Mu Qinqin hadn’t expected it…
He actually thought of pickled vegetables?
What kind of normal person would think of pickled vegetables?!
Still… kind of cute.
“Is my cooking good?” she asked, looking at the completely empty lunchbox. At that moment, her satisfaction peaked, and she was already thinking about tomorrow’s menu.
But just as the corners of her lips lifted—
She heard the man say, “Don’t come tomorrow.”
Snap.
The spoon in Mu Qinqin’s hand broke.
Si Chengchen, who vaguely heard the sound: “…”
Not wanting her to misunderstand, he explained, “Food is precious. You should keep it for yourself. If someone bullies you…”
“What, you’ll help me vent?” she interrupted.
Mu Qinqin hadn’t thought much—she had just accidentally used too much strength and snapped the spoon.
“They bully the weak and fear the strong,” Si Chengchen said calmly.
“But…”
Mu Qinqin pretended not to understand, blinking her long lashes. “I’m weak and helpless. I can’t be strong at all.”
Si Chengchen’s lashes lowered slightly.
His gaze fell to where she usually kept the hammer at her waist—but it was gone. Instead, there was now a small cloth bag.
Mu Qinqin had switched it temporarily; carrying a hammer on her waist all the time wasn’t practical, so she used a bag instead for easier access. The hammer itself was already stored in her space.
“…My back still hurts a little,” she suddenly said, her tone turning soft and pitiful. “Maybe it got worse today.”
She clearly wanted to stir trouble again.
Si Chengchen’s hand trembled slightly as he set down his chopsticks.
“I’ll wash the food containers. You rest.”
He didn’t tell her to leave.
Mu Qinqin obediently nodded, swinging her legs while watching him take the containers outside.
There was a water vat in the yard. She had seen it earlier—filled to the brim.
Hearing the faint sound of water outside, she jumped down from the kang and peeked through the doorway.
At first she tried to be sneaky, but the wooden door creaked.
Si Chengchen turned slightly, as if noticing her.
Mu Qinqin smiled brightly and waved. “You’re washing so clean.”
Ripples trembled in the water as he carefully rinsed the container. “Everyone washes dishes.”
“But the only one who washes both cleanly and nicely is you,” she said honestly. “Like me—I always mess things up and even break them.”
She slid down to sit on the doorstep, resting her chin in her hand as she watched him. “Do you like the food I made?”
“…Mm.”
She clearly heard him.
“Then liking…” she paused, waving her hand. “Forget it. Liking my food basically means liking me. After all, without me, there wouldn’t be the food you like, so liking my food is the same as liking me.”
Si Chengchen: “…”
He had no way to refute that.
“Perfect,” she continued cheerfully. “I cook, you wash dishes. Man and woman working together—efficiency doubled, a perfect match!”
Si Chengchen fell silent again.
“The containers are done.”
He handed them to her and added, “I’ll send you back.”
“But my butt still hurts… can you carry me back?” she asked, eyes sparkling.
Just when she thought he would refuse—
He crouched down in front of her.
“Get on.”
“Alright!”
She happily jumped onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck.
It was late at night. No one would see.
The village was dark, with only a few faint lights.
The countryside air was fresh, insects chirping in the fields, the night cool and quiet.
No one spoke.
Because Mu Qinqin had fallen asleep.
At first she tried to stay awake, but leaning on his broad shoulders, she slowly drifted off.
Si Chengchen felt the weight on his back shift slightly and turned his head. He could hear her even breathing.
He stopped walking.
He didn’t know how long he stood like that.
When Mu Qinqin finally woke up, it was still dark.
“Holy—” she jolted awake. “I swear?”
“You’re awake?” came a low voice from ahead.
She realized—she had fallen asleep on his back.
And she had probably slept for quite a while.
And he had just… kept carrying her?
Worse still—
She might have… drooled.
Seeing the faint glistening mark on his shoulder under the moonlight, she awkwardly looked away. “Sorry… I fell asleep. Did I keep you waiting?”
“Not long.”
Si Chengchen didn’t put her down immediately.
Mu Qinqin quickly jumped off his back.
“Thanks for carrying me back. Go rest early,” she said.
She was fine, but he probably wasn’t—his complexion had always looked pale, like he hadn’t rested properly in a long time.
He gave a soft “Mm.” Moonlight fell across his dark eyes, making him look even colder and more striking.
Mu Qinqin stared at him for a moment, dazed.
Then he chuckled softly.
“I’m leaving.”
“Oh—okay! See you tomorrow.”
She quickly turned red and blamed the moonlight for it.
After he left, she still quietly followed behind him until he entered his house. Only then did she turn away.
Inside the room, Si Chengchen stood by the window for a long time before the dim candlelight was finally extinguished.
The next morning.
Mu Qinqin was dragged out of bed by Qi Yue to go to work, half-asleep and listless.
Breakfast was porridge.
Calling it porridge was already generous—it was mostly water with a few grains of rice at the bottom.
She was absentmindedly sipping it, thinking about what to cook for Si Chengchen at noon, when Tang Erya suddenly leaned over and stared at her bowl.
She swallowed hard and said, “Qinqin… if you’re not hungry, can I drink that? You barely eat breakfast anyway.”