Qin Lie had originally gone into the county to buy medicine, but halfway there, someone stopped him.
The man greeted him with an eager smile. “You must be Master Qin, right?”
Qin Lie said nothing, but the look on his face was enough of an answer.
The man chuckled. “What a coincidence. I was just about to head to Qinghe Town to find you. Never thought we’d run into each other here.”
Before coming, he had asked around. People said Qin Lie stood over nine feet tall, looked as fierce as a demon, and had a terrifying scar running across the right side of his face like a giant centipede. The imposing man before him matched the description perfectly.
“What do you want with me?” Qin Lie asked after a moment. He was certain he’d never met this man before.
“Master Wang Meng asked me to purchase a shop for you in the county. It comes with a residence in the back, so you can move in anytime.”
As he spoke, he handed over the property deed.
“Master Wang also told me to pass along a message. Women like men with wealth and stability. You may be able to put up with anything, but the young lady probably won’t be comfortable living where you are now.”
Even ordinary villagers built a couple of decent rooms before taking a wife. This man certainly didn’t look poor, so how could he be so clueless when it came to women?
…
When Qin Lie returned, he didn’t go inside immediately. Instead, he stood outside and silently examined the shabby little house.
He had never cared much about where he lived. Sleeping on the ground was nothing to him.
But he’d overlooked one important thing.
The young girl.
The two thatched huts looked as though a strong gust of wind could flatten them. They kept out neither the winter wind nor the summer rain. The rooms were cramped beyond reason, hardly fit for anyone to live in.
And once they became husband and wife, living in such a run-down house would only invite curious eyes and idle gossip.
His gaze lowered as he touched the property deed tucked inside his robes before pushing open the door.
Arui had been sitting in the main room, waiting for him to return.
But Qin Lie had been gone much longer this time, and she had unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
Only when a large hand gently enclosed hers did she slowly wake.
The blisters on her reddened palms had already formed. Before applying medicine, they had to be lanced first.
Qin Lie had suffered life-threatening wounds on the battlefield before. Half his shoulder had nearly been hacked off.
Yet the moment he saw the injuries on her delicate hands, his breathing still caught.
“…Brother Lie.”
Arui looked down groggily at the man kneeling beside her.
He cradled her hand in his palm, his rough fingertips resting lightly against the blisters.
Seeing that she was awake, he simply said, “It’ll hurt a little. Bear with it.”
She nodded.
Even though she’d prepared herself, tears still welled up the instant the needle pierced the blister.
The cloudy fluid seeped out, and Qin Lie immediately sprinkled medicinal powder over the wound.
He had bought the finest trauma medicine available. It stopped bleeding quickly and left almost no scars.
Naturally, it also stung far more than ordinary medicine.
Arui bit down hard on her lower lip until it almost bled.
The darkness in Qin Lie’s eyes deepened.
His thumb pressed gently against her lips, easing them apart.
“If it hurts…”
His voice was low.
“Bite me instead.”
His body had weathered countless injuries. Pain meant little to him.
But how could Arui possibly bring herself to bite him?
“N-No… it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
As she spoke, her lips parted slightly.
The tip of her tongue accidentally brushed against his fingertip.
The soft, warm touch lingered for only an instant, yet it sent an unfamiliar sensation racing through him.
His thumb unconsciously rubbed over her lower lip.
A subtle tension quietly spread through the cold, shabby room.
Suddenly, Arui felt strangely weak, as though she had fallen ill.
Her injured palms throbbed with an unbearable itch.
Holding both hands up helplessly, she could only watch as the man leaned closer.
Qin Lie’s thumb lingered on her lips before he stopped just short of her nose.
“For the next two days, don’t let the wounds touch water. If there’s anything you can’t manage yourself, call for me.”
“O-Okay.”
He stood and walked away.
Arui finally let out the breath she’d been unconsciously holding.
Yet…
A faint disappointment crept into her heart.
What had she been expecting just now?
Had she…
Been hoping he would kiss her?
But Qin Lie was her late husband’s elder brother.
How could she think such thoughts?
The color drained from her face.
Outside in the courtyard, Qin Lie drank an entire ladle of cold water before finally suppressing the heat burning inside him.
Looking back at the dimly lit house, his gaze grew even darker.
