As she slowly peered inside, tired from the day's work, the worry and fear in her heart seemed to take over her body. With every step, she thought about her sick mother's condition and the worry in her heart grew.
As soon as she opened the door, the light minty smell that came to her nose relaxed her body. Her mother was usually asleep at this hour. So she took a step into the living room with curiosity and obvious anxiety. A few years ago, the house would have been unexpectedly lively at this time. But now it was so quiet that Minji felt like she couldn't breathe.
"I'm home..."
Her eyes widened when she opened the living room door and saw what was inside. A scrawny man with graying hair stood next to the mattress where her mother lay. In his hand were silver pins ranging in length from 5 to 20 centimeters. With unparalleled grace, the old man was stabbing the silver needles into the old woman's frail body lying on the mattress.
The old woman on the floor was very weak and had a pained expression. Her face was contorted with sweat and pain and she moaned often. But with each stab, her body relaxed and the pain in her expression faded.
Minji was at first stunned by the sight, but her blood rushed to her head and she threw the bag in her hand towards the old man.
"Who are you?! What are you doing here? How did you get in?"
Her mother didn't even have the strength to get out of bed. It was torture for her to reach for the glass of water on the bedside table, let alone open the door. That's why Minji wanted to be with her every moment. Until a while ago, a family friend had been taking care of her mother, but she too had had enough.
As the bag moved swiftly towards the old man's head, it was stopped halfway by a rough, rough hand.
The old man turned to Minji without even flinching.
"I am here for your mother's health, young lady. If you want her to get better, you'd better stay still."
Then he went back to his work. Minji stared at him with her mouth half-open, angry but also bewildered. Her surprise was slowly replaced by anger when she saw the owner of the hand.
"Why are you here?!"
Baek Yisoo slowly put the bag down on the table. Without so much as a glance at Minji, he looked at the doctor who had put the old woman down.
"Dr. Wang, how is her condition? Is there hope?"
The old man continued his work without looking up.
"Many people in Shaanxi have died of malaria in the last few years. The biggest cause was poverty. Once treatment is started, it is only a matter of time before malaria is cured. For now, I've controlled it with acupuncture, and I'll prepare some herbal medicine when I go to the clinic."
Dr. Wang was one of the best doctors in this part of the city. He was quite competent, as he was a bourgeois man who usually saw the bourgeoisie, like top executives. He was also a member of the Pan Sect, a big sect.
The Pan Sect was the largest healing sect in Shaanxi.
"Understood, Dr. Wang, do whatever it takes without sparing any expense and send me the bill."
Under Minji's astonished gaze, Dr. Wang removed the needles from the old woman's body. The woman who had moaned in pain at the beginning was now breathing normally and sleeping like a baby.
"I'll walk you out."
Baek Yisoo graciously walked Dr. Wang to the door. There was a carriage waiting for the doctor outside. Minji was out with them, watching the two of them. She had a conflicted expression on her face, as if she didn't know what to think.
Dr. Wang got into the carriage.
Baek Yisoo was about to close the door when Dr. Wang stopped him and whispered something in his ear. Baek Yisoo paused for a moment, but smiled and closed the door.
---
---
"What are you doing here?"
Baek Yisoo looked after Dr. Wang for a while and then turned his head. When he saw that Minji was still looking at him with the same gaze, he smiled bitterly.
"How about you stop looking at me like that and relax? Your mom will be fine."
The stunned look on Yu Minji's face was worth seeing. The fact that the man she hated had suddenly appeared and saved her for the second time had completely changed his image in her heart.
"How did you know?" Yu Minji asked, biting her lip.
Baek Yisoo didn't answer. Instead, he slowly approached. Minji took small steps back, but her back soon slammed against the door. Baek Yisoo reached out a hand and placed it against the door, making it impossible for her to escape, and gently combed her hair with the other hand.
"Don't I deserve more thanks than interrogation?"
A mischievous smile appeared on Baek Yisoo's face.
"Thank... you..."
Minji's heart was beating so fast that for a moment she feared she might have a heart attack. The special moment from a week ago replayed vividly in her mind. The sharp pain she felt when Baek Yisoo's body merged with her own caused her to break out in a cold sweat again. When she smelled Baek Yisoo's sweat odor, her body became active, making her feel like a dirty woman.
"Look at me."
Baek Yisoo spoke in a deep but low tone, wanting to take Minji's gaze off the floor.
"Are you uncomfortable around me?"
"...I'm not uncomfortable, I'm just worried."
"Why?"
"Everything happened so fast. It scares me..."
Baek Yisoo gently lifted Minji's chin. Although she was usually a fierce and grumpy woman, she was quite docile when she was embarrassed. Her wet eyes made Baek Yisoo's blood boil even more. He felt the muscles of the woman in his arms tense as his lips touched her lips.
He was gently brushing her hair when she suddenly bit her lip.
The sudden shock forced her to part her lips. Baek Yisoo took this opportunity to push his tongue even deeper.
"We're outside..."
Minji said this after a while in a tearful voice. Even though it was dark outside, people were passing by. If anyone recognized her, it would start rumors. That scared her to death.
Baek Yisoo pushed the door open and stepped inside with Minji. The two became even more aggressive, comfortable in the safe environment. Baek Yisoo didn't expect any moves from Minji. She was just letting him do what he wanted.
But now Minji was fighting back.
Baek Yisoo put his hands on Minji's buttocks and explored them for a while. His hands were hard as if made of iron, but his touch was like soft velvet. Moving slowly, he began to remove Minji's clothes.
First her delicate collarbones appeared, then a pair of snowy mountains. Baek Yisoo gently kissed the plum blossoms on their heads and ran his tongue around the snowy mountains.
[Activating the Eternal Spring Mantra...]
[Follow the instructions...]
Because it was his first time, he came too fast and didn't get full pleasure. The same was true for the other party. So Baek Yisoo wanted to do better the second time.
With the start of the Eternal Spring Mantra, Baek Yisoo went even further.