I woke up to find myself transmigrated into a disabled child.

Chapter 186 Lei Xiu's Feelings

“No need.” Qing Jin’s suggestion made sense, but Lei Xiu had his own ideas. He didn’t hesitate for a second and refused directly.

With a slight frown, Qing Jin saw that Lei Xiu was unmoved by her words and knew that it would be useless to say anything now, so she stopped talking, nodded, and got up to leave.

Maoqiu, who was tending to the chicks nearby, caught their name during their conversation. After Qingjin left, Maoqiu hopped over to Lei Xiu, tilted its head, and chirped twice, as if asking Lei Xiu what was wrong.

Although Lei Xiu and Mao Qiu couldn't communicate as seamlessly as Le Zhi and Mao Qiu, he could still roughly discern some of Mao Qiu's meaning from certain actions and tones of voice.

Seeing the question in the little black bean of fur, Lei Xiu, mimicking Le Zhi's usual manner, raised his hand and gently stroked the fur on the little black bean's head twice with his index finger, explaining, "It's nothing, I just..."

He just didn't want to let go of Lezhi so easily again. Although no one blamed him, Lei Xiu had never forgotten that the last time Lezhi was in danger and easily swept into the eye of the storm, the root cause was that he hadn't stayed by Lezhi's side every step of the way.

Although it's said that Maoqiu can also protect Lezhi, that's what outsiders see. If Lei Xiu really only sees himself as a bodyguard, then his actions are certainly beyond reproach. But Lei Xiu himself knows that from beginning to end, what he wanted was more than just a bodyguard.

This incident served as a wake-up call for Lei Xiu. During the time when Le Zhi was caught in the eye of the storm and his fate was unknown, Lei Xiu finally saw his own heart clearly.

The so-called destined person and the life-saving grace were just excuses he used to get close to Lezhi and to appease everyone else.

The truth is, from the moment Lei Xiu saw Le Zhi looking at him with her round eyes in the morning mist that day, he was completely captivated.

He didn't understand at first why the mother tree only reminded him about Lezhi's dangers after hatching.

Everyone explains it as destiny, but Lei Xiu scoffs at it. If he, Lei Xiu, likes someone, he won't care whether it's destiny or not.

So initially, Lei Xiu only had his clansmen relay the message to the Lingyu Clan; he himself didn't take it too seriously. Perhaps it was because they couldn't stand his indifference that the shadowy advance was unstoppable, and even the sap of the Mother Tree was helpless against it. The Mother Tree urged him again to find Lezhi.

Lei Xiu could ignore it at first, but after being urged by the mother tree time and time again, he became interested and decided to go and see the little guy.

Although he didn't know why the Mother Tree kept urging him to find Lezhi when his Shadow Disease flared up, everything was resolved once he arrived at the Spirit Feather Clan.

It turns out that Lezhi can actually control the shadow, which is truly unheard of. Especially when Lezhi saw his hideous black markings, he didn't show any fear at all, but instead approached with interest, which made Lei Xiu even more curious.

How can there be such a strange person? He looks harmless, but the occasional expressions and demeanor he reveals completely contradict his entire life story. Moreover, this little guy is adept at hiding his true nature, always preferring to conceal all his sharpness.

The little guy easily resolved the Shadow Disease, which piqued Lei Xiu's interest even more. He made up an excuse to appease the Spirit Feather Clan, staying by Le Zhi's side under the pretext of repaying her life-saving grace, just to see what secrets Le Zhi was hiding.

But Lei Xiu didn't know that being curious about someone is the beginning of falling in love.

No, perhaps curiosity is just an excuse. He had already fallen for her from the very beginning, but he dared not admit it, so he used layers of excuses to cover it up.

My heart is overflowing with emotions, yet I cannot express them.

Lost in thought, Lei Xiu shook his head in silence, letting Mao Qiu go and keep the chicks company. Lei Xiu then turned to look at Le Zhi, who was being settled in comfortably beside him.

Having been in a coma for so many days without a drop of water, Lei Xiu would take advantage of his evening rest time to clean up Le Zhi's body after several days of running around.

But only Lei Xiu, who did it himself, knew that Le Zhi's body didn't need cleaning at all. He hadn't bathed for several days, but his whole body was clean and fresh, and exuded a faint fragrance of herbs.

If Lei Xiu hadn't been certain that Lezhi still had a body temperature and was breathing, he would have suspected that Lezhi was about to turn into a plant, the kind that could survive just by being exposed to light.

Startled for a moment by the sudden thought that had crossed his mind, Lei Xiu frowned, raised his hand to stroke Le Zhi's forehead, and tidied the stray hairs that had accidentally fallen onto his cheek.

His fingers traced down his forehead to his rosy cheeks, where the temperature was noticeably higher than elsewhere. Lei Xiu wouldn't have been able to perceive this so acutely unless he had fully activated his senses.

After brushing his hand across her cheek, Lei Xiu's fingers lingered unconsciously under Le Zhi's nose for a few moments. Only when he felt the faint yet rhythmic breath did he withdraw his hand with peace of mind.

Lei Xiu had performed this routine hundreds and thousands of times in the past few days. The longer Le Zhi remained unconscious, the tighter Lei Xiu's nerves became. He needed to constantly confirm that Le Zhi was alright, otherwise the anxiety in his heart would soon overwhelm him and cause him to lose his mind.

"Zhizhi, I will never leave you alone again..."

Holding Lezhi's numb hand, Lei Xiu whispered his promise, revealing his most secret wish.

Previously, he might have listened to Le Chu and Qing Lin's advice and left him under the guise of letting Le Zhi be independent and for Le Zhi's own good.

At the time, he was genuinely concerned for Lezhi, fearing that his excessive interference would hinder Lezhi's normal growth.

But now, Lei Xiu doesn't think that way anymore. If his presence prevents Le Zhi from growing up, then he will take responsibility and stay by Le Zhi's side forever.

"No matter the time or the circumstances, I will always be with you, so Zhizhi, you can't find me annoying in the future."

As for teaching Lezhi to be independent, Lei Xiu wasn't afraid. During the days he was away from Lezhi, he had thought about it a thousand times over: whatever Lezhi wanted to learn, Lei Xiu would accompany him.

He wouldn't interfere with Lezhi's pursuit of knowledge; he just wanted to stay by Lezhi's side and accompany her to do whatever she wanted.

Whether it's gathering or hunting, whether Lezhi wants to continue developing agriculture in the tribe's territory or he just wants to cook occasionally, Lei Xiu can accompany him.

From the day he met Lezhi, Lei Xiu's life had become intertwined with his, and no one could separate them.

"Wake up soon, Zhizhi, I've been waiting for you."

……

"Hiss..." Deep in his consciousness, Lezhi seemed to be having a dream. In the dream, he was startled awake by a sudden sound.

He instinctively wanted to stretch, but only managed to shake a branch. Only then did Lezhi realize that he was still trapped inside the tree.

"What was that voice saying just now... Hmm, I can't remember. Never mind, I don't want to think about it anymore."

Lezhi was already used to dreaming, but never remembering what happened in her dreams, so she didn't care much about it.

"Ah... how am I still here? Is anyone there? Can anyone help me? I'm so bored! I slept and nothing changed. Do I really have to cultivate immortality to get out of here? No way..."

When Lezhi woke up, she found herself still a tree, and she was extremely disheartened. "Did I transmigrate again?!"

A possibility came to mind, and the more Lezhi thought about it, the more likely it seemed: "Could it be that I accidentally died after being swept into the whirlwind before, and then I was transported back to this world?"