Feng Tang cautiously called out, "Chen Junsheng?!"
The person in the room glanced at him, then sat down on a chair inside the room, seemingly curious as they flipped through the various documents and notebooks on his desk. They looked at them for a moment and then dropped them uninterested.
Delicate, fair fingers tapped lightly on the glass tabletop, showing no concern for Feng Tang's stunned gaze. The person spoke, "As long as you behave, everyone will be fine... I don't like useless and unnecessary people. You're clever, so you should understand what I mean."
Feng Tang's chest heaved dramatically as he struggled to control his trembling voice and asked tentatively, "Do you want to control the entire Jing Valley Village?"
The person in front of the desk chuckled silently, "What do you mean by 'want'? I have to tolerate it. I hope you understand."
After all, his sister liked it here. What could he do?
Chen Junsheng's seemingly harmless eyes suddenly turned sharp, mixed with a hint of disdainful madness and irritation, forcing Feng Tang to raise the gun in his hand.
"Don't point that thing at me. I don't like it—"
In an instant, the person was on their feet, and Feng Tang's mind rang with alarm. However, before he could react, the person who had been three meters away suddenly appeared right in front of him.
With two quick snaps, Feng Tang was shocked to find his hands empty.
A chill swept across his forehead as the gun's muzzle touched his head. All of this happened in the span of a single second, and the speed was so fast that it made Feng Tang's scalp tingle.
On his first day in Jing Valley Village, Jian Yi had mentioned that there was a clever person in the village, and that person was Feng Tang.
With almost no hesitation, he made the right decision.
"I know what to do now."
Chen Junsheng tilted his head, "Really? I don't believe you."
Feng Tang said, "Really."
Chen Junsheng pointed the gun at Feng Tang's head and smiled, "My sister was right; you're quite clever."
The gun was back in his hands, and Feng Tang, gripping it tightly, took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and focused on regulating his breathing.
When he opened his eyes again, everything was back to normal. The room was just as it had been before, and all the previous events seemed like they had never happened.
Outside the window, the wind rustled the leaves, and a few of them were blown against the window, making a faint "thud" sound.
In the quiet room, this slight noise seemed to be amplified countless times. Jian Yi felt as if it was right next to her ear. She struggled for a long time before finally opening her eyes.
In an instant, her consciousness returned to reality. The wind outside had stopped, and the cold sensation on her body caused her to sneeze.
"Ah-choo!" Just as she got out of bed, she sneezed again. Jian Yi rubbed her nose and, with a throbbing head, glanced at the bedside clock. It had just passed midnight.
With no electricity or internet now, and not much entertainment, everyone had gone to their rooms to rest after dinner. Before going to bed, Jian Yi had felt a slight discomfort in her body, but she hadn't thought much of it.
Now, the sudden wake-up call made her realize that she might be coming down with a cold.
"Ah-choo!" As she sneezed again, Jian Yi hurriedly grabbed a heavy coat from her closet, sneezing all the while. She wrapped herself tightly in the coat, thinking that it might help ward off the chills.
She ventured downstairs to the second-floor living room, where there were still some medicines and bandages. However, those were for treating injuries, and the cold medicine was in the basement, where she had never had to retrieve it before.
Perhaps her enhanced abilities had strengthened her immune system. Even the smallest child, Tuantuan, had never fallen ill since they arrived here.
Jian Yi hadn't expected to be the first one to get sick.
It might have been the cold wind she had been exposed to when they went up the mountain the day before yesterday. Her body's defenses must have suddenly weakened. Jian Yi thought as she struggled with her jumbled thoughts, making her way downstairs.
Access to the basement was restricted to Jian Yi and Zheng Lanxin, who both had keys. It was convenient for them to retrieve supplies when needed.
The small living room on the second floor suddenly seemed to grow warmer as Jian Yi descended the stairs. She took note of the single-person chair in the room and saw that there was a small fire burning in the kitchen, casting a comforting light that dispelled some of the chill in her body.
Zheng Lanxin had insisted on Jian Yi staying in her old bedroom since she came back. It was on the same floor as this living room. Jian Yi had been sleeping there ever since, and she found herself appreciating the warmth and familiarity of the place.
A few seconds later, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and when she looked over, she saw Chen Junsheng.
Had he not returned yet? Jian Yi had assumed he had already gone to bed.
His arrival was timely, and Jian Yi leaned against the wall, her hand gripping her coat tightly around her neck. She hoarsely called out, "Chen Junsheng?"
As soon as she spoke, Jian Yi was startled by her own raspy voice. Could her cold have worsened so quickly?
Chen Junsheng had just entered the door when he heard Jian Yi's voice. His eyebrows furrowed in concern, "Sis? What's wrong with you?"
Without waiting for a response, he took a step closer and reached out to touch her forehead.
She didn't have a fever, but she was shivering so much that he felt it deep in his heart.
"You have a cold!" Chen Junsheng said with worry.
"Go get the medicine," Jian Yi said impatiently, not wanting to be touched by anyone. She was too weak to push him away, so she simply let him.
For Chen Junsheng, it was the first time he had seen Jian Yi in such a vulnerable state.
"Get the medicine." Jian Yi repeated, her voice weak.
The basement door posed no obstacle to Chen Junsheng. He didn't even need a key. Jian Yi couldn't be bothered to give it to him.
Chen Junsheng's face darkened as he surveyed the surroundings. He noticed the single-person chair in the living room and hurriedly brought it into the kitchen. He then ignited the stove, filled a glass with water, and placed it in a larger container of cold water to cool it down. After that, he retrieved the cold medicine, mixed it into the glass of water, and stirred it evenly before bringing it to Jian Yi.
Jian Yi was huddled in the chair, her coat wrapped tightly around her. She looked like a small bundle, with only her pale face exposed. Her eyes were closed weakly, and all her sharp edges seemed to have softened, leaving her fragile, like a porcelain doll that could break at any moment.
"Take your medicine," Chen Junsheng said gently, crouching down in front of her. He spoke softly, hoping she wouldn't stubbornly try to keep him at arm's length.
After a few seconds, she responded with a faint "mmm."
Chen Junsheng sighed in relief and prepared to offer her the medicine. To be on the safe side, he had even brought a straw, just in case she refused to let him come closer.
But as he extended the glass towards her, he saw her weakly open her eyes and glance at him. Her finger moved slightly but didn't continue.
Chen Junsheng's grip on the glass tightened, and he felt a sharp pain in his heart.
"I'll help you drink it," he said softly.
She blinked her eyes, and her voice was barely audible as she replied, "Okay."
With that, Chen Junsheng put away the straw he had prepared in case she refused and stood up. He stepped behind her chair and gently held her back, offering her the glass.
Jian Yi remained curled up in the chair, looking like a fragile doll as she sipped the medicine slowly, one sip at a time.
After finishing half the glass, Chen Junsheng took a handkerchief and gently wiped her mouth before placing the cup aside. Then he asked softly, "Shall I carry you to your room?"
Jian Yi blinked her eyes again, not offering any resistance this time.