Chapter Forty-Eight: First Kiss

With his mouth full of water, Zhou Nan cupped her cheeks with both hands, striving not to let a single drop escape as she retraced her steps. The exertion left her breathless, but she dared not open her mouth to gasp for air, forcing herself to endure the discomfort. Hurrying back, she found Zhang Can still lying where she had left him, prompting a wave of relief. She quickly knelt by his side, lowered herself, and pressed her lips to his, gently transferring the water into his mouth.

The moment their lips touched, she could feel the fever radiating from his breath. As the water flowed into his mouth, Zhang Can instinctively parted his lips to drink, but how much could she carry in her mouth? In just a few gulps, it was gone, yet he clung to her, searching blindly across her face, desperate for more. Zhou Nan hurried back to the stream, filled her mouth anew, and returned—seven or eight times she made this journey before Zhang Can was finally satisfied. Even then, he drifted in a feverish stupor, barely conscious, and soon fell back into deep sleep.

Zhou Nan touched his forehead. Though the water had helped a little, his high fever had only slightly diminished. She pondered a moment, then hurried again to the stream, tore a piece from her undershirt—about the size of a handkerchief—soaked it thoroughly, and brought it back. She placed the cool, wet cloth on Zhang Can’s forehead, then sat by his side, resting her chin in her hands, watching him in silence.

Suddenly, her face grew hot as she recalled what she had just done. Only now did it occur to her—she had fed him water mouth to mouth. How had she not thought of it at the time? Why hadn’t she felt embarrassed? Now, after everything was done, shame overwhelmed her. The memory of her actions made her cheeks burn fiercely. Hastily, she covered her eyes with her hands. How had she come up with the idea to feed him water that way?

In all her life, Zhou Nan had never let anyone touch her lips. She had never thought much of men, but today, she had let this man touch hers—and she had initiated it! Zhou Nan sat in a daze for a long time, then let her hands fall away and gazed at the unconscious Zhang Can. Did she like him? Impossible, she told herself. How could she like him?

He was an ordinary man, and yet there was something special about him, something perhaps she liked. But… Zhou Nan was left bewildered, unable to understand her own feelings. She had never before felt so anxious about another person, but seeing Zhang Can so feverish and helpless now, her heart twisted painfully with worry and distress.

Perhaps… perhaps it was only concern, she reasoned. After surviving the ordeal of their abduction, maybe it was merely a bond forged in hardship, not love. Zhou Nan resisted the thought, repeatedly convincing herself. After a while, she checked his forehead again. The cloth had grown warm, so she replaced it with a fresh, cool piece, then searched for a way down the mountain. But the towering trees obscured any view of the valley, and she dared not go far—her twisted ankle still ached from yesterday.

She returned and sat for a while longer, but suddenly, Zhang Can began to babble incoherently, muttering feverish nonsense. Alarmed, Zhou Nan called out, “Zhang Can, Zhang Can, wake up, wake up…”

He did not respond. No matter how she called, he remained unresponsive. Zhou Nan’s face turned ashen with fright. His forehead was still burning, and the cold cloth did nothing to help. Tears crept into her voice. Gritting her teeth, she crouched and tried to hoist Zhang Can onto her back. How could a girl like her manage such a feat? He was not especially heavy—perhaps around 130 pounds—but he felt as heavy as a great stone. It took several attempts before she finally got him onto her back, then, teeth clenched, she began to carry him downhill.

The weather was clear, unlike the previous day’s dusk, so it was easier to find the direction down the mountain. But Zhang Can’s weight was overwhelming; sweat poured from Zhou Nan, soaking her shirt through. She thought of how Zhang Can had carried her the day before and realized what it must have felt like for him.

Every step was a struggle, lips bitten nearly through, and after only a few dozen meters, her foot slipped on a slope. She stumbled and tumbled down with a yelp, holding Zhang Can tightly as they rolled together through the underbrush. The slope stretched over ten meters, but fortunately, there were no rocks. When they finally came to a stop on level ground, Zhou Nan anxiously checked Zhang Can, relieved to find only a few minor scratches on his face and his breathing steady. She felt her own face stinging—no doubt scratched by grass blades—but there was no time to worry about that.

She dared not call for help in case the kidnappers were still nearby. The heavens and earth seemed to offer no rescue; exhausted, starving, and despairing, Zhou Nan could not help but sob quietly in defeat.

