Счастье совсем рядом, за следующим поворотом

Глава 34

Admittedly, that beast bullied me, but I can't stoop to its level. Shameless! I took a deep breath, pinched my nose, and took a small sip of the medicine. It was so bitter it brought tears to my eyes.

Yan Shu stared at me for a long time, then smiled with satisfaction and said, "I thought Shen Qingzhen was going to poison me."

Yes, I'm so grateful that Pharmacist Shen is sharp-tongued but kind-hearted. I handed him the medicine bowl and said, "Can you take your medicine now, sir?"

He glanced at her slender, white fingers, clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and opened his mouth to say, "Feed me."

That's enough! My teeth were itching, but he smiled sweetly and said, "You'd better not throw the medicine in my face like you did last time, or I'll get angry."

I almost gritted my teeth to suppress the urge, reached out and pinched his chin, and poured the medicine down his throat in one gulp.

He coughed violently, choking on the quilt, unable to straighten up. After a long while, he finally looked up at me angrily, "Su Xie! Are you trying to scald me to death?!" His eyes, which had been full of spring, were red and watery from coughing. His little face made my heart feel at ease.

He couldn't help but laugh and said, "Don't you remember? This is how I fed you your medicine when you were unconscious."

He glared at me, which startled me so much that I quickly took a step back. I was about to wait for him to get angry, but after a long while, he suddenly softened his tone and said, "I forgive you because you took care of me before."

"Oh? Should I thank the High Priest?" I felt that being with him was constantly testing my patience.

He shrugged and smiled magnanimously, saying, "You must take good care of me in the future to make amends for your mistakes."

I think he has fully recovered, as flamboyant and narcissistic as ever. Although the priest's physical body has not recovered, his spirit has stubbornly recovered.

I smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for your kindness, High Priest. I am truly unworthy and unable to accept such a favor. The young master is waiting for me to return for dinner, so I will take my leave now."

After turning around and taking a few steps, Yan Shu suddenly asked, "Su Xie, why did you save me?"

I thought the priest had automatically assumed that my saving him was a given, but it turns out he hadn't.

I thought about it with my back to him for a moment, then turned around and smiled at him, saying, "You're beautiful."

He was visibly taken aback, then after a moment, the corners of his lips slowly curled upwards. He reached out and ripped off the white veil from his left temple, asking me, "And now?"

I was shocked. A large area of burns on his forehead extended to the corner of his eyebrow. Suddenly, the red flesh was peeled off, revealing tiny green plaster patches. Tiny drops of blood trembled and oozed out, running down his brow and hanging shakily on his eyelashes.

I rushed over, snatched the white gauze from his hand, and covered the wound, exclaiming in surprise, "What...what are you doing?"

He was still smiling at me. "Do you still think I'm beautiful?"

As I bandaged him, I stammered, unable to speak, and finally managed to say, "It'll get better... Shen Qing's medical skills are so superb, he'll definitely get better..."

"Su Xie." He suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms around my waist. I was startled and tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip and hissed, "Don't move." He buried his head in my chest, closed his eyes, and said, "Let me lean on you for a while..."

I stood frozen, listening to his extremely soft murmur: "It was like I was having a very, very long dream... There was a huge fire, there were dead people, just like when I was a child, I thought I was going to die... Everyone wanted me to die, there was no hope, no one reached out to help me... Then I heard you call my name..."

“Yan Shu, you’re having a nightmare. It’s all just a dream. Yan Shu, don’t be afraid…” He pressed his forehead against my chest, a smile playing on his lips. “Su Xie, you’re really annoying.”

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling beautifully as he looked up. He said, "Su Xie, you are the first person who wants me to live, not for any conditions or reason."

His eyes were fixed on me, and he called me earnestly, "Su Xie."

My chest pounded, and my face flushed shamefully. It was the first time I'd ever seen Yan Shu so unapproachable, and I was almost at a loss for words. My mind went completely blank, and I mumbled a confused "Hmm?"

He said with a smile, "I'm hungry."

"Huh?" My mind couldn't process it.

