“Don’t worry; I won’t hurt you.” Shawn crouched down and tore open her pant leg in one swift motion. “Where’s the wound?”
“Here.” Zoe guided his hand to the spot.
As Zoe’s soft hand gently touched his, a rare tenderness softened Shawn’s usually unyielding demeanor. His eyes flickered beneath the blindfold.
Without hesitation, he pulled out a dagger, sterilized it with a lighter, and with unerring precision, found the wound and made a clean cut.
For Zoe, a mercenary who had faced countless dangers, this was nothing more than a pinprick–barely any pain at all. Instinctively, her face remained expressionless.
But then she remembered she was supposed to be a fragile girl… She couldn’t act tough. So, she clenched her teeth and bit down hard on Shawn’s arm, letting out a muffled groan.
Shawn grunted, but he didn’t flinch. He just kept working on the wound, cutting it open and letting the venom bleed out.
“Tell me when the black blood turns red,” Shawn said, his voice steady. He couldn’t see a thing with the blindfold on.
Zoe couldn’t speak with her teeth clamped on his arm, so she just nodded.
The snake had bitten her in a spot away from any major arteries, so the venom spread slowly. After Shawn made a small cut to let the blood out, the dark, almost black liquid gradually lightened to a deep red, and then to a normal hue.
Thankfully, the snake wasn’t deadly; once most of the venom was out, Zoe would bounce back quickly.
“Is it done?” Shawn asked.
Zoe sniffled and let go. “I… I think so. But I’m not sure.”
Shawn slipped off his jacket and draped it over Zoe’s legs. Then he pulled the blindfold from his eyes and examined the cut.
Zoe burst into sobs, her voice trembling with agony as tears cascaded down her cheeks. “It hurts so much… Really.” Her tears fell like an endless downpour, evoking a sense of genuine suffering.
Shawn glanced down at the deep teeth marks on his arm. The marks were a testament to how much she’d been suffering. But he just said, his voice coid, “Just hold on.”
It was a cold comfort, the kind that made Zoe wish she’d never tried to fake it in the first place.
Shawn tore strips from his shirt and began to wrap them around Zoe’s wound. His movements were precise and distant.
Zoe was exasperated by how unfazed he seemed. The sky had long since turned dark, and a chilly breeze swept through, sending a shiver up her spine.
Her eyes darted, and she hugged herself tightly, shivering. “Mr. Ludwig, it’s freezing. Am… going to die?”
Shawn tossed another piece of firewood into the flames. The firelight flickered across the girl’s face, giving her a lively glow. But seeing her forlorn expression, Shawn felt a lump form in his throat.
“Mr. Ludwig, hold me, will you? It’d be pathetic if I died without ever being held by a guy,” Zoe said, leaning in as if to burrow into Shawn’s arms.
Shawn shot to his feet so fast that Zoe stumbled forward, off–balance.
“Ouch! That hurts,” Zoe groaned, curling up on the ground.
Shawn’s hand shot out instinctively, but he quickly yanked it back as he felt a pang of something he couldn’t name. “You’re not dying. Not on my watch
Won’t die, huh? He’s just hopeless at taking care of others. That was the last thought Zoe had before everything went black.
The snake venom, the cold water, and the icy mountain winds–Zoe’s usually strong body couldn’t take it anymore. She had a fever.
“Get up,” Shawn said, seeing Zoe lying motionless on the ground.
But she didn’t budge. Something was wrong. Shawn knelt down to check on her and realized she’d fainted from the fever.
Seeing her so helpless, Shawn frowned. Guilt and responsibility hit him hard. He thought this was all his fault, so he had to take care of her
Without hesitation, he scooped Zoe into his arms. His medical kit had antivenom and antibiotics. He gave them to her and held her tight, not
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Chapter 36
daring to let go.
There was no way to warm her up here–only body heat could help. Shawn unbuttoned his shirt, pulled her close, and wrapped her in it. His warmth seeped into her, chasing away some of the cold. They’d have to see if the fever would break the next day.
The next morning, when Zoe woke up, she felt a warm, comforting sensation all over, as if she were wrapped in sunshine. She could tell that she had recovered essentially.
Clearly, Shawn must have given her some kind of medicine; otherwise, she wouldn’t have healed so quickly.
As she tried to sit up, she realized she was being held tightly by Shawn. The warmth she felt was from his broad, solid chest.
She hadn’t expected Shawn, who always seemed so cold and distant, to show any kindness in a moment like this. He hadn’t left her behind.
Zoe’s eyes sparkled with a sly glint as a plan quickly formed in her mind. There was no way she was going to let such a perfect opportunity slip
away.
“Mr. Ludwig?” Zoe whispered softly, pretending to be uncertain.
Shawn didn’t stir, showing no signs of waking up.
‘Keep pretending. Does he think I’m some naive pushover?‘ Zoe inched closer to Shawn, scrutinizing his sharp features carefully.
In the next moment, she moved with the speed of lightning, trying to press her lips firmly against Shawn’s.
But just as she was about to close the distance, Shawn–who had seemed fast asleep–suddenly snapped his eyes open, sharp and wild like a predator’s. Their eyes locked.
AD
