Sang Sang’s voice faltered, sounding as if she were on the verge of tears.
“Um, Master, I, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… I, I just wanted to ask you, the rabbit on the table, c-can I have a little?”
Compared to Sang Sang’s nervousness and unease, Shen Yan’s reaction was much calmer.
In the countryside, it wasn’t unusual for men to go shirtless, and being glanced at wouldn’t cost him any flesh.
His tone was indifferent. “Finish it.”
It had been left for her anyway.
The weather was hot, and if it wasn’t eaten, it would spoil.
Though his intention was kind, his tone sounded more like an order.
Sang Sang accepted it as if it were a command, nodding mechanically. “O-okay.”
With that, she buried her head and rushed into the room.
The image of his tall, sturdy figure remained etched in her mind, lingering stubbornly. Sang Sang’s ears grew uncontrollably hot with embarrassment.
In the end, she could only channel her awkwardness into appetite, picking up the plump rabbit and taking big, eager bites.
The first mouthful of meat was swallowed whole before she could even savor it properly, yet she still felt its rich, lingering flavor on her lips and teeth.
For the second bite, she took her time, savoring it carefully. The skin was crispy, the meat tender and juicy, bringing a deep sense of comfort to her entire being.
Bite after bite, the savory, satisfying taste filled her with happiness and contentment.
Only after she had eaten her fill did she have the leisure to notice other things.
She caught a whiff of her own scent.
Goodness, it was awful!
Her clothes were so filthy their original color was unrecognizable, her hair was tangled into knots, and her exposed hands were stained dark yellow, with thick layers of grime packed under her fingernails.
She had to wash up properly—otherwise, she’d be too ashamed to face anyone!
Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself before mustering the courage to open the door.
As soon as she did, Shen Yan stood before her, his figure as imposing as a mountain.
At the sight of him, Sang Sang immediately began to stammer again. “M-Master, I, I…”
Shen Yan frowned at her. “Are you a stutterer?”
Sang Sang paused. “N-no…”
But her demeanor made her denial unconvincing.
She lowered her voice. “I, I’m just nervous. When I’m nervous, I, I stutter.”
Shen Yan crossed his arms. “Scared of me? If you’re so scared, why did you dare to ask me to buy you?”
Sang Sang shook her head vigorously. “N-no, I’m not scared! I know you’re a good person!”
Her tone was unusually firm and filled with sincerity.
Because this was her genuine belief—she truly knew he was a good person.
Hearing this, Shen Yan let out a scoff, a self-mocking smile appearing on his face.
A good person? This was the first time anyone had ever described him that way.
He said flatly, “I’m no good person.”
But Sang Sang insisted again, firmly. “No, you are!”
Shen Yan scoffed once more but didn’t argue with her.
His gaze fell on her, his tone tinged with disdain. “You’re filthy.”
Sang Sang immediately grew so flustered she didn’t know what to do with her hands and feet.
She spoke, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum. “I, I was just about to go wash up, but, I wanted to heat some water. I don’t know if that’s allowed…”
Shen Yan found it quite unbelievable that she insisted on taking a hot bath in such sweltering weather, but he wasn’t stingy enough to forbid even this.
Sang Sang boiled two large buckets of hot water and finally enjoyed a comfortable hot bath.
After using up both buckets of water, she finally managed to clean herself thoroughly.
Her clothes were already too dirty to look at and naturally couldn’t be worn again, so the change of clothes she put on belonged to Shen Yan.
His clothes were far too long and oversized for her. Wearing them, she looked like a child who had stolen an adult’s clothes, instantly turning into a short-limbed little dwarf. Moreover, the neckline gaped open, revealing a generous glimpse of her chest. She had no choice but to roll up the sleeves and pant legs and tightly clutch the collar with her hand.
She pushed the door open and stepped out but didn’t see Shen Yan anywhere.
She called out “Benefactor” twice but received no response. He must have gone out.
Only then did Sang Sang dare to boldly survey the small courtyard.
Plain mud walls and gray tiles, an ordinary fenced yard—simple, tidy, and imbued with a sense of spaciousness.
In front of the yard was a small plot of land, likely neglected by him. There weren’t many vegetables growing, but weeds ran rampant, and wildflowers dotted the ground. A few clusters of flowers bloomed brilliantly, adding a splash of color to the otherwise monotonous yard.
To the northeast of the yard stood a tree so thick it would take one person’s embrace to encircle it. Its shadow cast a dappled pattern on the ground, like colorful fireworks scattering into the mortal world.
A small cottage, a courtyard, a large tree, and a modest vegetable patch—such a simple rural home filled Sang Sang with a deep sense of security and belonging, even evoking a feeling of home.
And this sense of belonging all came from that man.
Sang Sang remembered something and carefully retrieved a bracelet from the hidden layer of her inner garment.
This was the only keepsake she had with her, and the only clue to finding her family.
Her fingers gently traced its surface. As she deliberately tried to recall, a wave of dizziness washed over her mind, accompanied by a stifling sensation in her heart. Her face involuntarily paled slightly.
Somewhere, it seemed someone was also thinking of her.
She took a deep breath, composed herself, and gradually calmed down.
She must keep this bracelet safe and do everything in her power to find her family.
Having steadied her mind, she rolled up her sleeves and began washing the clothes she had changed out of.
When Shen Yan returned, he heard the sound of splashing water. He couldn’t help but think, This woman is really slow. I’ve been out for so long, and she still hasn’t finished washing.
Striding briskly into the yard, he paused abruptly at the sight before him.
The woman’s damp, long hair cascaded loosely, and her face was covered with a cloth, revealing only her smooth, full forehead and a pair of sparkling, lively eyes that shimmered like starlight.
She wore his excessively oversized clothes. As she raised her arms, the wide sleeves slid upward, exposing a pair of fair, delicate wrists.
Originally, Sang Sang had been mindful of her collar, but once she started working, she forgot all about it.
Unnoticed by her, her collar had somehow fallen wide open, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her chest—glistening, delicate, and dazzlingly fair.
No wonder the brothel madam had such a sharp eye.
She had merely taken a bath, yet it was as if she had transformed from a mud-stained clown into a celestial being who had mistakenly descended to the mortal realm.
Seeing Shen Yan return, she immediately brightened. With a faint smile, her watery eyes seemed to shimmer with scattered light, adding a delicate and enchanting charm to her features. In that instant, it captured his attention, causing his heart to falter slightly.
“Benefactor, you’re back.”
Her voice was soft and sweet, rising at the end like a hook that gently tugged at his heart, stirring a faint itch.
Shen Yan remained silent, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
Sang Sang noticed his stare and instinctively glanced down. She gasped in surprise, quickly pulling her collar closed.
In an instant, her two snow-white ears flushed pink, and beneath her veil, her face burned with heat.
With a startled cry, she instinctively turned and dashed into the room, slamming the door shut with a loud “bang.”
The sound of the door jolted Shen Yan back to his senses, yet his dark eyes remained shadowed and inscrutable.