Madam Su, don’t be too greedy. Shopkeeper Liu frowned, thinking she was asking for an exorbitant price.
The recipe is a one-time thing, but business can last forever. Su Qinghe wiped her hands and looked straight at Shopkeeper Liu. I won’t sell the recipe, but I can be the exclusive supplier for Zuixian House. I will deliver the soup base, pickled bamboo shoots, and rice noodles to your shop every day. You just focus on selling the food, and I will take twenty percent of the profit from every bowl sold.
Shopkeeper Liu was stunned.
This was no country woman—she was clearly a shrewd businesswoman!
Very well. Shopkeeper Liu was also a decisive person. But for the method of pickling the bamboo shoots, we must sign a binding agreement. You will supply only our restaurant, and the method must never be revealed to anyone else.
It’s a deal.
As the sun began to set, the heavy doors of the gambling house were kicked open.
Su Qinghe slammed a heavy cloth pouch of silver onto the table, making the dice cups jump and rattle.
Principal plus interest—twenty-five taels. The debt is cleared.
Scar-faced Wang San stared in shock at the silver on the table, then looked back at Su Qinghe. In just half a month, this woman had actually paid off everything?
Su Qinghe picked up the IOU note, tore it into pieces right in front of everyone, and scattered them.
Stepping out of the gambling house, Su Qinghe let out a long breath.
The gambling debts were completely settled, but the inkstone ring that belonged to Xiao Hanyuan was still in the pawnshop. The ransom for it was a full one hundred taels of silver.
She also needed a large sum of money to escape from Xiao Hanyuan. Earning enough funds was still a long, uphill battle.
Back in her village, Su Qinghe immediately made an announcement: The Su family would be buying river snails and bamboo shoots in large quantities on an ongoing basis, at the rate of two copper coins per catty.
The entire Qinghe Village was thrown into an uproar of excitement.
To ensure a steady supply of goods, Su Qinghe hired Aunt Hua, a quick and capable woman, to be in charge of boiling the soup. She also found several honest, sturdy men to handle deliveries to the town.
The dilapidated courtyard that belonged to the Su family was instantly transformed into a small-scale food processing workshop.
Days went by quickly, as if driven by a well-oiled machine.
Su Qinghe was as busy as a spinning top every day. Aside from making money, she set herself an even stricter goal: losing weight.
She climbed the mountain early every morning on an empty stomach, did exercise routines every night, and followed a strict diet. She also took herbal medicines prescribed by an old doctor to dispel dampness and cold from her body.
Hard work and sweat never lie.
One month later.
Deep in the night, the moon hung low above the treetops.
Su Qinghe walked out of the side building, wrapped in the pale pink undergarment that Xiao Hanyuan had bought for her.
She had just finished washing with a simple shower she had set up. Her long, damp hair hung loosely over her shoulders, and water droplets fell from the ends of her hair.
The oil lamp inside the room cast dim, flickering light.
Xiao Hanyuan was sitting by the bed, polishing his rusted iron sword. Hearing the door open, he looked up casually.
The water is heated. You can go…
His voice cut off abruptly before he could finish.
Xiao Hanyuan froze in place as if he had been turned to stone. His deep, dark eyes were fixed intently on the woman standing in the doorway, and his dark pupils burned with rising heat.
The bulky excess flesh that had burdened Su Qinghe was gone, revealing her naturally fine bone structure. Her skin had become fair and smooth, her collarbones were clearly defined, and her waist was slender enough to be encircled by a pair of hands.
Wet strands of hair clung to her long, graceful neck, while water droplets slid down into the neckline of her clothes, tracing a breathtaking curve along her skin.
She stood there, her eyes curved like crescent moons. She looked fresh and clean after her bath, with a hint of lazy softness about her. She was just like a pearl that had long been covered in dust—now finally wiped clean, she radiated a gentle yet dazzling brilliance.
A faint scent of soap filled the air, mixed with her own unique, warm fragrance. The smell drifted in and overpowered Xiao Hanyuan’s senses.
Xiao Hanyuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently. A wave of heat surged up from the depths of his heart and instantly spread through his entire body.
