Chapter 337: 338 (In the Middle of the Night)

She swayed slightly, but quickly regained her composure, steadying herself before stepping out of his embrace.

"Thank you just now..." Halfway through her words, Chu Jin suddenly remembered something important, "Where’s Dai Yu?"

She remembered that Dai Yu had fallen down with her just now.

"She’s fine," Mo Zhixuan said, pressing a hand to his forehead. "What time do you think it is that you’re still in the mood to worry about her?"

Relieved to hear that Dai Yu was alright, Chu Jin breathed a sigh of relief, "Where is she then?"

Mo Zhixuan casually said, his tone heavy, "On the bridge."

"Still on the bridge?" Chu Jin looked up at him, "Why didn’t you bring her over with you?"

He resumed his usual cool demeanor, "She’ll find her own way here. She’s not a child anymore."

"But what if something happens to her?" Chu Jin looked back worriedly, thinking that after all, Dai Yu had nearly slipped and fallen just now.

The white mist between the chains was still thick, barely revealing Dai Yu’s silhouette.

"Nothing will happen to her," Mo Zhixuan stated succinctly, taking her hand and proceeding to walk through the mountain woods.

The scenery in the mountain forest was beautiful, with dense trees, and sunlight filtering finely through the leaves, falling upon them both. The cool breeze was refreshing, and there was a faint scent of melons and fruits in the air. Chu Jin took a deep breath and felt her spirit uplifted.

The sound of cicadas echoed in her ears, not noisy at all, but rather conveying a sense of peaceful tranquility.

Holding his hand, Chu Jin asked, "When can we go back?"

Mo Zhixuan glanced sideways, "The injuries on your body haven’t fully recovered yet. The spiritual energy is abundant on the mountain, so let’s recuperate here for a few days."

"I’m already fine. Let’s go down the mountain tomorrow, okay?" Chu Jin looked up at him, her eyelashes fluttering, her eyes as clear and pure as a child’s.

She had been missing for eighteen days and at this moment, she wished she could return immediately.

Because there were many people she cared about there.

Having disappeared without a word for so long, they must be very anxious.

And besides, the college entrance exam was coming up, and she needed to hurry back to catch up on the lessons she had missed.

Mo Zhixuan looked at her intently, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly, "That eager?"

Three words suddenly popped into his mind.

Was she eager to go back to see Song Shiqin?

His heart felt as if someone had clenched it.

His fiancée, having risked her life to save another man, it was a lie to say he didn’t mind.

"Yeah," Chu Jin nodded, her expression as usual, "The college entrance exam is in half a month. I want to go back earlier to review my lessons well."

Hearing this answer, Mo Zhixuan’s face regained its composure, "Okay, then we’ll go back tomorrow."

As they continued to walk slowly, not knowing how much time had passed, Dai Yu’s voice came from behind them.

"Sister Chu, Mr. Mo." Dai Yu ran up to them.

Chu Jin stopped in her tracks, and Mo Zhixuan’s forehead creased imperceptibly.

"Sister Chu, I’m really sorry about just now. It was all my fault, I was too scared, so I..." Dai Yu took Chu Jin’s hand, apologizing sincerely, her eyes slightly red.

Chu Jin smiled lightly, the dimples on her cheeks soft, "It’s okay, I don’t blame you. Don’t cry now, a little girl looks prettier when she smiles."

Dai Yu holding onto her just now was nothing but a human’s instinctual response to survive, so Chu Jin did not think much of it.

After all, it was the teacher and student duo that had saved her life.

Dai Yu immediately broke into a smile, "Thank you, Sister Chu, thank you, Mr. Mo."

Being with another young girl, there was always plenty to talk about. Dai Yu even pulled Chu Jin around the woods in a playful manner, occasionally stopping by a crystal-clear stream to wash their hands and try to catch fish, with their silvery laughter echoing across the valley.

Mo Zhixuan stood to the side, watching them in silence, his gaze deepening.

"Mr. Mo, this is the fruit I’ve just picked, it’s really sweet. Want to try some?" Dai Yu held out a few brightly colored wild fruits in front of Mo Zhixuan, her smile pure, her eyes sparkling with bright droplets, like an untroubled angel, innocent and clean.

Facing such an untainted angel, one might find it hard to utter words of rejection.

Unfortunately for her, the person she encountered was Mo Zhixuan.

"I don’t eat sweets, thank you." His gaze remained fixed on the slender figure ahead.

The girl stood under a fruit tree, on tiptoe, striving to reach the tempting red fruit above her head.

