The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 259 - 260: Affection Arises

Sister Ning’s actions couldn’t help but shock Gu Yifeng, but he couldn’t resist the urge to hold her tightly in his arms.

Gu Yifeng didn’t know if he was overthinking, but at this moment, seeing Sister Ning’s eyes filled with anticipation and affection made his blood boil.

Walking intermittently, traveling down the mountain along the riverside without daring to show his face, only taking the paths through the woods, Gu Yifeng had no choice but to walk through the forest.

He didn’t know if there were any assassins behind them; the priority was to find a place to start a fire so Sister Ning could dry her clothes.

As for the people behind them, he could deal with that slowly after he returned.

After walking for about two hours, he saw a dilapidated house in the woods, likely a place where hunters stayed in the past while hunting.

Without hesitating, Gu Yifeng carried Sister Ning swiftly inside.

The wooden building blocked out the autumn cold wind upon entering.

The best part was that the room still had a pile of chopped wood,

besides the pot on the stove, there was a warm kang bed. Gu Yifeng glanced at the kang bed before gently placing Sister Ning onto it. Seeing her tightly clutching his collar with her small hand, his eyes tightened, and he carefully loosened it, putting her hand back beside her.

Fetching water from the river to pour into the pot, he finally lit a fire. As warmth slowly crept in, Gu Yifeng stood up and lifted Sister Ning from the kang bed, the two sitting beside the stove warming themselves.

Yet, they had fallen in the water, and although their clothes were no longer dripping, they were soaked and clung to their bodies.

Gu Yifeng could still endure it; after years on the battlefield, he had suffered all sorts of hardships, but Sister Ning’s frail body couldn’t withstand such suffering.

Gu Yifeng hesitated for quite a while, finally making a decision, and tenderly began to remove Sister Ning’s clothes one by one, leaving only a vest and undergarments on. Sitting by the stove with the fire burning, removing the wet clothes didn’t feel cold; it was warmer than before.

Watching the expression on the little girl’s face gradually calm down in his embrace, Gu Yifeng’s lips curled into a smile.

The wet clothes were draped beside the stove; with the fire burning, it wouldn’t be long before they dried.

Gu Yifeng’s clothes were still wet, and the little person in his arms seemed dissatisfied, squirming occasionally; although she hadn’t awakened, she was clearly uncomfortable.

Gu Yifeng reached out to feel her forehead; fortunately, she wasn’t feverish.

In the firelight, her delicate cheeks in his embrace showed signs of warmth compared to earlier, no longer appearing so frightening.

Recalling earlier, when the person in his arms seemed to have stopped breathing, fear couldn’t help but creep into him.

Only at this moment did Gu Yifeng realize that Sister Ning, whom he always saw as a little girl, had unknowingly grown into a young woman.

Gu Yifeng dared not let his gaze wander, focusing solely on the ash pile, occasionally adding wood to the fire—perhaps it was because he was too close to the fire that he felt overheated.

As time passed, Gu Yifeng occasionally glanced at the little person in his arms, sometimes adjusting the clothes hanging by the fire. Once they dried completely, he cautiously dressed her.

After getting her fully dressed, sweat formed on Gu Yifeng’s forehead.

Once everything was in place, Gu Yifeng carried her back to the kang bed, as the fire by the stove had warmed it. He laid her down and then turned to the stove, removing his wet clothes to dry them by the fire.

He stared at the flames absentmindedly until the clothes in his hand became hot, pulling his gaze back. Hearing sounds from the kang bed, Gu Yifeng stood up and strode over.

Lin Youning slowly opened her eyes to see the older brother with his upper body bare. In a daze, she couldn’t help but blush, wondering how she ended up dreaming like this—or perhaps after dying, one could dream of whatever they wished?

Lin Youning quickly covered her face with her hands, muttering, "I don’t want to dream like this."

Standing by the kang bed, Gu Yifeng couldn’t hold back a soft chuckle. After glancing at himself, he turned to the stove, pulled the robe over, and put it on, walking back to the kang.

"It’s not a dream," Gu Yifeng lovingly reminded the little person still covering her face.

Lin Youning removed her hands from her face, "Big brother, why are you here?" Lin Youning suddenly sat up; if this wasn’t a dream, where exactly was she? She remembered falling into the water and originally thinking she should be dead.

She quickly lifted her head, "Did big brother save me?"

Gu Yifeng pulled his robe and sat on the edge of the kang bed, "Do you feel any discomfort?"

As he asked, his hand already touched her forehead; seeing she wasn’t feverish, he removed his hand, tucking the strands of hair by her ears.

Such intimate gestures made Lin Youning stiffen, not knowing if it was her imagination; she felt big brother seemed much more familiar with her all of a sudden, and such intimacy.

Gu Yifeng watched her dazed expression, merely smiling lightly, "We are now on the mountain, and it’s late at night; finding food here isn’t easy. Bear with it; tomorrow morning I will catch a pheasant, after which we can find a way down the mountain."

Lin Youning nodded dazedly, hesitating, not knowing how to ask or what else to say.

Thinking she had died or was dreaming, she didn’t expect big brother to save her. Having the Hidden Guard follow them, big brother might have found her, which explained it all.

"Do you have water?" Finally, Lin Youning uttered these words, feeling incompetent under big brother’s gaze, unable to speak.

Gu Yifeng’s smile deepened, "I’ll go look outside. The water here comes from the river, unsuitable for consumption. I’ll see if there’s a stream flowing down the mountain nearby."

"Big brother, let’s forget it; it’s so dark outside, you won’t be safe going out," Lin Youning quickly stopped him, "I’m not thirsty now anyway."

Gu Yifeng looked at her, his eyes filled with laughter, "It’s still early before dawn; you should rest a bit more."

Lin Youning shook her head quietly, "Big brother, how did you find me? Were those people sent by the Eldest Prince? Are we safe now?"