Chapter 2

Hearing these words, Yang Ying was reminded of the past. At the time, she was ten years old, and Zhang Yu was seven. The two of them went up the mountain to pick peaches, but she accidentally twisted her ankle and cried in pain. Zhang Yu wanted to carry her home, but she couldn't put any weight on her foot and couldn't get on his back. Zhang Yu, just like he did just now, carried her forcefully. Back then, Zhang Yu was thin and weak. After walking ten miles to get home, he couldn't even get up.

Memories flooded back, and Yang Ying felt a pang of sadness. She said apologetically, "I'm sorry, let's go..."

"What are you apologizing for?" Zhang Yu was puzzled, picked up the large travel bag, and asked, "Where is your house, and how do we get there?"

"It's not far. After we pass the street ahead, turn left, then turn right, and we'll be there," Yang Ying said, her voice a bit choked.

Zhang Yu responded with a single "Okay" and started walking in the direction Yang Ying pointed.

Carrying a person and holding a large travel bag, Zhang Yu's walk was inevitably awkward. Yang Ying noticed and said, "Let me help you carry the travel bag."

"Never mind, you can't lift it," Zhang Yu said directly, "It's over fifty pounds. I can just manage to carry it."

Hearing how heavy it was, Yang Ying felt even more embarrassed. She wrapped her arms around Zhang Yu's neck, feeling a mix of emotions, a taste she couldn't quite describe.

They arrived at the place Yang Ying had mentioned. It was a semi-old residential area. Entering the house, it wasn't as luxurious as Zhang Yu had imagined. It was just a small one-bedroom apartment, even smaller than his own home. The decoration was also quite ordinary.

Although Zhang Yu was a country bumpkin in the city, it didn't mean he was clueless. The car Yang Ying drove back for the New Year was a Passat, quite new, and cost at least 200,000 yuan. Yang Ying had also said she married a wealthy man. How could a wealthy man live in such a small house? Didn't they say city people lived in big buildings? Most importantly, where would he sleep?

Carrying Yang Ying into the bedroom and laying her down on the bed, Zhang Yu asked, "Auntie, where is Uncle?"

Hearing this, Yang Ying couldn't help but sigh and said, "At this point, I won't hide it from you. I've been in Zhenhai City for a few years, but I only work as a real estate agent, earning just enough to get by. They say Zhenhai City is full of gold, but I don't have that luck. Seeing other women wearing gold and silver and using high-end cosmetics, who wouldn't be envious? One time, while selling a house, I met a wealthy old man. He was sixty and actually pursued me. For his money, I married him. I thought I would live a life of luxury, but unexpectedly, he died of a stroke within half a year. This old fox had done a prenuptial agreement and left a will, stating that all his assets would go to his son. A few days ago, I went to court, but I got nothing, just the real estate agency he set up for me. Fortunately, I had the foresight to put my name on the contract. Now, I'm not as glamorous as I was during the New Year. I didn't even dare to tell my family about marrying the old man or his death..."

After saying this, Yang Ying gave a bitter smile and even shed a tear. Thinking about how hard it had been for her over the years, working as a real estate agent and barely making ends meet. She had once indulged in vanity, but ended up losing both the man and the money. If she remarried, she would be a second-time bride.

Seeing Yang Ying cry, Zhang Yu quickly said, "Auntie, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked..."

"It's fine. This kind of thing can't be hidden anyway. Just don't tell the family..." Yang Ying instructed.

"Don't worry, I can keep a secret," Zhang Yu said seriously.

"Good... By the way, you forgot to buy the red flower oil. There's a pharmacy downstairs. Can you buy a bottle for me?" Yang Ying asked.

"That's not necessary. I brought some medicinal wine, which is better than red flower oil..."

Zhang Yu opened his large travel bag. First, he took out a big bag of apples, then a big bag of chestnuts and a big bag of mushrooms, smiling and saying, "These are all from our home. My mom said you don't get to eat much of this in the big city, so she asked me to bring them for you to try..." As he spoke, he found a Daoist robe, a peach wood sword, cinnabar, talismans, a compass, and other items, as well as a crumpled envelope. He finally found a bottle of medicinal wine.

"What's all this mess?" Yang Ying frowned, no wonder the bag was so heavy.

"I apprenticed with Old Wang at his coffin shop when I was a kid. Last year, he suddenly said he was going to be an official and left all this to me. By the way..." Zhang Yu said with a smile, then picked up the crumpled envelope. The envelope was sealed tightly, with a hard object inside, and there were no words on the cover. He continued, "This letter is from my master before he left. He said if I ever had the chance to come to Zhenhai City, I should visit Wudang Daoist Temple and give this letter to my uncle. But the address... my mom washed it when she was doing laundry... Have you been in Zhenhai City for a while? Do you know where Wudang Daoist Temple is?"

Yang Ying frowned and said irritably, "Can't you be a bit more ambitious? Zhenhai City is huge, and I haven't even explored it all. Where that破道观 (broken temple) is, you can look for it later, but I advise you to save your energy... My foot hurts, is your medicinal wine effective? Bring it over and let me try it."

After saying this, Yang Ying propped herself up with her arms and sat up.

"Don't worry, it's definitely effective..." Zhang Yu opened the bottle of medicinal wine, poured some onto his hands, sat down at the foot of the bed, and grabbed Yang Ying's foot, starting to rub the medicine on her ankle.

When Zhang Yu first touched her ankle, Yang Ying's body trembled. Honestly, her feet had never been touched by a man. But then she thought, Zhang Yu wasn't really a stranger; they had grown up together. It was just him applying medicine, so what was there to worry about?

Yang Ying's feet were truly beautiful, as white as jade, long and delicate, with a slender and plump ankle, a long and slightly arched foot, and a graceful curve. Her toes were evenly spaced and delicate, like ten fine white onions. Through the fine, translucent white skin of her foot, the fine blood vessels beneath could be faintly seen.

Her thighs were round and full, with smooth, white skin, and her calves were slender and firm, emitting an alluring luster. Her small feet were curled up, and at that moment, they were being rubbed by Zhang Yu.

Yang Ying's ankle was quite swollen and very painful, but the medicinal wine brought a burning sensation. This feeling was initially uncomfortable, but the pain in her ankle disappeared, and the burning sensation gradually became soothing and comfortable.

However, seeing Zhang Yu's hands rubbing her foot and his serious expression, Yang Ying couldn't help but feel embarrassed. She wasn't a child anymore. Suddenly, she noticed something on Zhang Yu's wrist. It was a red string with a silver bell attached.

"He... he's still wearing it..." When she saw the silver bell, Yang Ying's heart trembled, and memories of the past flooded back.