His voice came out rough and husky, barely recognizable.
He was not even aware of it himself; he simply stared at her in a daze, his heart pounding like thunder in his chest.
Some time later, the oil lamp in the room burned out, leaving only a wisp of smoke curling into the darkness.
Xiao Hanyuan lay down with his back to Su Qinghe, his spine held perfectly straight like a fully drawn bow. Every muscle in his body was tensed and rigid.
The scent of soap lingering in the air did not fade. Instead, it seemed to grow stronger in the dark, like an invisible small hook, tugging gently but persistently at his heart.
Soft rustling sounds came from behind him—the noise of bedding shifting and fabric rubbing together.
Xiao Hanyuan’s breath caught in his throat, and his hand tightened unconsciously around the hilt of his sword.
This woman… was she going to start that again?
In the past, this was the time when the original owner of this body would always throw herself at him like a beast in heat. She would spew out disgusting, shameless words and wrap her limbs around him. Even if he kicked her off the bed, she would just crawl back with no sense of dignity.
He closed his eyes and a deep furrow formed between his brows. In the silence of the night, he braced himself, ready to throw her out of the room at any moment.
But the clinging and pestering he expected never happened.
Instead, the sound of breathing from behind him gradually became long, steady, and calm, occasionally mixed with soft, indistinct murmurs of sleep.
She’s asleep?
Xiao Hanyuan’s tense body stiffened for a moment, and then a strange, empty feeling washed over him.
He frowned even more deeply and cursed himself silently for being a fool. He forced himself to slow his breathing and tried to fall asleep.
The night deepened, and even the wind outside the window seemed to die down.
Just as Xiao Hanyuan was drifting off into a hazy sleep, a heavy leg suddenly slammed across the pillow that served as a clear boundary between them. It landed heavily on his waist and abdomen.
Xiao Hanyuan opened his eyes instantly, a cold glint flashing in their depths.
So she was pretending all along!
This woman simply refused to give up her schemes. She was waiting for him to fall asleep so she could take advantage of him!
A look of disgust flashed in his eyes. He reached out and grabbed her ankle, ready to push her away with force—but his movement stopped short the very next second.
This leg… did not have that revolting, fat, doughy texture it used to have.
It still had softness and substance to it, but the skin was warm, delicate, and smooth—like the shell of a freshly peeled egg.
More importantly, the owner of this leg made no further move. She simply rested it there, as if she had found a comfortable pillow or bolster to lean on.
Mm…
A soft, sleepy hum came from behind him.
Then, a warm, soft body shifted along the line of her leg. Like a small kitten afraid of the cold, she clumsily snuggled closer to him.
The pillow that separated them had long been kicked to the foot of the bed.
Su Qinghe pressed her entire body against his back.
She rubbed her cheek against his back, settling into a comfortable position. One of her arms naturally slipped around his waist, her palm resting flat against his firm, muscular abdomen.
Boom—
Xiao Hanyuan felt as if the string holding his reason together had been plucked hard and snapped inside his head.
In the past, he would have kicked her flying across the room without a second thought.
But now, feeling the warmth radiating from the body behind him, and the soft, sweet-scented breath fanning against the back of his neck… he did not move a muscle.
Su Qinghe.
He ground out her name, his voice low and hoarse, laced with a warning.
The woman behind him did not react at all. Instead, she pressed even further into his embrace, mumbling something unintelligible: Don’t… stop… need to make money…
She was truly fast asleep.
Xiao Hanyuan lay rigidly in the bed, letting her cling to him like an octopus.
He lowered his gaze to the hand wrapped around his waist. Her fingers were slender and fair, her fingernails trimmed into neat, clean shapes. Gone were the days when dirt and grime were trapped under her nails.
Thump, thump, thump.
His heart pounded in his chest like a war drum running out of control, beating faster and harder until his eardrums hummed with the rhythm.
He had always believed he loathed this woman completely—loathed her greed, loathed her foolishness, and most of all, loathed her repulsive way of touching him.
But at this very moment, as he felt the transformed Su Qinghe snuggle up against him without any defense or ulterior motive, what he felt was absolutely not disgust.
