FBC – Chapter 105 It Feels So Good to Be Cared For

Mu Junyan brought Gu Hua to a secluded villa outside the city.

Chi Yu and several of the imperial guards were stationed nearby, while the Black Armored Army had fully withdrawn to the barracks.

Gu Hua had been in Mu Junyan’s arms the whole time, drowsily leaning against his warm chest, allowing him to carry her into the house without resistance.

It wasn’t until she was laid down on the bed that she realized she was in an unfamiliar place.

“This is…?”

“This is one of my private residences,” Mu Junyan said as he opened her hand and discovered a gash in her palm caused by a dagger.

“Applying the medicine will sting a bit. Try to endure it.”

Gu Hua nodded.

Mu Junyan sprinkled some hemostatic powder onto her palm. The sharp pain made her gasp and instinctively curl her fingers.

Mu Junyan’s hand paused. He glanced at her before gently wrapping her hand in gauze.

“Keep it dry.”

“Okay.” Gu Hua didn’t dare look up. Tears welled in her eyes, and she tried her best to respond in a calm voice.

She had wanted to hold back her tears, but memories of her tragic death in her past life, the near-death ordeal she just survived, and the fact that her self-righteousness had nearly dragged Mu Junyan down with her—these thoughts overwhelmed her.

Gu Hua began to regret using Mu Junyan. She felt she had wronged him.

She had been holding in so much sorrow and tangled emotions. Now, like a breached dam, her tears fell uncontrollably, pattering down one after another.

Not wanting Mu Junyan to see her vulnerability, she covered her face with her hands.

Mu Junyan let out a quiet sigh, gently pulled her hands away, placed his large palm on the back of her head, and guided her to rest against his chest.

The girl’s tears quickly soaked through his robe.

He let her cry for quite a while. When she finally began to calm down, he softly said, “You’ll rest here tonight. Go back to the estate after a good sleep tomorrow. I’ve already sent someone to bring your two maids and Shen Li.”

His thoughtfulness made Gu Hua’s nose sting, and her tears started falling again.

It felt so good to be cared for.

Mu Junyan took her cold little hand in his. “Are you cold?”

Gu Hua nodded honestly. “A little.”

Suddenly, Mu Junyan picked her up and strode out of the room. Startled, she let out a soft cry and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself.

“Duke…”

Mu Junyan paused, glanced at her, and said, “Calling me ‘Duke’ sounds too distant.”

Gu Hua froze for a moment, her face turning red. She lowered her head and, obediently, in a soft voice, called out, “My lord…”

“Mm.”

Mu Junyan still didn’t seem fully satisfied but said nothing more as he carried her away.

“There aren’t any of your clothes here. Once your maids arrive, they’ll bring them.”

Gu Hua didn’t know what to say and remained silent, discreetly glancing around.

This courtyard was exquisitely designed. Pavilions, towers—everything was present. But she also noticed a strange scent in the air.

Turning left and right, passing through corridors, gardens, artificial hills, and pavilions, they finally reached the rear courtyard. Only then did Gu Hua realize what the smell was.

It turned out to be a large room deep in the back courtyard that housed a hot spring pool.

The spring was a rectangular pool, its edges carved from white jade. Wooden frames surrounded it, draped with white gauze curtains. Flying goose lanterns stood around it, casting soft light. The mist rising from the water shimmered in the glow, creating a dreamlike scene.

“A soak in the hot spring will help ease your fatigue and drive out the cold,” Mu Junyan said.

From Shen Li, he had learned that although Gu Hua seemed no different from a normal person on the surface, prolonged consumption of both contraceptive decoctions and tonic herbs had caused conflicting effects in her body, leaving her extremely weak.

Those medicines had caused coldness in her womb, making her hands and feet icy year-round and prone to cold sweats.

He had originally intended to leave and have Shen Li bring her here to recuperate for a while.

But after seeing her so frightened today, he decided it would be better to bring her directly to soothe her nerves.

Mu Junyan set her down and reached out to untie her belt.

She was still wearing a stage costume.

Gu Hua’s elegant brows furrowed slightly.

A voice in her heart warned her — she shouldn’t tempt or use him anymore.

Mu Junyan keenly sensed her change and immediately let go of her hand. He looked down at her and said, “If you can manage on your own, I’ll step out.”