He bit his lip and looked at me. "Have dinner with me. You have to help me taste the dishes. Since you saved me, you have to take responsibility for me."

My heart, which had been pounding like a rabbit, instantly returned to normal. Without hesitation, I slapped him across the face, turned around and walked away, shouting as I went, "Shen Qing, don't add any weird stuff to the medicine. It'll mess with his brain. I can't stand it!"

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I returned home in a fit of rage, feeling nauseous from Yan Shu's actions. I felt like I must have been too reserved and never touched a man in my past life, which made me especially sensitive in this life. Even the slightest touch of his hand made my bones and flesh restless. This Su Xie is just too thirsty!

A femme fatale must not be tempted!

When I returned, it was already late. Changhuan was sewing a fox fur cloak under the lamp. Ruan Lianhua was gone. I went into the house and saw a table full of dishes, all neatly arranged. I asked, "Young Master, you went back without eating?"

"Miss." Changhuan stood up to greet me, taking off my cloak as she spoke, "The Left Protector sent someone to take the young master to dine with the old sect leader, and they just left."

I said "Oh," and Changhuan continued, "The young master specifically instructed you to wait for him before he left, and he will be here soon."

I responded with a guilty conscience. Changhuan looked up at me and said, "Miss, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Changhuan, go and heat up the dishes."

"No need, no need." I stopped him. "I'm not hungry, I'm just sleepy. I'll take a nap. If the young master comes, call me."

Changhuan agreed and helped me take off my shoes and get into bed. I had just turned over and lay down, and before I could even close my eyes, a maid announced from outside, "Miss Su, the High Priest requests your presence."

I pulled the quilt over my head and went to sleep.

The maidservant continued calmly, "Miss Su, the priest said that you must go even if you are asleep. If you don't go, he will come himself."

"That's enough!" I sat up abruptly, yelling in despair, "Go tell Yan Shu that my wound has burst open and I'm dead!"

The maidservant lowered her head and whispered, "The priest said that even if you die, you must be carried there..."

Author's Note: The Priest confessed his love! Did you see that?! Are you all happy, Priest fans?! Want to see something even more exciting?! An important character is coming back in the next chapter... Can you guess who it is? P.S.: Would I lie about something so un-harmonious as the Priest and the female lead having some steamy scenes in the next chapter...? P.S.: Three chapters are killing me...

forty

Yes, in the end I really had to be carried there.

When I kicked open the door and saw Yan Shu sitting leisurely at the table with a feast of fish and meat, I didn't hesitate to step forward and flip the table. At that moment, Yan Shu said, "If you flip it, I will be very angry and I will not be able to resist snapping your neck."

I cowardly put the table back...

Yan Shu looked at me with satisfaction, patted the stool beside him with a smile, and said, "Sit down."

Your mother's voice... that's exactly the same tone I use when I talk to my son Wangcai!

I subtly demonstrated my integrity by sitting on the stool furthest away from him.

He frowned slightly and said again, "Su Xie, sit down next to me."

I slammed my hand on the table, stood up, glared at him, and then, like a coward, sat down next to him again...

"Good boy." He patted the back of my hand approvingly, moved the bowl and chopsticks to my side, and looked at the table full of fish and meat, saying, "Eat the carp first, take a bite, and remember to pick out the bones for me."

I have this urge to strangle him right now. Testing poison? This is clearly an attempt to kill me! Finding fault? I might as well just choke him to death!

I took a bite with a mixture of grief and indignation and spat it out. "It's not poisonous, it won't kill you." I picked up a piece and threw it into his bowl. If he dared to say he wanted to be fed again, I would poke his eyes out with my chopsticks even if it cost me my life!

Fortunately, he didn't lose his temper completely. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of fish, and complained, "It's fishy." Then he pointed to the pork rib soup and said, "Have some soup."

The maidservant served me a bowl, and I put down my chopsticks and gulped it down, saying, "It's not poisoned."

Sweet and sour pork tenderloin.

"It's not poisonous."

"Then this one."

"It's not poisonous."

...

