She looked up and met Gu Zheng’s calm gaze.
“Take a break,” he said simply. He had already started efficiently clearing the weeds from her row of crops. His movements were surprisingly practiced, and he worked much faster than she did.
Watching his steady, skillful motions, Pei Nian decided not to stubbornly push herself any further. Softly, she said, “Thank you, Gu Educated Youth.”
“Gu Zheng.”
“Hm?”
“Just call me by my name. Gu Zheng.” He didn’t even lift his head. His voice drifted through the rows of crops.
Pei Nian blinked, then obediently corrected herself. “Oh. Thank you, Gu Zheng.”
Gu Zheng responded with a calm “Mm,” and his hands moved even faster.
The sun climbed higher into the sky, and the whistle signaling the end of the work session sounded like the sweetest call to salvation.
Pei Nian instinctively straightened up. The instant she did, a wave of soreness and numbness crashed over her body, making her vision suddenly go black. Fortunately, she still had a tight grip on the hoe’s handle and barely managed to stay on her feet.
She stood there for several seconds before the dizziness gradually faded, but the exhaustion and aches in her body seemed to have seeped deep into her bones.
She quickly drank several mouthfuls of spiritual spring water, washing away the physical fatigue before slowly shuffling forward.
Although the spring water had erased the soreness from her body, she still felt mentally drained.
Her steps were light and unsteady, as if she were floating. Distracted, she caught her foot on a clump of dirt, and her body pitched forward uncontrollably.
The fall she expected never came.
A strong arm reached out just in time, firmly supporting her by the arm.
“Are you alright?” Gu Zheng’s voice carried unmistakable concern. His brows furrowed slightly as he looked at her pale forehead beneath the brim of her hat.
Using his support, Pei Nian regained her balance. She waved a hand weakly.
“I’m fine… Just a little lightheaded.”
Gu Zheng released her arm. Instead, he reached into his faded military-green shoulder bag and pulled out a military canteen, offering it to her.
“It’s new. I haven’t drunk from it.”
His words were brief, but his gaze remained fixed on her somewhat pale face.
Pei Nian froze for a moment.
She remembered that he’d been carrying the bag all morning, but she hadn’t expected him to have two canteens inside.
She instinctively pointed to the one hanging from her hoe.
“I… I still have mine.”
“Drink this one.” Gu Zheng didn’t pull his hand back. “Sugar water.”
His tone carried a firmness that left little room for argument as he added,
“It’ll help restore your strength.”
His eyes were so focused, filled with such sincere concern, that Pei Nian found herself unable to refuse.
She hesitated before accepting the canteen.
It felt pleasantly cool and surprisingly heavy in her hand, a welcome relief under the scorching midday sun. Pulling out the stopper, she carefully took a sip.
The water entered her mouth with an indescribable sweetness and freshness, instantly soothing her dry throat.
Even more strangely, a faint warm current seemed to flow into her stomach with the water before spreading gently throughout her body. It was as though a trace of vitality had been injected into her, easing much of her exhaustion.
Pei Nian’s hand tightened slightly around the canteen.
Her heart skipped a beat.
This water… wasn’t right.
Keeping her expression perfectly calm, she tilted her head back and took another large gulp.
This time, the sensation was even clearer.
It wasn’t just quenching her thirst. The fatigue-relieving effect, though subtle, was undeniably real.
She looked up at Gu Zheng, while inside her mind waves of shock were crashing one after another.
Wait… Big Boss! This is sugar water?! Sure, sugar water can replenish energy—but something that relieves fatigue and even has healing effects? Is that really just ordinary sugar water?!
Gu Zheng seemed completely unaware that he’d accidentally exposed himself. His entire attention was on Pei Nian.
Seeing her stop drinking, he asked with concern,
“Feeling better?”
Pei Nian barely managed to steady herself. Handing the canteen back, she answered vaguely,
“Yeah… Much better. Thank you for the water.”
While returning the canteen, however, her mind had already begun racing with wild speculation.
Previously, she’d only thought Gu Zheng possessed an extraordinary temperament and impressive skills, guessing he might be the son of some influential family from Beijing, naturally carrying himself with the confidence of someone from a powerful background.
But now…
Combined with this obviously unusual “water”…
Could he actually be a powerhouse who had transmigrated from the apocalypse? The kind with a portable farming space filled with spiritual spring water, destined to save the world?
As for why she’d added the “farming” part…
Because Gu Zheng was remarkably good at farm work. He looked genuinely experienced.
Still, although he kept people at a distance, he wasn’t cold or emotionless. He didn’t really seem like someone shaped by the brutal environment of an apocalypse.
Thinking that, and looking again at Gu Zheng’s handsome face, Pei Nian felt a flicker of apprehension.
But even more than fear, she felt the excitement of having stumbled upon a secret.
Her thoughts became a tangled mess. Without realizing it, she simply followed the crowd forward, nearly ending up walking with the same arm and leg moving together before almost tripping again.
“What is it? Still not feeling well?”
Gu Zheng had been watching her the whole time. Seeing her stumble, he reached out again, hovering beside her protectively. His brow furrowed even deeper.
“N-No! I’m fine!”
Pei Nian hurriedly corrected her steps, but inwardly she was screaming.
Oh my gosh! This mysterious big shot with what looks like an incredible treasure… He… he seems to like me?!
The realization left her completely dazed. It took several long seconds before she slowly came back to her senses.
No wonder Gu Zheng and Shen An had suddenly appeared in the educated youth team despite never existing in the original novel.
They were the variables.
Pei Nian couldn’t help sighing.
This tiny educated youth station really was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
She herself was a transmigrator into a novel who had awakened memories of her previous life and possessed a spiritual spring space.
Zhou Jin was another transmigrator with a nostalgic convenience-store system.
Now there was Gu Zheng.
On top of that, the educated youth station was already packed with all kinds of colorful eccentrics…
Well, Zhang Aihua and Shen An were at least two perfectly normal people.
Watching her absent-minded expression, Gu Zheng deliberately slowed his pace to walk beside her.
In a low voice, he reminded her,
“Don’t push yourself this afternoon. Do what you can. Once I finish my own work, I’ll come help you.”
Pei Nian blinked.
Her thoughts drifted off again.
That level of stamina… finishing his own work and still helping someone else afterward. That really does sound like someone with an apocalypse- or interstellar-enhanced physique… Though his temperament feels more like some cultivation-world grandmaster…
Still, seeing how serious Gu Zheng looked, the little bit of fear she’d felt completely disappeared.
Instead, she found herself wanting to tease him.
Tilting her head, she smiled.
“Comrade Gu Zheng, have you really thought this through? I’m very slow when it comes to farm work. Don’t regret it later.”
“I won’t.”
His answer came without the slightest hesitation.
His gaze fell on the gloves that had turned slightly red from her hard labor, and he said with certainty,
“Besides, you’re doing very well.”
He sounded completely sincere.
There wasn’t a trace of empty politeness in his voice.
Warmth spread through Pei Nian’s heart, and she couldn’t help laughing.
“Comrade Gu Zheng, you’re really good with words.”
His compliments sounded nice.
His voice sounded nice too—clear, deep, and magnetic.
Whenever he spoke to her, his tone became especially gentle, perfectly hitting every weakness of someone who loved beautiful voices.
Gu Zheng looked at her and smiled.
Bathed in the sunlight, his smile seemed to glow.
“Then I’ll do my best to always be this good with words.”
Pei Nian’s eyes lit up immediately, and she nodded enthusiastically.
After all, who doesn’t like hearing kind words?
Especially when they’re coming from someone who’s handsome… and has such an amazing voice.