Gu Hua took a step back and respectfully curtsied to him. “Duke, you’ve had a tiring day. I can handle this myself.”

Mu Junyan frowned but didn’t move, watching her closely.

Gu Hua felt helpless and braced herself as she reached for her belt.

Earlier, in a moment of panic, she had tied two tight knots in fear that the loose costume would slip off.

As she pulled at the knot, a sharp pain shot through her palm, making her fingertips tremble uncontrollably.

Mu Junyan, somewhat annoyed, reached out and grabbed her belt, pulling her toward him.

The petite figure was suddenly pressed up against his body, and she froze instantly.

But Mu Junyan didn’t look at her. With a strong tug, he pulled off the belt and tossed it to the floor, then moved to remove her outer costume.

Underneath was her ruqun. Mu Junyan undid the butterfly knot at her waist, and the skirt slid down, pooling around her feet.

Only her chest wrap and underpants remained. Gu Hua quickly whispered, “My Lord, I can do it.”

Mu Junyan gave her a scrutinizing look.

So, deep down… she was unwilling.

All the flattering and coaxing before had only been to achieve her goals.

Mu Junyan had never liked forcing others. He took a step back and nodded. “Alright. I’ll bring you something to change into.”

He walked a couple of steps, then turned back. “Don’t get your hands wet. Otherwise, we’ll need to reapply the medicine.”

Remembering the pain from earlier, Gu Hua instinctively trembled a little and replied, “Okay.”

Only when Mu Junyan’s figure disappeared did Gu Hua finally let out a breath of relief.

The hot spring exuded a steady warmth. She really wanted to soak for a bit to ease her fatigue and nerves.

But in this unfamiliar environment, with no sense of security, she didn’t dare strip completely.

Besides, Mu Junyan had said he’d bring clothes over.

She didn’t know why, but aside from when she deliberately approached him — summoning all her courage and discarding her shame — any time they interacted properly, she always felt ashamed of herself.

After a moment’s hesitation, she stepped carefully onto the stone steps and slowly entered the hot spring pool.

She gently rested her arms on the edge, letting the warm water soak her body. Gradually, the coldness in her bones faded and her tense nerves began to relax.

It really was very comfortable.

Gu Hua squinted her eyes, enjoying the sensation of warmth enveloping her.

She didn’t know how much time passed until the sound of approaching footsteps startled her. She instinctively turned her head — it was Mu Junyan, holding clothes in one hand and a food box in the other.

Gu Hua reflexively withdrew her arms, submerging her entire body into the water.

Mu Junyan approached and glanced at her hands hidden beneath the surface, letting out a silent sigh.

He told her not to get her hands wet — now she’d dunked them completely.

And she’d entered the water with her undergarments still on.

Was she afraid he might see her body?

“There are only my clothes here. Now that you’ve soaked your underwear, what are you going to wear when you come out?”

Gu Hua was stunned.

Her fair face flushed crimson in an instant.

Despite the time they had spent together, she was still so cautious around him.

Mu Junyan felt a bit helpless.

The thoughts of young women were truly hard to grasp. He didn’t want to force her — even if it was for her own good.

He placed the clothes on the nearby chaise lounge, set down the food box, and crouched down to look at her.

“Without dry undergarments, wearing my loose robe will be quite uncomfortable, don’t you think?”

Gu Hua pictured it in her mind, and her face turned even redder. She fidgeted nervously, completely at a loss.

She also felt like he was blaming her.

Mu Junyan saw her expression and wasn’t sure whether it was due to shyness or genuine reluctance to undress in front of him. In any case, he didn’t want to force her.

“Are you hungry? They made some millet porridge. These rough men only know how to fight — they’re not good at delicate cooking. But there was some millet stored here, so they made a little. It’s just right for warming the stomach.”

Gu Hua could only nod obediently.

But he remained crouched by the pool, unmoving, staring at her. Her soaked undergarments clung to her skin — how could she dare come out like that?

Mu Junyan said nothing as he opened the food box and stirred the still-steaming millet porridge with a spoon.

And so, the two of them stayed like that — one crouched beside the pool stirring porridge, the other standing dumbfounded in the water, not knowing what to do.