As soon as they entered the cave, Mao Mao couldn't wait to find a dry spot on its own and lie down to groom its fur.
Seeing how at ease it was and finding no signs of wild beasts around the cave, Li Ying finally felt a bit more relaxed.
She lit a bonfire and took off their soaking - wet outer clothes to dry them. Lu Xunguang's wound had stopped bleeding, but his eyes were still tightly closed and his body trembled slightly.
A sense of unease flashed through Li Ying's mind. She gently placed her palm on his forehead. Sure enough, it was alarmingly hot to the touch.
He had such a terrifying gash from the reef, been soaked in the sea for so long, lost too much blood, suffered wound infection, and was exhausted. Even a man of iron would probably collapse.
Li Ying rummaged through her whole body. Apart from the cuttlefish bone, all she had left were the mountains of coconuts in her space.
The first time she saw Lu Xunguang in the dilapidated temple, he was gasping for breath, looking very much like he was in this situation now.
Back then, they were strangers. Li Ying only thought that this man was on the verge of death. If she could save his life, it would be a good deed. If he died, it was his fate. In a hurry, she had no hesitation in using coconut juice for his transfusion.
But now, time had passed. Seeing Lu Xunguang burning deliriously, frowning bitterly, yet still mumbling incoherently, "A Ying, don't be afraid. I will surely protect you," she just couldn't bring herself to pierce his skin with the hollow hairpin that served as a transfusion needle.
If anything happened to Lu Xunguang...
The thought had barely flashed through her mind when Li Ying felt an almost suffocating pain.
So, this man had somehow taken a place in her heart without her even realizing it?
Li Ying felt a complex mix of emotions. Mechanically, she wrung out the handkerchief and placed it on his forehead to cool him down. Her mind was in a complete mess, totally unaware that Mao Mao had tiptoed out of the cave and brought back some wild onions and galangal from somewhere. It dropped them at her feet as if presenting treasures.
Li Ying looked at them. Many of the leaves were unfamiliar to her. Although she guessed they were herbs, she didn't dare to act rashly since Lu Xunguang's life was at stake.
Seeing her still hesitating, Mao Mao puffed out its little cat mouth, seemingly dissatisfied with her lack of trust. It meowed.
Li Ying gritted her teeth and finally stuffed all the herbs into a coconut shell and boiled a pot of pungent - smelling medicinal soup.
"Lu Xunguang, wake up..."
Li Ying helped him sit up. She gently applied the ground cuttlebone on his wound and tore a piece of her skirt to bandage it carefully. The medicinal soup had cooled down. She softened her voice and coaxed him like a child.
Lu Xunguang was still sleeping soundly. When a spoonful of the medicinal soup was brought to his lips, he didn't open his mouth to swallow. The soup dripped all over his clothes.
Maybe the burn on his chest was touched by the soup. Lu Xunguang's eyebrows twitched in his coma, and he let out a broken murmur.
Li Ying felt as if her heart was being roasted on a hot stone. She took a deep breath. After much hesitation, she finally bit her lip, took the medicinal soup into her mouth, and leaned over.
Her lips were soft and moist. They touched Lu Xunguang's hot lips. Her flexible tongue pried open his teeth and passed the soup to him.
Whether it was because the medicine was too bitter or because of the coolness of her body, Lu Xunguang's long eyelashes fluttered slightly, casting two shadows.
Li Ying plucked up her courage and fed him the remaining half - bowl of the medicinal soup in the same way. Finally, she felt a bit more relaxed. Just as she was about to get up, Lu Xunguang, who had been in a coma, suddenly opened his eyes wide. He looked at her in confusion and shock.
Their eyes met. Her nose rubbed against his face, and there was still the warmth of his lips on hers. There was a hazy look in Lu Xunguang's eyes, but one of his hands had already firmly grabbed the back of her head and kissed her back without hesitation, domineeringly exploring her mouth.
The faint bitterness of the medicine filled every taste bud of Li Ying's. She watched as Lu Xunguang's face grew infinitely large in front of her. Her mind was like a noisy theater, with gongs and drums sounding.
Heaven knows, she was just trying to save a life out of the belief that saving a life was better than building a seven - story pagoda. But how did the plot seem to be developing in a strange direction?
Lu Xunguang greedily took in every bit of the sweet air in her mouth until she felt dizzy, as if she was going to drown in his arms. Then he reluctantly let her go.
"Lu Xunguang?"
Li Ying took a deep breath and tentatively called his name.
The man was like a silent reef, giving her no response at all. He had fainted again.
Li Ying was afraid that it was a last spurt of energy before death. Regardless of her shyness, she repeatedly checked his breath and listened to his steady heartbeat. Only then did she finally let out a sigh of relief.
So...
Did that guy just kiss her in a state similar to sleepwalking?
Li Ying was speechless.
It was okay.
Too many things had happened in just one night. Love came without warning, and she really didn't know how to face Lu Xunguang. She might as well just consider that kiss as his daydream.
Li Ying made up her mind, and the fluttering in her heart finally calmed down a bit.
She changed the handkerchief on his forehead several times. He was shivering from the fever. Although Mao Mao looked disgusted, it still curled its tail and jumped into his arms to quietly act as a warm heater for him.
Soon, the effects of the herbs kicked in. Lu Xunguang broke out in a sweat, and that terrifying high fever actually miraculously subsided.
Li Ying marveled at Mao Mao's animal instinct. The stone in her heart finally dropped. She casually cooked a bowl of cuttlefish soup and wolfed it down with Mao Mao. Seeing the first light of dawn on the horizon, she couldn't help but feel a bit worried.
She hadn't returned all night. Granny Sun and Xiaoman must be extremely worried.
And Mianmian. Although Xiaotuanzi was a well - behaved child, she had never been away from her for more than two hours. She didn't know if the child was crying now.
The boat had been smashed into pieces by the waves. In this vast sea, with no sense of direction, how could she get back to the village?
Li Ying was at a loss. Her face wrinkled like a bitter melon. But the little sick cat didn't seem to understand the difficult situation. It was comfortably lying beside her, purring, and the sound was very hypnotic.
She couldn't come up with an idea and was really sleepy. Somehow, she fell asleep.
In her dream, someone seemed to be calling her name, the tone infinitely gentle and lingering.