Chapter 8, it is fine if you do not think of me, at least you are by my side

She cried sorrowfully, yet was completely unaware that the porridge splashed from the pot had scalded the back of her hand

Ji Shuqing felt a surge of anxiety in her heart. She blinked her eyes and looked at Zhuo Lieyang, who seemed to be in a relatively good mood. Holding her breath, she said: "Um... could you please let me make a phone call to my parents to let them know I'm safe? I've been off the plane for quite a while now, and I haven't called them yet. They will be worried..."

Zhuo Lieyang, what are you doing

The last two words were slowly uttered from his mouth, leaving a lingering echo that felt somewhat melodious, imbued with a sense of tender intimacy, lingering in the ears.

I know, Mom

Qingqing, Qingqing

She cannot imagine just how large the Zhuo family's garden is

Seeing her at a loss, Aunt An continued to smile and said: "The young master is someone who struggles to express himself, so he must have made you angry quite a bit, hasn't he?"

"Young Master, we must first disinfect the wound," Aunt An said as she handed the cotton swab soaked in medicine to Zhuo Lieyang

Zhuo Lieyang's expression suddenly darkened, and he suppressed the displeasure and anger that flashed in his eyes, speaking in a low voice: "It doesn't matter if you don't think of me; at least you are by my side."

Then, she took a deep breath and spoke towards the door: "It is me, I have brought you some congee."

Aunt An had watched Zhuo Lieyang grow up, so she naturally understood his feelings at this moment. She found a way to ease his discomfort and said, "Young Master, it must hurt a bit, but it's just a burn; it's not severe enough to require anesthesia. Therefore, you will have to endure it a little. By the way, just now, Xiao Liu brought some documents from the old master for you to review. After you finish, you need to reply to the old master immediately. Why don't you go take a look first?"

How she wished to tell her mother that she was not doing well at all, having been taken to a completely unfamiliar place

As he watched the girl in his arms fall into a deep sleep, Zhuo Lieyang's handsome face was filled with tension and concern. He shifted his gaze from her face to examine the wound on her foot

She walked forward step by step, occasionally scratched by the thorns on the rose branches, but she paid no mind and continued to move ahead. The cool evening breeze swept by, causing the rose flowers to sway their branches, and a faint floral fragrance lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate

She endured time and again, but still could not control her emotions. She opened her mouth, intending to tell her mother the truth, only to find that the microphone was unresponsive.

She was so caught up in her excitement that she naturally did not think much about it. Her fingers swiftly pressed a series of numbers on the phone keypad, and then she picked up the receiver and held it to her ear, waiting for the call to connect

Zhuo Lieyang pondered for a moment, then fully opened the door and said to her, "Then please come in." As he spoke, he turned and walked towards his desk.

Zhuo Lieyang immediately lowered his head and blew on her wound

Aunt An was startled by his shout, causing her hand to tremble involuntarily. The cotton swab pressed against Ji Shuqing's wound, making her cry out in pain once more, her face contorted in anguish, on the verge of tears.

The room was empty, the aroma of the porridge gradually fading away. Zhuo Lieyang sat on the chair, feeling an unprecedented sense of confusion, his chest tight and nearly unable to breathe

"Zhuo Lieyang, I do not understand what exactly you like about me?" Ji Shuqing's voice revealed deep confusion

Zhuo Lieyang suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, and he said softly: "She seems to be in a lot of pain..."

After a while, a slightly displeased voice came from the room: "Who is it? Didn't I say that no one is allowed to disturb me while I am reviewing documents?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she realized her own nervousness; her heart began to race uncontrollably. She held her breath and quietly waited, constantly reminding herself in her mind: at worst, she could just take the porridge back and pour it out, it didn't matter whether he opened the door or not

Continuing down this path, it is a very serious question whether we can even walk out of this sea of flowers, let alone find a way to escape.

"What do you want to do?" Ji Shuqing's face was filled with surprise and suspicion, and she instinctively tried to break free from his grip, but was still pulled into the living room by him

In Zhuo Lieyang's eyes, a glimmer of light flashed as he looked at her meaningfully and said, "Very well, tonight I shall eat people and forgo the porridge."

"You're welcome." Aunt An replied with a smile, then skillfully picked up a cotton swab and gently began to clean her wound.

