Naughty Puppy Will Be Eaten by a Bad Woman - Chapter 37

◎Seizing Lu Zhao’s shyness, restraint, and longing… all of it.◎

Medicine?

How did Gu Xianyue know she was injured?

Lu Zhao was puzzled, but then she remembered Gu Xianyue had examined her earlier, so it wasn’t entirely surprising.

By now, she no longer felt this was an intrusion. Instead, a secret sense of satisfaction stirred within her—the feeling of being understood.

Gu Xianyue was willing to understand her, care for her… perhaps even cherish her.

But… was her true self truly worthy of Gu Xianyue’s affection?

Besides the ointment Gu Xianyue had offered, a fully stocked medicine chest sat nearby. Lu Zhao recognized most of the contents—various remedies for bone injuries and pain, everything one could need.

So much… did Gu Xianyue bring all this? The reason a healthy person like Gu Xianyue would carry such an extensive medical kit was obvious.

For a moment, Lu Zhao didn’t know what to think.

After her bath, she hadn’t put on her prosthetic leg, only a bathrobe. Now, she sat down on the sofa next to Gu Xianyue, leaning on her crutches.

“…Thank you,” Lu Zhao murmured after a long silence.

Thank you for being so kind to her, for patiently accommodating and caring for her, and… for not being disgusted by her.

Gu Xianyue moved behind Lu Zhao, her fingertips lightly touching Lu Zhao’s right shoulder through the bathrobe, then sliding down a few centimeters.

“Is it this pain?”

Lu Zhao nodded, her response precise.

“Maybe… I should just do it myself.”

Gu Xianyue smiled and countered, “Can you even reach?”

Lu Zhao had no reply. She couldn’t reach, which was why she usually relied on painkillers to manage the pain.

She loosened her bathrobe, pulling the collar down to expose the area around her shoulder blade.

A purplish-red indentation stood out starkly against her pale skin, about the size of a thumb, with spiderweb-like pale scars radiating from its edges. Irregular, raised keloid scars covered the surface, evidence of either poor stitching technique or a rushed, careless job.

From certain angles, subtle misalignments beneath the skin became visible, silently testifying to the violence this area had endured and the irreversible damage it had sustained.

Though Gu Xianyue had mentally prepared herself, the sight still struck her hard.

Maintaining a composed expression, she applied the cold ointment to the disfigured wound, spreading it outward and massaging it evenly. Yet her gaze couldn’t help but linger on the shoulder blade.

Perhaps due to childhood malnutrition, Lu Zhao couldn’t gain weight no matter what she tried. The exposed butterfly bone on her back resembled fluttering wings, almost bursting through the scar tissue.

It must have been so painful…

The cold ointment made Lu Zhao flinch as it touched her skin. Her heart pounded like a drum, the exposed, ugly scar making her deeply uneasy.

She was terrified Gu Xianyue would find her repulsive.

But her body was covered in such marks…

Gu Xianyue’s hand paused. Her fingertips gently traced the shocking scar, outlining its shape as she imagined its original, bloody state.

She pictured the bullet tearing through flesh, ripping muscle, and shattering bone marrow… and the cold scalpel carving away the necrotic tissue, followed by stitches pulling the skin back together.

She wondered how Lu Zhao had swallowed all that pain, never uttering a word, and carried on living like an ordinary person with her battered body.

Noticing Gu Xianyue’s pause, Lu Zhao panicked. “Is it too ugly…? Don’t look.” She reached for her robe to cover herself.

Gu Xianyue’s voice nearly choked with emotion. “It’s not ugly.”

“Not at all ugly.”

Her heart clenched, overwhelmed by uncontrollable feelings for Lu Zhao—pity, tenderness, and a fierce desire to protect her.

I want to… hold her.

With those words, she wrapped her arms around Lu Zhao from behind, pressing her cheek against her shoulder.

Lu Zhao froze, Gu Xianyue’s hands sliding around her waist to clasp tightly in front, pulling her into a close embrace.

The embrace was so tight, leaving no space between them, that Lu Zhao could feel Gu Xianyue’s warm breath against the back of her neck, the heat brushing against the cool medicated patch, stimulating every cell in her body.

Lu Zhao’s voice was low and husky: “Gu Xianyue…”

“Mm, I’m here,” Gu Xianyue replied, her usually cool voice muffled as it reached Lu Zhao’s ear from behind.

Lu Zhao wasn’t even wearing a bra beneath her clothes, and Gu Xianyue’s embrace made her cheeks flush.

