Chapter 462 – The First Winter (9)
“So skinny?”
When Jiang Pengji picked up Wei Ci just now, she noticed that even though he was tall, he was incredibly light. Now holding him in her arms, she could feel his bony frame; it seemed like there was barely any flesh left on him—just bones.
She couldn’t help but wonder if this guy had spent nearly a year in some famine-stricken area, losing what little meat he had left.
Stealthily, she ran her fingers over his waist, and the first impression was just how thin he was—too thin.
As Jiang Pengji wrapped Wei Ci tightly against her, she urged Big White to gallop at full speed.
The cold wind slapped against her face, making her feel like it was cutting, but Jiang Pengji hardly noticed. On the other hand, Wei Ci instinctively shrank back, seeking refuge in her embrace.
She sighed softly, one hand on the reins while the other slipped under his arm, pressing against the back of his head to shield him from the biting cold wind.
Meanwhile, Dian Yin watched in shock as Jiang Pengji whisked away his master.
Her every move was fluid and seamless.
Dian Yin didn’t even have time to react; before he could think of stopping her, Big White was already galloping off into the distance.
Li Yun said, “Hey, brother, don’t worry. The Lord said she knows your master, so she definitely does.”
Dian Yin’s lips moved, now he had no choice but to trust this young man who claimed to be an assistant from Xiangyang County. They couldn’t afford to delay Wei Ci’s illness any further.
Beside them, Li Yun’s curiosity was piqued, and his gossip senses were tingling.
“Hey, brother, where’s your master from?”
Li Yun had witnessed the whole scene earlier and saw Wei Ci’s appearance.
Though he was seriously ill and emaciated, that didn’t make him ugly or terrifying; instead, it added a touch of fragile beauty. Li Yun had never seen such a strikingly good-looking man in such a pitiful state.
Dian Yin replayed the scene in his mind, and he felt a bit reassured that although Jiang Pengji acted quickly, she wasn’t rough about it.
Hearing Li Yun’s inquiry, Dian Yin fell silent, wearing an expression of “I’d rather not talk to strangers, so please shut up.”
Li Yun found that boring and quickly changed his approach.
He noticed that the three of them had come down from the mountain, “Hey, what happened to you and your master? Why the mess? It’s odd—you’re built like a tank, full of muscle, while your master is skinny as a twig. Can illness really make someone so thin? Come on, say something.”
The first snow had fallen for three days and nights, already blanketing the mountain roads.
Could it be that these folks had gone up the mountain to escape danger only to stumble upon a heavy snowfall, forcing them to come down for medical help?
Dian Yin didn’t want to engage with Li Yun, who was a bit too chatty for his taste.
However, recalling the over five hundred common people still trapped up in the mountains, he hesitated, a hint of desperation flashing across his rugged face.
“There are still over five hundred common people trapped on the mountain! We were chased by the Green Garment Army and had no choice but to take refuge up there.”
Li Yun’s expression turned somber upon hearing about the trapped populace, suddenly exuding a mature aura.
“Two brave souls, let’s head to Xiangyang County for now. Once the snow stops, we’ll send troops to bring the folks down from the mountain.”
Dian Yin realized it was the best plan they had. He cupped his hands in gratitude towards Li Yun.
“Hey, there’s no need for thanks,” Li Yun scratched his head, feeling a bit shy. “It’s just what I should do.”
Anything happening within Xiangyang County was the duty of the county government—he was practically pounding his chest over it.
On the other side, Jiang Pengji sped on horseback, racing towards Xiangyang County.
Wei Ci was still lost in a nightmare, fragments of hazy memories flooding his mind, blurring the lines between life and death.
Uncertain how long had passed, the ice-cold, stiff body began to warm up as the sensation of being jostled turned from ethereal to solid…
Was this yet another dream or something else?
Wei Ci grimaced in discomfort, managing to cough a couple of times; he thought he was being loud, but to Jiang Pengji, it sounded just like a kitten’s meow. If she hadn’t been so attentive, she might have missed that he was waking up.
After a long while, Wei Ci managed to pull himself back to awareness, only to find he couldn’t move at all.
“Awake?”
A cold yet familiar voice drifted down from above him, causing Wei Ci’s face to shift as he found it harder to distinguish whether this was a dream or reality.
“If you’re awake, say something! We’re still a ways from the county. If you fall asleep now, I can’t guarantee you’ll wake up again,” Jiang Pengji leaned down slightly to lessen the wind resistance. “Every time I see you, you either look sick or are walking the path to being sick… Were you always this delicate and frail since you were little?”
As Wei Ci regained complete consciousness, he realized the predicament he was in, causing him to tense up, too scared to even move.
Of course, given his current state, he couldn’t move even if he wanted to.
Jiang Pengji was about to say something when the fan club of Wei Ci in the live stream erupted.
【Lovely Ci, marry me】: Host, my lovely Ci is already in this state, could you please be nice to him?
【It’s still five o’clock today】: Exactly—though he’s as thin as a rail, he’s still stunning.
【Debt finally reduced】: Beauty lies in the bones, not the skin. Unlike those trendy influencer faces that rely on surgery, plumping, or chiseling. When the hyaluronic acid wears off, their own mothers probably wouldn’t recognize them.
【Going out for dinner tonight】: You guys derailed the conversation! We’re supposed to stop the host from bullying Lovely Ci!
Without needing these viewers to remind her, Jiang Pengji was not in the mood to bully Wei Ci.
Her expression serious, while Wei Ci felt like he had a lot to say but was too frightened to even sleep.
Jiang Pengji stood a head taller than most women, even rivaling the men.
Wei Ci curled up into a ball, his frailty making it easy for him to nestle in her embrace.
Given her positioning, their current posture was a tad awkward, with Wei Ci’s face practically pressed against her chest… which was a bit embarrassing. Wei Ci’s cheeks flushed slightly; after being unconscious he was now more awake and wanted to distance himself as much as possible.
“Stop moving, or I’ll toss you off the horse.”
Jiang Pengji warned him in an annoyed tone.
After a pause, Wei Ci stammered, “Men and women shouldn’t…”
“I don’t buy that.”
She let out a cold laugh that startled Wei Ci into silence, clearing his foggy mind a bit. “For someone who knows Liu Xi so well, are you sure our relationship is limited to just that ‘men and women shouldn’t’ boundary?”
She had no idea what Wei Ci had been through, but his reaction along with the System’s presence sparked her imagination!
Wei Ci’s face shifted, and ultimately he chose to play dead, no longer struggling.