Zhuo Lieyang furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice: "I have already asked you to call home. What more do you want?"

Her eyelids grew heavier, and just as she was about to lose control and close her eyes, a familiar tall figure leaped into her view. Immediately, she felt herself being embraced, and a concerned voice faintly echoed in her ear: "Qingqing, Ji Shuqing, wake up, don't sleep!"

Ji Shuqing never expected him to act this way. Although his approach was somewhat childish, his gentle expression and cautious movements...

Zhuo Lieyang organized the documents and set them aside, then picked up the porridge she had brought and began to savor it carefully

Ah

Aunt An is an exceptionally intelligent woman, and her words clearly convey a significant meaning that Ji Shuqing immediately understands. Although she is extremely averse to such an approach, she cannot deny that what Aunt An said is indeed reasonable

A person is lost among the sea of flowers, and her hearing becomes particularly sensitive. As she walks, she suddenly halts, feeling that something is amiss around her

She stared at him in a daze, almost believing it was her own illusion

Aunt An's smile carried a hint of helplessness: "In fact, it is understandable for the young master to be this way. His parents divorced when he was very young, and he followed his father. His mother would come to see him once a year or even once every two years. That meager maternal love was hardly anything for the young master. Moreover, the master was wholly devoted to his career, showing little concern for the young master. He is a rather serious and stern person, known for being resolute in his decisions... Therefore, over the years, the young master has inevitably been influenced by this..."

Zhuo Lieyang furrowed his handsome brows, feeling inexplicably distressed. However, before he could speak, she had already turned and quickly ran out of the room

She had not yet regained her senses when his voice suddenly rang in her ears with a hint of mockery: "However, you seem particularly stingy towards me, never willing to smile at me..."

The garden in the evening is particularly tranquil, with only the soft rustling of flower branches when the gentle breeze passes by. There are also insects hidden in some corner, chirping intermittently.

Zhuo Lieyang pondered for a moment, and ultimately stood up with some hesitation. Aunt An, with a gentle smile on her face, sat down opposite Ji Shuqing.

Ah... Ji Shuqing still gasped in pain.

Indeed, perhaps he will never truly understand, for he never even had the opportunity to lie to his mother

Hello?" A familiar yet somewhat puzzled voice came through the phone.

For some reason, her anger towards Zhuo Lieyang seemed to diminish slightly, replaced by another inexplicable emotion, as if ice that had accumulated for a thousand years suddenly began to melt, revealing a subtle tenderness amidst the coolness

If she cannot leave through the main door, she refuses to believe that there is no other place from which to escape this location

"Indeed, is there anything wrong with that?" Zhuo Lieyang suddenly replied with a smile, raising his hand to rub his forehead and saying, "I have a landline on my desk, just call directly."

Aunt An finished tending to her wound, raised her gaze, and looked at her intently, as if she could see through her thoughts. With a slight smile, she said: "I do not know what the young master did to you before, but judging from his recent behavior, he truly cares for you. You see how clumsy he is; it should be clear to you that he is feeling concern and tenderness for someone for the first time."

Zhuo Lieyang gently brushed her injured area with a cotton swab. Although it was just a light touch, Ji Shuqing couldn't help but let out a low cry, tightly closing her eyes in pain, her long eyelashes trembling violently like the wings of an injured butterfly.

The venom of this snake is evidently very potent, she bit her lip, striving to keep herself awake, and then with great effort shouted: "Help, help ... ... "

After his figure completely disappeared in the stairwell, Aunt An shook her head and said: "So it turns out that this young master of mine can also care about others. Little girl, you are the first person to make him care so much, even more than he cares about himself"

He pressed his forehead, tightly closed his eyes, and his mood became increasingly helpless and lonely

Ji Shuqing slowly opened her eyes, gazing at him in front of her. Her slightly moist pupils shimmered with light, and she bit her lip, nodding gently, a sight that evoked deep sympathy.

Your eyebrows, your eyes, your lips... I like them all, especially when you smile... Do you know how jealous I am of that guy who is often with you? In front of him, it seems like you are always smiling...

Just as she was looking at Aunt An with a complex expression, a young maid approached and said to Aunt An: "Aunt An, the porridge in the kitchen is ready. Should I take it to the young master?"

