Chapter 43: 43 Nightmare
Xiao Liulang despised New Year’s Eve because he would always dream of boundless, raging fires on that night.
He tried not to fall asleep, but the moment he closed his eyes, he could deeply feel the despair within that fiery light.
“Xiao Liulang, let’s make it clear, we are only husband and wife in name! You cannot lay a hand on me!” Gu Jiao said seriously.
“Who wants to lay a hand on you?” he grumbled, turning his face away.
Gu Jiao brought a bowl of water over. “Who can guarantee that you guys say one thing but do another? To prevent you from fooling around, I’ll leave a bowl of water here. If you dare to come over and spill this bowl of water in the middle of the night, then you’re a beast!”
“Alright, if I come over, I’m a beast!
How could he possibly go over to her?
He had absolutely no desire for this woman!
The next morning when he woke up, he arrogantly glanced at a bewildered Gu Jiao, as if to say, see, I’m really not interested in you, right?
Who knew that Gu Jiao, far from being happy, gave him a resounding slap: “You’re worse than a beast!”
Xiao Liulang woke up with a start!
He sat up and realized that this wasn’t his room. A few crookedly pasted “Fortune” characters were on the wall, and hideous New Year window cut-outs were on the window.
They were the masterpieces of the old lady and Gu Xiaoshun.
Xiao Liulang finally remembered where he was and looked next to him.
Gu Jiao was lying on her side facing him, her chubby cheeks squished, and her small mouth was pouting.
She had been clutching his hand all night.
Xiao Liulang thought about the strange beast dream, his handsome brows knitting. Coldly, he withdrew his hand from Gu Jiao’s.
Being rejected in her sleep, Gu Jiao grumbled and grabbed his hand again.
Xiao Liulang took her hand off once more, but it was useless, and she entwined their fingers again.
He didn’t know how many times he wrestled with her. In the end, he was the one worn out, and he drifted back into a deep sleep.
Until daybreak, the nightmare didn’t appear again.
For three days Fen Lin stayed in Qingquan Village, sleeping in the same bed with Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao for three nights. Apart from her holding his hand on the first night, afterwards, they used their limbs lovingly. Each time Xiao Liulang awoke, he would always discover the two of them cuddled together under the quilt.
Xiao Liulang would get angry and ask her, “You… did you do this on purpose?”
“Hm?” Gu Jiao would gaze at him cluelessly.
Which made Xiao Liulang unsure for a moment, who exactly was cheeky while they slept. Maybe he was the one who led her into his arms…
Today was the day Xiao Liulang’s stitches would be removed. Technically, Gu Jiao could do it at home, but that risked a higher chance of exposure. Moreover, the old lady had also finished her Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it was time to get a new batch.
Though that prescription was only for supplementary treatment, it significantly improved the recovery process.
After breakfast, she took Xiao Liulang and Fen Lin to Huichun Hall in town on Uncle Luo’s ox-cart.
Workers had all gone home for the new year, so only the Boss, Shopkeeper Wang, and the old doctor who had been impersonating a renowned physician for Xiao Liulang, remained in Huichun Hall.
These three had made a special trip from home, wanting to see the actual effect after removing the stitches.
Even Gu Jiao herself was eager for it.
She was certain the operation procedure was flawless, but the final recovery level needed to be seen.
The stitches were taken out by the old doctor; that much medical skill, he had.
After that, everyone’s gaze fell unconsciously on Xiao Liulang.
Too many things were at stake on this operation. The Boss hadn’t given up on treating the Young Master, even though he had been scolded for it by his family when he went back for New Year.
Shopkeeper Wang was a bit eager for the operation to succeed since he was a man of conscience. However, he also hoped for the operation to fail since to be a man of conscience, one would first have to be alive—a dead man is a ghost.
Treating the Young Master would truly lead to death!
Xiao Liulang sat on the chair. He gradually moved his feet, which had just had the stitches removed, to the ground. The crutch was beside him, but he didn’t reach out for it.
He leaned on the chair and stood up, first using his unharmed left foot. When he stepped forward with his right foot for the first time, he felt a softness beneath his sole, and his entire body lurched forward!
Gu Jiao quickly steadied him, and they ended up in a full embrace.
They were simply a young couple. No one made a sound, even, but Xiao Liulang’s ears were burning.
Gu Jiao hadn’t noticed his peculiarity. All her attention was on his ankle.
“Are you alright?” she asked, looking at his ankle.
Xiao Liulang shook his head. “I’m fine.”
He had been injured for half a year and had been using crutches for half a year. His right foot was seldom bearing weight—after all, every time he tried, it caused a heart-wrenching pain.
The fall just now wasn’t exactly stable, but it seemed like it didn’t hurt anymore.
Xiao Liulang grabbed his crutch and tried to walk another step—it was confirmed, it really didn’t hurt anymore.
He was always expressionless, but this time he was somewhat dazed, as if he hadn’t expected that he could truly recover to this extent.
He had thought that he would limp and suffer for the rest of his life…
“Brother Xiao, have you actually gotten better or not?” Fen Lin anxiously asked.
“I’m not in pain anymore, just a bit powerless.” Xiao Liulang said.
Fen Lin couldn’t help but ask, “So… is this a real recovery? Why are you feeling weak?”
The old doctor slowly said, “Young Master Fen, don’t worry. Young Master Xiao is not in any pain, which means the surgery was very successful. However, he has been injured for a long time, with obstructed blood and qi, weakness of muscles and bones, and stiffness in the ankle. It still needs careful conditioning, coupled with strenuous training.”
“Can it be restored like to how it was before?” Fen Lin asked worriedly.
The old doctor glanced subtly at Gu Jiao and smiled, “As long as Young Master Xiao is not afraid of hard work.”