Su Mingyu nodded. "I know."
Gu Ruobai's face was grim, and his voice hoarse. "Do you know that the effects of Qingming will get worse with each bout of the poison?"
Su Mingyu gritted her teeth. "I know that too!"
After all, Qingming felt like modern-day methamphetamine, highly addictive and increasingly unbearable as time went on.
Thankfully, she had only been exposed to the residual effects of Qingming for a few days, so the withdrawal symptoms wouldn't be too severe.
Su Mingyu reached out and grabbed Gu Ruobai's hand. "Sit down and stay with me."
This was the first time in all the days he'd known Su Mingyu that he'd seen such a vulnerable look on her face.
Gu Ruobai sat down beside the bed, his heart aching. He pulled Su Mingyu into his arms. His deep eyes were filled with regret. "I'm sorry. If it weren't for me, Mei Qing wouldn't have done this to you."
Listening to Gu Ruobai's thumping heartbeat, Su Mingyu forced a smile. "Yeah, it's all your fault. You're so good-looking that others can't help but take notice."
Even at a time like this, Su Mingyu still had the energy to tease him. Gu Ruobai was both helpless and filled with pity. "You..."
He placed his hand on Su Mingyu's forehead and asked softly, "Are you in pain?"
Su Mingyu thought she could bear it, but at Gu Ruobai's words, her eyes welled up.
She sniffed. "It hurts!"
She nestled deeper into Gu Ruobai's arms. "But with you here, it doesn't hurt as much."
Gu Ruobai gently patted Su Mingyu's shoulder, as if comforting a child. Despite the simple gesture, the warmth it brought made the discomfort inside Su Mingyu fade.
Feeling Gu Ruobai's body heat, Su Mingyu gradually closed her eyes, and her gentle breathing filled the air.
Gu Ruobai held Su Mingyu like this all night, not moving an inch.
Thanks to Gu Ruobai's care, Su Mingyu felt a bit better when she woke up in the morning.
As soon as she moved, Gu Ruobai's large hand reached out. A gentle voice asked, "Do you feel better?"
Su Mingyu murmured in agreement. "You stayed here all night?"
Gu Ruobai nodded. "Since you're awake, I'll leave."
"Be careful." Su Mingyu knew that Gu Ruobai was worried that if Kang Zeyan came and saw him, it would be bad.
But it wasn't a long-term solution for them to keep hiding. Su Mingyu pursed her lips. "Meet me by the lake near Kang Zeyan's bedroom later."
"Do you want to investigate the mechanism under Kang Zeyan's bedroom?" Gu Ruobai looked at her. "It's very dangerous."
"You'll find out when you come." Su Mingyu got up and stretched. "Go quickly. If Kang Zeyan finds out someone's missing from his mansion, it won't be good."
Watching Gu Ruobai leave, Su Mingyu let out a long sigh.
When Su Mingyu, looking resplendent, appeared in front of Kang Zeyan and leisurely ate her breakfast, Kang Zeyan's eyelids twitched. "Did Miss Su sleep well last night?"
Su Mingyu raised an eyebrow and smiled at Kang Zeyan. "Thanks to you, Mr. Kang, I slept well."
Kang Zeyan's mouth twitched. "Miss Su is truly admirable for her courage. I wonder if you'll be as calm when the poison flares up tonight."
Su Mingyu didn't respond. She pointed at the table in front of her. "If we don't eat this breakfast, it will go to waste."
"Eat." With that, Kang Zeyan turned and left.
Watching Kang Zeyan's impatient back, Su Mingyu clicked her tongue. This Kang Zeyan had pretended to be a gentleman in front of her before, but now he didn't even bother to pretend. He just turned around and left when he was impatient.
After slowly finishing her breakfast, Su Mingyu clapped her hands and got up to stroll around the mansion.
"Where's your master?" Su Mingyu asked as she walked.
The maid following her whispered, "The master is reading in the study."
Su Mingyu let out a long "oh" and then sauntered towards Kang Zeyan's bedroom.
Su Mingyu pointed to a place not far ahead. "Go and get something for me. I want to fish here."
The maid was stunned for a moment and then replied, "Miss Su, this... isn't very appropriate, is it?"
Su Mingyu's face darkened. "What's wrong? Your master said personally before that I could fish anywhere in this mansion."
Hearing this, the maid lowered her head. "Yes, Miss Su. Please wait a moment."
Su Mingyu snorted. "Hurry up."
Not long after, the maid came back with the things and set them up. Su Mingyu sat on the lounge chair, looking content, squinting at the water.
Maybe the fish were too full, and none bit the hook for a long time.
Su Mingyu pouted. "Is this fish food no good? Go and get me some live worms."
"Ah?" The maid's face paled. "Live... live worms?"
Su Mingyu nodded. "Yes. How else can I catch fish?"
The maid thought for a while and then nodded. "Then please wait, Miss Su."
"Go quickly."
After watching the maid leave, Su Mingyu turned around and jumped into the lake, diving underwater.
Her excellent swimming skills allowed her to move freely in the lake. She swam around underwater and only saw fine fences. There seemed to be different mechanisms under each house.
Just as Su Mingyu was about to take a closer look, a shrill scream came from above.
Su Mingyu quickly surfaced and vaguely saw Kang Zeyan and Gu Ruobai.
So she pretended to be drowning and thrashed about in the water.
Su Mingyu struggled and shouted, "Help! Save me!"
The moment Gu Ruobai saw this, he understood what was going on. Without thinking, he jumped into the water.
Underwater, they glanced at each other. Su Mingyu pretended to be rescued by Gu Ruobai.
Lying on the ground, Su Mingyu gasped for breath. "I was... so scared..."
Kang Zeyan looked down at Su Mingyu coldly. "What are you doing!"
Su Mingyu looked at Kang Zeyan weakly and said intermittently, "Fishing."
Kang Zeyan's eyelids twitched. "Fishing and ended up in the water?"
"Do... do you believe me if I say I was pulled in?" Su Mingyu slowly got up from the ground. She stared at Kang Zeyan with her big, bright eyes, showing no sign of guilt.
Kang Zeyan's face was extremely grim. "Pulled in? I didn't know there were such big fish in my water."