To act the role of the Third Female Lead or not, that is the question.

But if he acts in Lin Shenling’s role, what if Yan HeQing tries to kiss him or hug him? Wouldn’t he find out that he’s actually a man? If Xiao YuAn can’t send Yan HeQing to Lin Shenling, and if his eyes heal with time, what will Xiao YuAn do if Yan HeQing finds out it was him the whole time?

However, if he doesn’t act her role, and randomly changes the plot, what will happen in the future can’t be predicted once again. What will he do if someone, who isn’t supposed to, gets harmed because of that?

Xiao YuAn was carelessly applying medicine to Yan HeQing’s injuries, when inadvertently, he pressed down on one wound causing Yan HeQing pain. Yan HeQing’s brows knitted together, and Xiao YuAn panicked. After closing his hand and taking it away as fast as possible, he apologized: “Uhh, I’m sorry. I got distracted, did I hurt you?”

Yan HeQing shook his head, reaching out his hand to take Xiao YuAn’s wrist, he then pulled Xiao YuAn’s hand back towards his wound.

Xiao YuAn stiffened for a few seconds, and only after Yan HeQing released his wrist did he regained his composure. He obediently bowed his head and continued to apply medicine for Yan HeQing; though this time, he didn’t dare to fall into a daze of thoughts, and concentrated himself into bandaging him properly. Suddenly, he heard Yan HeQing ask in a soft voice: “You…. why do you want to save me….?”

Xiao YuAn thought to himself: ‘Didn’t Yan HeQing asked him this same question before? Is it because I answered randomly before, and the Third Female Lead’s script was off? So the plot went backwards to start all over again?’

‘How did Lin Shenling answer in the original book? Was it something like: “Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-floor pagoda1”? Or was it something more like: “I saw Gongzi lying in the mountain stream severely injured, how could I just ignore it”?’

Xiao YuAn thought for a while, and then replied: “I can’t just see someone who looks like they are about to die and not try to save them.”

Yan HeQing dropped his eyes, and the thin cool moonlight couldn’t shine though his eyes, leaving a dark shadow behind, making it difficult to see his expression. After a while, Yan HeQing asked softly: “Where are you living now?”

“Has Gongzi heard of Taoyuan Village?”

Yan HeQing shook his head.

“I’m temporarily living there.”

“A temporary residence?”

Xiao YuAn finished bandaging the last wound of Yan HeQing, and only after he nodded his head did he remember that Yan HeQing, who was still blind, couldn’t see him. So he replied: “Yes, life is like a duckweed floating on the river, who knows what will happen next?”

Yan HeQing asked again, in a soft voice: “Then you…. are you living well….?”

Xiao YuAn shrugged: “It’s not about living well or not, if you’re having a bad life, then you should try everyday to live well. Life’s too short after all, we should enjoy the pleasures of life while we’re still young.”

Yan HeQing was in a trance for a long time before he hmmed softly.

Xiao YuAn, after tidying up Yan HeQing’s clothes, said: “Alright, Gongzi, it’s late now, we should get some sleep.”

Yan HeQing thanked him in a soft voice, and laid down on the bed. Meanwhile, Xiao YuAn fixed the cotton wadding and straw on the other side of the board, and then laid down as well.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. The frogs were singing and the cicadas were noisy. It was a quiet night, and at midnight, when Xiao YuAn’s breathing became calm and steady, Yan HeQing slowly got up. With the help of the moonlight, he carefully studied Xiao YuAn’s face, but since they were a little bit far from each other, Yan HeQing went closer to his side in order to see him more clearly.

Yan HeQing looked at Xiao YuAn for a while. His hands were clenched into fists, and his whole body was shivering. He laid down beside Xiao YuAn, but because he was afraid to wake him, he didn’t dare to touch him.

Yan HeQing was starting to feel cold, when suddenly Xiao YuAn, who was in a deep sleep, rolled over into Yan HeQing’s arms.

Yan HeQing’s body became so stiff that he even stopped breathing for a brief moment.

However, since Xiao YuAn didn’t wake up, and even though Yan HeQing was still very confused about everything that was happening, he tried to fall asleep.

After waiting for a long time, Yan HeQing gradually relaxed. His eyes were full of Xiao YuAn’s sleeping face illuminated by the moonlight, but even at such a close proximity, he didn’t dare to look at him for too long. He didn’t even dare to look at him from afar. He felt like he was all alone in the world, missing Xiao YuAn like a madman.

Yan HeQing slowly stretched out his arm and hugged Xiao YuAn, as if he was facing an abyss, his body trembled with fear and trepidation.

Xiao YuAn woke up early the next day, stretched, and when turned his head to the side, he saw Yan HeQing sleeping on his bed.

On the other side of the bedboard, Yan HeQing was still calmly sleeping, so Xiao YuAn silently crept out of the wooden cabin. After washing up, he decided he will go up the mountain to collect medicinal herbs as usual. One day, while he was collecting medicinal herbs, he found a clean, shallow stream in the forest; so he was thinking of going to wash all the medicinal herbs he has picked up these days.

Xiao YuAn had just put the medicine basket on his back when he suddenly heard a knock on the wooden door behind him. Xiao YuAn turned around only to see Yan HeQing, who had been so gloomy these past few days, refusing to speak to him or move around, stumbled out. After all, he couldn’t see clearly, so his knees heavily knocked on the door frame, resulting in his eyebrows frowning for a brief moment.

Xiao YuAn quickly walked over to help him, while also stuffing a small red fruit into his mouth. After waiting for a few seconds for his voice to change, he said: “Gongzi, why are you walking out the cabin?”

Yan HeQing carefully diverted his eyes away from the small red fruit, suddenly understanding why Xiao YuAn’s voice sounded like a woman’s. He reached out and touched the basket Xiao YuAn was carrying and asked: “Where are you going?”

“There’s a shallow stream on the mountain, I’ll go wash the medicinal herbs I’ve picked these days.” Xiao YuAn answered honestly.

Yan HeQing nodded and said: “I’ll go with you.”

Xiao YuAn was extremely stunned and quickly replied: “But, Gongzi, you can’t see very well yet.”

Yan HeQIng’s voice was extremely soft, so light that it was very hard to hear, but it was enough for Xiao YuAn to hear him anyway: “Then, could you…. could you lead me there?”