Chapter 398: Chapter 398: I Can Take Responsibility

As another wave of cold swept through, Xia Wenjin smiled self-deprecatingly in her heart.

She truly overestimated her resilience; she thought she could handle all the torment, but now she realized her body really couldn’t bear it!

She lost consciousness.

But even in her unconsciousness, she could still feel the coldness of her blood freezing.

Yet, after this strand of cold, there suddenly seemed to be a touch of warmth?

Was it a stove?

With her foggy mind, she instinctively sought that warmth. The closer she got, the warmer it truly felt. It wasn’t clear how long it took before she slowly regained consciousness, and upon awakening, she found herself in a warm embrace.

She suddenly snapped to, and upon turning, she saw a chin.

The chin had elegant lines but was covered in a layer of white frost.

Her mind returned, and she abruptly left this embrace, hearing a somewhat tired and hoarse voice: “Are you feeling better?”

There was no one else in the room, so Xia Wenjin could guess who it was without thinking.

She was still in bed, Huangfu Jingchen behind her, wearing his inner garments, as was she, dressed warmly. But just now, Huangfu Jingchen had indeed been holding her entirely in his arms, and the warmth she felt was Huangfu Jingchen’s body heat.

No, it wasn’t just body heat.

There must have been his inner strength as well.

If it weren’t for him using his inner strength to ward off the cold, she wouldn’t have felt this warm or woken up so quickly.

Originally, there was only one blanket on the bed, and now there were two.

Seeing Xia Wenjin remain silent, Huangfu Jingchen quickly got out of bed, explaining, “I saw you’d fainted from the cold, adding blankets didn’t help, so I had to take this measure! Don’t mind me, I—I was blindfolded!”

Indeed, a strip of white cloth covered his eyes.

Xia Wenjin found it both funny and exasperating; he used body heat and inner strength to warm her, did it matter if he was blindfolded?

She wasn’t the kind to think she’d been taken advantage of and then slap someone.

She knew her condition; the chills had flared up more acutely each time in recent days. Her master had warned her that this method was risky and to be prepared should she not withstand it.

She had overestimated herself.

Clearly, it was Huang Zheng who saved her.

She said, “Sorry to have woken you!”

Huangfu Jingchen glanced at her in surprise.

He had thought Wenjin might be angry upon waking, after all, it seemed like he’d taken advantage of her. A virtuous woman, even if he had done it to save her, being held in such a manner was still improper.

But he hadn’t expected Xia Wenjin to be this composed.

This composure didn’t bring him relief; instead, it left him feeling empty.

Any woman would care about her reputation; seeing such a situation, shouldn’t she hold him responsible? He was more than willing to take responsibility!

But she didn’t.

This meant either Wenjin had no feelings for him or she wasn’t prepared to have feelings for anyone at all.

But his heart still held a hint of hope; he said softly, “I…didn’t mean to ruin your reputation. If it concerns you, I can take responsibility!”

Xia Wenjin looked at him in surprise, then laughed; the girl’s laughter was clear and charming, with a bit of carefree boldness, yet this kind of smile was so beautiful, so captivating.

She spoke earnestly, “You were saving my life just now, weren’t you?”

Huangfu Jingchen nodded.

Earlier, his heart had been in a frenzy, filled with worry and fear, wishing he could bear it in her stead. He didn’t know what was happening to her; out of the blue, in the middle of the night, she had turned into a frost-covered person. By the time he found her, she had fainted from the cold.

He only wanted to save her, concerning matters of reputation and responsibility, who had time to think about those?

It was the middle of the night, they didn’t know this place well, and he had no idea where to find medical help. Besides, Xia Wenjin herself was a doctor; seeing the white silk cloth she bit in her mouth, it was clear she had anticipated her condition.

Since even she had no solution, it meant they could only endure it.

He couldn’t help her bear it, but he could endure it with her. So he did what he did without thinking. Throughout the process, he didn’t think of anything else other than using his inner strength and body heat to help ward off the cold for her.

Xia Wenjin said, “Then that’s settled, you saved my life; if I made you responsible, wouldn’t that be repaying kindness with enmity?”

Huangfu Jingchen was taken aback, repay…repaying kindness with enmity?

Is that how this phrase is used?

Wasn’t it repay a life-saving debt by giving your heart? Although he didn’t act with the intent to seek reward, but now it became repaying kindness with enmity here? These four words were far from what he imagined.

“Wenjin, tell me, what’s wrong with your body? Why does frost form? And why is it so cold?” Huangfu Jingchen stopped dwelling on the issue; by comparison, he was more worried about Xia Wenjin’s body.

Xia Wenjin didn’t hide anything and said, “The Ice and Snow Pill can repair my body, but of course not without a price. This is what must be endured in the process of body repair!”

“So…all these nights, you’ve actually gone through this?” Huangfu Jingchen was quite perceptive, especially with those he cared about. He recalled seeing Xia Wenjin every morning over the past few days, her face slightly pale.

And he had known nothing.

Thinking back to the earlier sight of her, a feeling of heaviness settled in his heart, a sharp ache of regret surged up.

“Actually, it’s not that bad. The first time, it lasted only half a quarter of an hour, the second time, it was just a quarter of an hour. Today is the last day, so it’s more severe.” Xia Wenjin didn’t want Huangfu Jingchen to know about the three nights.

Huangfu Jingchen asked worriedly, “Really?”

Xia Wenjin replied frankly, “Of course it’s true. Why would I hide it? Besides, today was also because we drank too much wine at the Heavenly Tiger Sect, and the alcohol vapor made it seem particularly severe!”

Of course not, the Ice and Snow Pill’s effects had nothing to do with alcohol, but Xia Wenjin spoke with such sincerity that even she almost believed it.

Huangfu Jingchen observed her seriously, yet Xia Wenjin’s expression was so natural that he couldn’t discern anything. He said earnestly, “Wenjin, whatever the issue, you must tell me. I can help you!”

Xia Wenjin playfully stuck out her tongue and said light-heartedly, “Had I known, I would’ve told you yesterday. Now I’ve endured it all, such a waste!”

Huangfu Jingchen couldn’t help but laugh; this Wenjin was truly adorable!

With that, this little incident passed.

Early the next morning, they checked out and left. Min Chang, who was ordered by their master to personally fetch them, missed them, regretting silently for being late.

At the hour of Si, the two finally arrived at the Glazed Pavilion.

Recovering the Jade Pendant went smoothly.

However, the information Xia Wenjin sought wasn’t obtained, though the steward of Glazed Pavilion was very respectful towards her, indicating they certainly knew something.

Xia Wenjin didn’t dwell on it, took the Jade Pendant, and headed to the tavern where Huangfu Jingchen waited.

She had gone to the Glazed Pavilion alone, and they agreed to meet at a tavern not far from the Glazed Pavilion.

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