CHAPTER 716: CHAPTER 302: STAYING OVERNIGHT, IN ARMS (SECOND UPDATE)

The rain had been falling all day without cessation.

Tonight, we could only seek shelter in the temple.

Xie Ruotong ordered the soldiers to gather more dry firewood to ensure the fire would not die out tonight.

She also arranged for her and the soldiers to take turns keeping watch throughout the night.

Being away from home, it was impossible to let down all guards.

The temple was supremely quiet.

At this moment, one of the soldiers was on watch.

The rest were sitting and trying to sleep.

With a pillar behind Song Yanqing, leaning against it was slightly more comfortable.

But still, he couldn’t sleep.

He watched Xie Ruotong hug her knees and bury her head in her lap, as if she was asleep.

Another soldier was in the same position, even snoring loudly.

Song Yanqing, since childhood, had never ventured out like this, his memories mainly filled with studying in his own study, with people attending to his eating, dressing, and travel needs.

This was his first time spending the night out in the wilderness.

He had to admit, he was really not accustomed to it.

He just sat in silence, quietly waiting for dawn.

The night grew later and later.

After two soldiers had taken their turns, Xie Ruotong awoke.

As soon as Xie Ruotong woke up,

Song Yanqing quickly shut his eyes, pretending to sleep.

Even though Xie Ruotong remained silent,

he could actually feel her discontent with him.

He had been proud and spirited since childhood and seldom faced setbacks; unexpectedly, a day came when he would be scorned like this because of his physical condition.

He tried his best not to hold Xie Ruotong back.

Song Yanqing leaned against the pillar, with his eyes closed.

He appeared to be asleep.

Xie Ruotong stepped outside for a look and, upon her return, saw Song Yanqing leaning against the pillar, seemingly sleeping uneasily.

She approached him.

Then she squatted down, reached out her hand, and touched Song Yanqing’s hand.

She wanted to make sure he wasn’t cold.

If he caught a chill, it would be more trouble than it was worth.

Song Yanqing’s heart skipped a beat.

The moment Xie Ruotong drew near, his heartbeat quickened.

Not to mention, she was now holding his hand.

He couldn’t help it and opened his eyes.

Upon opening his eyes, he saw Xie Ruotong up close.

The firelight cast a gentle glow on her soft cheeks.

Gazing at Xie Ruotong’s face like that, Song Yanqing’s eyes seemed to ripple with emotion.

He began to speak.

Before he could say anything,

"Are you cold?" Xie Ruotong asked.

She had felt that his palm was very cool to the touch.

Song Yanqing’s gaze flickered slightly.

"If you are cold, I can have them come over and hug you to sleep," Xie Ruotong’s voice was very faint.

At this point, her hand had already left the palm of his hand.

So.

Xie Ruotong was merely worried that he might catch a cold.

And all her concern for him was merely carrying out orders, fulfilling the mission.

Song Yanqing shook his head, "I’m not cold."

"Your hand is very cold."

"It’s due to a bodily condition, not because of the cold," explained Song Yanqing.

"If you catch a cold, I can’t answer for it," Xie Ruotong said indifferently.

Song Yanqing chose to remain silent.

"Ah Liu," Xie Ruotong suddenly called out to a soldier.

The soldier was still snoring, but at hearing the command, he quickly opened his eyes, "General."

"Hug him to sleep," ordered Xie Ruotong.

"Yes," the soldier promptly acknowledged the command.

Stationed in the army, sometimes really having to camp outside in the cold, it was common practice for the soldiers to keep each other warm.

Ah Liu was also sleepy at this moment and, regardless of Song Yanqing’s status, went forward and embraced Song Yanqing then closed his eyes to sleep again.

Visible on Song Yanqing’s face was... distaste.

Impossible to disguise, even if he wanted to.

Soldiers are naturally different from ordinary people.

They go to war and don’t care much about their appearance, seldom bathing or changing clothes.

Therefore, it’s inevitable that they carry some odors on them.

What’s worse, as soon as Ah Liu shut his eyes, he started snoring again.

The intermittent snoring just kept echoing in Song Yanqing’s ears.

It made sleep even more impossible.

Xie Ruotong’s original intention was just to prevent Song Yanqing from catching a cold.

But her actions now seemed to others like she was indulging in personal benefits under the guise of public interests, deliberately taking revenge.

Even the patient Song Yanqing couldn’t bear it and said, "I assure you I won’t catch a cold, can you please stop him from holding me while sleeping?"

Xie Ruotong pursed her lips.

"With him holding me like this, I can’t sleep either," Song Yanqing added.

"Ah Liu," Xie Ruotong spoke.

Ah Liu opened his eyes in a daze, murmuring, "But I held on tight."

That’s exactly the problem - holding on too tight.

"You should sleep by yourself."

"Oh," Ah Liu felt somewhat disappointed, "Song’s body smells nice, and he is quite slender, much more comfortable to hold than Da Niu."

Da Niu is another soldier.

Song Yanqing’s face turned red.

Ah Liu shuffled his bottom, moving back to the spot where he initially slept, squeezing in with Da Niu.

"Go to sleep," Xie Ruotong said indifferently.

"Why don’t you sleep, and I’ll keep watch? I can’t sleep anyway, and it’s easier to catch a cold when asleep," Song Yanqing quickly suggested.

Xie Ruotong hesitated for a moment.

Song Yanqing quickly got up from the ground, freeing up his spot, "You sleep, if I really can’t keep going, I’ll call you."

"Alright." Xie Ruotong didn’t refuse.

She was well aware that the journey to the border was long and energy must be conserved.

Song Yanqing could still rest a little in the carriage.

She sat in Song Yanqing’s former spot, leaning on a pillar to sleep.

Song Yanqing sat on the side, keeping watch.

He thought that in such an environment, it would be impossible for him to doze off all night.

Yet, just before dawn.

He still could not resist, and sitting down, he fell asleep.

In a daze, he felt someone approaching, in a daze, he felt a warm and familiar body, in a daze, it seemed he tightly embraced that body...

When he woke up.

He was alone in the temple.

Leaning against the pillar he had slept on, he was covered with a woman’s jacket.

For a moment.

He felt abandoned by Xie Ruotong.

The next moment.

He saw Xie Ruotong walking into the temple from outside.

"Awake?" Xie Ruotong asked.

Song Yanqing was still in shock.

He controlled his emotions.

And realized he had overthought it.

Why would Xie Ruotong abandon him?

She was just carrying out a mission.

"Sorry, I don’t know how I fell asleep last night," Song Yanqing apologized.

Even after falling asleep, he had struggled to stay awake.

But for some reason, he just never came to.

Maybe too exhausted, or maybe too warm.

"Hmm," Xie Ruotong said nothing.

Turning around, it seemed her face was flush with an almost imperceptible blush.

She said, "If you’re awake, get up. It’s not raining outside anymore, and since we were delayed for most of yesterday, we’ll have to travel a bit further today."

"Okay."

Song Yanqing quickly got up.

Only then did he notice that he was still wearing Xie Ruotong’s jacket.

He quickly handed it to her.

Xie Ruotong took it casually.

She rode out of the temple first, gracefully mounting her horse and leading the way.

Song Yanqing watched Xie Ruotong’s figure, a slight smile curling his lips.

He suddenly felt a bit reluctant to leave this temple.

Reluctant... to lose the warm embrace of Xie Ruotong from last night.