She had already put drinks and bottled water in the freezer earlier. Soon she’d have something ice-cold to drink.
After finishing her cigarette, she lay back on the bed reading, waiting for dinner.
Dinner was still sweet potato soup and stir-fried cucumbers. Zhang Weiping moved quickly and finished cooking in no time. He even served Lan Xingyu a bowl before calling her to eat.
Lan Xingyu lifted the bed curtain—and saw a man with eight-pack abs.
Was he planning to eat shirtless?
There was a saying: beauty is appetizing.
Let’s see if I can manage an extra bowl of sweet potato soup today.
While eating, Lan Xingyu’s gaze occasionally drifted toward Huo Nanting’s chest muscles.
Her appetite did seem a bit better.
When Huo Nanting looked up, he could see her rosy lips—beautifully shaped, opening and closing with a hint of temptation.
“Cough—cough…”
Someone choked on his own wandering thoughts.
“Educated Youth Huo, are you okay?”
Both Zhang Weiping and Lan Xingyu stared at him. He waved a hand.
“I’m fine.”
“Good.”
The three of them resumed eating. Zhang Weiping asked if Lan Xingyu was tired that afternoon. She said she was fine, and the two chatted idly.
Huo Nanting didn’t join the conversation. He quickly finished eating and headed out—to the mountain to collect wild rabbits and reset his traps.
As soon as he reached the mountain, he leaned behind a large rock, pulled down his zipper, revealing pink—
Eyes closed, chin slightly raised, he breathed heavily. The young master’s figure flashed into his mind. A low groan escaped his throat, pleasure washing through him.
“Damn it.”
He cursed under his breath. The image in his mind had actually been him holding the young master and kissing him.
His expression turned cold, low pressure radiating off him.
He had never fantasized about anyone before. And the first time… it was a man.
Unbelievable.
He had never liked women—did that mean he liked men?
Was he really that perverse?
This kind of thought absolutely could not be discovered. He’d be dragged off and drowned in a pig cage!
Pulling up his pants, he went to check the traps.
His luck today was incredible—he’d actually caught two rabbits.
After resetting the snares, he carried the rabbits down the mountain, feeling refreshed all over.
The earlier sensation lingered faintly in his mind.
In his imagination, the young master’s lips had been unbelievably soft… and sweet.
A wicked smile curved his lips.
My little young master… truly interesting.
Soon, however, his thin lips pressed back into a straight line.
He felt ashamed of himself.
When he entered the room, he glanced at the young master’s bed. Hearing the sound of pages turning, he paused and looked at the tightly drawn mosquito net.
“Educated Youth Lan, I caught two wild rabbits. Do you want some rabbit meat? We can kill one to eat—one yuan per person.”
“I want some.”
Before Lan Xingyu could speak, Zhang Weiping—legs crossed—answered first.
Lan Xingyu set down her book and lifted the bed curtain to take a look. She had never eaten wild game before. The sweet potatoes of this era were already so fragrant—wild rabbit must be even better.
“Okay.”
After speaking, she let the curtain fall.
From his vantage point, Huo Nanting caught a glimpse of the snowy skin below her neck—smooth and delicate-looking. His gaze darkened.
He tossed the fatter rabbit onto the ground and carried the other one out. Most of the rabbits he caught were sold to the educated youths. The neighboring dorm had already placed an order—delivering it would earn him four yuan.
After washing up, he returned and leaned against the headboard, smoking, his thoughts in disarray.
Some things should never start.
Once they did, they grew wildly like creeping vines.
Zhang Weiping pulled out a bit over two yuan and, with some reluctance, peeled off one yuan. He really wanted meat. Besides, he could still earn money by serving the young master—might as well splurge once.
He immediately handed over the money.
Lan Xingyu also passed over one yuan. Zhang Weiping collected it and gave it to Huo Nanting.
“Lights out. Sleep.”
Zhang Weiping looked toward Lan Xingyu’s side. “Educated Youth Lan, I’m turning off the lights?”
“Go ahead.”
Lan Xingyu set down her book and lay down to sleep.
The moment the lights went out, a woman’s scream came from next door.
Zhang Weiping hurried to turn the lights back on and ran outside.
In the courtyard, Zhao Jiani’s door was open. He went to the doorway and saw what had happened—
Zhao Jiani had carried a basin of water in to wash her feet, but her foot slipped, and the entire basin splashed onto Jiang Wanwan’s bed—drenching Jiang Wanwan like a soaked chicken.
