A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to be Appreciated 4

6

Zuiju was very worried about Pingting. She hurriedly asked, "How long has it been since you cornered me into a wolf pack? Half a day? A day? You left my clothes and hairpin in the snow? How can I get it back? I have to get it back."

"Half a month."

"What?" Zuiju looked at the corner in disbelief.

Fanlu stepped out from the corner, his exquisite light crossbow still in his hands. The corners of his mouth lifted, "The snow on the streets have already melted. You've been sleeping for half a month."

It felt as if Zuiju's chest had been smashed with a hammer. She was almost unable to breathe. She shook her head, "Impossible, that's impossible."

Three days, Pingting had said, she would wait for three days.

She was waiting in a rocky area of the Songsen Mountains and her pulse was not steady.

"I've had enough of your shouting. How could I take you around if you weren't conscious?"

"You..."

He stopped her, asking, "I saved your life, why are you not thanking me?"

Zuiju fiercely glared at him. She was silent for a while before she shouting through clenched teeth, "You bastard! Damn you! Damn you to hell! Why did you harm me? Why did you save me? I am going to kill you! Kill you!"

She cursed him for a little under half an hour, until she panted, exhausted. Her wound on her leg began to sting again, so she could only stop. She hugged the blanket on the bed as she gasped for breath.

Who knew what that Fanlu's thick skin was made of. No matter how terrible her insults were, he just stood there, listening, with an indifferent expression. After hearing Zuiju cease, he immediately asked, "Had enough?"

"No!" There was no way Zuiju's anger had calmed. She suddenly raised her head, gritting her teeth to continue, "You scumbag, you six year-old toothless brute who only eats eggs..."

She had always been sharp tongued, and she even brought out all sorts of curses from the various four countries.

Fanlu listened and listened until a smile gradually formed on his face. He even insolently dared to lean against the wall as he watched her. Zuiju hated him even more. She took a deep breath and cursed even louder. He listened cheerfully for a while, and suddenly retrieved his smile. His face became serious, "That's enough. If you yell any more, I'll pull your blanket."

"You..." Zuiju hesitated and actually stopped.

She wasn't afraid of death, but she was completely naked underneath the blanket right now. If he pulled her blanket, he would see everything. It was so shameful, she couldn't even face death. There weren't many women under the world who were not afraid of such a threat.

Fanlu watched her and couldn't help but smirk evilly again.

Zuiju was silent for a long time. She seemed to soften. Her voice was harsh, "I don't appreciate you saving my life, just go ahead and kill me." Her anger had gone, and her sadness had enveloped her heart. She shrank back in the bed and turned away.

Pingting had been in the mountains for half a month. Perhaps she was no longer in the world. Zuiju couldn't stop the tears from pouring out of her eyes, though she held some hope in her heart. She thought of how this enemy thought of herself as Bai Pingting, meaning there was one less person in the Songsen Mountains trying to harm Pingting. Perhaps the sky had pity, letting Pingting survive. Thinking that much, she dearly wanted to fly to the Songsen Mountains to look. But like this, how could she go?

This secret was something she mustn't tell this wicked man.

Her tears rolled down her cheeks like a broken string of pearls.

Fanlu watched her huddled, seeming even more petite on the bed. Her shoulders constantly shook. It appeared she was crying, yet he didn't care. He turned to walk out of the room, returning soon after with a plate of food.

"Eat something."

Zuiju didn't have the appetite and bitterly detested Fanlu. She gritted her teeth and remained silent.

Fanlu saw that she didn't move and knew what she was thinking. He coldly said, "I am not begging you, I am ordering you. Obediently eat, or don't blame me if I show no pity."

Zuiju felt the blanket that covered her body fall slightly. She hurriedly flipped and sat up, clutching tightly to the blanket. She was both scared and angry, "You...what do you want?"

The corners of Fanlu's mouth rose to a smile, yet his eyes were unusually cruel. "I painstakingly saved you, fed you rice porridge everyday on the road. I don't know how much effort I spent. If you've really made up your mind to die, then you might as well pay me back a bit."

Zuiju saw him reach out his hand and hurriedly scooted further into the bed. Her eyes were full of fear.

Fanlu only intended to frighten her and only stretched out a little before stopping, returning his hand to his chest. He continued to lazily lean against the wall. He beckoned to the meal by the bed with his chin. "Eat it all."

Zuiju's distinct black and white eyes became slightly bloodshot. She glared fiercely at him until he seemed to move again. She reluctantly gave up and picked up the bowl, eating the food in tiny mouthfuls.

In the snowy mountains, she had been more hungry than not, and when she was out, all she had was rice porridge. Although she was very worried and angry, just after two mouthfuls, her entire stomach began to growl again. The more she ate, the better it tasted. In the end, she had not only finished the entire bowl of rice but also the other two dishes.

As she put down the plate, she raised her head, only to realise that hateful guy had been watching her eat all along. She scowled at him. She was afraid that Fanlu would really take away her blanket and didn't dare yell any more apart from giving him a fierce glare.

"Do you glare at the Duke of Zhen-Bei like that?" Fanlu suddenly asked.

Zuiju hesitated for a while and remembered he thought she was Bai Pingting. She pursed her lips, knowing that she would never clearly explain to Fanlu. "It's none of your business."

Fanlu didn't say anything, just quietly assessed Zuiju.

His gaze was both impolite and bold. Even though Zuiju clutched tightly to her blankets, she still had the wrong impression that he was trying to see her naked body underneath. She endured it for a while, until she couldn't stand it any longer. She returned Fanlu's gaze and challenged, "What are you looking at?"

Fanlu didn't reply, just stared at her for another while. He then said, "Rumours has it that you're not beautiful, but I think you're not too bad."

Zuiju's heart jolted at this. She looked at him warily, her ten fingers grasping the blanket even tighter.

The two did not speak. The air began to thicken, causing it to be more difficult to breathe than usual.

Fanlu didn't walk away. He just continued to assess Zuiju in silence.

Zuiju thought his gaze was even scarier than a wolf's, causing all of her hairs to rise. She suddenly felt something hard hit her backbone, only to realise that she had unwittingly retreated to the other side of the bed. She was now against the wall.

"Where is this?" Zuiju opened her mouth to ask.

Fanlu's mouth twitched, but he didn't answer.

Zuiju secretly fumed. "What are you smiling for?"

Fanlu replied, "I am betting with myself whether you would talk to me within the burning of one stick of incense. As expected, you did." His evil smirk revealed his white teeth. "Are you afraid of me?"

"Hmph, dream on."

Her words had yet to fall when Fanlu suddenly rushed forwards like a wild beast.

"Ah!" Zuiju exclaimed, but she was crushed by the wall and could not move any further.

When she opened her eyes, Fanlu's face had popped into her sight, about a foot away.

"What...what are you doing?"