Under the scorching summer sun, cicadas on the trees never ceased their relentless chirping.
Gu Jiao woke up amidst the persistent cicada calls, slowly opening her eyes, which were bound by a bandage. She reached out and removed the bandage.
The harsh light immediately flooded in, and she instinctively closed her eyes and turned her head away, waiting to adjust to the brightness before looking again.
Through her blurry vision, she could faintly make out the familiar windowsill, the familiar table, the familiar chair, and... the familiar little figure on the floor.
There were no classes at the Academy today.
Xiao Jingkong had nowhere else to go, so he stayed in the room, playing while he waited for Gu Jiao to wake up.
It was hot, and Xiao Hen had laid out a cool mat for him on the floor.
As he played, he eventually sprawled on the ground, his cheek pressed into a chubby squish, drool pooling beneath his face, and his little bottom sticking up in the air as he slept soundly.
"Awake?"
A man’s low and smooth voice came from above her head.
Gu Jiao blinked and looked up at Xiao Hen.
This position was too awkward; she almost twisted her neck.
Xiao Hen quickly got up and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out his elegant hand, like jade, to touch her forehead, "No fever anymore."
Gu Jiao’s vision was still slightly blurry, but she could see his good mood was unquestionable, and a light returned to her eyes in response.
"You’re here too," she said.
Xiao Hen withdrew his hand, huffing in a rare display of emotion, "What do you mean, you too? So I’m the second one you noticed."
Gu Jiao seriously said, "It’s because you’re sitting in the wrong place, too high up. I had to roll my eyes back to see you."
Xiao Hen, hearing her articulate words and logical reasoning, knew she was not seriously harmed.
She had been caught in the rain during the last selection round and had been brought back to the National Master Hall with a high fever for three days and nights. Only this morning had the fever subsided, and now it was afternoon.
"How do you feel?"
"How is Black Wind King doing?"
The two asked simultaneously.
Xiao Hen couldn’t help but smile resignedly, "Black Wind King is fine, look."
As he spoke, he gestured towards the window.
Gu Jiao lifted her head slightly, but unfortunately, she couldn’t see from that angle.
Xiao Hen gently helped her to sit up.
Now everything came into clear view.
Gu Changqing did not need to be distracted and was able to exert his full fighting strength.
"Jun, Xiuhuan," Gu Jiao said thoughtfully.
"I owe someone a debt of gratitude, and now it’s been returned to you."
Whose debt did Jun Xiuhuan owe after all?
And why did he repay it to her?
"Don’t you care about yourself at all?" Xiao Hen asked her sternly.
"Ah?" Gu Jiao was slightly taken aback, "What happened to me?"
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Hen reminded himself not to get angry, "Do you know you had a high fever for three days and nearly went blind?"
Gu Jiao looked puzzled for a moment, then nodded, "Oh, yeah, that happened. I had forgotten until you mentioned it. Han Wuye used a dirty trick that poisoned me. But I can see now."
It was just that her vision wasn’t so clear.
Xiao Hen said, "Madam Nan came and gave you the Antidote; your eyes will gradually recover. Don’t wander around until they do."
Gu Jiao opened her mouth.
"I know what you’re about to ask," Xiao Hen said, knowing her too well. She never took her own issues to heart, instead always preoccupied with concerns for others.
Xiao Hen continued, "The Antidote for Gu Changqing will soon be ready. It’s not a difficult poison to treat, it’s just that some herbs are troublesome to dry. Pick it up in three days. Can you put your mind at ease now?"
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