Before the Spring Lantern Festival, the young man gave Li Yue the impression that he was a little like a wolf cub raised by a female wolf alone outside the pack of wolves. He was stubborn and persistent. When he interacted with others, he was curious and vigilant. He wanted to draw a clear line between himself and others, but more than that, he had a longing for everything beautiful and warm.
On the day of the Spring Lantern Festival, the young man who appeared in front of Li Yue had a face full of panic and uneasiness. He was very much like a cub who was about to lose its mother. No matter what, he wanted to salvage something, but could only quietly whimper and stay by his mother's side. He looked weak and helpless.
Now, the young man who said that he wanted to return Li Yue's kindness was lifeless. The softness and warmth of the past had disappeared, not to mention the wanton and high-spirited spirit that should be present at his age.
His back was straight, his thin lips pressed into a line. The pair of eyes that were comparable to obsidian in the past no longer had any light, leaving only a silent darkness like a deep pool.
The young man made Li Yue think of the granite buried under the ice and snow outside the pass. He was cold, hard, and dense. He was indifferent to everything in the world, including himself.
Li Yue didn't ask how the young man's mother was doing. She knew about Bai Feifei's illness, so how could she not guess the other's ending? In the depths of her heart, she let out a silent sigh.
A woman who was treated gently by time and had never left a trace on her face, in the end, like a flower blooming in the wilderness, quietly withered.
In Li Yue's opinion, there was actually no bad debt between Hoodlum and her.
Since the day the two met, in addition to the jade pendant and information Bai Feifei gave, strictly speaking, Li Yue should have owed him something.
Although Li Yue explained to Hoodlum again and again, Hoodlum was not moved at all. He didn't say a word and stubbornly guarded by Li Yue's side.
The little girl originally wanted to analyze the facts with the youth, but the Bearded Man gently shook his head at the little girl. In that instant, she understood what Hoodlum was thinking.
After the youth lost his loved ones, the intense grief left him at a loss, not knowing where to go.
Thanks to his connection with Li Yue, he was able to find the person who had fallen in love with him in a short amount of time.
It was not for the sake of settling down, but for the sake of peace.
It was also from that day onwards that Hoodlum followed Li Yue closely like a shadow. When Li Yue went to school, he would wait outside the school gate. When Li Yue went to work in the Long Dragon City, he would wait in front of the stairs of the main hall. When Li Yue went home to rest, he would wait on the roof of the Li family mansion.
For three days in a row, Hoodlum did not eat, drink, or sleep. His face was becoming pale at a speed visible to the naked eye.
No matter how she persuaded Hoodlum, he would not listen. Li Yue was helpless and could only find Li Xunhuan and have the latter hit the former's sleeping acupoint.
Tanhua Lang pressed down, and the youth's body swayed. Together with his sword, he softly fell to the ground.
Before he fell to the ground, his body was already picked up by Tie Chuanjia and taken to the guest room. Li Yue picked up the youth's iron sword and followed behind.
This time, the doctor who was invited to take Hoodlum's pulse was still the same old doctor who had treated Bai Feifei last time. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Li Xunhuan and frowned. When he saw Li Yue, he frowned again. When he saw Hoodlum, he directly slammed the medicine box on the wooden table. His face suddenly became very long, but he did not forget to place his fingers on Hoodlum's wrist.
"You bunch of people, what's wrong with you? Is it fun to have a heart disease?
Forget about the older one, with his martial arts, it won't be a problem for him to suffer for 20 or 30 years. What's wrong with the younger one? At such a young age, he has so many thoughts. Relying on his youth to court death, are you afraid that the heavens will forget to take you in? "
The old doctor kept talking. Li Xunhuan did not notice Li Yue's expression. He only thought that the old doctor was reprimanding him and Hoodlum. His face was full of bitter smiles.
Li Yue did not directly answer, so she could only beat around the bush and change the topic.
"Doctor, Hoodlum must have not rested for more than three days. How is his body?"
The old doctor hated patients with a heart disease the most. Not only did they not want to live, but they also ruined his reputation as a doctor. Therefore, when he answered, he was particularly rude.
"Little girl, don't worry. He won't die."
"Thank you for your hard work, doctor."
Uncle Fu led the old doctor to the next room to write a prescription. Li Yue carefully tucked Hoodlum in. Finally, she habitually touched Hoodlum's forehead. When she felt that his temperature did not rise, she turned around and prepared to leave. When she looked up, she saw Li Xunhuan with a complicated expression.
Tanhua Lang looked like he wanted to say something but stopped. He looked like he did not know where to start. He and Li Yue looked at each other for a long time. In the end, he was defeated.
"Xiao Yue, that … Although it is said that those who are young will admire their parents, and those who are lecherous will admire their young master … But you … You … Are still too young. There are many things … You don't understand, so —"
Li Xunhuan said it with great difficulty. But before he finished, Li Yue had already understood his meaning. The little girl crossed her arms and teased Li Xunhuan.
