Bigoted Mr. Fu Lets Me Do Whatever I Want

Gu Yan examined the back of Qin Shu’s hand carefully. Her fair skin was mottled in a bluish-purple hue. Two puncture wounds stood in stark contrast, twisting his expression into a hideous scowl. “What can you tell me of the snake that bit her?”

“Its body was a shade of emerald green, and its skin was flecked in purple spots. It was only a little thicker than a chopstick. She tried expelling the venom by sucking it out with her mouth,” Han Xiao recited.

“Is she tired of living? If she sucked the venom out with her mouth and ingested some of it by mistake she would have only poisoned herself instead.”

Gu Yan was racked with anxiety and his forehead creased in concern. He did not expect to find Qin Shu wandering about in the mountainous forest.

A chill ran down Han Xiao’s spine. He stared at her eyes that were glued shut and the ghostly parlour her skin had taken. Worriedly, he asked, “Will she be okay?”

It was not long before Ji Fei returned with Gu Yan’s medicine bag. Opening it gingerly, he handed Gu Yan an antidote. “Young master.”

Gu Yan picked up the antidote and administered it to Qin Shu as soon as he had taken all the necessary precautions. He hoped that his intervention had not come too late.

Disposing of the syringe that had contained the antidote, Gu Yan grabbed her wrist and checked her pulse. His expression clouded over quickly.

He turned to Han Xiao as he continued to assess Qin Shu’s condition.”How are you related to her, and what were you two doing together?”

“She is a classmate of mine. My name is Han Xiao. I was just in the vicinity picking herbs.” Han Xiao eyes were fixed on Qin Shu. She looked awful. “What’s wrong with her?”

Gu Yan listened intently. When Han Xiao described what she had been doing, Gu Yan instantly knew for whom Qin Shu had been picking herbs. It could only be for Fu Tingyu. The question, however, was how did she know of such a remote location harbouring the herbs she was looking for?

“You’re injured too. Let me treat you.”

From the moment he had seen Han Xiao’s injuries, he knew that they must have been involved in some sort of accident prior to their emergence from the forest’s depths.

Han Xiao shook his head and responded, “Let’s head back first.”

“Your injury is not light. It’s better if you let me treat it for you before it worsens.”

“It won’t take long.”

“… Okay.”

Just as Gu Yan was about to lift Qin Shu off the ground, Han Xiao beat him to the punch and carried her with one arm as he made to leave.

“…”

Gu Yan followed shortly after.

Ji Fei packed up Gu Yan’s medicine bag and trailed behind the young master alongside his four other bodyguards.

Back at their campsite…

Han Xiao gently laid Qin Shu on the floor of her tent. Her condition had not improved in the time it took them to return and the unease buried in his chest swelled.

Gu Yan made his way over and sat close by.

...

Han Xiao sent a questioning look at Gu Yan. “Why hasn’t she awoken yet?”

Gu Yan noted the blood dripping down the side of Han Xiao’s cheek and staining his sleeve. “I’ll take care of her. Ask Ji Fei to bandage that wound of yours before you bleed out.”

Han Xiao’s eyes stared unblinkingly at Qin Shu, seemingly lost in thought, but eventually nodded and stepped out of the tent.

With Han Xiao’s departure, only Gu Yan and Qin Shu were left in the tent.

Gu Yan recalled the promise he made to Qin Shu sometime ago. He had promised to help her in herb hunting. He had been the one to record all the medicinal properties of the herbs she wanted to find. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to take the search of those herbs so seriously that she would knowingly endanger herself in a mountainous forest like this.

If Fu Tingyu saw Qin Shu in her present state, wouldn’t he die from heartache?

No sooner had this thought flashed in his mind than he saw Qin Shu’s eyelashes twitch. He knew she was about to wake up.

Qin Shu unconsciousness was not only a result of the venom in her system but also the immense fatigue she had accumulated.

Slowly, Qin Shu opened her eyes. The first thing she saw when she woke was Gu Yan. It left her bewildered.

Gu Yan heaved a sigh of relief. “You’re finally awake. I really did not expect to see you here.”

Qin Shu recovered from her surprise. “Why are you here?” She slowly sat up with the Gu Yan’s help.

...

“It’s just a coincidence. I was in the area and thought to have a look around.” Gu Yan uncapped the bottle of mineral water by his side and offered it to her. “Have some water.”