Yet the tumble down the slope roused Zhang Can. As he opened his eyes and saw Zhou Nan’s tear-streaked face, he reached out to gently pat her hand, his voice barely more than a whisper: “Zhou Nan… don’t worry… this isn’t the wilderness, just a protected forest in the west of Jin City. Let me rest a bit, and I’ll find a way down the mountain. Don’t… don’t worry…”

Hearing his faint words, Zhou Nan’s heart finally settled. She couldn’t help but pound his chest with her fists, bursting into tears. “You scared me to death, Zhang Can! You terrible man, you nearly scared me to death!”

Zhang Can feebly waved his hand, murmuring, “Don’t… don’t make noise… be careful, there might be someone…”

This reminder brought her back to their precarious situation. She quickly stifled her sobs, wiped her tears, and felt much lighter now that Zhang Can was awake.

After resting a while, Zhang Can’s head throbbed painfully and his body felt weak. He touched his own forehead, knowing he still had a fever, and said, “We need to find a way down the mountain quickly. I’m so thirsty… I remember drinking water—felt so good… Maybe I was dreaming. There’s no water here, is there?”

At this, Zhou Nan’s face flushed bright red. Quietly, she replied, “Then you really were dreaming. There’s no water here. I wish there were.”

Of course, Zhou Nan would never admit the truth, and thankfully Zhang Can had been too delirious to remember. She simmered with annoyance, though—her precious first kiss had been given to a man who didn’t even realize it, and she couldn’t even complain. Wasn’t that unfair?

Unaware of her inner turmoil, Zhang Can tried to move but found himself still too weak. With a sigh, he said, “Zhou Nan, I think we’re not far from the base of the mountain. It’s just rough going on this side, no path. Once you reach the halfway point, there’s a road. You should go ahead, get to the road and flag down a car. But be careful, check who’s inside before you get in. Remember, the first thing you must do is call the police. Go back and send them up here to find me.”

Zhou Nan bit her lip and huffed, “Do you think you’re so handsome? Hmph… I think you’re pretty ugly, actually. There are so many wild dogs in these mountains, they’ll bite you into an even uglier mess. Life will be even harder for you—you’ll never find a wife after this…”

Zhang Can smiled faintly, tempted to tease her with “If I can’t find a wife, you’ll have to make it up to me,” but he swallowed the words. With anyone else, it would be a joke, but not with Zhou Nan. He mustn’t say such ambiguous things to her—they were from different worlds. Even if this trial had brought them closer, he had to remember his place and not reach for what could never be his. That would only end in heartbreak.

Still, Zhou Nan was unwilling to leave him behind, and that warmed Zhang Can’s heart—a little concern from another was always welcome.

“Zhou Nan, see if you can find a sturdy branch I can use as a cane. Let’s go down the mountain slowly…” To distract her and encourage her, Zhang Can smiled and added, “The first thing I want to do when we get down is have a big meal. What would you most like to eat?”

Her hunger flared at the thought, but it gave her motivation as well. She searched the underbrush and found a thick, sturdy branch for Zhang Can, who tried it and found it serviceable. Leaning on the stick, he tried to stand, but couldn’t manage it alone; with Zhou Nan’s support, he finally made it to his feet. The two of them, arms around each other, hobbled down the mountain. The farther they went, the thinner the trees grew and the shorter they became. Their spirits rose with every step. Eventually, their view opened up, revealing clouds above and, further down the slope, a road winding like a jade ribbon across the mountainside.

They stopped in surprise. Zhang Can, overjoyed, tossed aside his stick and shouted, while Zhou Nan jumped up, threw her arms around him, and kissed him several times on the cheek.

Realizing what she’d done, Zhou Nan immediately blushed, released him, took a few steps back, and stammered, “I—I was just—just happy, that’s all, nothing more…”

Zhang Can had regained his composure. “I know. Let’s go.”

Seeing the road felt like rediscovering the world, as if they were stepping from another realm back into ordinary life. Their moods shifted to calm, and, as if donning masks, they became rational and reserved again.

Zhang Can led the way on his makeshift cane, Zhou Nan following silently behind. The closer they drew to the road, the easier the path became. Before long, they found a visible trail, and after another ten minutes, they reached the roadside.

They waited in silence for half an hour before a tour bus finally passed. The passengers were all visiting Cloud Mountain. Though Zhang Can and Zhou Nan looked disheveled and their clothes were torn, no one found it strange. Mountain hikers often appeared this way, and Zhou Nan’s remarkable beauty made it clear she was no beggar.

Zhang Can summoned his last reserves of strength to climb aboard. Seeing him about to collapse, Zhou Nan quickly helped him to an empty seat at the back. As soon as Zhang Can sat down, he lost consciousness, and in a haze, he seemed to hear Zhou Nan’s tearful voice calling, “Please… call emergency services…”