Half an hour later, Yaoxi had ridden Little Red Horse far down the road, the landscape changing around her as she traveled. The young man, Daizi, was nowhere in sight.
Eventually, Little Red Horse, clearly worried about Daizi, began to slow down and finally came to a stop by the roadside. No matter how much Yaoxi urged it forward, the horse refused to take another step.
"You're really spoiling him, you know that?" Yaoxi sighed, stroking the horse's head. "You're going to spoil him rotten at this rate!"
For some reason, as Daizi grew older, he had become increasingly stubborn and withdrawn. He was even starting to disobey her more often. Could he be going through a rebellious phase?
She had intended to teach him a lesson, to make him less headstrong. But with Little Red Horse refusing to cooperate, it seemed she was the one being pushed to the sidelines. In the end, she had no choice but to wait for Daizi to catch up.
Not long after, the young man appeared on the horizon, gasping for breath as he ran toward them. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and his face was flushed with exhaustion, but his eyes still held a determined spark.
Yaoxi frowned slightly, feeling a twinge of guilt. Perhaps she had pushed him too far this time.
She extended her hand again and said gently, "Come on, get up here."
But the young man stubbornly shook his head, refusing her offer. This only served to irritate Yaoxi.
"Fine! Run yourself to death, then!" she snapped, urging Little Red Horse forward again. However, this time, the horse moved at a leisurely pace, not the swift gallop from before.
It wasn't the horse disobeying her now; Yaoxi had deliberately slowed the pace, worried that Daizi might actually run himself into the ground. Though she kept her face stern, it was clear she had softened her stance for his sake.
The young man, understanding this, followed closely behind, his gaze never leaving Yaoxi's back. As long as he could see her, he felt that he was the luckiest person in the world.
As the sun began to set, casting the sky in a glorious array of colors, the landscape was bathed in a golden glow, reflecting off the water and painting the world in hues of gold and orange.
Though their journey had been delayed, forcing them to camp outdoors for the night, the breathtaking scenery made it all worthwhile.
By the fire, the young man was clearly exhausted from the day's exertions. Even before the sky had fully darkened, he had curled up and fallen into a deep sleep.
Through the flickering firelight, Yaoxi watched him with a furrowed brow, her expression troubled. She couldn't understand why Daizi had suddenly started disobeying her, and why he had chosen to sleep at a distance from her.
Could it be that he was beginning to dislike her?
Yaoxi began to reflect on her behavior. Perhaps she had been too harsh, always ordering him around. She sighed softly, realizing that Daizi was growing up and developing a sense of pride. She would have to be more mindful of her words and actions, not treating him so carelessly.
"No… no…"
The young man suddenly began to tremble in his sleep, his face turning pale as cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His breathing became rapid, and his brow furrowed deeply.
Seeing this, Yaoxi hurried over to his side, gently lifting him so that his head rested on her lap. She stroked his trembling body, softly reassuring him, "Daizi, it's okay. I promise I won't let anyone hurt you again."
"I swear!" Yaoxi murmured, smoothing out the wrinkles in his brow, her eyes filled with determination.
Though six years had passed, Daizi still hadn't fully escaped the shadows of his past. He would occasionally be haunted by nightmares, just like this one. All she could do was stay by his side and protect him, helping him gradually forget those dark memories.
Under Yaoxi's soothing touch, the young man slowly calmed down, though he clung tightly to her waist, reluctant to let go. It seemed that only her presence could give him the sense of security he needed to sleep peacefully.
Yaoxi was both exasperated and amused. She didn't want to wake him by pushing him away, but she was also frustrated—not because he was holding onto her, but because he insisted on sleeping far from her, despite only being able to sleep soundly in her presence!
Was he just making things difficult for her?
Watching his now peaceful expression, Yaoxi was tempted to flick his forehead in annoyance. But after a moment of hesitation, she decided against it. After all, he probably didn't even realize that he could only sleep well when he was close to her.
The next morning, the young man woke up, only to find himself staring directly into Yaoxi's eyes, which were filled with a mix of irritation and amusement.
"You're awake!" Yaoxi said, her voice tinged with frustration.
She had spent the entire night in the same position to avoid waking him. If she had been an ordinary woman, her legs would have been completely numb, and her back might have given out.
As the young man's eyes went from groggy to fully awake, his expression shifted to one of shock and then panic. He suddenly realized that not only was his head resting on Yaoxi's lap, but his arms were tightly wrapped around her waist.
Realizing this, he jumped up in a panic, his eyes darting around, unsure of where to look or what to do. He was completely flustered, not knowing how to handle the situation.
Then, his eyes landed on the shimmering water nearby. Without a second thought, he jumped in with a splash.
Yaoxi watched this unfold, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. What was he up to now?
A moment later, the young man resurfaced, holding a two or three-pound fish in his hands. He raised it triumphantly, flashing Yaoxi a bright smile, his teeth gleaming white.
Yaoxi couldn't help but laugh at his antics. "All that fuss just to catch a fish? What am I going to do with you?"
She called out in mock exasperation, "Stop showing off and get out of there!"
While the young man changed into dry clothes, Yaoxi began roasting the fish he had caught. But her thoughts were far from the task at hand. She couldn't stop thinking about how flustered he had been when he woke up.
Was Daizi… shy?
It suddenly dawned on her that she might have misunderstood why he had been keeping his distance. Perhaps he didn't dislike her at all. Maybe it was something else entirely…
Her eyebrows arched, and a knowing smile slowly spread across her face.
Things were starting to get interesting.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8