As soon as Mother Qin heard the door open, she immediately sat up in bed.
But when she saw Qin Du's hands full of things, her face instantly turned pale.
"What are you..."
She coughed in anger, her face flushing red.
She had told him so many times not to do anything illegal. Their family was already...
Qin Du quietly made a cup of malted milk extract for Mother Qin and placed it by her bed.
"Mother, I have nothing left to lose."
Reputation, or whatever else—his family was at the very bottom of the village. Since they couldn't get any benefits, and since everything they did was considered wrong, why should they still follow those rules?
Mother Qin lay back down on the bed, tears instantly streaming down her face.
Qin Du stood silently by the bed. "Mother."
Mother Qin looked at him in disappointment. "You can't go again next time."
Qin Du didn't agree, only lowering his head. He had already tasted the sweetness of it; it was impossible to stop.
Mother Qin sobbed and turned her head away, no longer looking at him.
The moonlight from outside seeped in through the gaps in the window, casting light on the floor. Qin Du turned and went out.
He was sitting at the doorway washing his knife. As he washed, his vision suddenly went dark. A pair of soft hands covered his eyes, and a deliberately lowered voice came from behind him.
"I'm a ghost!"
Qin Du chuckled softly. "It's cold outside, hurry and go in."
Ji Zhaoxi crouched beside him, watching him wash the knife. As soon as Qin Du saw the clothes she was wearing, he frowned. He wiped his hands and prepared to go inside to get her a coat. Ji Zhaoxi followed him in.
Once inside, Ji Zhaoxi hugged Qin Du. She looked at him with grievance. "Why didn't you tell me you were going hunting? I waited for you for days."
Qin Du was a bit at a loss. He was covered in bloodstains and smelled of sweat. He wanted to push her away, but he was afraid of getting her dirty.
"Xixi, I smell too bad. Can we hug later?"
"No!"
Qin Du didn't know where to put his hands. He looked down at her face and said helplessly, "I've gotten your clothes all dirty."
Seeing that Ji Zhaoxi refused to let him go, Qin Du had to coax her, "Let me go take a shower first, then I'll come hug you."
Sure enough, Ji Zhaoxi immediately let him go and started urging him, "Then wash up quickly."
Qin Du originally wanted to fill a few hot water bottles for Ji Zhaoxi before going.
"If you dawdle any longer, my sister will call me back!"
Qin Du went to take a shower, and Ji Zhaoxi sat in the rocking chair, unwrapping the things Qin Du had bought for her.
There was a fountain pen, a notebook with a plastic cover, vanishing cream, sandalwood soap, clam oil, and all kinds of snacks. Ji Zhaoxi couldn't help but taste one.
She was happy with whatever Qin Du gave her.
She looked at the ceiling, feeling a little troubled. She hadn't bought anything for him yet. She only had a little bit of pocket money, but she had spent it all on candy for herself.
Just as Ji Zhaoxi was still lying in the rocking chair letting her imagination run wild, a warm thing was suddenly stuffed into her arms.
Ji Zhaoxi's eyes curved in a smile, and she opened her arms to Qin Du. Qin Du skillfully pulled her into his embrace and sat down in the rocking chair.
Ji Zhaoxi hugged him tightly, and so did Qin Du. He couldn't help but nuzzle her neck, smelling her scent without saying a word.
Qin Du was wearing a single layer of clothing. His body temperature was very hot, and it transferred to Ji Zhaoxi through the fabric.
Ji Zhaoxi buried her face in his chest and whispered, "Brother Qin Du, is there anything you like?"
Qin Du looked at her face and softened his voice. "What's wrong?"
"I want to buy you something, but I don't know what you like." Ji Zhaoxi's voice was a bit guilty.
Qin Du knew what she liked and what she hated, but she didn't understand him.
Seeing that Qin Du didn't speak, Ji Zhaoxi guessed, "Do you like meat?"
Qin Du was silent for a moment. "Xixi, you don't need to buy me anything. I don't have anything I hate, and I don't have anything I particularly like."
Ji Zhaoxi was puzzled. "Why? But you're always buying me things. I'll feel bad."
Qin Du looked into her eyes, his voice a bit bitter. "Xixi, I'm already very happy just having you accept my things."
Perhaps in the near future, they would drift apart, and she would no longer need the things he gave her.
At that time, if they stood together, everyone else would find it jarring.
Ji Zhaoxi looked at him in confusion, cupping his face. "Why are you talking like this?"
Weren't they on very good terms?
But Qin Du avoided her gaze. No matter how she asked, he just wouldn't answer.
Ji Zhaoxi frowned. Was it still because of the college entrance examination?
"I want to hang out with you tomorrow," Ji Zhaoxi said unhappily.
Qin Du responded in a low voice, "Okay."
By noon the next day.
Qin Du had practically wrapped Ji Zhaoxi up into a ball. It was only when Ji Zhaoxi got angry that he finally took off her outermost layer.
Qin Du put her gloves on properly and then squatted down to tie her pant legs. Ji Zhuxin watched from the side, hesitating to speak.
Even nursing a child wouldn't be this exaggerated.
The snow was lighter now than it had been a while ago, making going up the mountain easier than before.
The two held hands tightly, walking step by step.
"Brother Qin Du, can we really catch a rabbit today?"
Qin Du nodded. He hadn't come to hunt for days; today they would definitely catch one.
Qin Du suddenly pulled Ji Zhaoxi to a stop. He knelt on one knee in the snow, brushing aside the loose powder to reveal a trail of footprints underneath.
Qin Du explained softly to Ji Zhaoxi, "These are wild rabbit tracks. It passed by not long ago."
Ji Zhaoxi looked at them seriously, her nose a little red from the cold. Qin Du took off his glove and carefully touched her face. "Are you very cold?"
Ji Zhaoxi felt Qin Du was overreacting a bit. It was bound to be a little cold outside; she wasn't that fragile.
Seeing the look in Ji Zhaoxi's eyes, Qin Du awkwardly cleared his throat and stopped talking.
"But I like it when you care about me."
She said it very quietly, but Qin Du heard it, and his ears turned red.
He held Ji Zhaoxi's hand even tighter.
Qin Du set up a trap up ahead, and then he and Ji Zhaoxi hid behind a rock to shelter from the wind. Ji Zhaoxi watched the trap in front of them, while Qin Du looked down at her.
"Brother Qin Du, do you use this kind of trap when catching other prey too?"
Qin Du thought about it. In fact, most of the time he used a musket, or else a knife.
He stroked her hair and said softly, "Yes."
"Then you must have a hard time waiting, with no one to keep you company. Next time I can go with you, I promise I won't bother you!"
Ji Zhaoxi looked at him very seriously.
Qin Du's heart instantly softened. He held her chilly hands and pulled her into his arms.
"Okay."
Not long after, a rabbit was hoisted up. Ji Zhaoxi ran over excitedly, the rabbit's legs kicking wildly.
Seeing her so happy, a hint of a smile flashed in Qin Du's eyes. "Do you want to play with it for a while, or should we let it go?"
Ji Zhaoxi froze for a moment and said cautiously, "Brother Qin Du, didn't we catch the rabbit to eat it?"
Why would we let the rabbit go?
