Chapter Six: Finding a Way Out

“If you keep resisting, I’ll just throw you down. There’s nothing to eat here, and starving to death is a real possibility. Or we might be attacked by pythons or wild beasts—it’s an everyday occurrence! Dealing with an unreasonable woman like you is such a waste of time!”

“Let go of me! Leave me here alone! Even if the beasts eat me, it’s none of your business!” Lan Fang roared, clearly I had struck a nerve.

“Hmph, a woman who won’t cry until she sees the coffin!” Though I said this, I didn’t actually abandon her, especially with Qu Xiang nearby.

Besides, after Lan Fang pushed me a few times, she realized I was holding her tight enough that she couldn’t move. It seemed she also sensed her own mistake and was looking for a way to back down.

Dealing with a woman who usually holds herself high above others and keeps everyone at arm’s length is impossible through mere explanations. As one of my cynical friends once said, only brute force can tame such a woman.

So, by restraining her so she couldn’t move or refuse, and eventually frustrating her into submission, she would obediently listen. I wasn’t sure how reliable that advice was—my understanding of women was limited, otherwise I wouldn’t have failed at work and been a mess in love, still needing Qu Xiang to help me find a job.

Yet, my well-intentioned actions were perceived as unfair by Lan Fang. Her usually proud demeanor kept her clenching her teeth in defiance. Seeing her like this, I almost couldn’t bear it, but with Qu Xiang standing nearby, I couldn’t just expose her.

“Come on, is this your own doing? Don’t say I haven’t been paid yet—who do you think I’m doing this for? Why would I humiliate myself, eating worms here with you? Following Peng Qian and the others alone is so much easier!”

I wasn’t boasting or complaining, just stating a fact. I also knew that if I kept pushing against Lan Fang’s strong pride, we’d truly end up clashing.

Lan Fang, who managed several prestigious gold and jade shops, wasn’t stupid. She understood the situation better than anyone. For a moment, she said nothing, clearly acknowledging this truth. But she turned her face away, refusing even to look at Qu Xiang.

“Xiang Xiang, let’s go,” I said. Though Lan Fang remained silent, she seemed withdrawn. Holding nearly a hundred pounds for so long was making my arms ache, but I knew this silence meant she was quietly yielding.

I signaled awkwardly to Qu Xiang to lead the way ahead.

We had no choice but to follow the stream upstream. Qu Xiang noticed Lan Fang’s silence and my subtle winks, but Lan Fang didn’t respond until suddenly she burst out, “A-Jing! You’re always going on about money! If this were the company, and you dared behave like this, Sister Fang would have already slammed the table and kicked you out!”

Seeing Lan Fang’s sour expression, I sighed quietly—Qu Xiang was really a terrible teammate. Couldn’t she say something to ease the tension? So I turned to Lan Fang and said, “Sister Fang, I mean no offense. If you’re angry, just fire me when we get back!”

“Can you just shut up!” she snapped.

“All right, all right!” Seeing her face darken, I could hardly believe this seemingly gentle, pretty woman had such a temper. But after her outburst, she looked deflated, and I wisely kept silent.

As we walked, I shot Qu Xiang a fierce glare. She shrugged helplessly, showing she really didn’t know what to do.

I had to keep carrying Lan Fang the whole way. Carrying her on my back would mean holding her legs, which was impossible given her thigh injury.

So I held her close, following Qu Xiang along the riverbank toward the upstream stretches that had been washed out. It was grueling, but Lan Fang’s beauty seemed to give me strength, so I gritted my teeth and pressed on.

I had once wondered why Peng Qian and the others led the way into the rainforest. They must have planned to circle upstream to escape or perhaps follow the river downstream or cross to our intended destination. But now it seemed unrealistic, with no signal and barely any paths.

Relying solely on one’s sense of direction in this jungle was obviously a recipe for going in circles. But I had no time to dwell on this.

Lan Fang wasn’t short, but I guessed she weighed less than a hundred pounds, so carrying her was the only option.

Though not tall myself, once I lifted her, I felt a surge of strength. She was not only beautiful but well-shaped. To us laborers, she was the kind of woman to admire from afar, not to approach casually.

Her looks and status were worlds apart from ours, and I was well aware of it.

Moreover, since her injury was on her thigh, Qu Xiang kept glancing back, reminding me to avoid touching the wound.

I nodded in response, but holding her without contact was impossible. Seeing her furrowed brow, I had no choice but to hold her tightly against my stomach, careful not to press on her injury.

Though I lacked formal education, I didn’t want to be underestimated.

Lan Fang had seen me less than ten days since I joined the company and went on this trip; she hardly knew me. Being held like this, though she understood my intentions were good, made her visibly uncomfortable.

Having grown up, she’d surely encountered all kinds of men, and all were affected by her beauty in different ways. Any normal man would have certain thoughts upon seeing her—especially now, in such close contact.

She must have wondered why I seemed so unfazed by the awkward situation. Was I crazy?

Had I known what she was thinking, I might have dropped her to the ground on the spot. After all, I had no intention of taking advantage of her, especially with Qu Xiang present.

But even so, I soon found myself in a difficult spot. Carrying her, nearly a hundred pounds, along a riverbank with no path made progress tough.

As I shifted my arms occasionally to ease muscle strain, my movements inevitably brushed against her.

Unexpectedly, her natural scent rose in warm waves, swirling close to my nose, stirring a subtle excitement. Of course, I could only think about it, even as her breathing grew heavier in front of me. Gritting my teeth, I pressed forward.