"Uncle Li, are you worried that I will find a child bride?"
"Cough, cough, cough — Xiao Yue, you are a little girl. Don't be so … so …"
Tanhua Lang deliberated for a long time, not knowing which adjective to use. Li Yue put her hands on her hips and laughed.
"Oh my, Uncle Li, if you retire from the martial arts world in the future, you can consider writing a novel when you have nothing to do. After all, you have talent, writing skills, and experience. You also have a rich imagination that no one else has.
As for a child bride, Uncle Li, you don't have to worry too much. I am a person with a lot of requirements. I won't just casually grab anyone to be the wife of a gang leader. "
Although he knew that Li Yue was digging a hole, Li Xunhuan could not help but follow her wishes and continue to ask.
"Then … What is Xiao Yue's requirement?"
"It's very simple. The person has to be fair, beautiful, and gentle like water. The person has to be tall, slender, and have legs below the neck. Of course, these are not decisive conditions.
For me, the most important thing is that the person has to be a real man. He has to be a good man. He has to be able to do laundry, cook, embroider, and make soles. He has to be able to walk the dog, take care of the children, grow flowers, and tell jokes … "
The more Li Xunhuan listened to Li Yue's description, the more familiar it sounded. He had a feeling that the little girl had set her sights on someone he was familiar with. She was just short of giving him a betrothal gift. He was still trying to figure out who this person was when Li Yue revealed the answer without any suspense.
"Yes, that's right. It would be best if he is like Uncle Tie!"
Tanhua Lang, whose heart was in turmoil, flipped to the Mariana Trench: "…"
Tie Chuanjia, who pushed open the door and only heard the last sentence: "…???"
"Do you think I'm joking, Uncle Li? I'm serious."
Li Yue walked to the burly man's side and held one of his large palms. When she felt the rough calluses on his palm, she raised her head.
"When I grow up, I want to marry someone like Uncle Tie!"
Tanhua Lang was speechless. He could not find the words to respond to Li Yue. He held his forehead as he felt a headache coming on.
Tie Chuanjia, who was originally confused, smiled when he heard this. He bent down and combed the little girl's messy hair. Then, he smoothed the little girl's collar.
"When Little Miss grows up, Uncle Tie will also be old. However, Uncle Tie will help Little Miss keep a lookout.
In the future, the one who can match Little Miss will definitely be a handsome young man who will treat Little Miss well wholeheartedly. "
Li Yue pursed her lips. She originally wanted to ask what would happen if she fell in love with a girl. However, when she met Tie Chuanjia's eyes, she did not have the courage to continue talking nonsense and make Tie Chuanjia angry.
She still had to go to school tomorrow morning. There were servants guarding the Hoodlum, so Li Yue could not be of any use here. She obediently went to her room to review her homework.
The Hoodlum had not woken up after sleeping for a day and a night. Fortunately, his physical signs were basically normal, and there were no sudden critical situations.
On the afternoon of the day before the day of rest, Li Yue finished her homework in school early. After going home to greet Tanhua Lang and the others, she wandered to her room in the Hoodlum.
The youth was still in a deep sleep, but she did not know who he was dreaming of. His hands were clenched into fists, his thick eyebrows were tightly knitted, and his pale lips were slightly open, as if he was murmuring something.
Li Yue waved her hand to signal the servant to bring a basin of hot water. She sat by the bed and carefully observed the youth's exposed hands.
Perhaps it was because he lived in the Wasteland all year round, but the youth's hands were not as slender and soft as those of his peers. Instead, they were rough like Tie Chuanjia's. It was proof that he had been ravaged by fate.
Li Yue tried to pry open the youth's fists. She used all her strength but could not make the other party loosen an inch. She could only choose to give up.
After a while, the servant came in with the hot water. Li Yue moved aside so that the servant could wipe Hoodlum's sweat. When the servant finished the corresponding treatment, she nodded to the servant and let him rest and eat first.
Waiting was a test of one's patience, especially when one was guarding a person who would wake up at any time.
Unfortunately, Li Yue's patience was far from the average level of this era. Before she came to the Hoodlum's room, she forgot to bring the newly bought story book. It was not good to call the servant to not let him rest. She was bored, so the little girl began to study the Hoodlum lying on the bed.
Li Yue first gently pressed the youth's hard arm. The other party did not respond, so she stretched out her finger and poked the youth's eyebrows.
When she retracted her hand, Li Yue inadvertently touched the other party's eyelashes. The eyelashes were as thick as crow's feathers, scratching her fingertips and making them itch.
She couldn't help but hover her entire hand above the youth's face. Through concealment and elimination, she imagined the appearance of the youth's parents. Just as her hand moved to the youth's eyes, another rough hand had already grabbed her wrist.
Ordinary people would be embarrassed if they were caught red-handed doing something stupid. Li Yue had been tested in two lifetimes, so naturally, she was not an ordinary person.
Facing the Hoodlum's gaze, she did not feel guilty at all. She smiled and greeted the other party as if nothing had happened.