In Phoenix Village, Gu Qingcheng was the village chief. Even if she didn't put on airs, her peers didn't dare to play with her.
Normally, she only interacted with elders much older than her. Even then, everyone treated her with respect. Girls and boys around her age dared not even lift their heads in her presence, being extremely deferential. This forced her to maintain an air of authority, even if she didn't want to.
In any case, Gu Qingcheng felt she had no friends in Phoenix Village.
This was determined by her status, and not something she could control.
Gu Qingcheng rarely encountered a peer who could chat with her normally, someone who wasn't overly respectful towards her. She was overjoyed and said to herself,
"Since you're older than me, I'll call you sister from now on."
Lan Yue heard the joy in Gu Qingcheng's tone and, not minding the age difference, breathed a sigh of relief and said,
"Alright, then I'll call you Qingcheng from now on."
Although the name sounded a bit feminine, it seemed fitting.
Du Lanyue hadn't expected Gu Qingcheng to be so cold when she had a serious expression, but so approachable once they got closer.
Just now, she had been a bit hesitant to approach Gu Qingcheng, who was pondering lantern riddles. But she couldn't suppress the fluttering in her heart and had gone forward to strike up a conversation.
Who would have thought that Gu Qingcheng would hit it off with her so quickly!
Her destined connection had arrived!
Du Lanyue was ecstatic inwardly, and it showed on her face, the corners of her lips curving upwards.
"Wow, sister, you're so beautiful!"
Gu Qingcheng, seeing the beaming Du Lanyue bathed in the light, looking radiant and lovely, blurted out the compliment.
In her mind, this was a girl praising another girl; otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to be so forward.
Du Lanyue's face flushed crimson at the praise.
Gu Qingcheng, happy, invited her, "Sister, let's go claim our prizes. My brother also went to claim his prize just now and hasn't returned for a long time. I don't know what's happened, so let's go take a look."
"Okay."
Du Lanyue chuckled inwardly: Your brother has probably been whisked away by my sister...
The two walked towards the prize redemption area together.
Du Lanyue lagged slightly behind Gu Qingcheng and suddenly cried out, "Ouch!"
Gu Qingcheng instinctively turned back. She saw Du Lanyue had apparently stepped on something and stumbled, her body tilting precariously as if about to fall.
With quick reflexes, Gu Qingcheng reached out and caught her.
Unexpectedly, Du Lanyue's fall was so severe that she landed directly in Gu Qingcheng's arms.
Du Lanyue's heart pounded. Had she overdone the intentional ankle twist? Was it too obvious?
Would Gu Qingcheng become suspicious?
After catching her, Gu Qingcheng didn't immediately let go. Instead, she took a sniff and said,
"Sister, what perfume are you wearing? It smells so good."
Gu Qingcheng was also a girl, fond of beauty and fragrant things.
Du Lanyue's face turned as red as a large piece of red cloth. She was silent for a while, but she felt that this was somehow comfortable. Being held by Gu Qingcheng gave her a sense of steady security.
Gu Qingcheng asked her, "What's wrong? You don't want to say? Is it a secret? I think it smells really good."
After speaking, she leaned closer to her neck and sniffed again. Her warm breath brushed against Lan Yue's neck, making her feel a tickle where the air touched, and then an itch all over her body. She quickly turned her face away and said,
"It's not that I don't want to say, nor is it a secret. I don't use perfume. My mother says I have a natural fragrance, I've been like this since I was young."
"Ah? So this is the legendary body fragrance?"
Gu Qingcheng nodded and said, "I've learned something new. It's indeed very fragrant and pleasant. Sister, you truly are a rare beauty, comparable to a peony."
Du Lanyue, currently bent over like a shrimp, felt awkwardly nestled in Gu Qingcheng's embrace. Being showered with such effusive praise, she didn't know how to respond.
Gu Qingcheng looked down and saw her flushed face. Thinking she was in pain, she asked anxiously,
"Does your ankle hurt badly? Let's go to the doctor's."
Gu Qingcheng had noticed a medical clinic nearby when she had arrived.
"Yes, it hurts quite a bit."
Du Lanyue's heart stirred. If they went to the doctor's, they would have more time alone, and she could learn more.
If he paid for her medical expenses, yes, she would wait for him to pay, and then she could ask him where he lived, and then she could go and repay him for the medical expenses and thank him...
Wouldn't that naturally lead to something more?
Du Lanyue's mind raced with possibilities, so naturally, she quickly claimed to be in pain.
Gu Qingcheng, suspecting nothing, said,
"Shall I help you?"
Since they were both women, Gu Qingcheng didn't hesitate. She let Du Lanyue place her hand on her shoulder, while Gu Qingcheng put an arm around her back, essentially encircling Du Lanyue and almost lifting her.
This way, Du Lanyue leaned half her body weight onto Gu Qingcheng. Having taken a strength-enhancing pill, Gu Qingcheng didn't feel the weight at all; it was no different from walking normally.
It was the Qiqiao Festival today, and young men and women were allowed to be openly affectionate in the streets. Although Du Lanyue and Gu Qingcheng's embrace was perhaps a bit too intimate, seeing Du Lanyue stumble, people assumed she was injured and no one commented.
Gu Qingcheng thus supported Du Lanyue all the way to the medical clinic.
Before they arrived, Mi Guo had just sent Du Lanxing out. The two pairs perfectly missed each other.
The physician at the medical clinic smiled upon seeing them and said,
"What's going on today? So many people with foot injuries?"
Then he muttered to himself that the young woman who had been brought in earlier bore some resemblance to the one standing before him.
However, he said nothing further and after an examination, said:
"No serious injuries, just a bruise. Apply some ointment and avoid walking too much for a few days, and you'll be fine."
While the physician was applying the ointment to Du Lanyue's ankle, Gu Qingcheng naturally paid the medical fees.
It wasn't expensive, only 300 wen.
After the ointment was applied and they had left the clinic, Gu Qingcheng asked Du Lanyue how she felt. Du Lanyue said she felt much better. Then, as if remembering something, she said,
"Ah, Qingcheng, you paid for the medicine just now. I don't have any money on me, I'll repay you tomorrow."
Gu Qingcheng shook her head and said, "It's fine, it wasn't much money. Don't give it another thought."
"That won't do. We've just met, how can I owe you?" Du Lanyue quickly replied.
"Hehe, how have we just met? Aren't we good friends now?" Gu Qingcheng asked. "Are you also from Tea Shed Island?"
"Yes, are you too? Where do you live? I don't remember meeting you before."
Du Lanyue became a bit bolder, as Gu Qingcheng seemed to have forgotten about the incident with the tossed Vermillion Fruit.
Gu Qingcheng said, "I'm from out of town, but I plan to settle here in the future. I arrived in a hurry, and my newly purchased house is still being tidied up, so I can't move in yet. I'm currently staying at the Bafang Guest Inn. You can come find me if you need anything, and we can hang out together.
When the new house is ready, I'll invite you over."
Gu Qingcheng genuinely wanted to find a peer to befriend.
Wouldn't it be too unhappy to have no friends to play with?
Du Lanyue heard this and said joyfully, "Okay, then I'll come find you tomorrow."