Chapter 117: Hurry Up and Continue

“Let’s go, you miser!” As Zhou Zhi was momentarily stunned, Kou Peihan smiled gently at her and said.

After speaking, Kou Peihan waved a folding fan in her hand and strode along the muddy path.

“Miss Kou, are you heading to the county town as well?” Zhou Zhi asked with delight.

“What? Only you are allowed to go to the county town, but I am not?” Kou Peihan cast a displeased glance at Zhou Zhi.

“Of course you’re going! Of course!” Zhou Zhi quickly replied.

Then, beaming with joy, she said, “So, Miss Kou, we’ll be traveling together!”

“Hmph!” Kou Peihan snorted dismissively.

But Zhou Zhi could tell she wasn’t truly annoyed.

They had already talked quite a bit on the boat, which made them less reserved and the atmosphere more relaxed, so their conversation became much more casual.

The scorching weather and difficult road made it hard going. After just five or six miles, beads of sweat covered Kou Peihan’s delicate face. She occasionally wiped her brow with a fragrant handkerchief and fanned herself faster with her folding fan, grumbling, “This damn weather is scorching! In such a remote place, there isn’t even a single carriage. How boring!”

“Hehe! Miss Kou, having been pampered since childhood, naturally can’t stand the heat, and you’re no faster on foot than a farm boy like me!” Zhou Zhi laughed.

“Who says I’ve been pampered? There’s no way I can’t keep up with you!” Kou Peihan said coquettishly, twisting her waist and genuinely quickening her pace.

Zhou Zhi hurried to keep up.

“Miss Kou’s pace is so uneven; you’ll get heatstroke if you keep this up!”

“You think you can walk faster than me? Then keep up! Today, I’m really not afraid of the heat!” Kou Peihan said as she closed her fan.

After another two miles of quick walking, Kou Peihan finally slowed down. She turned to look at Zhou Zhi and saw the sharp angles of his face drenched in sweat. He frequently wiped his face with his palm, looking quite miserable, which made her laugh softly.

Walking alongside such a beauty—especially one who often appeared in his thoughts and never left his mind—Zhou Zhi, despite the heat, felt not the slightest fatigue. His mood was extraordinarily pleasant.

***

Kou Peihan’s teasing left Zhou Zhi momentarily confused, so he asked, “Miss Kou, what are you laughing at? How am I walking slowly?”

“Giggling! Look at you, so miserable, yet walking with me. If anyone saw this, I’d really lose face! Walk slower, so you can catch your breath,” Kou Peihan said with a smile.

Zhou Zhi smiled in response, thinking to himself that Kou Peihan was just as bad. Although she was a graceful lady, she was now flushed red, her pale face marked with sweat stains—not much better than him.

He guessed that someone from a noble family like Kou Peihan had probably never endured such a long walk on foot before. She must be suffering.

Zhou Zhi said, “Miss Kou has trained in martial arts since childhood and is known as a divine archer capable of piercing a leaf at a hundred paces. Naturally, I can’t outrun you. It’s better to walk slowly.”

Praising her like that made Kou Peihan’s heart swell with joy, but she modestly replied, “Well, I can shoot well, but I’m not quite as amazing as you say. Zhou Zhi, you’re impressive, too. In just a few months, you’ve gained the favor of Teacher Qu, the respected instructor at Qingdu County School. That’s rare!”

“I just read some books haphazardly. Whether Teacher Qu takes notice depends on my luck,” Zhou Zhi said seriously.

“Just some random reading? What books? You must know many interesting stories. The journey is so dull; why not tell me some?” Kou Peihan suddenly blinked her bright eyes and said.

Zhou Zhi thought to himself that he had only read the dry classics—the Four Books and Five Classics, histories, and philosophical collections—and there were hardly any entertaining stories. Kou Peihan came from a martial family and probably never read books, so she didn’t know about such things. She was really challenging him.

However, Zhou Zhi smiled and said, “There are treasures in books. There are countless fascinating stories!”

“Then hurry and tell me!” Kou Peihan urged.

Seeing her eager and adorable expression, Zhou Zhi liked her even more.

He smirked slyly and said, “It was a terrifying night. A magnificent luxury liner was sailing across the vast ocean—the ship was called the Titanic. A wealthy and beautiful young woman named Rose…”

Having watched the film “Titanic” countless times in the future world, Zhou Zhi was deeply moved every time. This story was the perfect one to tell.

As they walked slowly, Zhou Zhi narrated with vivid enthusiasm. Kou Peihan, who had never heard such a love story, listened with rapt attention.

***

At times, their bodies were close enough that Zhou Zhi could clearly smell the subtle fragrance she wore, though she was completely unaware.

He enjoyed the faint, refreshing scent filling his nostrils. The tall beauty beside him would occasionally glance at him, her expression shifting between delight and concern. This feeling of tantalizing a beautiful woman’s curiosity was truly wonderful.

Zhou Zhi reached the part where the giant ship hit an iceberg and abruptly stopped, then complained, “It’s so hot… this weather is really unbearable.”

“Zhou Zhi, hurry up and continue! What happened to the people on the ship? Are Rose and Jack in danger?” A soft fist suddenly pounded heavily on Zhou Zhi’s shoulder. He grimaced, “Ouch, that hurts!”

Though he said it hurt, he secretly felt wonderful.

Kou Peihan, having just punched him, felt nothing amiss. She was fully immersed in Rose and Jack’s love story, itching with curiosity and deeply worried about their fate.

She stopped walking, waved her fist in front of Zhou Zhi’s eyes, and warned, “Zhou Zhi, if you keep babbling like this, I swear I’ll give you a good beating!”

“Ouch, how could I dare offend you? You’ve trained in martial arts since childhood; how could my frame possibly beat you? I’ll talk, I’ll talk!” Zhou Zhi smiled wryly.

Then he muttered softly, “It’s just a story. Is it really worth it?”

Before he finished, her fist came down again. Zhou Zhi looked annoyed but dared not slack off and hurriedly continued the story.

After finishing the Titanic tale, Kou Peihan fell silent. Zhou Zhi noticed tears shimmering in the corners of her eyes.

He thought to himself that although this woman was willful and capricious, her heart was kind and gentle.

After a long silence, Kou Peihan finally spoke. Zhou Zhi didn’t disturb her. They silently walked another seven or eight miles before her mood slowly eased. She said, “Zhou Zhi, tell me more stories. I love listening to you.”

Zhou Zhi couldn’t help but lament inwardly: it was already so hot, and telling the Titanic story had left his mouth dry and throat parched. Now she wanted more? This beauty truly was making life difficult for him!