The next day.
As usual, everyone was busy working, but today Jiang You had been assigned a different task: planting seedlings.
The holes had already been dug, so all she had to do was plant the seedlings and cover the roots with the surrounding soil.
The work wasn’t difficult, but it was boring because there were no village aunties working alongside her to gossip with.
“Sigh.”
After working silently for half a day, Jiang You let out a sigh.
Without any gossip to keep her entertained, she really had no motivation to work.
“Hey, you can stay over here. Youyou, help Uncle keep an eye on them.”
Just as she was thinking this, the brigade leader’s voice suddenly came from beside her.
She turned around and saw that Bai Yaor had already learned to squat down and plant the seedlings, while the brigade leader was already walking away without looking back.
The entire plot had already been divided into rows. Bai Yaor was right beside Jiang You, responsible for the other side of the same section.
“Is there anything I need to pay special attention to?”
Seeing Jiang You look toward her, Bai Yaor also smiled gently and asked in a soft voice.
Although Bai Yaor looked like a delicate young lady, she had never acted spoiled or complained after coming down to work in the fields. She did whatever work needed to be done.
Of course, as a beginner, whether she could do it well was another matter.
“Just make sure you press the soil down firmly.”
Coming back to her senses, Jiang You smiled, her little dimples appearing as she answered.
There was no real skill involved in this kind of work. It was all about enduring it through sheer perseverance.
“Okay.”
Seeing Jiang You’s bright smile, Bai Yaor was momentarily stunned, a look of amazement appearing in her eyes. When she recovered, her smile became even warmer.
The scene of the two beautiful girls smiling at each other left who knew how many people around them staring in fascination.
Xie Jin’an and Ling Xun both paused.
After recovering, they glanced at each other, adjusted the shoulder poles they were carrying, and each carried a load of seedlings toward the two girls ahead.
When Jiang You reached to the side to grab some seedlings, her hand came up empty.
The next moment, a pile of fresh seedlings was placed beside her by Xie Jin’an.
Under the scorching sun, Jiang You’s little face had turned red from the heat.
Whether intentionally or not, Xie Jin’an happened to stand in the direction of the sunlight, his tall figure blocking most of the sun from reaching her.
Feeling the shadow of his large figure covering her, Jiang You’s hands paused for a moment.
But she still didn’t turn around. She simply lowered her head and continued planting the seedlings.
The next moment, a straw hat was gently placed on her head.
“???”
Jiang You’s face immediately filled with confusion.
She instinctively turned to look at Bai Yaor beside her, panic flashing in her eyes. She quickly took off the straw hat and, while still squatting, moved several steps to the side to keep her distance.
Her instinctive reaction made Xie Jin’an’s heart tighten.
Even his normally composed expression became slightly stiff.
“Your brother asked me to bring this over while I was passing by.”
He tightened his grip on the item in his hand and explained.
Hearing this, Jiang You turned toward her older brother.
Sure enough, Jiang Heng was looking in their direction and kept gesturing for her to put the hat on.
Only then did she awkwardly look away.
“Then, thank you.”
She gave Xie Jin’an an apologetic smile.
“It’s nothing.”
Xie Jin’an paused before curving his lips into a smile and returning hers.
He really was exceptionally handsome.
His features were striking, his figure tall and well-built, and when he smiled, there was an added hint of gentleness to his expression. His eyes seemed to carry affection in them, making him especially handsome and captivating.
Jiang You couldn’t deny that such good looks were truly tempting.
But she firmly remembered her role and only looked at him once before lowering her head and concentrating on her work.
Therefore, she naturally failed to notice the disappointment gradually appearing in Xie Jin’an’s eyes.
Bai Yaor was right beside them, so Jiang You’s reaction naturally caught her attention.
She glanced over and saw Xie Jin’an’s reaction. She couldn’t help looking at Jiang You and Xie Jin’an a few more times.
A hint of gossip sparkled in her eyes.
She naturally reached to the side for another seedling, only to touch something warm instead.
She turned her head and saw Ling Xun quickly pull his hand back.
His cold eyes showed a trace of panic.
He glanced at her, said nothing, and immediately stood up and walked away.
Seeing this, Bai Yaor looked at the extra seedlings in front of her, then at Ling Xun’s retreating back.
Feeling as though the warmth still lingered in her palm, an awkward expression appeared on her fair face as well.
That evening, after work.
“Youyou! Look what this is!”
Jiang You had just finished taking a bath when Jiang Heng came running toward her, carrying the smell of fish all over him.
Behind him, outside the door, Xie Jin’an had just turned around and walked away.
“Okay! Stop! Brother, just stay right there.”
Before Jiang Heng could jump right in front of her, Jiang You hurriedly called for him to stop.
“Hehe! We’re having something good tonight. Jin’an just brought this over. He said it was an apology for you.”
Jiang Heng knew his little sister liked cleanliness. With his entire body covered in sweat and half his pants stained with mud, he knew he was probably not a very welcome sight to her.
Hearing her, he obediently stopped and grinned.
Jiang You thought about it for a moment and remembered what had happened to her clothes the night before.
Her little face stiffened slightly.
Then she looked at the half-basin of lively river shrimp in her brother’s hands and frowned.
“Brother, I’m fine. Just have Xiaoning take these back. This is too valuable. We can’t accept it.”
She rejected them almost without thinking.
“Huh?”
The happiness on Jiang Heng’s face instantly disappeared.
“Why? His family still has plenty. It’s just an apology.”
“Brother.”
Jiang You didn’t explain further. She simply frowned and called his name while looking at him.
“Okay, okay. Fine. I’ll take them back.”
Jiang Heng was completely confused, but seeing her expression, he could only obediently turn around and take the things back.
Xie Jin’an actually hadn’t gone far.
When he heard Jiang You’s words, he understood almost instantly why she had done this.
Yes, what happened the previous night really hadn’t reached the point where an apology was necessary.
He had only done this because he wanted to use the opportunity to get a little closer to her.
But she had rejected him.
“Hey, Jin’an, you’re still here?”
Jiang Heng came out and was surprised to see Xie Jin’an still standing outside the Xie family’s home.
“My sister said it’s fine. Don’t be so polite. Keep these for Xiaoning to eat.”
Jiang Heng was clearly reluctant to give the shrimp back, but he still hardened his heart and followed his little sister’s wishes.
Looking at the river shrimp that Jiang Heng had stuffed back into his hands, Xie Jin’an turned to look toward the place where Jiang You had just been.
But there was no one there anymore.
Under the night sky, Xie Jin’an leaned against the window, quietly gazing at the silhouette of the window next door.
He remained there until the light in the neighboring room went out.
Only then did his eyelashes slowly lower.
Although she had denied it, he could still clearly feel the deliberate distance Jiang You had always maintained from him.
He didn’t know why.
She could accept the closeness between the Jiang and Xie families and treated Xiaoning like her own younger brother.
Yet she alone treated him with an unusual sense of distance—and had always done so.
Why was that?