Chapter 250

When Ning Ning woke up, the first thing she noticed was the cool woody scent.

She knew whose scent it was and, in her muddled state of mind, she thought to herself: No way, why does it even smell like Pei Ji in my dream?

…though she had occasionally dreamt of him before.

Her entire body felt strange, neither hot nor cold, and her mind was hazy, like rusty gears struggling to turn.

The unreal sensation was so dreamlike that Ning Ning assumed she was still dreaming, trying her best to make sense of her surroundings.

Something was thumping, making her chest itch, and the warm, soft aura around her made her instinctively want to get closer.

She reached out and gently hugged tighter.

In her dream, Ning Ning continued to think quietly, so this is what it feels like to hug Pei Ji.

She had thought it would be like holding a piece of rough wood.

But he did feel a bit too thin, with bones that poked painfully at her touch.

She would have to take him to eat more delicious food—

Wait, can a dream be the same as reality?

In reality, would Pei Ji ever let her touch and hug him so freely like this?

The boy’s body was thin and slender, with a subtle softness and a comforting warmth when hugged.

The closer Ning Ning got to him, the more the coldness within her seemed to fade, and the sharp pain in her head finally began to clear a little.

She wondered what it would really be like to hug Pei Ji.

As she lost herself in her thoughts, she buried her head into his neck, seeking more of his scent and warmth.

His heartbeat quickened, and his body noticeably stiffened.

In her daze, Ning Ning heard Pei Ji’s voice: “Don’t be afraid.”

Hmm? That didn’t feel like a dream; it sounded so clear.

Her brain stalled for a moment, and as she was caught in this confusion, a sharp pain struck the back of her head again.

Would a dream feel painful?

It seemed, probably, maybe not.

Ning Ning suddenly snapped awake, frozen in place, not daring to move.

No way.

This isn’t a dream?

Was she really hugging Pei Ji tightly and rubbing against him?

And the soft, warm thing she was leaning on… was it really him?

Ning Ning’s body, originally flushed with heat from the cold wind, felt like it was burning up now.

All that warmth rushed to her cheeks.

Panicking, unsure of what to do, she heard Pei Ji’s voice again.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but his tone seemed lower and raspier than usual: “I’ll help you kill it.”

Then he gently placed a pill into her mouth.

The soft sensation brushed from the center of her lips to the corner, and Ning Ning guessed what it was.

Her mind in turmoil, she could only hold her breath, close her eyes, and pretend to still be asleep.

If Pei Ji discovered she was awake, Ning Ning would never be able to face him again.

He had never cared for his own injuries or illnesses, so naturally, he had never taken care of anyone else.

His movements were stiff and awkward as he held her close again.

Ning Ning felt a slight itch on the top of her head.

She figured he must have buried his chin into her hair, and the hand resting on her back applied gentle pressure, though it was extremely restrained.

Pei Ji was really bad with words.

After thinking for a long, long time, he finally spoke in an awkward and unromantic way.

“Don’t be afraid. I won’t… let you get hurt again.”

His voice was soft, like a lover’s whisper, with a slight tremble, almost inaudible.

But those simple, straightforward words felt like a gentle breeze as they reached Ning Ning’s ears, causing her eyes to sting with warmth.

She hadn’t felt this way in a long time.

In the world of cultivation, every day was busy and demanding, filled with training, leveling up, venturing into secret realms, and competing for treasures.

Though she laughed and joked with others, she would occasionally think back to her previous life.

Her parents, the furry cats and dogs at home, and the friends with whom she had shared dreams and futures.

It was a life completely different from now, surrounded by family and friends, where just reaching out a hand would let her touch all the care and love she could want.

But then, by some twist of fate, she ended up here, becoming someone out of place with the entire world, forced to learn how to navigate it alone.

Ning Ning never imagined that anyone would tell her, with such care, that they wouldn’t let her get hurt again.

…Why did he have to say something so cheesy with such seriousness?

The long-held feelings of loneliness and grievance broke through a small hole in her heart and poured out uncontrollably.

Before she realized it, tears were already falling.

Pei Ji must have felt the dampness on his chest, as his body suddenly tensed up.

Then, his collar was gently grabbed, and the girl in his arms moved her head, raising her tear-filled eyes.

Ning Ning’s face was pale as paper, making the pink around her eyes stand out even more.