Zhuo Lieyang clearly realized that he had overreacted a bit; on his previously calm and indifferent handsome face, a slight flush of redness unexpectedly appeared at this moment

He took the cotton swab and then carefully observed the wound on her hand. Ji Shuqing became increasingly nervous under his gaze, her eyelashes trembling, her eyes fixed on Zhuo Liyang without blinking, and she involuntarily held her breath.

Ji Shuqing's heart was suddenly gripped with pain, and she said coldly: "This is none of your business; anyway, the person I am thinking of is definitely not you"

Aunt An then extended her hands, gently holding her uninjured hand, and said softly, "Young Master has grown up under my watch since childhood, and I understand his temperament the best. I believe that perhaps only you can bring him happiness. I hope you can... try to accept him and cherish him well."

A fleeting pain flashed in Zhuo Lieyang's eyes, quickly vanishing, as he curled his lips into a mocking arc: "Do you think I would devour you?"

She instinctively lowered her head and looked down at her feet, where a snake with a triangular-shaped head was stretching its neck and staring at her, its red tongue flicking in and out, sending chills down her spine

Aunt An could only feel a mix of amusement and exasperation as she helplessly said, "It was only because you shouted that I accidentally hurt her."

Ji Shuqing ran all the way down from the upper floor to the lower floor, and then ran to the garden

Is there anything wrong with this? She just wants to let her parents know that she is safe

He became even more uncomfortable, standing there, unsure of what to say for a moment

"So you think that this is enough to show kindness to me?" Ji Shuqing's moist pupils could hardly conceal her anger, her emotions were agitated and complex. "Zhuo Liyang, do you know that was the first time I lied to my mother? Do you know how sad and wronged I felt when I lied to her? You, this demon, will never understand! Everything is because of you!"

In Ji Shuqing's eyes, joy immediately blossomed, shining like the stars, and she was overjoyed, almost forgetting in that moment that it was this very person who had deprived her of her freedom; at this moment, he was merely offering her a taste of sweetness.

Zhuo Lieyang immediately withdrew the cotton swab from his hand upon hearing the sound, raised his head to look at her, and a trace of heartache flickered in his eyes. He gently asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"

She must escape

To speak the truth

Alright, her hand has been burned. Aunt An, please take out all the burn ointment.

Who were you just thinking about? You were so lost in thought that you didn't even notice when your hand got burned. Who is that person? Is it your parents, or is it that boy who is very important to you? His voice was gentle, his tone flat, yet it subtly conveyed a hint of mockery and ridicule

"Alright, alright, I will arrange it right away," Aunt An reluctantly agreed, casting a worried glance at the unconscious Ji Shuqing in his arms before hurriedly turning to make a phone call

Without much thought, he quickly bent down, positioned his mouth over her wound, and forcefully sucked out the poisoned blood. After taking one mouthful, he spat it out, then resumed sucking, repeating this several times before he finally stopped

He, however, appeared as if nothing had happened, glancing at her lightly, and gently parted his lips to say: "What needs to be said has been said, and what should not be said need not be spoken. Your mother now knows that you are safe, they can rest assured, and you can also feel at ease"

Escape

Not long after, a middle-aged woman around fifty years old approached, carrying a medical kit, and respectfully said to Zhuo Liyang: "Young Master, the medicine kit has arrived"

Zhuo Lieyang, do you know that was the first time I lied to my mother? Do you know how sad and wronged I felt when I lied to her? You, this demon, will never understand! All of this is because of you!

No matter what sound it was, at this moment, Ji Shuqing could only feel helplessness.

"That... I just got off the plane, and my phone was stolen by a pickpocket! I'm sorry, Mom, for making you worry." While speaking, Ji Shuqing glanced at Zhuo Lieyang out of the corner of her eye

His voice was faint and ethereal to the utmost degree, and after hearing it, she unexpectedly became dazed.

Is that true? That's wonderful

Only then did she belatedly let out a cry of pain, furrowing her brows and silently biting her lip in restraint

But at this moment, where is Zhi Yan? What is he doing? ... She really misses him so much ...

