Chapter 43: Big Brother

“I don’t feel that I’m unfortunate. I’ve always been content and happy. If my girlfriend hadn’t left me, I would be living a very happy life now…” Lü Yang thought of Yi Yi and let out a soft sigh.

“You’re such a good person. If your girlfriend didn’t want you, that’s her loss…” Liu Hui promptly comforted Lü Yang.

“It’s not like that… She’s the best girl in the world… Today is her birthday… If I… Ah… Never mind, I won’t say more. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.” Lü Yang shook his head.

The two fell into a long silence. After they stopped talking, the sounds of various insects in the mountains rose all around, making the place seem very lively.

“There must be water nearby. Stop overthinking things and rest properly. When you’ve recovered your strength, I’ll take you to the water to get some drink.” After analyzing the chirping of the insects, Lü Yang spoke to Liu Hui.

“Mm.” Liu Hui nodded, resting her arms on her knees as she took a short nap.

After resting for over half an hour, the two set off again. Lü Yang’s purpose in going to the water was twofold: first, to find water to drink and, if possible, some food. Secondly, he knew that a small river ran east to west through Donkey Head Mountain. As long as they reached the riverbank and followed the stream, they would definitely not get lost again.

Of course, Lü Yang still hadn’t told Liu Hui about getting lost.

Liu Hui’s stamina was truly poor. Moreover, she had never walked this much before, let alone on mountain paths. Blisters had already formed on her feet, making her walk extremely slowly. As she walked, she kept moaning in pain.

Lü Yang couldn’t take it anymore and had no choice but to walk up to her and suggest, “Shall I carry you on my back?”

“That… that would be too much trouble for you…” Liu Hui looked at Lü Yang with immense apology. She had truly reached her limit.

“Ah… Running into you is just my bad luck!” Lü Yang shook his head and crouched down in front of Liu Hui. After hesitating for a moment, Liu Hui leaned her soft body onto Lü Yang’s back.

For Lü Yang, who often carried heavy loads and swung hammers, Liu Hui’s weight wasn’t much. But over time, it became unbearable. After all, this was a mountain path. No matter how strong Lü Yang was, his strength would eventually run out, especially since he hadn’t eaten for a long time.

“I used to love having my dad carry me the most, but… after he got sick, he never carried me again…” Lying on Lü Yang’s back, Liu Hui became lost in her sadness again. For some reason, Lü Yang’s broad shoulders unconsciously reminded her of the feeling of being carried by her father—so safe and familiar.

“After you go back, don’t make him angry anymore, and don’t run around everywhere. Spend more time with him, let him know you love him. It might help his condition a bit.” Lü Yang coaxed Liu Hui as if she were a child.

Liu Hui started crying again and couldn’t stop for a long time. Lü Yang no longer tried to comfort her, focusing entirely on finding the way toward the water source.

“Do you have a little sister?” Liu Hui, having stopped crying, suddenly asked Lü Yang.

“No…”

“You talk like a stern older brother who always likes to lecture people…” It seemed Liu Hui was expressing her protest in a very roundabout way.

“Is that so? Do you have an older brother who lectures you like that?”

“No… I wish I had an older brother… Then I wouldn’t be so lonely…” As she spoke, Liu Hui seemed to grow sad again, her tears that hadn’t dried yet sliding down her cheeks into Lü Yang’s neck.

“If you cry this much, any brother you had would eventually get annoyed to death by you.” Lü Yang retorted irritably.

“Am I really that annoying?” Liu Hui pouted discontentedly.

“I didn’t say you’re annoying. It’s just that my journey was going quite smoothly until I met you, and then I’ve had nothing but bad luck…”

“I…”

“Alright, don’t start crying again. I was just teasing you!”

…

Following the various insect chirps, Lü Yang actually managed to find his way to the water’s edge. Tired and thirsty, Liu Hui joyfully ran to the stream, imitating Lü Yang by scooping up stream water to drink.

After drinking water, the two immediately became aware of another, more important matter.

Hunger.

Lü Yang had once read in novels and seen in movies scenes where people caught fish with sharpened branches. Now, driven by extreme hunger, he wanted to try it too. So he cut a branch, tied his Dagger to it with tree bark, then rolled up his pants and waded into the water to spear fish.

The starving Liu Hui watched Lü Yang with great anticipation. Seeing how skilled and professional his movements seemed, she thought he would soon spear several big fish, then roast them so the two could enjoy a good meal.

However, while the scenes in movies and novels were beautiful, reality was harsh. Lü Yang busied himself in the stream for nearly half an hour, exhausting himself, but he couldn’t spear a single fish.

With nothing to eat, tired and hungry, the two by the water’s edge felt very dejected, even lacking the energy to speak.

Then, in an instant, Lü Yang seemed to hear something and perked up immediately.

“I think I heard a Pheasant!” Lü Yang said with an excited expression. He had found pheasant eggs in the mountains before.

“Really?” Liu Hui looked at him expectantly, her mind immediately conjuring images of a golden, oily roast chicken, even though she used to dislike eating such things.

“I’ll go look. Maybe I can find a few pheasant eggs.” Lü Yang told Liu Hui and then headed in the direction he sensed.

“Hey! Don’t go…” Liu Hui quickly called out to stop Lü Yang.

“What’s wrong?” Lü Yang turned back.

“I… I’m scared…”

“Scared of what?”

“I… being alone… I’m scared…” Liu Hui pouted as she answered Lü Yang.

“I’m not going far.” Lü Yang shook his head. Having a girl along was really inconvenient.

“I’ll go with you…” Liu Hui suggested to Lü Yang.

“If you don’t come and get in the way, I might still catch that Pheasant. If you go, I probably won’t even catch an egg.”

“Do eggs run away too?”

“They will if you go.”

“Then… you… you won’t leave me here alone, will you?” Liu Hui finally voiced her worry.

“I won’t. If I wanted to leave you, I would have done it long ago. I wouldn’t wait until now.” Lü Yang’s tone was somewhat impatient.

“Oh…” Liu Hui looked pitifully at Lü Yang, wanting to say something but afraid he would get angry.

“Stay here and don’t run off, otherwise I might not find you when I come back.” After giving Liu Hui another instruction, Lü Yang continued following the sound toward the Pheasant. Before long, his figure disappeared into the darkness.

After Lü Yang was gone, Liu Hui felt as if she was the only person left between heaven and earth. The stream sounds and insect chirps that had seemed pleasant just moments ago now sounded somewhat frightening. And in the surrounding darkness, it felt like aliens, ghosts, or monsters could rush out at any moment, making Liu Hui’s body tremble continuously.

She recalled many things about being with her father again—remembering his love for her, and also… the heart-wrenching pain of soon losing that paternal love… Liu Hui unconsciously began crying again.

After crying, at a certain moment, Liu Hui returned from her memories to reality. She felt that everything around her had grown even darker, and there was no sound at all from the man, as if he had completely vanished from the world.

Would he really not come back?