange: "Did Chu Yao find you? Was Brother Bo with you?"