Pei Zhiyan's heart skipped a beat. Seeing Song Ruotang crying in his arms, he struggled to raise his hand to wipe away her tears. He smiled and said hoarsely, "Don't cry. I'm fine, aren't I?"
Song Ruotang's eyes were red like a cute rabbit. She pouted, wiped away her own tears, and looked at him angrily. "Your men had already caught you. Why did you still jump down? Do you know that if it weren't for winter, you might have..."
"But I didn't catch the person I wanted," Pei Zhiyan interrupted her. He stared at her intently. "A Tang, I will catch you. So..."
He took Song Ruotang's hand and said seriously, "Don't let go of me, okay?"
Song Ruotang's heart started pounding. She felt the little seed in her heart growing crazily, and she could hardly contain the flutter in her heart.
Pei Zhiyan looked at her, waiting for her answer. Finally, the snow on the pine tree beside them couldn't hold on anymore and fell to the ground with a whoosh, revealing the lush and green pine needles.
Song Ruotang nodded slightly. "I understand."
Only then did Pei Zhiyan heave a sigh of relief. Then he looked at the wine pouch in her hand and curved his lips. "For me?"
Song Ruotang nodded and said in a low voice, "Sorry. It's all because I suddenly came and disrupted your plan. I even got you..."
"It's not your fault," Pei Zhiyan raised his hand and gently stroked the abrasion on her cheek. "If you hadn't come, we might not have been able to hurt him. He won't get far."
Pei Zhiyan gently tucked the hair that had fallen on her face behind her ear. His voice was a bit distant. "A Tang, you're very brave."
He had seen with his own eyes Song Ruotang's resistance and her fearlessness when she stabbed the dagger into the murderer's shoulder. He knew that it was the instinct she had developed during the sixteen years of her life when she was bullied. He admired her and felt sorry for her.
Although he knew that Song Ruotang was not only brave but also had many other wonderful qualities that he could name or not.
He liked her not only because of her conscious seduction or her beautiful face but more because of her tenacity in finding her own way out in adversity.
So when Song Ruotang was about to let go when she fell off the cliff, he knew that this girl who had always tried to protect her own life was really letting go to avoid dragging him down.
But how could he let go? If he couldn't protect the one he loved, he would blame himself for the rest of his life. Instead, he might as well go with Song Ruotang.
Song Ruotang tightened her fingers and looked into Pei Zhiyan's eyes. At this moment, she finally understood his feelings for her.
Previously, she had been unsure and had been testing him, but now she was sure that Pei Zhiyan really had feelings for her.
Pei Zhiyan leaned on Song Ruotang's lap, coughed a few times, and tried to sit up.
"You're seriously injured. Rest for a while longer," Song Ruotang raised her hand and grabbed his. Pei Zhiyan paused and looked down at her hand.
Her hand was swollen and red from holding snow just now. It felt like ice chips when she held his hand. Pei Zhiyan also noticed that the snow beside him had been dug away by Song Ruotang. His heart sank. "Your hand..."
"It's okay. I used to wash clothes every day in winter in the manor. This bit of cold is nothing," Song Ruotang withdrew her hand and hid it in her sleeve. She said in a relaxed tone.
Pei Zhiyan naturally knew that she had been using frostbite cream during this period. She had just got a little better, but now...
Maybe seeing Pei Zhiyan's guilt, Song Ruotang handed the wine pouch to him. "This is the wine I brewed myself. Drinking some can warm you up."
Pei Zhiyan nodded. Just as he was about to raise his hand to take it, his eyes passed over Song Ruotang, and he suddenly noticed something strange in the bushes behind her.
A figure suddenly rushed out and headed straight for Song Ruotang.
It was the murderer. He wasn't dead yet.
"Be careful!" Pei Zhiyan didn't care about anything else. He pushed Song Ruotang aside and drew out his dagger to block the attacker.
The sound of metal colliding rang out. Song Ruotang fell on the snow and turned her head to look at Pei Zhiyan. The man attacked fiercely and aimed straight at her.
Pei Zhiyan didn't expect him to target a woman. He didn't have time to stop him and could only block in front of Song Ruotang.
The sound of the blade cutting through the cloth rang out. Warm liquid splashed on her face. Song Ruotang's pupils dilated slightly. Pei Zhiyan kicked the man away and pulled him away from Song Ruotang.
But he was injured and it was a bit difficult for him to fight. The other man found an opportunity and swept his sword across Pei Zhiyan's neck. Fortunately, he dodged in time and only a shallow bloodstain was left.
The man didn't seem to be injured much. Moreover, he had rested for a long time and was much more energetic than Pei Zhiyan. Even though Pei Zhiyan was powerful, he was gradually at a disadvantage.
The man kept approaching Song Ruotang. There was a cliff behind them and there was nowhere to hide. Pei Zhiyan blocked in front of her and vowed not to let him get any closer.
"I didn't expect that Lord Pei is such a lovesick fool," the man smiled. "But don't worry, my lord. I will definitely let you and your little beauty die together."
As he spoke, he suddenly attacked Pei Zhiyan's chest fiercely. Song Ruotang found an opportunity and splashed the wine pouch in her hand forward. The still-warm wine instantly splashed on the man's face.
The spicy wine got into his eyes. The man couldn't help but let out a pained cry. The tip of his sword deviated and only scratched Pei Zhiyan's arm.
Pei Zhiyan endured the pain and swung his dagger. He accurately stabbed the man in the chest.
The man's body paused. He widened his eyes and fell straight down, turning his head towards Song Ruotang.
Song Ruotang met his gaze. She could still see that his eyes were red because of the wine, and there was still hatred and disbelief in his eyes.
"Don't look," Pei Zhiyan walked behind her, covered her eyes from behind, and said softly.
But Song Ruotang smiled and took Pei Zhiyan's hand away. She shook her head. "It's okay."
Although it was the first time she had seen a dead person and she was a bit shocked, the days she had spent in the manor were dark. Wasn't it like struggling in the mud? After experiencing so many terrible things, her heart had become stronger.
Seeing that her expression was normal, Pei Zhiyan felt a little more relieved. Song Ruotang took out her handkerchief and wrapped his still-bleeding arm.
Pei Zhiyan silently watched her. After she finished bandaging, he bent down to pick up the wine pouch that Song Ruotang had thrown on the ground and took a sip. "Such fine wine. Don't waste it."
Song Ruotang blushed slightly. She didn't know what to say, so she lowered her head to avoid Pei Zhiyan's gaze. She didn't speak until he had drunk a few sips. "When we get back to the mansion, you can drink as much as you want. Now in this desolate place, just warm yourself up..."
Pei Zhiyan smiled softly and raised his hand to touch Song Ruotang's head. "I know. Don't worry."
Only then did Song Ruotang nod. She walked to his side and supported him. "Let's leave here as soon as possible."
Pei Zhiyan also agreed with Song Ruotang. He looked around. Fortunately, outside this cliff was the only way to the outskirts of the capital. They just had to pass through the jungle.