The little girl wasn’t completely indifferent to him.
But that alone wasn’t enough.
Bound by society’s rules and family ethics, she would never accept him unless someone gave fate a little push.
He clicked his tongue softly and glanced toward the outer wall.
Lihua was hiding behind it, her heart pounding wildly.
She had followed Qin Lie all the way home.
Originally, she’d intended to greet him, but his long strides had carried him inside before she had the chance.
Grinding her teeth, she hurried after him.
Before reaching the main room, however, she heard a woman’s soft sobs, followed by the man’s gentle voice soothing her.
She froze.
Drawn by curiosity, she quietly edged closer.
Inside the room, Qin Lie was kneeling on one knee.
One arm wrapped around Arui while the other lifted her chin.
From Lihua’s angle, the two of them appeared pressed tightly together, as though they were kissing.
She wanted to move closer for a better look.
But seeing Qin Lie begin to stand, she hurriedly ran away.
Her heart pounded so violently it felt ready to burst from her chest.
After the initial shock came overwhelming rage.
She knew it.
There was definitely something improper between those two!
Qin Lie had always treated her with cold indifference, barely willing to spare her a single word.
Yet with Arui, he spoke gently and patiently comforted her.
Jealousy and resentment twisted together inside her.
She envied Arui for stealing the man she wanted.
She hated Qin Lie for rejecting her so mercilessly.
Originally, she’d planned to have her father propose the marriage on her behalf.
But after seeing this with her own eyes, she knew Qin Lie would never agree.
If he had already fallen for his younger brother’s widow, why would he ever look at her?
Her eyes practically blazed with fury.
If the proper approach wouldn’t work…
Then she wouldn’t hesitate to resort to other means.
Qin Lie might be immune to persuasion or intimidation, but he was still a man.
Lihua knew of a certain drug, powerful enough to overwhelm even the strongest man alive.
If he lost control and someone caught them together…
How could he refuse to marry her then?
A sinister smile spread across her face.
Casting one last glance toward the broken house, she swayed away confidently.
No matter how young or beautiful Arui was…
Sooner or later, Qin Lie would belong to her.
Once she disappeared from sight, Qin Lie withdrew his gaze.
Lihua believed the front door had simply been left open by accident.
What she didn’t know was that Qin Lie had already noticed someone following him from the village entrance.
The woman harbored ill intentions, and she was foolish enough to act on them.
If she discovered the truth about him and Arui, she would certainly try to stir up trouble.
Lowering his head, Qin Lie’s lips curved into a cold, bloodthirsty smile.
He was counting on it.
…
Arui’s hands were wrapped in thick bandages, making even the simplest tasks difficult.
Qin Lie prepared dinner that evening.
She slowly spooned a bowl of rice porridge into her mouth with great effort.
Fortunately, they were eating three meals a day now.
Even if she ate a little less, she wouldn’t go hungry.
Eating slowly wasn’t a problem.
Sleeping fully clothed wasn’t a problem either.
But there was one thing she simply couldn’t endure forever.
Qin Lie was lying in the main room when he heard faint rustling and soft whimpers coming from inside.
At first, he thought he’d imagined it.
Only after the little girl could no longer bear it did she call out to him in an embarrassed whisper.
“Brother Lie…”
Arui sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed, her legs pressed tightly together.
When Qin Lie entered in the darkness, he immediately noticed the pained expression on her flushed face.
His heart tightened.
He strode over at once.
“What’s wrong? Did your hands start hurting again?”
She hurriedly shook her head.
Her face was so red it looked as though it could cook an egg.
Biting her lip, she spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum.
“Brother Lie… could you… take me to the latrine?”
The heavy autumn clothes were difficult enough to manage with both hands.
Now that her hands were tightly wrapped in bandages, she couldn’t even untie her waistband.
She was already reaching her limit.
Qin Lie clearly hadn’t expected that to be the reason she’d called him.
After a brief pause, he nodded and gently lifted her into his arms.
The latrine stood outside the main house.
It happened to be the fifteenth night of the lunar month, and a full moon hung high in the sky.
Holding Arui securely in his arms, Qin Lie slowly loosened the waistband of her trousers while she buried her face in embarrassment.