Chapter 5

Taehyung was already struggling to breathe, feeling as if water had clogged his airways. His body was freezing, his trembling uncontrollable.

Despite his discomfort, he knew with certainty that the Yu family’s ger had pushed him into the water on purpose. Whether it was to humiliate him in public or worse, he didn’t know—but it was best to avoid him now.

"H-He’s not my companion," Taehyung gasped. "He’s the one who pushed me in."

After speaking, he clenched his fists and lowered his head, trying to push himself up. However, his body felt like dehydrated dough—utterly limp.

He had never felt so helpless, so utterly humiliated by his own frailty.

Just as his distress peaked, something suddenly draped over his slumped body—a plain black cloak spilling onto the ground.

Taehyung looked up at the expressionless man and, oddly, felt a little safer. Tears still clinging to his lashes, he whispered,

"Th-Thank you… kind sir."

Jungkook had originally planned to leave, but the ger’s words made him pause.

The cloak, which barely covered his own broad frame, now nearly swallowed Taehyung whole.

Frowning faintly, Jungkook bent down and hauled the cloaked figure up again with surprising care.

"Where’s your home?"

Faced with the choice between accepting a stranger’s help or remaining a drenched spectacle in the middle of the market, Taehyung chose the former.

"X-Xiaoxi Street… Zhenlu Alley… the Huangji Clinic…"

Without another word, Jungkook lifted him onto his horse, asked the teahouse attendant for directions, and rode off.

Yu Xia, who had been rushing over from a side path, saw that Taehyung had been rescued as expected and quietly exhaled in relief.

He had only wanted to make Taehyung lose face in public, not truly harm him.

But he hadn’t expected the rescuer to take Taehyung away.

Yu Xia stepped forward instinctively—but the moment the man on horseback cast him a sharp, piercing glance, cold sweat broke across his back. His feet froze where he stood.

That man… he looked exactly like the fierce stranger from earlier. Even if the face blurred in memory, the black horse was unmistakable.

Yu Xia’s heart pounded uneasily. For the first time, doubt crept in.

Taehyung kept his face buried in the cloak, hiding from the curious gazes around him. Though people still stared, at least they couldn’t see his expression.

Dazed and weak, he barely endured the ride before a familiar voice reached his ears.

"What happened?!"

From a distance, Jungkook spotted the sign of Huangji Clinic, with patients coming and going in a steady stream.

He slowed his horse, though its heavy snort still startled a few elderly visitors. The noise made the old physician at the counter look up from his writing.

Huang Yinsheng, already annoyed, was about to scold the reckless rider—but the moment he saw the cloaked figure being carried inside, his expression changed drastically.

He hurried forward.

"Quick, bring him inside!"

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