Deng Minghao aimed and released, the stone flew and struck the wild chicken squarely on its rear, eliciting a piercing, miserable squawk.
Contrary to his imagined instant death, the chicken didn’t fall flat—it continued hopping and squawking, clearly in pain from the hit.
Just as Deng Minghao was about to launch a second stone, another stone came flying from somewhere and hit the chicken on the neck, and this time it collapsed motionless.
“Who’s there?” Deng Minghao asked in surprise, lowering his slingshot. There was another person in this area.
Qin Wan suddenly pointed in a direction. “The person is over there.”
Although her wood-based ability was still weak, she could sense the presence of people quite keenly in this mountain full of vegetation.
As soon as Qin Wan spoke, someone stepped out from behind a tree. He was dressed in black, with a buzz cut, very tall, and bore a scar above one eyebrow.
Li Ruolan didn’t know this person, but upon seeing the scar, she immediately recognized him.
Lu Yunxiao—the affectionate second male lead who had quietly loved Qin Wan all along.
Although Lu Yunxiao was a second male lead, many had called for him to be the main male lead. Compared to the original male lead, Xu Tao, he was much more suited for Qin Wan.
Li Ruolan had secretly rooted for them when reading the novel, but in the end, Qin Wan chose Xu Tao, and the second male lead quietly exited the story.
In reality, Lu Yunxiao had willingly stepped aside. If he hadn’t, Xu Tao might not have ended up with the heroine.
The reason was simple.
Lu Yunxiao limped out from behind the tree, lifting the now-dead chicken and walking slowly toward them.
Lu Yunxiao was disabled; he had been a soldier, but his leg was injured in battle, forcing him to retire.
His family situation was also complicated, which is why, despite loving Qin Wan, he ultimately let her go—he felt he couldn’t give her happiness.
Eventually, Qin Wan healed Lu Yunxiao’s leg, but by that time it was too late—Qin Wan had already married Xu Tao and was about to become a mother.
The novel depicted Lu Yunxiao’s final scene as a forlorn figure disappearing into the falling snow.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you earlier. You discovered this chicken first, so it’s yours,” Lu Yunxiao said, then turned to leave.
Li Ruolan suddenly called out to him. “Wait, although we found it first, you killed it. How about we split it? I could also use your knife. We’re all members of the Shengli Brigade and didn’t bring knives.”
Deng Minghao actually had a dagger, but Li Ruolan wanted to keep Lu Yunxiao around for her ship, so she spoke up.
Lu Yunxiao paused, glanced at Deng Minghao, who nodded in silent agreement, unsure of Li Ruolan’s intentions.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Yunxiao took out a military knife and began processing the chicken.
Li Ruolan took Deng Minghao’s hand. “We’ll go gather some firewood. Qin Wan, you can skewer the mushrooms so we can grill them along with the chicken.”
Qin Wan had been watching Lu Yunxiao the entire time; it was only when Li Ruolan spoke that she responded.
Once Li Ruolan and Deng Minghao had walked some distance, Deng Minghao asked, “What are you doing? Trying to ship them?”
“Yes. If not for Xu Tao, they’d be together. I’m just helping bridge the gap. Whether it works out is up to them. But I could tell Qin Wan is genuinely attracted to Lu Yunxiao’s face. The novel even mentioned she liked rugged, masculine soldiers.”
Deng Minghao reached out and pinched Li Ruolan’s cheek. She looked at him innocently. “What are you doing?”
“Then what about you? Do you like me, or the handsome soldier? Your eyes lit up when you saw him,” Deng Minghao said, his tone a bit sharp.
This wasn’t Li Ruolan’s fault—Lu Yunxiao was muscular, even with one leg disabled, and his exposed skin showed bulging veins, radiating masculine energy. Such a person could attract both women and, occasionally, men.
“Of course it’s you. You’re my favorite,” Li Ruolan said sincerely. Deng Minghao just gave a half-smile but let go and even rubbed her cheek.
“No matter where your eyes wander, our marriage certificate exists. In this life and the next, you’re stuck with me. Don’t even think about finding another man.”
“I won’t. I’m only looking for you,” Li Ruolan said firmly, her gaze unwavering.
Deng Minghao looked at her with a sideways glance, amused.
Li Ruolan kicked him lightly. “Enough, take a hint. Are you satisfied now?”
Deng Minghao returned to normal, and Li Ruolan could only sigh at his antics.
They gathered some dry firewood buried under leaves, and Li Ruolan found plenty of mushrooms. On their way back, they came across another wild chicken.
This time Deng Minghao didn’t miss—a single stone pierced its eye, killing it instantly.
“Extra meal!” Deng Minghao laughed and carried the chicken back with Li Ruolan.
Lu Yunxiao had already processed the first chicken and was now skinning a rabbit, while Qin Wan sat beside him, on clean leaves with skewered mushrooms at her feet, watching him intently.
Lu Yunxiao remained expressionless, but his ears were flushed.
“Where did the rabbit come from?” Li Ruolan asked excitedly. She loved spicy rabbit heads. Unfortunately, this one could only be grilled.
Qin Wan replied, “Brother Lu set a trap and caught it himself. He said one chicken wouldn’t be enough, so he brought the rabbit as well.”
Li Ruolan raised an eyebrow at Qin Wan, smiling teasingly. Already, she was calling him “Brother Lu” so soon. Perhaps her shipping instincts would one day make the fictional couple real.
Qin Wan seemed to notice Li Ruolan’s teasing but smiled openly instead of blushing.