Turning to ask Qiao Hanye where he was going, He Lanjin was shocked to see that he was climbing the courtyard wall. "Qiao Hanye, are you crazy?" He Lanjin said, concerned. "Those vicious dogs won't think twice about attacking you. Get back here!"
She was just joking. Qiao Hanye was not supposed to take this seriously.
Looking up, He Lanjin saw that he had reached the top of the wall. Qiao Hanye jumped without warning, and the dogs immediately started barking fiercely.
"Qiao Hanye, get back here. Those dogs are going to mangle you." He Lanjin anxiously took off the coat Qiao Hanye draped on her and threw it to the ground before climbing up the wall herself. Looking down, she saw that the courtyard was pitch black. She could hear the dogs pouncing below her, but there was no sign of Qiao Hanye.
He Lanjin's heart felt heavy, knowing that she had put Qiao Hanye in danger. But how was she to know he would take her joke seriously?
He Lanjin jumped off the wall to to look for Qiao Hanye, but someone had grabbed her by the ankle. She dangled like a wooden puppet, her foot held by a black figure on top of the wall.
"Who are you? Let go of me," He Lanjin said, struggling to free herself from the person's strong grip.
"Nan Feng," the person replied, his voice deep and hoarse, as if his throat was injured. The voice sounded rather jarring in the middle of the night, but under different circumstances, one might find it very sexy.
He Lanjin would not stop moving; she needed to free herself and look for Qiao Hanye. "I don't care whether your name is Bei Feng or Nan Feng or whatever; you need to let go of my leg."
"I can't let go," Nan Feng said, his face devoid of expression. It did not matter though, because he was wearing a hat that obscured his appearance. All He Lanjin knew was that this Nan Feng was tall and strong.
"But why?" He Lanjin asked, surprised.
"You have to live. Young master has yet to consummate his marriage. Young Master is a righteous and decent person. He absolutely would not rape a corpse." Nan Feng was still thinking about the night he thought was Qiao Hanye's first. Nan Feng knew that the eighteen generations of the Qiao family's ancestors would willingly rise from their graves to revive Qiao Hanye and persuade him to sow his seed.
He Lanjin was impressed. This man was not just strong; he seemed to have a big brain, too.
"Hey, do you want to change jobs? I'll give you a high rate," He Lanjin said, a little excited. She needed someone with a quick brain to develop software.
He Lanjin waited but did not get an answer. Instead, she heard dogs barking fiercely. The air seemed to have been tainted with the smell of blood. She saw a flash of something, which could have easily been a limb bitten off by one of the dogs. "Qiao Hanye!" she shouted in alarm.
What if those dogs accidentally killed Qiao Hanye? He Lanjin knew that Qiao Hanye knew how to defend himself, but she did not trust those dogs.
He Lanjin used all her strength to free herself from Nan Feng. She jumped into the courtyard, bent to give her all to rescue Qiao Hanye, be he alive or dead.
"Young Madam," Nan Feng said as he tried to grab He Lanjin from atop the wall. He, however, saw something flash below. He quickly jumped off the wall and disappeared into the night.
Before He Lanjin's feet even touched the ground, she felt an arm around her waist. All of a sudden she was being carried to the top of the wall and out of the courtyard.
"Ah Jin, your lucky peach blossom." Qiao Hanye's magnetic voice sounded above He Lanjin's head.
He Lanjin looked up to see Qiao Hanye holding out a single peach blossom, and the sight filled her eyes with the color of spring.
"Didn't you know those dogs could kill people?" He Lanjin's nose was a little sore, and she felt a lump in her throat.
Qiao Hanye gently laid the peach blossom on He Lanjin's hand and tucked another behind her ear. "Compared to you, those dogs are insignificant."
"You!" He Lanjin was so angry at Qiao Hanye for being so reckless that she turned around and walked away. He quickly followed her and hugged her tight, refusing to let go.
The warmth of Qiao Hanye's embrace melted He Lanjin's anger. She softened against him, comforted by the steady beat of his heart. He Lanjin's hands gently tugged at the corners of his shirt.
"Ah Jin."
"Yes," she answered.