When Ye Luan brought the medicine in, the room was already empty.
"Why did you take so long? It hurts so much," Xiao Chi Zhan said, sitting on the bed and looking at her resentfully.
Ye Luan walked closer and sat by the bed. "Here, drink your medicine."
"Feed me."
'---' Ye Luan put her hand to her forehead. "You need feeding for this too?"
Xiao Chi Zhan remained silent, clutching his chest, appearing to be in great pain.
She quickly brought the medicine to his lips. "Alright, alright, I'll feed you."
"Luan Luan, is this not a dream?!"
He reached out to touch her face, his deep crimson pupils filled with disbelief. They had been arguing before he fainted, their words sharp and pointed. Every word she spoke felt like it was gouging his heart; he had been in despair! But after waking up, his Luan Luan had changed.
Ye Luan brought the medicine to his mouth. "It's real, drink your medicine quickly."
She loved him. Seeing him on the brink of death had truly brought her pain and despair. She was letting him go, and letting herself go.
Xiao Chi Zhan smiled and kissed her. This stab had been worth it!
Caught off guard by his sudden move, Ye Luan glared at him. "Don't move around carelessly; your wound might split open again."
Hearing this, Xiao Chi Zhan obediently drank the medicine. Looking at her earnest little face, he recalled her tearful words about marrying him when he was in a daze. His cool lips curved into a smile.
"Luan Luan, you won't leave me again, will you? We'll be together for all eternity, won't we?"
As soon as he said that, Ye Luan knew he wanted her by his side at all times, never to leave his sight. Fine, she would humor him for now; they could discuss other things once his injuries healed.
"Yes, yes, I won't leave you."
"Perfunctory."
Ye Luan: "---"
Seeing him turn away, sulking and refusing to drink his medicine, she had no choice but to pat his back. "It's not perfunctory, I really won't leave you."
Xiao Chi Zhan said, "Then kiss me, and I'll believe you."
"---"
Ye Luan's face turned cold. "If you don't drink your medicine, I won't care about you anymore." He was getting too demanding; she couldn't always indulge him.
Xiao Chi Zhan shifted his body, turning slightly. His fierce, dark eyes flickered with a hint of grievance, which made Ye Luan want to laugh. How could he be so good at acting? She leaned forward and touched his lips. "Can I give you the medicine now?"
Xiao Chi Zhan nodded in satisfaction and obediently drank all of it.
"Your wound should not be moved. You must stay in bed."
"Where are you going?"
He suddenly sat up, grabbing her hand. His gaze was as if he was afraid she would run away.
Ye Luan said, "I'm going to get a cloth to wipe you down."
"I want to bathe."
"No, your wound is still severe. You cannot touch any water. Once you're a bit better, I'll help you wash."
Xiao Chi Zhan reluctantly nodded, then added, "Then you help me wipe."
"Mhm." She had intended to wipe him anyway; she had been wiping him while he was unconscious, and his injuries were too severe for him to move much.
Xiao Chi Zhan lay on the bed, his gaze locked onto her. Wherever she went, his eyes followed. Ye Luan noticed but didn't bother to react. She wet a cloth and sat by the bed, gently wiping his body.
Xiao Chi Zhan felt no shyness and deliberately arched his back, earning an exasperated glare from Ye Luan. "If you move around carelessly again, I'll leave you."
"I'm not moving carelessly, it just hurts a little."
Listening to his low words, Ye Luan's heart softened. "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"No, it just hurts badly." The pain was real, but he was used to it; he had endured far worse. He simply wanted to elicit her concern. "A kiss from Luan Luan will make it better."
Ye Luan: "---" He was even more shameless than before.
"Kissing doesn't stop the pain—" Before she could finish, he interrupted her. "I just want to kiss you. It works better than anything."
Ye Luan, impatient with his persistence, gave him a light kiss. Xiao Chi Zhan was about to hold her and kiss her properly, but she was already on guard and quickly pulled away.
"Be careful not to touch your wound. Oh, right, what do you want to eat? I'll have them prepare something."
Xiao Chi Zhan, having failed to surprise her with a kiss, looked a little aggrieved. He took her hand and said, "Luan Luan, when do you want to get married?" He was eager to marry her!
"Next spring."
"Ah---" Xiao Chi Zhan complained, hugging her. 'It's too late! I'll have the Imperial Astronomer pick a good day. Let's get married sooner.'
Ye Luan coughed lightly and averted her gaze. She wanted to take things slowly, to date first, then get married. Otherwise, with his temperament, once they were married, he would likely watch her every moment.
"Are you regretting it?" Suddenly, his voice turned cold, his gloomy eyebrows shrouded in a dark mist, making him look somewhat frightening.
Seeing him like that, Ye Luan couldn't help but chuckle. She leaned in and hugged his neck, saying softly, "Are you that insecure?"
As she embraced him, Xiao Chi Zhan immediately wrapped his arms around her, burying his head in her neck and murmuring, "I'm afraid that once you see I'm healed, you won't want me anymore." He wanted to marry her, to bring her back to his manor quickly. She would be his alone.
"How could that be?"
Ye Luan gently hugged his back and coaxed him, "Ye Luan loves Xiao Chi Zhan very, very much." Her voice was incredibly soft.
Xiao Chi Zhan felt a tingle down his spine listening to her. He greedily inhaled her scent, his voice deep. "Luan Luan, I love you more. Whatever you want, I will give it to you!" Even if she wanted the stars in the sky, he would pluck them for her.
"Luan Luan, call me Chi Zhan Gege."
Hearing his words, Ye Luan suddenly recalled their experiences in the Yunmengze cave. She couldn't help but smile and shake her head, hugging him.
"Chi Zhan Gege."
Through entanglement, through separation and reunion, after so long, it had always been him, and only him!
-------
"Okay, aren't you hungry? I'll have someone prepare something for you to eat."
"I am hungry, but I want to hold you."
Ye Luan wanted to roll her eyes; he was too clingy. "Once your injuries are healed, you can hold me as long as you like. For now, don't press on your wound."
Xiao Chi Zhan said, "No, I want to hold you now."
"Do you want me to hit you? Let go." This crazy lunatic would climb to the highest point with just a flimsy excuse.
Seeing that she seemed angry, Xiao Chi Zhan reluctantly let go. "So fierce!"
Ye Luan snorted, tucked him in, and ordered food to be prepared. His body was still very weak, so besides medicinal meals, he only had some fish soup and porridge. After eating, he pestered her again about the marriage. Ye Luan, annoyed, finally agreed verbally.
"Then it's settled. Once my injuries are healed, I'll go propose to your grandmother."
"Didn't you say the earliest auspicious date chosen by the Imperial Astronomer is in the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Xiao Chi Zhan said, "We can get engaged first, exchange the betrothal gifts."
"Alright, alright, whatever you say."