I simply finished tasting all the dishes on the table, burped from being so full, and slammed down my chopsticks, angrily saying, "I've tasted everything, it's not poisonous, it won't kill me, High Priest, you can enjoy your meal now."

He calmly and slowly had the maid serve me more pork bones, then rested his chin on his hand and looked at me.

"Didn't I already try it?" I looked at him, holding a bowl of pork bones, feeling unwell.

He rested his chin on his hand, his face pale, but his eyes were full of tenderness as he looked at me with a smile, "Drinking more soup is good for your health."

I was taken aback and raised an eyebrow at him.

"I asked Shen Qing, and he said that drinking more soup will help your wound heal faster," he said to me with a slight smile.

This surprised me a bit. His words weren't so malicious after all. I put down my bowl, glanced at him, and said, "You'd be so kind?"

"Of course not." He still smiled at me with a spring-like look in his eyes. "I get bored eating alone. I always need someone to keep me company."

They clearly had no good intentions.

Extremely disappointed, I finished my soup, put down my bowl, and stood up, saying, "I've finished eating, I'm going back to sleep."

As soon as he took a step, Yan Shu said, "Stop."

"Is there anything else, sir?" I was on the verge of despair, looking at him helplessly. "You've taken your medicine and eaten your food. It's so late, do you expect me to stay with you until you fall asleep?"

"Okay," he replied readily and decisively.

I was speechless with shock, staring at him with a feeling of utter frustration. He squinted at me and smiled, saying, "You're not happy? My bed isn't one that just anyone can get on."

Yes, it's an honor to warm your bed...

I grinned at him, then turned and left.

He hurriedly said, "You have to walk with me for a bit."

I turned my head, and he leaned against the table, frowning, and said, "Shen Qing said I need to walk around more to recover faster."

"Why me again?" I waved to a maid and said to her, "Help the High Priestess to take a walk in the courtyard."

Yan Shu smiled, his eyes narrowing. "Does she dare?"

The little maidservant knelt down in front of me with a thud, trembling as she pleaded, "Miss Su, please spare me... Miss Su, please spare me..."

His tyranny! Yan Shu's tyranny shines throughout the Demonic Sect!

He grinned smugly and reached out to me, saying, "Come here, Su Xie."

I cursed him a thousand times in my heart, but in the end I still succumbed to his tyranny and went over to help him up. He leaned close to my ear and shamelessly laughed, "Be good."

We wandered all over the Demonic Sect like this, enduring Yan Shu's torment and my suppressed anger, until finally, exhausted and internally wounded, I finally let go and go back...

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My mother used to always teach me that it's hard to be a good person, and that I shouldn't be like my father, doing good deeds everywhere just to save face, only to receive a thank you and nothing in return.

As it turns out, my mother's words were always true and invaluable. You know, I saved Yan Shu and didn't even get a thank you. I'm still being bossed around by him all the time, working from dawn till dusk, and he even threatens to snap my neck if I don't obey. Do you think it's easy for me?

From the day he woke up, I realized that he had made tormenting me his greatest pleasure, and he enjoyed it immensely.

Under his torment, my martial arts skills improved, and my endurance defied the heavens and broke through its limits.

My greatest strength is my ability to adapt to survival.

Even the usually sharp-tongued Shen Qing looked at me with newfound respect and praised me, "How come I never noticed how spineless you were before? A scholar can be killed but not humiliated, don't you understand?"

"Easy for you to say," I said, raising an eyebrow at him and laughing. "If you're so capable, why don't you die and show me?"

He glanced at me, indicating that as a fellow woman and a petty person, I was difficult to reason with. After diagnosing Yan Shu, he packed his medicine box and prepared to leave. I hurriedly chased after him, asking, "Shen Qing, you've been treating him for days! When will his injuries finally heal? How long am I supposed to keep taking care of him...?"

Shen Qing glanced at Yan Shu, who was half-reclining in the room, and said with a sly smile, "This injury... it will naturally heal when he wants it to."

What did that mean? I didn't understand. Just as I was about to ponder it, Yan Shu said from inside the room, "Su Xie, come here."