She let out a scream, her entire body falling backward. The snake, having succeeded in biting her, also released her foot and slithered back into the depths of the flowers

Ji Shuqing said angrily in a low voice, glaring at him with a pair of moist eyes, secretly clenching her fingers, as the anger and resentment in her heart surged like a tide once again

These words truly resonated with Ji Shuqing, so she gently nodded her head

She spoke at a speed twice as fast as usual, fearing that if she slowed down, her voice would inevitably choke up.

This was her first time witnessing such beautiful scenery with her own eyes, even more beautiful than the wisteria flowers in the academy

The freezer in the kitchen is stocked with a variety of fresh ingredients, comparable to a vegetable market, allowing her to choose at will

The process is quite simple, yet she seems somewhat distracted while doing it. In a daze, she appears to be transported back to a few days ago, when she was making porridge for Zhiyan. In just a few short days, everything has changed.

Zhuo Lieyang stood in the room, gazing at her intently, his pupils dark, his gaze profound, and his exceptionally handsome face revealed not a trace of superfluous emotion

Ji Shuqing gazed at him intently. Although he was usually a free-spirited individual with a rather peculiar temperament, it must be said that his dining posture was quite elegant, exuding an air of nobility in his every gesture. However, this could not conceal the dark and indifferent aura that surrounded him

She knows that things cannot continue to develop like this! She cannot be controlled by him like this!

Do not mind me! Hurry up! At this moment, Zhuo Lieyang was already somewhat unclear in his speech

Zhuo Lieyang naturally would not avoid her gaze; he even stared at her pupils somewhat recklessly, then raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Fear ... ...

"Aren't you just a man-eating demon?" Ji Shuqing shot him a glance and muttered softly.

She stood dazed in front of the stove, tears quietly moistening her eyes, glistening droplets slowly sliding down from the corners of her eyes, silently flowing down her fair skin

"Go ahead," Aunt An said with a smile as she looked at him. To soothe his heart, she added, "It's just treating the wound, Aunt An is very skilled at this, so you can rest assured."

When he reached the stairway, Zhuo Lieyang turned around again and said to Aunt An, who had hurried over from somewhere behind: "Have the snake catcher catch all the snakes in the villa! Not a single one should be left!"

Zhuo Lieyang blew on her a few times, and feeling her hand still trembling faintly, he became even more distressed. Therefore, he turned his head to look at Aunt An beside him and anxiously asked, "What should we do if she is in so much pain?"

In fact, making porridge does not require many complex ingredients. She first took some rice and washed it clean, added an appropriate amount of water, and then began to simmer it. After that, she washed some fruits, peeled them, and placed them into the pot to simmer along with the rice

Ji Shuqing looked up at him, suddenly struck by the complex emotions in his eyes, a mix of sadness and loneliness, and even a hint of faint hope

Hmm. Zhuo Lieyang responded and walked past them, heading towards the stairs. As he ascended, he turned back to glance at Ji Shuqing several times.

Having spoken, he took her hand and walked out of the kitchen

He carried the unconscious Ji Shuqing into the house and shouted, "Call Dr. Xu and have him come within ten minutes!"

However, as her consciousness became increasingly blurred, her voice grew fainter. In just a moment, her forehead was already covered with fine beads of sweat

Upon hearing her words, Ji Shuqing's cheeks immediately flushed with a delicate shade of red, resembling a freshly bloomed cherry blossom petal. Her heart also began to race as she struggled to conceal her inner embarrassment, lowering her head slightly and not responding to Aunt An's remarks

"No matter how many people you invite to catch them, you must ensure that all the snakes are caught by tomorrow evening!" Zhuo Lieyang commanded coldly

Aunt An couldn't help but be taken aback: "Caught them all?" Such a large villa, surrounded by various plants, and snakes are very cunning; it would indeed be quite challenging to catch them all.

The moment his hand touched hers, she instinctively wanted to evade, but at that moment, her body seemed to be beyond her control, remaining rigid in place, allowing his fingers to glide down from her brow to the edge of her lips

He stood in the hall and shouted, "Aunt An, bring out the medical kit." Then, he forcefully pressed her down onto the sofa. Just as Ji Shuqing was about to stand up, he pressed her down again with force and placed his hand on her shoulder, saying in a deep voice, "Sit still!"

