now.
Tang San, still asleep, heard a muffled thud from the next room, followed by Xiao Wu's low gasp.
Tang San's heart tightened. Ignoring his own discomfort, he hurriedly staggered over and pushed open the door.
Xiao Wu, dressed in pink pajamas, was seen lying awkwardly on the floor, her brows furrowed, her cheeks flushed an unnatural red, and her forehead damp with sweat.
She struggled to get up, but her legs trembled slightly, clearly indicating that she was weak and sore all over.
"Xiao Wu! What's wrong?"
Tang San asked urgently, instinctively reaching out to help.
But he himself was also exhausted. His legs gave way, and instead of supporting Xiao Wu, he lost his balance and fell towards her.
Just as the two were about to collide, the door creaked open and Fu Qin's tall figure appeared in the doorway. He reached out and pulled Xiao Wu into his arms, while his other hand gently supported Tang San's arm with a steady and reassuring force.
"Be careful." Fu Qin's voice was hoarse from just waking up. His gaze swept over Tang San's unsteady steps and Xiao Wu's flushed cheeks, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "Didn't you sleep well last night, Third Brother? And how did Sister Xiao Wu fall?"
Tang San looked somewhat embarrassed, avoiding Fu Qin's gaze, and said in a low voice, "She probably didn't sleep well last night and is a little exhausted. Xiao Wu, she..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xiaowu bit her lip and said with slightly red eyes, "I... I twisted my ankle when I got out of bed, and my legs gave way and I fell."
She deliberately straightened her back, trying to hide her soreness, but the seductive look in her eyes had not completely faded, which, combined with her weak appearance, made her even more alluring.
Fu Qin looked down at the petite girl in his arms, a faint milky fragrance and a hint of sweetness lingering around his nose, the very scent left from their bath together this morning.
He could clearly feel the delicate and firm skin under his palm, as well as the slight trembling of the girl's body. He sighed inwardly, thinking that she was indeed a person with innate full soul power. Even after a whole night of tossing and turning, she was still charming and beautiful.
"Did you sprain your ankle? Is it serious?" Fu Qin asked, feigning concern, and gently lifted Xiao Wu up in his arms. "The floor is cold, let's go back to the bed and sit down."
Xiao Wu naturally wrapped her arms around Fu Qin's neck, pressing her cheek against his warm chest. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Tang San's unpleasant expression, and a secret smile appeared on her lips.
She could imagine Tang San's feelings at this moment. Last night, he was surrounded by women in the brothel, while she was enjoying herself in Fu Qin's arms. Now, both of them were exhausted, which made them quite "matched".
Tang San watched as Fu Qin carried Xiao Wu toward the bedside, and a strange feeling welled up inside him.
He wanted to step forward and offer to take care of her, but as soon as he took a step, he felt dizzy and almost fell again.
Fu Qin quickly helped him up, his tone teasing: "Third Brother, you're probably not even able to take care of yourself in this condition. You should rest first. I'll take care of Xiao Wu."
Tang San's face turned pale and then red, and he finally sat down on the chair by the bed with no other choice.
He could feel Xiao Wu's gaze, which carried a strange emotion that he couldn't quite explain.
He assumed Xiao Wu was angry because he hadn't come home last night, but he didn't realize that the girl's eyes no longer held the dependence she used to have.
Xiao Wu leaned against the headboard, rubbing her ankle, and said in a sweet voice.
"Fu Qin, I sprained my ankle pretty badly. I'm afraid I won't be able to walk when I get to Shrek Academy." As she spoke, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally drifted towards Tang San, clearly hinting at something.
Tang San wanted to offer to carry her, but then he thought that he was already unsteady on his feet, and if he carried Xiao Wu, they would probably both fall down after only a few steps, which would be even more embarrassing.
He opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't utter a word.
Fu Qin immediately understood and said with a smile, "It's okay, I'll carry you. We're not too far from Shrek Academy, just walk slowly."
Xiao Wu immediately showed a look of surprise and nodded obediently: "Then I'll have to trouble Fu Qin." She deliberately ignored Tang San's hesitant expression and secretly felt smug.
Letting Tang San watch himself being carried by another man, seeing him helpless, might be the best revenge for his betrayal last night.
Tang San sat to the side, watching Fu Qin carry Xiao Wu on his back. The girl's arms were tightly wrapped around Fu Qin's neck, and her cheeks were pressed against his back. The posture was so intimate that it was almost blinding.
A strange sense of irritation welled up inside him; the heat of last night seemed to have returned, but his physical weakness left him powerless to change the situation.
He could only silently follow behind the two of them, staggering as he walked out of the Rose Hotel.
The roads outside the city were not smooth; the potholed dirt roads were muddy.
Fu Qin carried Xiao Wu on his back, his steps steady and showing no signs of strain.
Xiao Wu wrapped her arms around his neck, her chest pressed tightly against his back, and could clearly feel his steady and powerful heartbeat.
She lowered her head slightly, the faint scent of herbs emanating from Fu Qin lingering around her nose. It was completely different from the Blue Silver Grass scent on Tang San, yet it gave her a strange sense of peace.
"Fu Qin, you're so strong," Xiao Wu said sweetly, her fingers inadvertently brushing against Fu Qin's neck, sending a slight shiver down her spine.
Fu Qin chuckled, his voice tinged with amusement: "You're so light, carrying you is no problem. But Third Brother, are you alright? If not, take a break."
He glanced back at Tang San, whose face was pale and whose forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, clearly indicating that he was struggling to hold on.
Tang San shook his head, gritted his teeth, and said, "It's okay, I can do it."
He didn't want to show weakness in front of Xiao Wu, and he didn't want to be looked down upon by his younger brother Fu Qin.
But the exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave. The energy that had been drained by the brothel girls last night showed no signs of recovery. Every step he took felt like he was overdrawing his life force.
Xiao Wu glanced at Tang San's disheveled appearance, feeling no pity whatsoever, but rather a sense of pleasure.
She buried her face deeper, her lips almost touching Fu Qin's ear, and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Fu Qin, you did a great job last night...."
Fu Qin's body stiffened slightly, then he replied in a low voice, "As long as Sister Xiao Wu is happy."
He could feel the girl's delicate softness on his back and guess what she was thinking at that moment.
Tang San's betrayal allowed Xiao Wu to unleash her full potential, and he happened to become her tool for revenge, but he was willing to be that tool.
The three of them walked one after the other, the atmosphere strange and subtle.
The intimate interactions between Fu Qin and Xiao Wu were like a thorn, deeply embedded in Tang San's heart.
He wanted to question them, to get angry, but the words stuck in his throat.
He did go to the brothel last night and betrayed Xiaowu. What right does he have to criticize her now?
Half an hour later, a dilapidated village finally appeared ahead.
At the entrance of the village stands a crooked wooden sign with three large characters painted in black on it: Shrek.