Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter Two: The Barefoot Doctor

The crescent moon, like a bow, resembled a lone boat adrift in a sea of ​​clouds, and was soon obscured by the approaching dark clouds.

The rain was heavy, and after a few muffled claps of thunder, large raindrops began to fall, accompanied by a strong wind. The wind and rain raged, and the dilapidated thatched huts swayed precariously among them.

Ji Meiqing was awakened by thirst.

Her back was covered in sticky, cold sweat, but her body temperature was frighteningly high. Her lips were already cracked and parched. The pain brought her back to her senses.

She tried to move, but her body was weak and powerless. She wanted to shout, but it felt like her throat was blocked with cotton wool, and she couldn't make a sound at all. She could only hug herself tightly and huddle in the thin blanket to keep warm.

In her daze, she remembered her past life, when she was guarding a century-old business and enjoying boundless glory. Back then, she was still the head of Jiang's Winery, instead of transmigrating to this fictional Daqing Dynasty and becoming some random Ji Meiqing. She was not framed by the Ji family and fell off a cliff into this remote mountain village called Yuxi Village.

As she was thinking this, sleepiness crept over her again. Ji Meiqing's consciousness was hazy, and she didn't know how long she had slept until she suddenly heard a rustling sound of footsteps, followed by a dull thud as the old wooden door was pulled open a crack.

A gust of cold wind blew in, and Ji Meiqing shivered violently.

Her eyes were wide open as she stared at the dark ceiling, her whole body tense with fear. The oil lamp in the room had long been extinguished by the cold wind, and it was pitch black all around, but she could still sense a silent, dark shadow standing beside the bed.

The footsteps were slow but steady, ringing in her ears. The person was getting closer and closer, and Ji Meiqing's heart was rising higher and higher, until it was stuck in her throat.

Her first thought was that a thief had broken in.

Although she had been confined to her room for the past two weeks due to her injuries, she had vaguely heard her neighbors mention that things seemed to be quite unsettled in the west recently. Most of Daqing was experiencing famine, and many bandits, having grown terrified of hunger on the mountains, were sneaking down at night to rob and plunder.

Even though she was terrified, she didn't dare to make a sound or even move. She only thought that the bandit would leave as soon as he got what he wanted. But after waiting for a long time, the figure stopped moving completely.

If it weren't for that person's faint breath lingering beside her ear, Ji Meiqing would have truly thought she was having a nightmare.

She turned her head slightly in surprise, only to be met with a deep, captivating gaze.

Those eyes were clear and bright, with pupils as black as a deep pool, exuding an aggressive aura. As Ji Meiqing looked at them, she suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

Lost in thought, the other person spoke first.

"woke up?"

Hearing the familiar voice beside her, Ji Meiqing was startled, and it took her a while to react, "Brother Lu? What brings you here?"

Lu Yu nodded, but remained silent.

He turned around, and using the occasional flashes of lightning outside, found a small candle on the table. He then took out a tinderbox from his pocket and lit it.

The candlelight flickered, and Lu Yu used scissors to steady the flame, illuminating half the room before answering calmly, "I heard you were having a nightmare, so I came to check on you."

Ji Meiqing glanced out the window at the howling rain and wind outside, and she was even more surprised. "With such a strong wind and rain outside, how could Brother Lu hear it from the north room?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu paused slightly in his hand as he adjusted the candle.

“I have naturally good hearing,” Lu Yu replied after a long pause.

The candle flame was finally steady. Lu Yu put down the scissors, turned around, and was about to say a few words of advice to Ji Meiqing because her old injuries had not healed and she had fallen into the water yesterday. But as soon as he turned his face, he saw her struggling to get up. His heart tightened and he subconsciously reached out to help her, but he stopped himself as soon as he reached out.

The villagers of Yuxi are very simple and honest, and Lu Yu is a typical conservative who does everything in a very methodical and conventional way. Of course, he has no improper thoughts, but he also thinks that Miss Ji is still an unmarried young woman, and it would be bad if she caused gossip.

Thinking this, Lu Yi quickly withdrew his hand. After hesitating for a long time, he deliberately raised his gaze, looking only at the bare wall behind Ji Meiqing, and asked in a flat voice, "Are you feeling any better?"

The heat and dry mouth were certainly not good, but fearing Lu Yu would worry, Ji Meiqing shook her head, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said gently, "I'm much better after a nap..."

He paused, then said with deep gratitude, "Thank you so much, Brother Lu, this morning. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would have died again!"

Seeing that she was alright, Lu Yu felt a little relieved. Hearing her words of gratitude, he waved his hand dismissively, "Why thank me? I still need to apologize to Miss Ji on Cuiwei's behalf. That girl is spoiled by me and very unruly! I've already taught her a good lesson. Once you're healed, I'll definitely make her apologize to you in person!"

Ji Meiqing had witnessed Tian Cuiwei's willfulness since she entered the Lu family. She didn't like her to begin with, and now that she had been taught a lesson by Lu Yu, she probably hated her even more!

She didn't want to cause any more trouble, but after hearing this, she couldn't help but rush to explain. However, she used too much force and ended up hurting her wound.

Ji Meiqing frowned and hissed softly, but before she could finish speaking, a faint scent of soap wafted into her nose. She looked up in surprise and met Lu Yu's resolute chin.

Although Lu Yu was a farmer, he was tall and rugged, but his face was extremely handsome. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a high nose, and his features were as if they were carefully sculpted, with distinct angles. He looked like a young master from the Jiangnan region, but his eyes and brows also had a touch of heroic spirit.

Because they were so close, Ji Meiqing could even see the stubble on his chin. Her eyes stung, and she quickly looked away.

"You have a fever? Why are you so hot?"

Suddenly enveloped by a masculine aura, Ji Meiqing instinctively struggled, trying to escape this embrace that wasn't quite a hug. But before her hand could even touch Lu Yu's chest, she heard a low rebuke in her ear. She turned her face and saw Lu Yu's furrowed brows, and her face turned even redder.

He stammered, wanting to explain, but couldn't help but fall silent when he met the other person's stern gaze. He could only stammer, "It's just a slight fever... I'll be fine after resting for a while..."

At this moment, Ji Meiqing's face was pale, her face was plain and simple without any makeup, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, making her look pitiful.

Lu Yu's eyes stung, and he quickly got up and released Ji Meiqing, turning his back to her. After a while, he strode out the door.

Seeing him turn and leave, Ji Meiqing called out in surprise, "Where are you going?"

Lu Yu stopped, but only uttered a dry "Find a doctor" before hurriedly stepping out again, his figure quickly disappearing into the wind and rain, looking inexplicably disheveled.