Her mother's increasing concern made her feel more aggrieved, and moreover, this was her first time lying to her mother, leaving her with an overwhelming sense of sadness in her heart

In the end, she had to admit one thing: she was completely lost in this sea of roses

Zhuo Lieyang hesitated for a moment as he glanced at Ji Shuqing, but Ji Shuqing immediately averted her gaze and no longer looked at him, offering him no response whatsoever

His words lacked any emotional fluctuations, yet Ji Shuqing inexplicably sensed a kind of sorrowful atmosphere

Ji Shuqing followed him with a bowl of porridge, gently placing the bowl on his desk, as a faint aroma of porridge spread throughout the room

Where has she arrived? ... Where is the way home ...

"Shu Qing, is that you? Why did it take you so long to call? If it weren't for Zhi Yan telling me that you have already landed, both your father and I would still be worried that something happened to you. By the way, what happened to your phone? Why is it turned off?"

Looking at the abundant ingredients before her, Ji Shuqing revealed a hint of a wry smile, realizing that Zhuo Liyang had indeed planned this in advance; otherwise, he would not have been so well-prepared

Originally anxious and uneasy, Ji Shuqing felt even more uncomfortable under his gaze. She slightly lowered her head, looking at the porridge in her hands, and said softly: "The porridge is ready..."

In a short period of time, Ji Shuqing unexpectedly developed some complex feelings for the young man before her. However, which of these feelings is stronger? Is it pity? Is it curiosity? Or is it heartache?

Zhuo Lieyang looked at her for a while before speaking softly: "Such trivial matters as delivering porridge can be handled by the staff. Your hand is injured and you should be resting, Qingqing"

The boy who was extremely gentle to her, if he knew that she was being controlled here by Zhuo Lieyang, would surely come to rescue her at all costs

Ji Shuqing immediately spoke: "Mom, it's me! I am Shuqing!"

She suddenly felt a bit hesitant to look into his eyes, so she slightly lowered her head and said softly: "But I have always been very afraid of you, how could I possibly smile at you..."

She does not want to sleep either, but her nerves are becoming increasingly dull and are completely out of control, what should she do, what should she do...

She is truly too tired, so let her sleep for a while. Zhi Yan will definitely help her take care of everything

In the garden, various roses are in full bloom, clustering together to form a beautiful sea of flowers. The orange sunset casts a slanting light over the rose sea, as if draping them in a layer of orange gauze, exuding a youthful shyness, beautiful as if it were a scene from a painting

Ji Shuqing had always feared snakes more than any other creature throughout her life. The moment she saw one, her first instinct was to step back. However, it was this very action that startled the snake, which then bit her on the foot.

"Do you now know the pain?" There was a hint of displeasure in Zhuo Lieyang's voice

She quickly averted her gaze, pretending not to see, listening to her mother's voice coming from the other end of the phone: "Oh dear, why are there so many thieves? Shuqing, you must be careful, pay attention to your safety. Did the thief only steal your phone and not harm you? Where are you living now? Is it safe there?"

Under her burning gaze, Zhuo Lieyang, who was drinking porridge, raised his handsome face, and their eyes collided. For a moment, she could not look away, only staring blankly into his eyes.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the door was suddenly opened by someone

Ji Shuqing's heart trembled. She originally wanted to immediately pull her hand away from Aunt An's grasp, but the smile on Aunt An's face was so sincere and gentle that, for a moment, she actually... hesitated.

She does not know

The familiar ringtone echoed through the phone, and her gaze inadvertently fell upon Zhuo Lieyang, who was staring intently at her, causing her heart to suddenly race wildly.

Very well, as long as everything is fine, then you should stay there and learn from your master diligently

Ji Shuqing hesitantly glanced at him

Ji Shuqing carefully carried the porridge to the outside of Zhuo Lieyang's study, took a deep breath, and then gathered her courage to gently knock on the door.

