Lin Xiyue’s gaze fell on Lu Wenyuan. His face was sharply defined, brows stern, features lean and composed, exuding a calm, cool aura. His hairline was neat, sideburns tidy—it was clear he cared about his appearance.
Though only nineteen, he carried a maturity and composure beyond his years.
The family sat in the main hall, talking about recent events, unaware of the subtle scrutiny between Lu Wenyuan and Lin Xiyue.
He hadn’t expected that in his absence for half a month, so much would have happened—and that such change would be brought about by this slender girl.
Seeing how well she cared for their mother, eldest brother, and younger brother, he couldn’t help but recognize her importance in the household. Yet some things were puzzling. How could a young girl kill a full-grown wild boar?
And that dramatically changed face, the wheelchair his elder brother relied on—none of these seemed like things an uneducated, naive girl could accomplish.
Lu Wenyuan would be resting at home for two days, meaning Lin Xiyue would be sharing the same bed with him—a kind of sweet burden for her.
After all, sharing a bed with such a handsome man was not unpleasant, though he was too cold at times, sometimes not even sparing her a glance.
After dinner, Lin Xiyue washed up and returned to her room early, but Lu Wenyuan did not come in. Perhaps he didn’t want to share the bed and had gone to sleep in the main hall instead.
She thought perhaps it was time to build a small wooden hut nearby—she couldn’t handle seeing that cold face all the time.
Having seen plenty of handsome men in her past life, she wasn’t so easily impressed. Lu Wenyuan’s arrogance and composure didn’t faze her. If he chose not to return, that was fine.
As she headed to the outhouse, she noticed a figure behind the curtain near the kitchen, shimmering in the moonlight.
Could it be Lu Yanqiu bathing? That was where he usually washed. Lin Xiyue wasn’t nosy—she was going to the toilet right next to the curtain and it was all in the open. Surely he wouldn’t accuse her of peeping.
Still, accustomed to teasing him, she let herself playfully approach.
As she neared, she slipped on the wet ground—soil made the courtyard slippery. Luckily, she instinctively grabbed the curtain and stabilized herself.
Then she saw it: abdominal muscles? Lin Xiyue could hardly believe it—Lu Wenyuan, that boyishly cold man, had abs?
Before she could speak, a low, sharp voice cut through the air:
“Had enough?”
Lu Wenyuan?
Startled, she looked up to see him staring at her with an icy gaze. Even the gentle moonlight could not soften the chill in his eyes.
“I didn’t mean it. I was just going to the toilet and almost slipped on the wet ground,” she said, throat tight but confident, feeling no shame in her actions.
Lu Wenyuan stood there, upper body bare, wearing only thin trousers. She hadn’t expected his tall, lean figure to be so well-formed—broad shoulders, narrow waist, finely lined muscles. Who could resist such a physique?
He picked up his robe, glanced at her, and went back inside without another word.
Lin Xiyue exhaled. Next time, she’d just use her space. Now Lu Wenyuan would probably think she had ulterior motives.
Back in the room, he was reading at the table. She yawned, ready to sleep, knowing his expressionless face would ignore her anyway.
“Tomorrow, Mother wants me to accompany you to town to buy some fabric. She says she wants to make clothes for you,” he said, glancing at her on the bed.
Lin Xiyue hadn’t expected Liu Ruyun to already have made her shoes and clothing, yet he still offered more. She was happy to receive new clothes—especially as she planned to sell some of her mountain hunts in town for silver.
“These days, I’ve been storing the extra game in the space—it preserves them perfectly. Very convenient,” she thought.
“Just the two of us?” she asked, wishing Lu Yanqiu could come too; better than being stuck with Lu Wenyuan’s cold face.
He nodded. “Yanqiu stays to care for your elder brother.”
“Since we need to wake early, let’s rest,” she said instinctively, immediately regretting how it sounded—as if she was eagerly inviting him to bed.
For reasons unknown, Lu Wenyuan actually put down his book, lit the lamp, and climbed into bed. The old wooden bed creaked under his weight. Lin Xiyue lay stiffly, eyes secretly glancing sideways.
Recalling the earlier scene, she couldn’t help but imagine the smooth, pale, perfect body under his simple green robe. She wondered how it would feel to touch.
Feeling his steady breathing, she turned over and soon fell asleep.
Lu Wenyuan, surprised by her trust and quick sleep, found her even more inscrutable the closer he observed her delicate form.