novelSusiti Chapter 6 He's a good person
Chapter 6 He's a good person
Ruan Shanruo grasped her hand: "Thanks to Young Master Fang for saving us."
Fang Yingyu raised an eyebrow: "Miss?"
Now that things had come to this, Ruan Shanruo no longer concealed anything. "My name is Ruan Shanruo, and this is my maid, Qiaoyun. In order to come here to gather herbs, I had no choice but to disguise myself as a man. Please forgive me for not telling you the truth earlier, young master."
Upon seeing that the other person was a young woman, Fang Yingyu blushed. He hurriedly lowered his head and stammered, "It's nothing, but men and women shouldn't touch each other. I really didn't know you were women, so I boldly carried that young lady away. I'm sorry for the offense. Please don't take it to heart." His hands unconsciously twisted the hem of his clothes, making him appear very flustered.
Ruan Shanruo quickly shook her head and said sincerely, "Young Master Fang, please put your mind at ease. If it weren't for your help today, Qiaoyun and I would probably have died in the mouths of that wild boar. How could we care about these formalities!" Her eyes were sincere and full of gratitude.
Fang Yingyu calmed down slightly. In the candlelight, the girl's bright eyes and white teeth shone through. Although she was dressed in coarse men's clothing, her innate beauty and refined elegance were undeniable. Looking at Ruan Shanruo, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for this brave girl. "It must have been difficult for you, a young lady like me. I'll go back and inquire where I can get some Paris polyphylla. If possible, I'll bring it to you tomorrow," Fang Yingyu said earnestly. If she secretly dug up a few plants, her father probably wouldn't notice!
Ruan Shanruo was overjoyed and curtsied again. Fang Yingyu returned the greeting with a slight fist and palm salute, a shy smile on her face.
After settling in, Fang Yingyu returned to the village. Ruan Shanruo stood at the door of the meditation room, watching the boy's departing figure, her heart filled with the excitement of surviving a disaster.
Night deepened, and Ruan Shanruo sat by the bedside, watching over Qiaoyun. Outside the window, moonlight spilled onto the floor, like a layer of silver frost. She thought of how her family must have discovered her disappearance by now, and what a mess they must be in. For a moment, Ruan Shanruo's thoughts drifted far, far away. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but her heart was filled with hope. Because she believed that in the grand scheme of things, kind people would always be rewarded, just like how she and Qiaoyun had encountered Fang Yingyu today, finding a glimmer of hope in their desperate situation.
The night deepened, and all was silent, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects. Ruan Shanruo sighed softly, pulled the blanket over Qiaoyun, and leaned against the bedside, drifting off to sleep. In her dream, she saw her father's smiling face after his recovery, and saw Fang Yingyu walking towards her with a seven-leaf parsley flower…
The mountain temple was shrouded in a thin mist at dawn, and the wind chimes on the eaves tinkled crisply in the breeze. Qiaoyun woke up early; after a night's rest, she could walk slowly, supporting herself against the wall. She opened the window, and the crisp mountain air rushed in, invigorating her. Turning around, she saw Ruan Shanruo standing not far beside her. Ruan Shanruo had also been awake for some time. Too many worries had kept her awake; she gently pushed open the door, and in the dim morning light, a tall, slender figure stood silently outside, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
Fang Yingyu stood there, holding five lush green herbs in her hands—seven leaves surrounding a single, beautiful flower, exactly the seven leaves and one flower she had always dreamed of.
Ruan Shanruo was stunned.
She had sketched this herb countless times in herbal encyclopedias, even dreaming of its outline. But now, it was right before her eyes, held in a pair of well-defined hands, its leaves still glistening with morning dew, shimmering in the sunlight.
"This..." She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Fang Yingyu smiled slightly and handed over the herbs. "I have fulfilled Miss Ruan's request."
Ruan Shanruo reached out and took it, her fingertips inadvertently touching his palm. In that instant, it felt as if a tiny electric current had surged through her, making her heart tremble. She hurriedly withdrew her hand, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Fang Yingyu seemed to sense something was amiss, coughed lightly, and looked away.
"Young Master Fang's kindness is beyond my ability to repay." Ruan Shanruo took a deep breath and bowed deeply to him solemnly. "Please tell me your address, Young Master Fang, so that my whole family can visit you to express our gratitude once my father has recovered."
Fang Yingyu waved her hand, looking somewhat embarrassed. "You flatter me, it was just a small favor." He was too embarrassed to say that he happened to have a few plants at home and was afraid his father would not allow it, so he secretly picked some to give to her.
He paused and then said, "Miss Ruan, you should set off as soon as possible. Your father's illness cannot be delayed, and your family must be anxiously waiting for you."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Shanruo felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. Yes, her father was still suffering from stomach pain, and her family must be in an uproar over her prolonged absence. She bit her lip and bowed deeply again. "Young Master Fang's kindness will be forever etched in my heart."
Fang Yingyu shook her head slightly and turned to leave.
"Young Master Fang!" Ruan Shanruo suddenly called out to him.
He turned around, raising an eyebrow slightly, as if asking a question.
"Young Master Fang, please tell me where you live?" she asked earnestly again.
Fang Yingyu smiled faintly. "I'd better not say anything more. We've only just met. Take care, Miss Ruan."
Having said that, he turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the morning mist as his clothes fluttered in the wind.
Ruan Shanruo stared in the direction he had left, remaining motionless for a long time. But the Paris polyphylla in her hand emitted a faint medicinal fragrance, as if reminding her of the purpose of her journey. She took a deep breath, turned around, went back into the house, and began packing her belongings.
Seeing her dazed expression, Qiaoyun couldn't help but ask, "Miss, that young master was a very nice person!"
Ruan Shanruo gave a soft "hmm" without stopping her hands. "Yes, he's a good person." She didn't say much, but a faint sense of melancholy, which she herself didn't quite understand, spread through her heart.
The melodious and resonant sound of the bell came from the direction of the Mahavira Hall, echoing through the valley, one sound after another, solemn and dignified, as if urging the departing person, or as if praying for the traveler on a long journey.
Ruan Shanruo helped Qiaoyun, who was now able to walk with difficulty, and together they went to say goodbye to the old monk Peng.
Old Monk Peng was sweeping the courtyard when he saw them come out. He stopped sweeping, his face still bearing that compassionate and kind smile, as if he could see through everything, yet also embrace everything. "Benefactors, fate brings people together and separates them, like dew or lightning. Now that you have the medicine, go home quickly. Your parents are waiting at the door."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Shanruo and Qiaoyun felt a warmth mixed with sadness in their hearts, and they both bowed deeply to the old monk Peng. "Thank you for your kindness in taking us in and caring for us, Master."
The old monk Peng returned the greeting with his palms together, watching the two girls support each other as they slowly walked down the mountain, stepping on the stone steps gradually illuminated by the morning light.
A mountain breeze carried the faint fragrance of flowers from afar. She didn't know if she would ever see Fang Yingyu again, but at this moment, besides gratitude, a hazy expectation and melancholy lingered in her heart like the mountain mist, refusing to dissipate.