Pampered By All In Different Planes

"I can do it myself," Su Zhiruan attempted to feed herself, but Ji Xiaoyuan had already brought the porridge to her lips.

"Eat," he held the spoon in front of her.

Left with no choice, Su Zhiruan had to swallow the spoonful of porridge from his hand.

The meal slowly came to an end in this back-and-forth atmosphere.

Su Zhiruan wasn't very hungry; she only ate two buns, while the man devoured the remaining dozen or so with the speed of a whirlwind, leaving Su Zhiruan staring in astonishment.

After eating, he quickly went to wash the dishes.

When he returned, Su Zhiruan looked at the layout of the room, raised her head to him, and said, "I'm sorry, I've taken your bed."

"It doesn't matter, it's chilly at night. Miss Ruan Ruan, make sure you're covered well and rest. Don't mind me," Ji Xiaoyuan pulled up the blanket for her and then extinguished the candle in the room.

Su Zhiruan knew that for the past few days, he had been sleeping on a couch, but the couch was somewhat too small for his stature. Ji Xiaoyuan was at least 1.9 meters tall, and seeing such a large man curled up on the small couch made her feel quite disheartened.

"Don't overthink it, just sleep well," Ji Xiaoyuan noticed the change in her expression and instinctively patted Su Zhiruan's hair, "I'm used to sleeping anywhere, it won't bother me. You, on the other hand, have a slight frame, don't catch a cold."

Su Zhiruan watched his retreating back.

Ji Xiaoyuan pulled out the blanket from his wardrobe, and from somewhere, he found a rolled-up tiger skin mat to spread on the couch. He unfolded the thick blanket, quickly lay down, and closed his eyes.

Though he was born of noble status, his behaviors had not picked up even a hint of the Imperial Family's luxury. Often campaigning outside the Great Wall, he lived and ate with the soldiers, ensuring he could sleep no matter how harsh the conditions, maintaining his mental state for the following day.

Su Zhiruan had rested for most of the day, so now, listening to the rustling sound of insects outside the window, she wasn't very sleepy.

"Can't sleep?"

In the pitch darkness of the night, the man's voice suddenly rang out. It wasn't loud, but Su Zhiruan knew it was addressed to her.

"I'm fine, I slept too much during the day, not tired now," Su Zhiruan replied softly.

"Were you chased and forced down the cliff side?" Ji Xiaoyuan heard her turn in the darkness once more, so he quietly asked.

Su Zhiruan didn't want to explain too much about the incident. She vaguely replied, "My family has enemies. When they found out I left home, they came after me. Thanks to your rescue, my life was spared."

Ji Xiaoyuan was no ordinary man, and he naturally sensed that Su Zhiruan was withholding some details, but he didn't press further. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, he was just an ordinary hunter, managing a scanty income by hunting in the mountains.

"When they come looking for me, I will definitely send a generous gift to thank you for saving my life," Su Zhiruan added another sentence when he remained silent.

"That's alright," Ji Xiaoyuan finally spoke, his voice indifferent, "As the saying goes, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-floor pagoda. If you can heal your leg injury and walk normally, that would be my good deed and accumulated merit."

"A drop of water shall be returned with a spring. Saving a life is greater than heaven itself," Su Zhiruan conversed with him for a few more sentences.

After speaking, she actually felt her eyelids grow heavy, sleepy. As she spoke, Su Zhiruan felt her consciousness wane, and she eventually fell asleep.

Ji Xiaoyuan wanted to say something else. He looked at the dark window and fell silent for a moment before speaking, "Alright."

But he received no reply, only the sound of steady, gentle breathing in what had been a silent room.

The girl's breathing was light, yet he, being a martial artist, was more acute in catching such sounds. In just one breath, Ji Xiaoyuan knew she had fallen asleep, so he too closed his eyes, pulled up the blanket, and prepared to sleep.

*

The next day.

The village was awoken by the successive crowing of roosters, the sun slowly rising from the east, casting a soft golden light. It was still early, the temperature outside not yet high, with dew clinging to the freshly sprouted tender green shoots.

It looked to be a good day.

Early in the morning, there was a knocking at the door of Ji Xiaoyuan's house. The knocking was sharp and loud, and it quickly woke up both Su Zhiruan and Ji Xiaoyuan.

"Brother Xiaoyuan, Brother Xiaoyuan, are you home? I've brought you something!"