Standing at the kitchen door, Zhuo Lieyang witnessed this scene and immediately furrowed his brows. He stepped forward, grasped her hand, and placed it under the faucet to the side, turning on the switch to let the cold, clear water wash away the porridge residue from the back of her hand

At this moment, Ji Shuqing's fleeting fondness for him vanished once again, but no amount of anger could be expressed outwardly; she glared at him and gritted her teeth as she said: "Zhuo Lieyang, you are nothing but a demon"

Zhuo Lieyang propped his forehead with his hand, squinting at her. Upon hearing the words "thief," a clear flash of displeasure crossed his eyes

After walking for an unknown duration, she finally realized that she could not distinguish her direction at all. She looked around in confusion, and all she could see were the swaying figures of flowers and branches.

Ji Shuqing was slightly taken aback; she was unaware that he had such a rule. Holding the porridge, she was about to turn around, but upon reconsideration, she thought to herself that she had finally persuaded herself to bring the porridge over, so how could she leave empty-handed like this

Aunt An!" Zhuo Lieyang furrowed his brows tightly and shouted nervously from the side

Zhuo Lieyang was giving instructions to Aunt An while sitting down beside Ji Shuqing, holding her hand and observing her closely

In response to her mother's barrage of concern and inquiries, Ji Shuqing felt a surge of bitterness in her heart. She struggled to hold back the tears in her eyes and said: "Mom, I am currently at the hotel, everything is fine, I am very safe here, so please don't worry..."

Aunt An handled the wound with great care and tenderness, her voice also very gentle. Listening to her tactfully narrate, Ji Shuqing unknowingly became immersed in her voice, temporarily forgetting the pain

Zhuo Lieyang stared at her without blinking; although it was only for a brief moment, countless thoughts had already passed through his eyes. Suddenly, he extended his long fingers and gently placed them on her brow.

The female attendant quickly nodded and immediately took out her phone to dial a number

Zhuo Lieyang sat in the chair, gazing at her. His expression appeared indifferent, yet his pupils were so deep that it was impossible to fathom his thoughts. After pondering for a moment, he said softly: "So you brought me porridge to persuade me to agree to your phone call"

She fell to the ground, the pain in her legs becoming numb, and her consciousness began to blur

"Alright, I understand. You go ahead and take care of your matters first," Aunt An dismissed her and continued to look at Ji Shuqing with a gentle expression. "Miss Ji, I believe that if the young master were to see you personally serving him porridge, he would certainly be very pleased. In that case, he might not make things too difficult for you regarding certain matters."

He pondered for a moment before nodding slightly and saying in a low voice, "Then I will go upstairs first"

After making this decision, she transformed all her discomfort into courage, bit her lip, and took a step forward, walking towards the seemingly boundless sea of flowers

Ji Shuqing's face instantly took on a layer of pink hue, resembling the shy petals of a newly bloomed flower. She awkwardly cleared her throat and said softly, "Anyway, I have nothing to do, and I also have something I want to tell you."

He has always been like this, unable to tolerate even the slightest grievance against her

Aunt An looked at him and suddenly noticed something was amiss. She stared at his swollen red lips and asked with concern, "Young Master, what happened to you? Why are your lips like this? Are you alright?"

Her voice lingered constantly in my ears

After spitting out the last mouthful of blood, he embraced her and began to run, swiftly charging towards the main house of the villa

Ten minutes later

Ji Shuqing, seeing her kind expression, couldn't help but feel a greater sense of closeness and respect towards her, and quietly said to her: "Then I trouble you..."

She never expected to be taken to this unfamiliar city; if her family and Zhiyan knew about her current situation, they would surely be very worried

I wonder what lies at the end of this sea of roses

It turns out that the telephone line was disconnected by Zhuo Lieyang

Seeing him in such a nervous state, Aunt An couldn't help but chuckle: "Young Master, since you have never helped anyone with a wound, you naturally do not understand the nuances. Let me handle these matters instead."

Ji Shuqing hesitantly glanced at him

As she spoke, her tears could no longer be contained, rolling out like transparent beads flowing down her face, making her appear like a petal in the rain, evoking a sense of pity in those who beheld her

Perhaps this is closely related to his family background; born into a wealthy family, he enjoyed material comforts but lacked affection and care from a young age, growing up in solitude

Recalling the wisteria flowers at school, she began to associate them with more people and events, and a sense of indescribable discomfort arose within her

Ji Shuqing pressed her lips together and remained silent

"Young master, what is the matter?" Aunt An asked in confusion as she turned her head.