Those slender, strong hands around her waist sent an indescribable rain pouring through her.

I can’t take this anymore… I’m going to lose control.

Lu Zhao struggled to keep her voice steady: “Gu Xianyue, thank you. I feel much better now…”

“Mm, don’t rely on painkillers all the time. If you’re in pain, just tell me. I can help you apply the patch.”

Lu Zhao’s cheeks burned hotter, as if Gu Xianyue had seen right through her.

She stood up. “Okay… I’m a little tired. You should rest early too.”

With that, she smiled at Gu Xianyue and fled back to her room as if escaping.

That was close…

She could hear her own heart pounding, and Gu Xianyue must have felt it too.

Ahhhhh! What am I going to do?!

Gu Xianyue touched the lingering warmth on her shoulder, where Lu Zhao’s embrace had been so tight…

Another second, and she might have blurted out her feelings.

Gu Xianyue was too gentle with her, and she feared she would completely drown in it, unable to pull herself out.

Gu Xianyue looked at her empty arms, the scent of Lu Zhao’s post-shower fragrance still lingering in the air.

She ran away again.

She tightened her arms, hugging the empty air in front of her.

The next day, following Lu Zhao’s itinerary, they planned to visit a famous temple. This time, Gu Xianyue insisted on booking a private tour, mindful of Lu Zhao’s old injuries.

Unable to dissuade her, Lu Zhao could only agree to visit the temple with Gu Xianyue early in the morning.

The temple was a popular tourist destination, so private tours were only available at dawn or after closing hours.

A magnificent temple stood atop the mountain. Three hundred and nine stone steps wound upward, flanked by colossal, crouching dragons. In the morning sunlight, the gilded dragons shimmered brilliantly, their glass-inlaid eyes gazing down at every mortal ascending the steps.

At that moment, they were the only visitors.

Visitors who booked the entire venue were usually asked if they needed a guide. Gu Xianyue declined, requesting only an audio guide for Lu Zhao.

Wearing headphones, Lu Zhao listened to the commentary and summarized the points she found interesting for Gu Xianyue.

“Unopened lotus flowers are offered before the Buddha, gently placed down, and the hands are clasped in prayer to make a wish. Waiting for the flower to bloom symbolizes the completion of merit…”

Lu Zhao explained as they reached the golden Buddhist altar in front of the main hall.

Lu Zhao’s summaries were fluent and concise, her standard broadcasting voice pleasant to the ear. Gu Xianyue listened intently.

A long row of gilded offering tables stretched along the base of the white jade Buddha statue. Hundreds of butter lamps flickered on the tables, their swaying flames reflecting in the morning light. The piled-up lotus buds resembled a still, pinkish-white sea.

They purchased lotus flowers and leaned down to gently place them at the Buddha’s feet.

The moment the flower buds touched the altar, a soft click sounded—the stem lightly striking the bronze base.

Gu Xianyue turned her head and saw Lu Zhao clasping her hands together, her eyes gently closed as she made a devout wish.

Though Gu Xianyue was a staunch materialist and atheist, she found herself moved by Lu Zhao’s sincerity. Closing her eyes, she too made a wish.

She wished Lu Zhao could belong to her.

Ideally, willingly.

Opening her eyes, Lu Zhao was quietly watching her.

“What did you wish for?” Lu Zhao asked.

“Hmm… I’m not telling you.”

Lu Zhao’s eyes crinkled, and two shallow dimples appeared as she smiled. “Then I won’t tell you either.”

Gu Xianyue raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Let me guess… could it be… world peace?”

Lu Zhao shook her head, smiling but remaining silent.

She wasn’t as idealistic as Gu Xianyue imagined, nor did she believe Buddha could resolve the world’s immense suffering.

She had simply made a very personal, almost… insignificant wish.

They continued circling the gilded stupa clockwise three times, silently reciting their wishes and scriptures, symbolizing liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

As they completed the second round, a sudden downpour erupted from the clear sky.

Having checked the weather forecast before leaving, which predicted clear skies all day, they hadn’t brought rain gear. They hadn’t anticipated a sun shower.

They hurried to a secluded temple hall to take shelter from the sudden rain.

This was a faded teak Buddhist hall, unmarked by any tourist arrows. Inside, only three butter lamps cast a dim glow.

Gu Xianyue released Lu Zhao’s hand and noticed that her shirt was already more than half soaked through, revealing the skin beneath.

Frowning, Gu Xianyue removed her sun-protective jacket and draped it over Lu Zhao’s shoulders.

