514 Medal
When they returned to the cabin, Xing Chen placed Qiao An on the bed. With the help of the incandescent lamp, he checked Qiao An’s bare arms and legs. Her ankle was cut by thorns.
Xing Chen’s heart ached. He rubbed his fingers gently over the dense wounds. “Does it hurt?”
Qiao An said, “It didn’t hurt earlier, but it does now.”
Xing Chen gathered some hemostatic grass outside the wooden house and crushed it with his fingers before gently applying it to the wound.
Seeing him treat Qiao An so gently, Xing Xiaoya was crazy with jealousy.
“Brother Xing Chen, this small wooden house is only enough for one person. If she stays here tonight, where will she sleep?”
Qiao An stared at Xing Chen in shock. “The two of you…”
Xing Chen knew that she had misunderstood the situation and explained impatiently, “I live here alone. For some reason, the two of you ran up the mountain together tonight.”
Qiao An was relieved.
Xing Xiaoya’s plan to make Qiao An misunderstand had failed. She was very angry and indignant. “Qiao An, as you can see, this place can only accommodate one person. Come down the mountain with me.”
Qiao An said, “I’m hungry and can’t walk. Go back and get me something to eat. I’ll go down the mountain with you when I’m full?” She wanted to send Xing Xiaoya away and be alone with Xing Chen.
Xing Xiaoya gritted her teeth in anger. “In your dreams.”
Xing Chen said to Xing Xiaoya, “I’ll call Da Zhuang and ask him to pick you up from the mountain. Go home and sleep well. Qiao An is injured and will stay here tonight. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Xing Xiaoya objected. “If she doesn’t leave, I won’t.”
Xing Chen was helpless.
Qiao An lay on the bed and breathed in the faint fragrance of grass. It was the unique scent of Xing Chen. She closed her eyes in satisfaction.
“In any case, I’m not going anywhere tonight. I’ll sleep here. This bed is so comfortable.” Because it was the bed Huo Xiaoran had slept in.
Xing Xiaoya was exasperated. “Shameless.”
Xing Chen stared at Qiao An in a daze. The way she closed her eyes to rest was really cute.
However, her palm-sized face was covered in mud.
Xing Chen suddenly took off the washcloth from the pole and went outside to soak it in water. He returned to the bed and gently wiped Qiao An clean.
Qiao An suddenly opened her beautiful eyes and smiled sweetly at him. Xing Chen was stunned. Her smile stirred his heart again.
For some reason, he recalled the electric feeling when they kissed just now. It was indescribably beautiful.
And at this moment, his heart was still enveloped in happiness.
Did Qiao An actually kiss him back?
Did that mean they had confirmed their relationship?
Qiao An was exhausted and didn’t rest well overnight. She quickly fell asleep.
Xing Chen sat beside her and guarded her quietly.
Xing Xiaoya sat on the only recliner and turned to look at Xing Chen angrily from time to time.
She had to take steps to stop them from continuing to love each other like this, or she would lose Xing Chen.
“Brother Xing Chen, I know you kissed. But it’s very normal for girls to hug and kiss in big cities. Don’t take it to heart. When Qiao An abandons you, you’ll be sad.”
Xing Chen glared at her angrily. “Qiao An isn’t the kind of person you say she is.”
Xing Xiaoya pouted. “Why not? She’s been married twice. The first time she saw you, she threw herself into your arms. She’s such a promiscuous woman. Are you willing to forget her true colors just because she gave you a little affection?”
Xing Chen retorted angrily, “No matter what, I didn’t control myself just now. I kissed her. I’ll be responsible for her in the future.”
Xing Xiaoya laughed sarcastically. “Brother Xing Chen, who in this society will be responsible for a kiss? Hehe, even if you want to be responsible, she may not need you to do so.”
Xing Xiaoya’s words poured a bucket of cold water on Xing Chen. He did feel that his thoughts were a little narcissistic.
He’d taken the initiative to kiss her. Would she really hold him responsible for a kiss?
Besides, what was he going to take responsibility for?
“Whether she wants me or not is up to her. But since I kissed her, I have to be responsible for her,” Xing Chen said.
Xing Xiaoya pursed her lips and did not say anything else. After all, Xing Chen was a responsible man. Otherwise, he would not be willing to be bound here to repay her father for saving his life.
Her father had once reminded her that Xing Chen was definitely not ordinary.
The next day at dawn, Qiao An was awakened by the wild animals outside. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Xing Chen lying on her bed. His windbreaker was already draped over her.
He was as gentle and considerate as ever.
Qiao An reached out and stroked his face, running her fingers across his exquisite and charming eyebrows. Her heart ached for his warm hand.
“Xing Chen.” She patted his face gently.
Xing Chen opened her eyes.
Qiao An pulled back the blanket and moved in. “Come up and sleep,” she said. “Don’t catch a cold.”
Xing Chen’s sleepiness instantly disappeared.
“That’s not appropriate.”
Qiao An said, “Be good and listen. Come up.” Her voice was as gentle as water.
Xing Chen’s defense was instantly broken through and he lay down.
There were two adults lying on the cramped bed. It was indeed a little crowded.
Qiao An turned sideways and hugged his back tightly.
Xing Chen trembled. He didn’t like people touching his scar. He minded Qiao An touching it even more.
...
However, Qiao An was sharp. She suddenly asked him, “Xiao Ya said that you have a scar on your back. I want to see it.”
Xing Chen hesitated for a long time. “Don’t look. It’s ugly.”
Qiao An said stubbornly, “Show me.”
Xing Chen sat up and rolled up his T-shirt.
Tears suddenly rolled down Qiao An’s face as she saw the purple-red scar that was bigger than a palm.
Then she rolled over and gently kissed his scar. Xing Chen stiffened. “Qiao An. Don’t do this. It’s ugly.”
Qiao An choked. “You know what? It’s your medal.”
Xing Chen was stunned. He slowly turned around and realized that Qiao An had already cried.
“Why are you crying?”
Qiao An said, “My heart aches for you. How did you get through those bleak times with such a serious injury?”
Xing Chen stared at Qiao An in a daze. At that moment, Qiao An’s lack of disdain relieved him.
...
“Qiao An, don’t cry. It’s all in the past.”
He suddenly felt that a girl like Qiao An was the noblest girl he had ever seen. She didn’t admire the strong, trample on the poor, or despised other people’s scars. This was a girl with a noble heart.
When he lay back on the bed, he didn’t face her with his back again.
He looked into Qiao An’s face. She smiled at him slyly, then like a child, wrapped her arms around his waist and burrowed into his arms.
“I’ll warm you up. Xing Chen,” she said.
Xing Chen immediately felt that colorful sunlight had suddenly burst into his dull world.