Unfortunately, due to her height, she always fell short, her fingertips and the fruit remaining a few inches apart.

Out of options, she stood on the tips of her toes and leaped upwards, still unable to reach...

The fruit seemed to be alive, moving just out of her reach; high when she jumped, low when she crouched, as if mocking her, never allowing her to succeed.

Height is such an insurmountable barrier... Chu Jin heaved a helpless sigh.

He didn’t expect that nowadays, even a wild fruit knew how to pick on people.

In the Zi Lei space, Zi burst into laughter like a pig, "Big Brother Jin, I told you long ago that you couldn’t reach that fruit, but you didn’t believe me..."

Chu Jin refused to accept defeat, rolled up his sleeves, looked up, and continued to struggle with the fruit.

Dai Yu’s gaze followed Mo Zhixuan’s line of sight and with a slight smile on her lips, she explained, "That is the Linlang Tree, the legendary tree where the Phoenix rests. The fruit it bears is called the Phoenix fruit. The Linlang Tree is very selective, only allowing phoenixes, or those of high innate kindness and pure blood whom it recognizes as worthies, to pick its fruit. You were too anxious, sister, and as a mere mortal, that’s why..."

At this point, a smile faded from Dai Yu’s face, and her words came to an abrupt stop; some things were best left unsaid.

She believed that a smart man like Mr. Mo would understand her meaning.

"Mr. Mo, actually the taste of the Phoenix fruit is quite good, not too sweet, a bit tart. Why don’t you give it a try?" Dai Yu once again extended the fruit toward Mo Zhixuan, looking at him expectantly.

Mo Zhixuan looked down, and in the midst of Dai Yu’s hopeful smile, he spoke slowly, each word icy cold, "I’m sorry, I’m a germaphobe." Having said that, he didn’t wait to see Dai Yu’s reaction and simply walked ahead.

A germaphobe?

Dai Yu stood frozen in place, her hand holding the Phoenix fruit stiffened.

She almost thought she was hearing things.

Was Mr. Mo... disgusted by her?

This was a form of profound disrespect, even an insult!

Having been pampered since childhood, when had she ever been despised like this?

How could Mr. Mo treat her this way?

A thin layer of sweat had formed on the tip of Chu Jin’s nose, but sadly, she still couldn’t reach the fruit.

"I refuse to believe in this superstition today!" Chu Jin huffed, took a few small steps back to create distance for a sprint, ran forward from behind, and leaped.

Finally, she managed to grab it!

Both hands reached the fruit at roughly the same time, as if shocked by electricity.

Cold, cool, soft.

Soft?

It was then that Chu Jin realized something was amiss, and immediately looked back, only to fall into a pair of deep phoenix eyes.

He leaned in and pressed down, his tall figure immediately overshadowing hers.

Chu Jin pulled back her hand and took a small step backward.

Mo Zhixuan effortlessly plucked the fruit, then slowly raised his hand and hooked a lock of hair that had stained her red lips, tucking it behind her ear, "Why are you acting like a child?" His tone was thick with ice, yet it contained an imperceptible doting.

"...Papa Mo?" The words slipped out before Chu Jin knew why, feeling all too familiar.

As soon as she spoke, she saw Mr. Mo’s eyes darken like thick ink in an instant, scaring her so much that she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

"Eat it," Mo Zhixuan sighed resignedly, handing the Phoenix fruit to her.

Even with her memory gone, she remembered those three words!

Was he that old?

So old that even with her lost memory, she couldn’t forget this quip?

In an attempt to cover her embarrassment, Chu Jin took the fruit from Mo Zhixuan and eagerly bit into it, immediately filling her palate with a clear sweetness.

The fruit’s taste was very distinct, crisp like a pear, sweet like a strawberry, with a gentle tartness reminiscent of a pineapple.

Seeing her eat with contentment, a smile spread across Mo Zhixuan’s lips, and he asked gently, "Is it good?"

"It’s tasty," Chu Jin nodded lightly.

"Then let me have a taste," he said, taking the fruit Chu Jin held which she had bitten into.

He bit into the spot where she had, with a ’crack’.

Chu Jin was stunned.

So was Dai Yu, who trailed behind them.

Wasn’t he supposed to be a germaphobe?

Dai Yu’s lips curled into a scornful arch, her hand hidden in her sleeve clenched into a fist, her sharp nails digging deeply into her flesh.

Taking a deep breath, she then walked up to the two, with a light smile said, "Sister, I have more too, would you like some?"

Chu Jin smiled and took the fruit Dai Yu passed her, "Thank you."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read