Lu Zhao, still catching her breath from their hurried run, said softly, “It’s okay. No one can see us here.”

Gu Xianyue tilted her chin upward, glancing around. “They can see us.”

Lu Zhao looked up. At the heart of the hall sat a two-meter-tall statue of the Buddha, carved from dark sandstone. Its head was bowed, its face serene and compassionate.

Along the side walls stood rows upon rows of smaller Buddha statues, each missing limbs or arms, their cracks stained with dark green copper rust.

These were the old statues replaced during past renovations. Too sacred to be discarded, they had been gathered here for veneration, yet they could no longer occupy the main halls where incense burned ceaselessly and tourists thronged.

Because they were broken, incomplete, they were considered unsightly and had been rejected.

The audio guide, waterlogged and silent, hung uselessly around Lu Zhao’s neck. She removed the earpiece, and silence enveloped them.

Gu Xianyue took out a tissue and carefully wiped the raindrops from Lu Zhao’s face.

Gu Xianyue’s wiping motion traced down Lu Zhao’s cheek to her slender neck, finally pausing at the small hollow at the base of her throat.

Countless fragmented Buddha statues watched them, yet their eyes saw only each other.

Gu Xianyue tentatively circled her fingertip in the hollow of Lu Zhao’s throat, touching her slightly cool skin. Lu Zhao didn’t flinch away.

Gu Xianyue gazed into Lu Zhao’s peach blossom eyes, their long lashes trembling slightly. Her pupils resembled crystalline lakes, glistening with a dewy sheen. Her gaze drifted downward, taking in Lu Zhao’s full lips, tinted with the soft hues of dawn. They looked…

Gu Xianyue lowered her head and kissed her.

So easy to kiss.

Lu Zhao didn’t pull away. Instead, she grasped Gu Xianyue’s wrist, the hand cupping her cheek, and tilted her head back slightly.

Lu Zhao’s lips were soft, their texture like a delicate jelly, yielding and springy against Gu Xianyue’s mouth. At first, Gu Xianyue savored the kiss delicately. Then she felt Lu Zhao’s hand, which had been gripping her wrist, move to her shoulder. Gu Xianyue wrapped her arms around Lu Zhao’s waist, pulling her closer and tightening her embrace.

The fabric of Lu Zhao’s shoulder crumpled in her grip.

Lu Zhao’s mind had gone blank, her reason drifting away like a kite with a severed string, soaring into the clouds.

Gu Xianyue’s breath enveloped her, drawing her deeper into that soft embrace… She wasn’t skilled at kissing, only clumsily following Gu Xianyue’s rhythm, even surrendering the pace of her breathing to her.

At first, Gu Xianyue held back, testing the waters. But sensing Lu Zhao’s willingness, she cupped the back of Lu Zhao’s head with one hand, deepening the kiss, savoring every nuance—Lu Zhao’s shyness, her restraint, her yearning… claiming them all.

The Buddha statue remained silent, a silent observer of the scene.

Lu Zhao gently pushed against Gu Xianyue’s shoulder, panting softly, “Gu Xianyue… mmm…”

She wanted to ask her to slow down, she was struggling to breathe. But Gu Xianyue refused to relent, pressing her lips against hers again.

This time, however, the kiss was much gentler. Gu Xianyue tilted Lu Zhao’s face upward, tenderly and meticulously sucking on her lips, slowly guiding her, helping her regain her breath.

Their lips parted, but their gazes remained locked, each seeing in the other a lingering desire.

Lu Zhao’s cheeks were flushed crimson, her lips glistening with a dewy sheen. Her peach-blossom eyes, still damp with emotion, were filled with unspoken longing.

She gently pressed her ear against Gu Xianyue’s left chest, as if trying to discern something.

Gu Xianyue’s heart jolted violently, its rhythm becoming erratic.

The sun shower gradually subsided, but a different kind of tide was rising within her.

Lu Zhao rested her cheek against Gu Xianyue’s neck, nuzzling softly. Clutching the hem of Gu Xianyue’s robe, she murmured, “…The rain has stopped.”

The warm, panting breath against Gu Xianyue’s neck and the damp strands of hair teasing her skin sent shivers down her spine.

After the rain, sunlight streamed through the temple, illuminating the golden Buddha statue.

Gu Xianyue swallowed hard, leaned close to Lu Zhao’s ear, as if not wanting the gods to hear, and whispered with suppressed urgency, “Let’s go back.”