Lu Shiyan stared at the chair for a while without saying anything.
Su Wanqing stood up and dusted off her pants.
“Alright, work’s over. Did you take care of the things I asked you to do?”
“How could this humble servant dare disobey your orders?”
As he spoke, Lu Shiyan pulled two pencils and an eraser from his pocket and handed them to her.
Su Wanqing took them and inspected them.
“What about the food?”
“I’ll bring it tonight.” Lu Shiyan looked at her. “The usual place. Come get it yourself.”
Su Wanqing glared at him.
“You want me to go to the cowshed?”
“Not the cowshed,” Lu Shiyan said. “The same haystack as yesterday.”
Su Wanqing remembered what had happened there yesterday. Her legs unconsciously pressed together, and her face grew warm.
“I’m not going!”
Lu Shiyan looked at her, the corner of his mouth lifting.
“Then forget it. I’ll eat the food myself.”
Su Wanqing bit her lip and muttered softly,
“Hooligan.”
There was food in her space, but it was all basic supplies. Eating biscuits and canned food all the time got boring.
Lu Shiyan moved around the Black Market. Whatever he brought was bound to be good stuff.
After thinking about it, she asked,
“What time?”
A smile appeared in Lu Shiyan’s eyes.
“After dark.”
Su Wanqing glared at him.
“Got it.”
The way she looked at him made Lu Shiyan’s thoughts wander. Suddenly, he took a step forward and leaned close to her ear again.
Startled, Su Wanqing hurriedly stepped back and glanced around. Fortunately, everyone had already gone home for dinner and there was hardly anyone around.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
Lowering his voice, Lu Shiyan said,
“If you need something in the future, order me around. Don’t call Erhu anymore. It’s annoying to hear.”
Su Wanqing froze for a moment. Before she could react, Lu Shiyan had already straightened up and walked away.
She stood there watching his retreating figure.
Only after a long moment did she come back to her senses.
“What’s wrong with him?” she muttered. “What did Erhu ever do to you?”
After packing up her things, she headed back.
Halfway there, she ran into the same girls from earlier that afternoon.
This time they had learned their lesson. Knowing they were no match for Su Wanqing, they immediately took a detour and stayed far away when they saw her.
Seeing their reaction, Su Wanqing could not help giggling.
After dark, she used going to the bathroom as an excuse and quietly slipped out of the Zhiqing (Educated Youth) point.
The moon had not risen yet. Everything was pitch black, and the cicadas chirped endlessly.
Following the familiar path, she made her way to the haystacks at the edge of the Village, specifically the innermost one where she had been the previous night.
Lu Shiyan was already there, leaning against the haystack and seemingly lost in thought.
Hearing footsteps, he turned his head.
Su Wanqing walked over.
“Where’s the food?”
Lu Shiyan picked up a cloth bundle from beside him and handed it to her.
The moment she opened it, a rich aroma drifted out.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
Inside were two large white flour buns, half a glossy braised chicken, and a packet of imported candy.
“So much?” she asked in delight.
Lu Shiyan did not answer.
He simply looked at her.
Under the moonlight, her face seemed to glow. Her eyes sparkled, and the corners of her lips were curved upward.
She was so beautiful that he could not look away.
“What are you staring at?” Su Wanqing asked as she tucked away the bundle and glared at him.
Suddenly, Lu Shiyan reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Su Wanqing jumped.
“What are you doing?”
Lowering his head, Lu Shiyan buried his face against her neck and said in a muffled voice,
“Don’t move. Let me hold you for a while.”
Su Wanqing struggled briefly but could not break free.
There was a faint scent of sweat on him mixed with the smell of soapberry. Surprisingly, it was not unpleasant.
“It’s so hot,” she complained.
Lu Shiyan said nothing and only held her a little tighter.
After a long while, he finally spoke.
“Don’t pay attention to Erhu anymore.”
Su Wanqing froze, then burst out laughing.
“You’re jealous?”
Lu Shiyan remained silent.
Laughing so hard that she shook, Su Wanqing said,
“Lu Shiyan, how old are you? And you’re still jealous over something like this?”
Lu Shiyan raised his head and looked at her smiling face.
The atmosphere between them lingered for a long time.
Eventually, Lu Shiyan let her go.
Su Wanqing collapsed onto the hay, breathing heavily as she tried to catch her breath.
Lu Shiyan leaned over her and looked down at her, unable to understand how someone could be so beautiful.
Under the moonlight, her face was flushed red, her eyes glistening, and her lips slightly swollen.
No matter how much he looked at her, it never seemed enough.
He sighed softly and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Only then did Su Wanqing come back to her senses.
She pushed at him.
“Move. You’re too heavy.”
Lu Shiyan did not move immediately and lightly kissed the tip of her nose.
“Did you hear me? Move.”
Only then did Lu Shiyan prop himself up and sit beside her, leaning against the haystack.
He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, placed it between his lips, struck a match, and lit it.
For an instant, the flame illuminated his face.
Sweat trickled from his temples down his cheeks, but his eyes shone brightly in the darkness.
He took a drag, and smoke drifted into the air.
Su Wanqing sat up and straightened her clothes.
Then she gathered her loosened hair and redid it.
Halfway through, she glared at him.
“You’re way too strong. You hurt me. I’m sure there are bruises all over.”
Lu Shiyan exhaled smoke and looked down at her.
Thinking he did not believe her, Su Wanqing held up her arm.
In the moonlight, several red marks could indeed be seen on her pale wrist.
“And my waist too,” she said. “It’s probably bruised.”
Lu Shiyan glanced over, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.
Taking another drag from his cigarette, he answered in a slightly hoarse voice,
“Mm.”
“‘Mm’ what?” Su Wanqing glared at him. “I’m talking to you. You’re too rough. It hurt.”
Looking at her, Lu Shiyan tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“You’re delicate.”
“Who’s delicate?” Su Wanqing protested. “Lu Shiyan, you’re obviously just too strong.”
Lu Shiyan did not reply.
There was a faint smile in his eyes.
“Alright, alright. I’ll be gentler next time.”
The way he looked at her made her face heat up again.
She turned away and continued fixing her hair.
Once she was done, she brushed the bits of hay off herself and retrieved the cloth bundle.
The braised chicken was still intact, and the buns had not gotten dirty.
Relieved, she hugged the bundle to her chest.
“Alright, I’m heading back.”
Just as she stood up, her legs suddenly gave way beneath her, and she nearly fell flat on her face.
Lu Shiyan reacted quickly, catching her and pulling her back into his arms.
Landing against his chest, Su Wanqing became more annoyed the more she thought about it. She reached out and pinched his waist hard.
“It’s all your fault.”
“Alright, alright. My fault.”
Lu Shiyan coaxed her absentmindedly. With the cigarette still between his lips, he freed one hand and brushed the hay from her back.
Su Wanqing froze for a moment and did not move.