Even though high school tuition cost more than ten yuan a year, her foster parents still did everything they could to send her through to graduation.
As soon as she finished her studies, she joined the group of young people being sent down to the countryside. It was now the third year since she had arrived here.
“These clothes are all brand new—Qin Haoyu never even wore them.”
Seeing Huo Xuan lost in thought, Xie Mingzhu reached out and gave him a gentle nudge. “What’s wrong? Why are you staring into space?”
Huo Xuan snapped back to reality. “Hmm? What did you say?”
“I said these were prepared by Aunt Xin for our marriage,” she explained softly. “But since I never actually married Qin Haoyu, they don’t really belong to him at all.”
“Just make do with them for now. Later, when we have time, we can go to the supply store and buy you some new ones.”
Huo Xuan said nothing more and simply nodded.
Xie Mingzhu handed him the entire stack of men’s clothing.
Huo Xuan carried them back to his own room. Looking at the clothes laid out on the bed, he felt a faint sense of discomfort. If he had not been worried that Xie Mingzhu might think him slovenly or careless, he would never have touched anything that belonged to that scoundrel.
Still, the thought that these clothes were now in his hands and Qin Haoyu would never get to wear them again helped ease his feelings just a little.
“Huo Xuan, are you coming out or not? Dinner’s ready, and I’m starving!” Xie Mingzhu called from outside the door.
Huo Xuan answered, then opened the door and stepped out.
In the kitchen, their evening meal was already set on the table. Two bowls of millet porridge had been poured and were left to cool. In the center sat a plate of stir-fried vegetables they had bought that afternoon.
“The scallion pancakes are still in the pan—I’ll get them out.”
Huo Xuan hurried over and lifted the golden, fragrant pancakes from the stove.
Xie Mingzhu immediately leaned in, breathing in deeply. “It smells wonderful! Exactly how I remember it!”
Before the words had even left her mouth, she broke off half a pancake and popped it into her mouth. After chewing a couple of times, she gave Huo Xuan a thumbs-up. “Delicious!”
Seeing her eyes light up with laughter, looking once more like the bright, cheerful girl she used to be, Huo Xuan’s earlier low spirits vanished instantly.
“Go wash your hands first,” he reminded her.
Xie Mingzhu quickly washed her hands and came back to pick up another pancake. “Huo Xuan, I could eat food you cook for the rest of my life and never get tired of it!”
Huo Xuan’s hand, holding his chopsticks, paused slightly. He raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze soft and deep. “If that’s what you want, then I’ll cook for you for the rest of your life.”
Xie Mingzhu was too busy eating to notice the deeper meaning behind his words.
After dinner, Huo Xuan washed the dishes and then started heating more water for their evening wash. Xie Mingzhu sat on a stool nearby, chatting with him as he worked.
Gradually, her voice faded away.
Huo Xuan glanced over and found that she had fallen asleep right there.
Seeing that the water in the pot was now hot, he stepped over and gently shook her shoulder. “Mingzhu, wake up. Don’t fall asleep here—wash up first, then go to bed properly.”
Xie Mingzhu had been tossing and turning in her dreams, her sleep uneasy. When he shook her, she jolted awake with a start.
Still half-asleep, she looked up and saw his handsome face suddenly looming close. In shock, she threw herself backward.
Right behind her was a rough stone block. Reacting instantly, Huo Xuan reached out and caught her around the back.
As she fell, Xie Mingzhu instinctively grabbed hold of his shirt collar to steady herself. But Huo Xuan himself had not been standing firmly enough, and with her sudden pull, he lost his balance and went tumbling down with her.
Even as he fell, he made sure to cradle the back of her head with his hands to protect it. Though her head was safe, her back slammed hard against the stone. The sharp pain made tears spring to her eyes at once.
Huo Xuan strained every muscle to keep his weight from pressing down on her. Once he had steadied himself, he quickly pushed himself upright and lifted her into his arms.
“Are you all right? Did you hit yourself badly?” There was clear worry in his voice.
Xie Mingzhu took a moment to catch her breath before shaking her head. “I’m fine.”
For a split second, it had felt as though her spine might snap, but now that the initial shock had passed, the pain was easing slightly.
Huo Xuan did not let go. Instead, he carried her straight toward her room.
He was nearly 1.9 meters tall—a veritable giant in this era, especially here in the countryside. Xie Mingzhu, at only 1.6 meters, looked even smaller and more delicate when held in his arms.
At first, Xie Mingzhu had not felt particularly awkward, but then she heard the rapid, thunderous beating of his heart. Suddenly, she grew flustered and uncomfortable. She gave him a light push. “Put me down—I can walk on my own.”
Huo Xuan looked down at her, noticing her uneasy expression. He shook his head. “You hurt your back. It’s only natural for me to carry you—don’t let your imagination run wild.”
Xie Mingzhu frowned and glared up at him. Let her imagination run wild? She hadn’t been thinking anything at all! He made it sound as though she had some dirty thoughts.
“This is… inappropriate,” she protested. “And I’m not thinking anything wrong!”
She rolled her eyes at him again.
Huo Xuan nodded vaguely, his tone clearly dismissive. “All right, all right—you’re not thinking anything.”
The indifference in his voice was impossible to hide.
“I really am not! Put me down right now—I’ll walk myself!” Xie Mingzhu tapped lightly against his chest.
His chest was firm and solid as a rock.
Huo Xuan said nothing more, but carried her all the way into her room and set her down gently on the bed.
“I’ll bring the hot water in for you,” he said over his shoulder. “You can wash right here in your room.”
Xie Mingzhu nodded.
As soon as Huo Xuan left, she struggled to her feet and limped over to the mirror. Lifting her shirt and turning her back to the glass, she tried to see the injury.
There, across her pale skin, was a clear, dark bruise—exactly where she had struck the stone. It was obvious she had hit quite hard. When she touched it gently, the pain made her wince.
That fall had nearly done real damage. At least Huo Xuan had not fallen fully on top of her; if he had, with his size, she might well have been seriously hurt.
Hearing his footsteps returning, she quickly pulled her clothes back into place and leaned against the chair for support.
“How are you feeling?” Huo Xuan asked as he stepped inside.
Xie Mingzhu chose not to mention the bruise. “I’m all right. Just a little sore—it’ll pass soon enough.”
But Huo Xuan had already noticed the way she was gripping the chair tightly. He knew she must have taken a worse knock than she was letting on.
He set the bucket of hot water down, and before she could protest, he stepped forward, bent down, and lifted her back into his arms. “I’m taking you to the clinic to have Doctor Wang take a look.”
Before she could say a word to stop him, he was already carrying her out the door.