Chapter 20: Bringing Up the Past

Although the windows were curtainless, there was no one around, so He Feng simply revealed her private affliction to Li Tian'er. Now, Li Tian'er understood what she meant.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

How many women seek out doctors specifically to undergo laser hair removal just to wear a beautiful bikini? For He Feng to be spared such a hassle was surely a blessing, yet she was treating it as an ailment and consulting a rural village doctor. Li Tian'er wanted to laugh but held it back, maintaining a detached expression.

"How is it good? People have been talking me to death."

Once she said it, He Feng realized her words were easily misunderstood. As an unmarried girl, how could she have been seen in that area so often? It was because when she was a child, she had bathed in a public bathhouse where meddlesome women had caught a glimpse, leading to gossip. By the time she reached twenty-five, the label of a "White Tiger" who brings bad luck to her husband was impossible to shake off.

People in the county seat were sometimes even more superstitious than those in the countryside. Because of this reputation, no one in town dared to marry her. She had no choice but to follow her aunts' arrangements and find a suitor in Xiaowu Village—a demobilized soldier, where her father served as the village head.

The two families had exchanged betrothal gifts, and the wedding date was approaching. Worried that her groom might be repulsed on their wedding night, she had heard that a "Peach Blossom Fairy" in Xiaowu Village could cure any ailment, so she had traveled here in a hurry.

There is a natural sympathy between beauties. While He Feng had been reserved at first, having now shown her most intimate parts, she opened her heart.

Hearing that He Feng had found a demobilized soldier in Xiaowu Village, it suddenly clicked for Li Tian'er. Fan Lihua had once mentioned that An Changlin had found a girlfriend in town with a questionable reputation, and they were set to marry on the second day of the second lunar month. It was He Feng!

In Xiaowu Village, there was no other demobilized soldier who fit the description besides An Changlin. He Feng was fond of his tall, imposing, and masculine demeanor, which reminded her of Ken Takakura. That was why she cared so much about his feelings; she had come to see the Fairy in secret, without his knowledge.

"Please, Fairy, write me a prescription."

He Feng acted coy. When women act coy with other women, it isn't for gain, but to establish intimacy. Li Tian'er smiled faintly; she didn't consider He Feng's condition an illness at all. She searched her memory for a long time but found nothing suitable.

She believed that if An Changlin were a rational man, he would love her for who she was; this small physical difference should only add to their intimacy. However, seeing He Feng's desperate expression, she knew the woman wouldn't leave satisfied without a remedy. When people are desperate, they cling to any doctor like a straw, refusing to let go regardless of whether the cure is effective.

"You don't need to worry; this isn't an illness."

"It is an illness! It's a matter of my life!"

He Feng grew anxious and reached out to grab Li Tian'er's wrist. Li Tian'er raised an eyebrow, and He Feng quickly let go, fearing the Fairy would be offended since she hadn't washed her hands after undressing.

"If you really want medicine, I can find you some..."

Li Tian'er consulted her internal pharmacy, hesitating. Although He Feng's hair wasn't thin, it was fine and soft, and the hair on her arms was almost non-existent. Perhaps some nourishing, energy-boosting traditional medicine might help. Before she could decide which bottle to use, an invisible force seemed to guide her hand to pick up a wide-mouthed black bottle of oral medication and a small-tipped white bottle of liquid.

Reading the labels, which only she could decipher, Li Tian'er felt a sense of unease. The white liquid was a powerful hair growth stimulant; she feared the effect might be too strong and backfire. If she couldn't control it, what if... The thought was too terrifying to contemplate.

"Use this liquid for three days. Every night before bed, use a cotton swab to apply a little to the area you need..." Li Tian'er couldn't find the right words, her cheeks flushing.

Having been away from her former life as the married and motherly Li Tiantian for so long, she felt a sense of regained youth. Playing the role of the Fairy, she still felt nervous when patients exposed themselves, which was why she rarely saw male patients. The villagers seemed to know her rules, as only women sought her out, or young boys brought by their mothers.

As she spoke, she handed the two bottles and a bag of cotton swabs to He Feng. Her gaze drifted toward the window, and she froze. Realizing what she saw, she urged He Feng to leave immediately. Then, she realized that letting He Feng walk out now would mean running straight into An Changlin.

He Feng saw the look on her face and turned to look outside, her expression darkening as she saw An Changlin pushing open the courtyard gate.

"I can't let him see me."

He Feng panicked, looking for a place to hide. The storage room was small, occupied mostly by a wide heated brick bed and a wall-to-wall medicine cabinet. It was crowded if more than two people were present.

"Fairy, I can't let him see me."

Having come to Xiaowu Village in secret for her condition, her greatest fear was discovery. Seeing him approach, her face turned pale. There was truly nowhere to hide.

Li Tian'er forced herself to stay calm. Looking at the rolled-up bedding on the bed, she told He Feng to hide inside. After unfolding the quilts, tucking He Feng in, and pushing her to the back of the bed, Li Tian'er was drenched in sweat. Seeing He Feng's black leather cotton shoes on the floor, she quickly hid them in the corner of the cabinet. Unless one looked closely, they wouldn't be noticed.

She had just sat down at the small table when An Changlin knocked.

"Come in."

Li Tian'er pretended to tend to the orchid on the table, feigning surprise as he entered. As she did, a series of "beep" sounds echoed in her ears—the long-absent notification of her "Fan Value" hitting a peak.

"Peach Blossom."

An Changlin stood in the doorway, his head slightly bowed, appearing taller than the frame.

"I don't treat men," Li Tian'er said slowly. Fan Lihua had warned her that the Fairy should never speak too quickly, to keep people expectant. It was best to keep her voice devoid of emotion to maintain an ethereal aura.

"I'm not here for treatment."

"I'm sorry, I only see patients here."

"Peach Blossom, I have something to tell you."

An Changlin's expression was grave, his gaze sharp, his tone brooking no argument. Listening to him, it seemed he was about to bring up the past again. Li Tian'er's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes involuntarily darted toward the quilts on the bed.