He patted her very gently, one stroke after another, brushing all the bits of hay from her clothes.
Even after he finished, he still did not let go and continued holding her.
Leaning against his chest, Su Wanqing could smell the scent of tobacco and sweat on him. Suddenly, she felt a little uncomfortable.
“Alright, alright.” She pushed at him. “I need to go back. It won’t look good if someone sees us.”
Only then did Lu Shiyan release her.
Su Wanqing stood up with the cloth bundle in her arms and looked down at him.
He leaned against the haystack with a cigarette between his lips. Moonlight spilled across his face, highlighting his sharp features and well defined frame. The longer Su Wanqing looked, the more captivated she became.
Just then, barking suddenly erupted in the distance.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
The barking was fierce and urgent, without pause.
Su Wanqing’s footsteps halted.
Her heart dropped.
Immediately afterward, she heard voices.
“Hurry up! Hurry up! They’re up ahead!”
“Bring the flashlight! Don’t trip!”
“I saw them with my own eyes! A man and a woman came this way!”
Su Wanqing froze completely.
She knew that voice all too well.
It was Zhang Hongying.
Living in the same room every day, Zhang Hongying’s sarcastic remarks usually arrived before breakfast. No matter what Su Wanqing did, Zhang Hongying always had something snide to say.
Noticing her stiffness, Lu Shiyan lowered his head and looked at her.
Su Wanqing’s face had gone deathly pale. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her fingers gripping the cloth bundle had turned white.
“You know her?” he asked quietly.
Su Wanqing nodded.
Her throat tightened, and after a long moment, she managed to squeeze out three words.
“It’s Zhang Hongying.”
The voices drew closer and closer. Flashlight beams swept back and forth across the haystacks, and the dogs barked more fiercely with every passing second.
“Hurry! They’re definitely in this area of haystacks! I saw them with my own eyes, a man and a woman sneaking over here!”
Zhang Hongying’s voice was sharp and shrill, overflowing with excitement she could barely contain.
“Are you sure you saw clearly?” This time it was the Team Leader speaking.
“I’m sure! Team Leader, I’ve been watching all night!” Zhang Hongying eagerly claimed credit. “That little tramp Su Wanqing slipped out right after dark. I knew something was wrong, so I secretly followed her. I watched her come to these haystacks with a man!”
“A man? Which man?”
“It was too dark to see his face, but he’s definitely a man! That build couldn’t possibly belong to a woman!”
Listening to her words, Su Wanqing’s heart pounded like a drum.
Only then did she remember.
When she had left earlier, Zhang Hongying had indeed been in the room. She had been lying on her bed facing the wall, and Su Wanqing had assumed she was asleep.
So she had only been pretending.
Thinking about everything that had happened between her and Lu Shiyan at the haystack moments ago…
Su Wanqing’s face immediately burned red.
Both angry and embarrassed, she reached out and pinched Lu Shiyan hard to vent her frustration.
Lu Shiyan quickly caught her hand and squeezed it firmly, signaling her not to panic.
Su Wanqing looked up at him.
Under the moonlight, his face was unbelievably handsome.
“Don’t be afraid.”
He only said two words, but his voice was steady.
For some reason, Su Wanqing immediately calmed down.
That was right.
What was there to fear?
Neither of them was married. They were simply dating properly. It was not against the law.
“Search every corner! They must be here somewhere!”
“Check behind all the haystacks! Don’t miss anything!”
“You lot go that way! The rest follow me!”
Flashlight beams swept between the stacks of hay.
A few beams had already passed near the gap where they were hiding, making Su Wanqing hold her breath.
Suddenly, Lu Shiyan released her hand.
He bent down, gathered the scattered hay into a pile, then stuffed the cloth bundle from her arms underneath it.
Afterward, he straightened up and pulled her farther into the gap.
The space was narrow, with towering haystacks on both sides. The deepest part was a dead end.
Lu Shiyan pushed her into the corner and positioned himself in front of her, shielding her from view.
Hidden behind him, Su Wanqing could only see his back.
His undershirt was soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his body, clearly outlining his shoulder blades.
Watching him act as though facing a great enemy, she suddenly found it amusing.
With a mischievous smile, she reached out and poked his waist.
Lu Shiyan stiffened and turned back to look at her, confusion in his eyes.
Standing on tiptoe, Su Wanqing leaned close to his ear and whispered,
“What are you hiding for?”
Lu Shiyan froze.
At a time like this, this little temptress still had the mood to joke around?
Smiling, Su Wanqing poked him again.
“It’s not like we’re doing anything shameful. Why are you hiding?”
Lu Shiyan frowned at her, unable to figure out what she was planning.
Outside, the footsteps drew closer.
The flashlight beam danced at the entrance of the gap and looked ready to shine inside at any moment.
But Su Wanqing stepped out from behind him.
She brushed the hay from her clothes and straightened her loose hair.
“Let’s go.”
She said it decisively.
Lu Shiyan grabbed her immediately.
“What are you doing?”
Turning back, Su Wanqing smiled boldly beneath the moonlight.
“Going out. We’re both unmarried and dating properly. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Dating?
He had brought it up countless times before, and this little temptress had always refused.
Had the sun risen in the west today?
Lu Shiyan stared at her, shock and delight flashing through his eyes.
Before he could react, Su Wanqing grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward.
Without waiting for a response, she dragged him straight ahead.
“Su Wanqing!” Lu Shiyan called out in a lowered voice.
She did not look back.
Nor did she slow down.
The two of them emerged from the gap just as a flashlight beam landed on them.
Several beams immediately converged on them, so bright that it hurt to open their eyes.
“There they are!”
“They came out!”
“Catch them! Don’t let them run!”
The crowd surged forward.
Flashlights swung everywhere, making people’s eyes ache.
Zhang Hongying pushed her way to the front and shone her flashlight directly onto Su Wanqing’s face.
Su Wanqing’s hair was loose, her cheeks were flushed, and her lips looked slightly swollen.
Anyone with eyes could tell what kind of intimate moments they had been sharing earlier.
“It’s her! It’s her!”
Zhang Hongying shrieked.
Her voice was so sharp and loud that it seemed she wanted the entire Village to hear.
“Su Wanqing is fooling around with a man! I caught her red handed! Everyone come and look!”
As she shouted, she rushed forward and reached for Su Wanqing’s collar.
Su Wanqing tried to dodge.
She moved aside but not quickly enough.
Zhang Hongying caught her sleeve.
Grabbing hold of her, Zhang Hongying dragged her toward the crowd.
“Come on! Let’s go see the Team Leader! Let everyone see what a shameless hussy you are! Dressing up all day just to seduce men! Now I’ve finally caught you!”
The force of the pull made Su Wanqing stumble and nearly fall.
Lu Shiyan’s expression darkened.
Taking a step forward, he was about to pull Zhang Hongying away.
But Su Wanqing quickly patted his arm reassuringly, signaling that she could handle it herself.