He knew Zhao Jiani had done it on purpose. The two of them talked about everything, and he also knew Zhao Jiani had been bought off by Tang Zhirou. She had even repaid the old lady’s two yuan.
“Ah—Zhao Jiani, you did that on purpose!”
Jiang Wanwan was soaked through, water dripping from her hair. Her clothes clung to her body in a miserable state.
“I didn’t mean to. Sorry.”
Zhao Jiani apologized, but the corner of her lips curled in a triumphant smile.
Two yuan earned.
Tang Zhirou lay on her bed with a cold laugh.
This is only the beginning, my dear cousin. There’s plenty more suffering waiting for you.
Seeing a male comrade arrive, Jiang Wanwan hurriedly wrapped herself in a bedsheet and shut the door to change. She didn’t continue scolding.
But she was already planning revenge.
So after everyone went to sleep, she filled a basin of water and splashed it onto Zhao Jiani.
Zhao Jiani woke with a scream, flipped on the light, and charged at Jiang Wanwan, who had just returned to her bedside. She pinned her down and started hitting—pounding especially at her chest.
Tang Zhirou lay on her side watching the show, even saying leisurely, “Cousin, can you win? Want me to help?”
“Bitch! Don’t think I don’t know you bought off Zhao Jiani!”
Jiang Wanwan no longer bothered pretending to be good sisters. Tomorrow she would change dorms—she refused to live with them any longer.
Tang Zhirou chuckled lightly. “Cousin, you really don’t appreciate good intentions.”
Jiang Wanwan had no time to deal with her. Zhao Jiani fought viciously—she was struggling desperately.
Wuwu… my chest hurts so much.
The miserable cries woke the entire educated youth courtyard. Everyone gathered at the door listening.
Someone shouted, “Stop fighting! If you keep this up, you’ll be punished tomorrow!”
Only then did Zhao Jiani stop. She hurried to change into another dress, opened the door, and cried,
“Look! I was sleeping peacefully, and she splashed water on me!”
Lan Xingyu wanted to make an example so that no one would be punished the next day.
Everyone looked at Jiang Wanwan’s bed—it was completely soaked.
Zhang Weiping said, “Educated Youth Jiang, Zhao Jiani didn’t splash water on you intentionally, but you held a grudge and splashed her on purpose. That’s really poor character.”
Jiang Wanwan clutched her chest and shouted angrily, “So what if I did it on purpose? You’re in cahoots with her, of course you’ll defend her!”
Zhang Weiping looked at everyone and said, “Let’s have witnesses: she admits to intentionally splashing water on Zhao Jiani!”
No one said a word.
They just watched.
Xiao Heng silently cursed. Such a foolish person still wanted to marry him—unworthy! Then he glanced at Tang Zhirou on the bed—this was the person he truly wanted to marry.
“I’m going to report you tomorrow for bullying!” Jiang Wanwan wailed, crying pitifully. Xiao Heng didn’t defend her at all. The two had clearly liked each other before, but when Tang Zhirou broke off the engagement, he immediately distanced himself.
Zhao Jiani glared and said viciously, “I’m reporting you too! I only brought one set of sheets—how do you expect me to sleep tonight?”
“Wuwuwu…”
Jiang Wanwan cried inconsolably.
The commotion continued. Lan Xingyu and Huo Nanting pricked up their ears, listening, but didn’t join in. They couldn’t sleep, so they got up to smoke, moving in perfect sync.
Lan Xingyu kept her head down, smoking, avoiding looking at the man across from her.
Huo Nanting, however, kept his gaze fixed on her. Through the drifting smoke, his sharp, angular face appeared—cold and untouchable, like a deity.
Lan Xingyu looked up, accidentally meeting his eyes. Instantly, their gazes locked. She saw unfathomable depths in his eyes, emotions she couldn’t read.
After a long moment, Lan Xingyu snapped back to reality, annoyed, and tossed her cigarette aside, lying back down. She had just fallen into his bottomless eyes.
Damn it.
She had seen plenty of men in her life, so why had a single glance from him drawn her in?
After thinking for a while, she realized the key—she might be trapped in the story’s plot, which made her naturally feel attracted to Huo Nanting.
That must be it!
Let it flow naturally—at worst, she could just use a quick escape!