After eating an entire fragrant roast chicken, Ye Qisheng was thoroughly stuffed.
Rubbing her belly, which had finally filled out, she covered her mouth and let out a satisfied burp. Suddenly, her life, which had been a complete mess, felt full of hope once more.
Having just acquired his new name, Raphael naturally washed the pot and bowls, then quietly wiped down the stove area. He didn’t say a single word throughout the entire process, working as diligently and tirelessly as a little bee.
Having eaten and drunk her fill, Ye Qisheng felt a bit embarrassed. She quickly called out to him, “Raphael, stop bustling about and sit down to take a rest.”
This little angel brother was simply too wonderful. The soup and roast chicken he had worked so hard to make—he hadn’t taken a single bite himself, letting all of it go into her belly, allowing her to enjoy this delicious, grand feast completely on her own for free.
To top it off, he actively helped her tidy up the kitchen afterwards, working both quickly and thoroughly. The ladles, basins, bowls, and dishes that had been casually scattered on the ground were neatly arranged by him on a makeshift wooden shelf. The remaining two bundles of firewood were neatly stacked against the wall, with every single log meticulously aligned to satisfy his inner obsessive-compulsive tendency. He had even swept the dirt floor again and fixed the window shutter that had been teetering on the verge of falling off.
Truth be told, after his thorough cleanup, the originally cramped and dilapidated kitchen looked far cleaner and neater, even gaining a touch of rustic warmth.
Not bad, not bad at all—this was a treasure boy whose life skills were maxed out!
The more Ye Qisheng looked at him, the more pleased she felt, and a bold idea naturally sprang to mind.
When Raphael finally finished his chores and sat down on the other stone stool, she took the initiative to ask, “Raphael, is the cave you’re living in right now far from my place?”
Raphael shook his head and said softly, “Not really. It takes less than fifteen minutes to get there.”
Ye Qisheng uttered an “oh,” rolled her eyes in thought, and asked again, “I heard Physician Xu say before that there are many poisonous snakes and insects in the mountains. Aren’t you afraid of them crawling into the cave where you live?”
“No,” Raphael replied, still shaking his head as he answered honestly, “Physician Xu taught me some knowledge about medicinal herbs. I planted quite a few insect-repelling herbs around the entrance of the cave, so normal insects and snakes don’t enter. It’s just rather damp—especially when the southern winds blow, the inside turns practically into a Water-Curtain Cave. It is indeed not very comfortable to live in.
Besides, insect repellents can’t ward off wild beasts. Occasionally, fierce animals like bears and tigers come to visit, and those times are a bit more troublesome, as I have to compete with them for territory.”
Ye Qisheng had expected his living conditions in the mountains might not be great, but she had never imagined they were this perilous. She shuddered violently, hardly daring to imagine the scene he had just described.
This was way too terrifying!
How difficult it must have been for him to live alone in the mountains for over a year! If it had been her—a useless rich second-generation—she wouldn’t even know how many times she would have died already!
Thank goodness Physician Xu had the heart of a Bodhisattva to save her and bring her back to Liuye Village; otherwise, she certainly didn’t possess survival skills as strong as Raphael’s.
Amid her swirling thoughts, she couldn’t help casting a glance outside at the wooden fence gate that was creaking precariously in the wind, feeling increasingly uneasy inside.
The only vacant houses available in the village were the few here at the end of the village. She had picked one that looked decent to settle into, originally thinking that as long as she had a shelter to lay her head without having to read people’s sour faces, it would be enough. But the words Raphael had just spoken made it impossible for her not to care.
The cave Raphael lived in wasn’t far from her place. Rounding it off, that meant those fierce beasts like bears and tigers weren’t far from her either! What if one day those fierce beasts came to fight her for territory too? What would she do then?
She had heard people say before that when wild beasts couldn’t find food in the mountains, they would sometimes come down to attack villages. Her house was located right on the edge of the village, requiring several turns just to reach the nearest neighbor. If a wild beast came down to forage for food, she would definitely be the very first target!
Noticing that her complexion had turned somewhat pale, Raphael showed a look of confusion and asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Did you eat too much too quickly and make your stomach uncomfortable?”
Eating too much could easily cause indigestion. Earlier, he had gently advised Ye Qisheng, telling her that eating half the chicken was enough, and she could save the other half for later when she got hungry.
But how could Ye Qisheng, having starved for two full days, listen to any advice?
After confirming that he wouldn’t eat, she had adopted the mindset of “stuffing oneself with chicken while one can today,” gnawing the entire chicken squeaky clean. If he hadn’t firmly stopped her, she would have even wanted to crush the chicken feet’s bones and swallow them whole.
Ye Qisheng didn’t answer his question right away. Staring into his eyes for a moment, she suddenly spoke up, “Raphael, why don’t you move in and live with me?!”
Catching an invitation to live together completely out of the blue, Raphael’s heart throbbed violently. He stared at her in utter astonishment, his breath hitching in his throat.
“I’m begging you, please move in and live with me!”
Thinking he hadn’t heard clearly, Ye Qisheng repeated her plea, speaking with deep sincerity, “I don’t know how to do anything, and my combat strength is practically zero. I definitely can’t live independently here on my own. Even if I don’t starve to death, I might get carried off by a tiger one day! If you live with me, you might have to shoulder a bit more household chores at the start, but I’ll work hard to learn—I won’t let you draw the short end of the stick forever!”
Before transmigrating, apart from those petty, scheming affairs in wealthy social circles, she had truly never suffered the hardships of basic daily living.
As for this morning, after being provoked by Liu Yuexia and Aunt Fan, she had mustered all her pride and walked out resolutely.
Later, after enduring a series of setbacks—selecting a house, repairing the roof, cleaning up, and facing a raw chicken with complete helplessness—she had reflected deeply on her pain, gaining a far deeper understanding of her current situation and positioning.
Without the massive backing of the Ye family, she truly was just a useless slacker: unable to carry loads on her shoulders, unable to lift heavy objects with her hands, and incapable of even cooking a meal. She had zero capacity for independent survival.
Without someone to take care of her, she could only wait to die.
No one in this village was willing to take her in. Even if Liu Shiting was willing, the women in his family would try everything in their power to ruin it.
Therefore, the Raphael standing right before her was her ultimate lifeline.
No matter what, she had to cling to his thigh for dear life!
Raphael was still immersed in shock, unable to snap out of it. His mind was blank, and the hand hidden inside his sleeve had already clenched into a fist, trembling slightly.
Back when he dredged her up from the water pool below the cliff, it wasn’t as though he hadn’t considered keeping her by his side.
Living alone in the mountains was far too lonely. He truly wished, like the people in the village, to have a home of his own with loved ones by his side.
Even if she ignored him, as long as he could feel the presence of another person beside him, he would be completely satisfied.
He had saved her life, making him essentially her second savior; logically speaking, even if he asked her to offer herself in gratitude, it shouldn’t be considered excessive.
However, later on, as he looked at Ye Qisheng’s unconscious face, he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to be so selfish. He still found a way to contact Physician Xu, letting Physician Xu bring her back to Liuye Village instead.
Now, not only did she not dislike his appearance, but she even proactively proposed living together with him. He was moved beyond words. His heart was so brimming with joy that he didn’t know where to place it; he could only stare at her fixedly, not even realizing when tears blurred his vision and rolled down his cheeks.