Meanwhile, at the opposite direction in the distance was a small forest rising up into a low slope mountain. Climbing up the slope was Tang Xinyang and Jang Shin.
Since the start of the free time, the two had been hiking up the forest.
Jang Shin was already lightly panting and was soaked wet with sweat.
How long had it been since he last exercised like this?
Ever since he began helping out Linfeng with his business and was freed from his Young Miss's tyranny, he never had such an exhausting physical exertion such as this.
"Y-young miss, aren't you tired? Let's take a quick rest first." They had been walking since earlier from the rest house to this creepy forest.
Was this not supposed to be a small forest? How come they had not reached the other side of the forest yet?!
"Tired already?" Tang Xinyang's eyes lit up. Time for some intimacy! "Come here, Shin-gege, let me carry you." She reached out both of her arms to the exhausted young man as she smiled at him sweetly. Tang Xinyang wore tight jeans that showed her slender legs and perky butt, as well as a cute pink top which highlighted her curves. She appeared very feminine.
However, the way she offered her muscle power to Jang Shin could not be associated with that word at all.
"..." Jang Shin froze. He was being threatened again. QAQ
He immediately wiped his sweat and pretended to be lively and agile.
"Nah, Young Miss. Actually, I'm still feeling pretty good. I was just joking with you, haha." His dry laugh resonated within the forest.
The girl pursed her lips in disappointment and put down her arms. Whatever, he should feel tired later. Once he felt tired, then she could start 'attacking'.
Hehe.
"Is that so? Let's go, then. Hurry up. We will arrive soon." Tang Xinyang began to walk up again.
Jang Shin wanted to cry. He had been hearing that word 'soon,' since two hours ago. Where the heck were they going?
He knew it. The most devastating part of this trip was the free time with his Young Miss. Just seeing her bright eyes after hearing that they could go wherever they wish, he already felt that bad premonition.
He suddenly looked around the bleak forest in fear. Maybe... this was to be his final resting place where he would be buried secretly. Did his Young Miss finally found a new punching bag?
Jang Shin did not know if he should be happy with the thought that he would no longer be a punching bag anymore, or cry in sadness as his life seemed to be about to end.
Because he was preoccupied with thinking of how his life was doomed, he did not notice the rock in front of him and tripped over. He hurriedly leaned back but ended up falling backwards.
Swoosh!
"Argh!" He stumbled and rolled down the downward slope.
"Jang Shin!" Tang Xinyang's alarmed shout echoed loudly in the forest.
She immediately broke a branch near her with one hand, dove down after him, and rolled on the ground. Because she added force on her roll, she was able to fall faster than him and was able to reach him soon. Using the rebound from the roll, Tang Xinyang steadied her body into a slid and grabbed Jang Shin's jacket firmly towards her. She stabbed the branch hard on the dirt with all her strength using her other arm. She even used her internal energy. Thankfully, the sharp and thick branch was buried halfway deep on the sloping ground.
With this, it stopped both of their precarious fall. Tang Xinyang adjusted their position and stuck close on the sloping ground so that the burden on the branch will be lessened.
"Hold on, Jang Shin. I got you," Tang Xinyang said as she sweated. She tested the protruding rock by her feet, and using it as leverage, she exerted force and pulled up Jang Shin with the hand holding the jacket. While he rose upwards due to the force, she immediately wrapped her arm around his body and balanced him with her.
After ensuring that the force of the fall was completely nullified and that their position was steady, she slowly let go of the branch and laid down on the ground together with the boy by her side.
Jang Shin who had turned into a lifeless doll, stared blankly at the green leaves and the clear sky.
Was he just about to die? Or did he die already?
"Jang Shin, are you okay?" Tang Xinyang worriedly called to him. "Jang Shin?"
Jang Shin felt a warm breath on his cheek and looked at the source of the voice blankly.
His face was scratched all over and so was his clothes. There were leaves and dirt stuck in his hair.
His eyes were a bit dazed. Tang Xinyang frowned. He was still clearly in shock.
"Jang Shin, wake up."
"Xinyang..." He grievously called to her still with that dumb look on his face.
Tang Xinyang's heart skipped a beat. In her ears, his voice was full of affection and gratefulness.
Tang Xinyang grinned.
"Are you feeling grateful?"
"...Eh?" Jang Shin asked dumbly.
"I just saved your life."
"..."
"Heh, no need to be shy. I know you must be feeling thankful I'm here, isn't that right?"
Jang Shin blinked, processing what she said.
Oh, right. He was about to die and get buried under the dirt. He was about to join the restless souls living here in this creepy forest. But his Young Miss heroically saved him.
Right. His Young Miss saved him, because his death could only happen in her hands.
Still, he felt relieved and thankful that he was still alive.
"...Yes, thank you, Young Miss."
Tang Xinyang continued to stare at him.
Jang Shin: "..." What was she waiting for?
The two continued to stare at each other. Both had no intentions of standing up from the ground.
"..."
"..."
Finally, Tang Xinyang's bright eyes slowly turned to confusion. She furrowed her brows.
"That's it?"
"What?" Jang Shin could not understand her.
"If you are thankful, then you are supposed to kiss me."
"...HA?" Jang Shin's mouth was agape.
Where did it came from?!
Tang Xinyang raised her body and hovered over Jang Shin. She moved her face closer to his.
Jang Shin was horrified and his eyes widened in terror.
E-eh? Eeeehhhhh?????
"Y-Young miss..." W-what...w-hat was happening?? Did she just mention 'kiss'? A kiss for a thank you?!
Tang Xinyang's shadow slowly enveloped Jang Shin. Her face was inching closer to his, very close, too close...
"W-wait..." Are you damn serious?! What was happening? Did his Young Miss hit her head on the rocks when she rolled down earlier?
Tang Xinyang's lips were only an inch away from Jang Shin's.
"TANG XINYANG!" Jang Shin shouted with all his might.
In term of strength, he would not be able to win. If a malicious ghost borrowed his Young Miss's body and r.a.p.ed him here in the desolate woods, he would not be able to fight back all.
Her hardware was just too strong!
He never won against her in terms of strength, not even once. Thus, he could only shout loudly to stop her and wake her up.
Tang Xinyang halted in shock, her ears numbed by the sudden sonic attack. His shout was so loud that even the birds fled from the treetops.
After a brief pause, she finally put a distance between her and Jang Shin. She sat up on the slope and cleaned her ears.
Damn. Her eardrums almost ruptured!
Seeing that his Young miss finally moved away, Jang Shin sighed in relief and sat up with difficulty. His body was aching all over.
But the most important issue was that his chastity was in danger at this moment.
He took a deep breath.
"Young Miss, please calm down." Jang Shin's voice was hoarse. His throat was a slightly hurt by his extra 110% strength shout.
Tang Xinyang looked at him, feeling annoyed. "What?"
He just interrupted the most perfect timing.
And... Somehow, she felt as if she was rejected when she was how Jang Shin shouted so much just to stop her. For the first time, she felt an unusual tightness in her chest, as if her heart was being squeezed tightly. She felt a bit breathless.
Why?
He was not like this earlier and yesterday. He kept on returning her smiles, and he even voluntarily held her arm. Yet his behavior right now seemed much more real than those previous actions.
Was being close to her actually repulsive to him?
Was the idea of kissing her repulsive to him?
Tang Xinyang lowered her lashes to hide the disappointment and hurt in her eyes.