Though he had been pulled up, he couldn't walk—the prolonged cramp hadn't been properly dealt with, and now his leg was swollen.
The young man looked reserved, his back straight, gaze fixed downward, not daring to glance to the side.
Arabella's skin was pale as snow, even more striking in the night.
Her clothing clung to her, revealing a slender waist and legs—she wasn't curvaceous, but her figure was undeniably striking.
It was rare for Arabella to extend a hand to save rather than to kill.
Because it was so unusual, she felt a bit intrigued.
She slowly directed her gaze to the nervous young man beside her, finally noticing his slightly red foot.
"I'll help you back to your room and have the hotel send someone to tend to it."
A very sensible approach.
The young man started to nod, then quickly shook his head.
"I wouldn't dare trouble you, miss. Once you return to the hotel, please inform them to send someone for me."
With a faint smile, Arabella replied, "I don't plan on returning to the hotel just yet."
The young man was stumped for a moment, then immediately apologized, "Sorry, miss. I didn't mean to trouble you. I'll just sit here and wait for someone else. Thank you very much for saving me tonight."
Arabella snorted, deliberately making it difficult, "Did I save you for nothing?"
The young man was taken aback and quickly bowed again, "My apologies, that was careless of me. Could I trouble you to leave your name and room number? I'll be sure to visit and thank you properly tomorrow."
Arabella realized she had acted impulsively, saving a bookworm who couldn't even talk normally.
Before Arabella could respond, the young man looked regretful and said, "My apologies. I haven't introduced myself. My family name is Montclair, given name Julius. May I know your name, miss?"
"No need for names; just remember to come to presidential suite 1 on the top floor tomorrow."
Upon hearing "presidential suite," the young man hesitated, instinctively looking up, then immediately averted his gaze, exuding a saintly decorum.
"Thank you again for saving me, miss. I'll definitely come to thank you tomorrow."
"Shut up!" Arabella felt her head buzzing and dug a finger into her ear.
It was rare for her to save someone, and now she realized killing was much simpler than saving.
Without saying more, Arabella turned and left.
After she finished relaxing at the mountaintop and returned halfway down, the young man was nowhere in sight.
Arabella didn't care, thinking she'd just casually saved a stray cat or dog.
The next day, as the sun climbed high, Arabella had just opened a bottle of wine when a polite knock sounded at the door. After a few formal taps, a voice spoke, "Miss? Are you there? I'm Julius, here to personally thank you today."
Arabella was momentarily stunned, recalling the stray she'd saved the day before; she hadn't expected a stray to actually know gratitude.
Intrigued, Arabella opened the door, curious to see how he planned to repay her.
Would he offer money? Gifts? Or himself?
She had never believed that any man could truly be as pure as moonlight. The reality was that there were too many men thinking with their cock—those whose words were as holy as saints, yet their actions were utterly shameful.
Julius had indeed come with a gift, holding a large box in his arms. Arabella stepped aside to let him in, but he stood at the doorway, showing no intention of entering.
"No, I can't just walk into a lady's room. I spent the entire morning gathering these. I hope you'll accept them."
Arabella glanced at the box, which was scattered with various items still in packaging, making it hard to tell what was inside.
"Where do you live?" Arabella didn't take the box, raising her brow and asking with a smile.
Julius grinned, tilting his head to indicate, "Miss, when you mentioned it yesterday, I thought it was a coincidence—I live right next door."
A coincidence? Indeed, it was too coincidental, almost excessively so.
Arabella hooked a smile, one that held a hidden knife within it.
She gestured for Julius to set the box on the ground and then promptly shut the door.
Holding her breath and focusing intently, she examined the box as if under a spotlight, only to find that it was indeed just a box, with nothing dangerous inside.
Arabella shook her head and circled the box a few times before finally picking up a small bag on top with two fingers.
It felt soft and springy.
Curious, Arabella opened the package, revealing a pair of fluffy, pink cat-patterned slippers!
Disdainfully, she tossed the slippers aside and looked back at the box.
The second item felt thin. When she opened it, it turned out to be a women's bathrobe, with a tag describing it as "lightweight, waterproof, non-transparent, and slip-resistant."
Being alone, Arabella's expression started to change.
She gradually shed her feigned smile, staring darkly at the bathrobe in her hand, feeling that the other party was toying with her.
Since she had already started, Arabella decided to go all out.
She tore through the packaging as if dissecting it, and soon the contents of the box lay in pieces before her.
There was a bit of everything inside.
Mosquito repellent, moisturizer, sunscreen, a sun hat, sunglasses, a flashlight—he had even thought ahead and included a home remedy balm for muscle cramps, just in case.
From a single-person tent to nail clippers, it seemed Julius had practically emptied an outdoor supply store.
Arabella's dark, haunting gaze swept over the scattered debris, and she could feel the sparks of electricity coursing through her nerve endings, as though every fiber of her being was igniting with intensity.
She had saved an idiot.
With a scowl, Arabella stomped across the mess, opened the door, slammed it shut, and knocked on the neighboring room.
Seeing Arabella outside, Julius quickly opened the door, grinning, "Miss, did I prepare well enough? Do you like this gift?"
Upon seeing him, Arabella's mouth curved habitually, smiling with a seemingly carefree air. "I like it. I'll give you a return gift."
As she spoke, she deftly slipped past Julius and walked inside.
Julius was a bit stunned, unable to grasp how Arabella had suddenly entered.
There was no one else in the room. His luggage was neatly arranged, and a few books lay on the outer study desk, one open with a pen lying across it.
Arabella glanced into the bedroom, noting that the bed was clean and tidy, even with the blanket folded up, as if he treated it like his own room.
A well-educated, model young man.
Julius didn't dare close the door, standing obediently by the entrance with some hesitation.
"Why are you standing there? Come in," Arabella commanded as if she owned the place.
Julius quickly shook his head, "A man and a woman alone shouldn't share a room. It would ruin your reputation."
Hearing the word "reputation," Arabella was momentarily stunned, then chuckled wryly.
Did she even have any reputation left to ruin?
She pulled at her lips, giving a cold smile, and said bluntly, "Shut up! Close the door!"
Julius, surprised by the imposing presence of the seemingly gentle girl, let go of the door in fright, allowing it to slam shut with a bang.
