Sure enough, the next day I found Lin Feng collapsed at the cave entrance.
Beside him was a basket of peaches.
I nudged his hand with my foot.
Lin Feng looked up weakly.
“Mei Chen… want some peaches?”
I couldn’t refuse and let him in.
He used the cave wall to steady himself, following me inside.
He looked happy, his half-tail wagging.
“Stop wagging.”
He realized what I meant, his face falling as he let his tail droop.
The mood turned cold.
“Take off your shirt.”
Lin Feng stared blankly.
I picked up the medicine Ling Ze gave me.
“Hurry up, time for medicine.”
He quickly stripped off his shirt.
A shocking scar ran across his chest.
“Just so you know, Ling Ze asked me to do this. I owe him.”
“Okay, okay~”
Lin Feng seemed a little happier, his tail trembling on the bed.
I quickly finished applying the medicine.
He dressed and looked at me with longing.
“Give me your tail.”
He hugged his tail onto my lap. I glared at him.
“Closer… so I can put on the medicine.”
I unwrapped the bloody bandages. Even prepared, the wound shocked me.
It looked torn, not cut.
“Did I scare you? Sorry…”
Lin Feng tried to pull his tail back, but I held it down.
“Stop talking. Medicine.”
“Mei Chen, when you help me, I feel better faster.”
“Mm.”
“Are the peaches good? I put spiritual power in them to help you heal.”
My hand paused.
This idiot—he’s barely alive, but still worries about me.
“They’re not good.”
Lin Feng grew anxious.
“You don’t like peaches? What do you want? I’ll get it for you.”
I slammed the jar on the table.
“Save it. Just focus on healing, and stop coming here.”
Lin Feng fell silent. I looked up at his red eyes.
“When you’re done, leave.”
He didn’t argue, just left without looking back.
I thought he wouldn’t come the next day.
But at dawn, he showed up with a basket of assorted fruit.
I was half-asleep, but took the basket.
Lin Feng turned away. “I’ll leave after you put on the medicine.”
He’d come so early, I was barely awake. As I walked to the table, I tripped on a rock.
“Ugh.”
Suddenly Lin Feng’s face was right in front of mine, and somehow, our lips met.
I quickly pushed him away.
Lin Feng was stunned, his lips swollen.
“Mei Chen…”
“Shut up. Take off your shirt for medicine.”
The process was quick and silent.
“I’ll come at noon tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
For the next few days, things were peaceful between us.
We chatted about little things—mostly Lin Feng talking, me occasionally responding.
“I won’t come tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Your wounds aren’t healed yet. Try to use the medicine every day.”
I added, “That’s what Ling Ze said.”
Lin Feng’s eyes sparkled.
“Do you… want me to come?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll come tomorrow night.”
Sure enough, the next day I found Lin Feng passed out at the entrance of the cave.
Beside him was a fruit basket, overflowing with peaches.
I nudged his hand with my foot.
Lin Feng looked up weakly.
“Mei Chen… do you still want peaches?”
I couldn’t refuse, so I let Lin Feng in.
He steadied himself against the cave wall and followed me inside.
Lin Feng seemed oddly happy, his half-tail wagging nonstop.
“Stop wagging,” I said, my heart aching at the sight.
He realized what I meant, his face stiffening as he let his tail droop.
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned cold and awkward.
“Take off your shirt,” I said.
Lin Feng stared at me, confused.
I picked up the jar of medicine Ling Ze had given me.
“Hurry up, time for your medicine.”
Lin Feng quickly took off his shirt.
A shocking scar ran across his chest.
“Just so you know, Ling Ze asked me to do this. I owe him.”
“Okay, okay~” Lin Feng replied, his mood lifting a little, his tail trembling softly on the bed.
I quickly finished applying the medicine.
Lin Feng dressed, looking at me with longing.
“Give me your tail.”
He hugged his tail onto my lap. I shot him a glare.
“Closer… so I can put on the medicine.”
I unwrapped the bloody bandages. Even though I was prepared, the wound still made me wince.
It didn’t look like it had been cut off—it looked torn.
“Did I scare you? I’m sorry…”
Lin Feng tried to pull his tail back, but I held it down.
“Enough talking. Medicine.”
“Mei Chen, when you help me, I heal faster.”
“Mm.”
“Are the peaches good? I infused them with spiritual power… to help you heal.”
My hand paused.
This fool—he’s barely alive, and still worries about me.
“They’re not good.”
Lin Feng grew anxious.
“You don’t like peaches anymore? What do you want? I’ll get it for you.”
I slammed the jar onto the table.
“Save your strength. Just focus on healing and stop coming here so often.”
Lin Feng fell silent. I looked up at his red eyes.
“When you’re done, leave.”
Chapter 13
*