Instead, there was a strange, long-forgotten flutter in his chest that made his heart race and his mind panic.
This must be an illusion.
Xiao Hanyuan took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
I am a normal man. This is just my body reacting instinctively to the closeness of a woman. It has nothing to do with who she is.
Right. It has nothing to do with her.
He told himself that over and over, but he did not sleep a wink for the rest of the night.
Early the next morning, sunlight filtered through the tattered paper windows and cast dappled patterns of light and shadow across the head of the bed.
Xiao Hanyuan had actually been awake for a long time.
But he did not move.
He kept his eyes closed and regulated his breathing, maintaining a steady rhythm that made it look as though he were in a deep sleep.
The person in his arms stirred.
Su Qinghe had slept deeply and soundly—probably exhausted from all her recent hard work—without even dreaming once.
She opened her eyes groggily. The first thing she saw was not the ceiling of her own home, but a broad chest, solid and unyielding as a wall.
She lifted her gaze. First, the sharp, attractive lines of his collarbones, then the rolling movement of his Adam’s apple, and finally his firm, resolute jawline.
She looked lower…
Su Qinghe drew in a sharp breath.
The man’s robe was wide open, revealing a large expanse of bronzed skin.
Several pale pink scars crisscrossed over his chest and torso. Far from marring his appearance, they added a rugged, wild edge to his masculine beauty.
With every rise and fall of his breath, his well-defined pectoral muscles and abdominal muscles moved right before her eyes.
And her hand… was clutching tightly at his waist. One of her legs was slung boldly and unrestrainedly across his body.
Su Qinghe’s mind went blank for a second, and her face flushed bright red, like a shrimp that had been boiled.
This position… it was far too bold and aggressive!
Even though she had a modern soul and knew plenty about relationships in theory, she had absolutely zero practical experience!
If she woke this dangerous man and he thought she was trying to take advantage of him again, all the progress she had made in changing his impression of her would be wiped out in one night!
Su Qinghe held her breath. Very carefully, inch by inch, she began to pull her limbs back from him.
Her movements were as gentle and precise as if she were defusing a bomb.
Finally, she managed to retreat completely.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief, looking at Xiao Hanyuan who was still apparently fast asleep. She felt an inexplicable twinge of unease.
It wouldn’t be right to leave him lying there half-dressed early in the morning. He might catch a cold.
Su Qinghe thought to herself. She quietly pulled up the quilt from the side and carefully covered him with it, tucking it all the way up under his chin. She completely covered that distracting, attractive chest of his.
Forgive me, forgive me… beauty is just vanity and illusion.
Su Qinghe muttered softly under her breath. She glanced once more at that handsome, dangerously attractive face, then crept out of bed, got dressed, and slipped quietly out of the room.
The moment the door clicked shut behind her.
The man on the bed slowly opened his eyes.
There was no trace of sleepiness in those deep, dark irises—only an unfathomable depth and… confusion.
Xiao Hanyuan sat up and looked down at the quilt that covered him snugly, then at his own open robe.
In the past, whenever he was undressed like this, this woman would have pounced on him like a hungry tiger, desperate to strip every piece of clothing off him.
But just now…
He had clearly felt her breathing speed up, and he knew she had been staring at him.
She had definitely reacted.
But why, in the end, did she run away as if she were fleeing a flood or a wild beast? She had even gone out of her way to cover him up properly.
That careful, tender action did not look like a trick to make him want her more. Instead, it seemed as if… she really had lost all interest in his body.
Xiao Hanyuan rubbed the edge of the quilt unconsciously with his fingers. His expression gradually turned dark and heavy.
For a woman to suddenly lose interest in a man she used to be obsessed with—to become reserved, proper, and focused entirely on making money and improving herself…
There was usually only one explanation.
She had found someone else. Some other target outside.
Was it that Shopkeeper from Zuixian House? Or some other unknown man?
In the kitchen, the fire in the stove burned bright and hot.
Su Qinghe stood wearing her apron, skillfully cooking egg pancakes.
The batter sizzled and popped on the hot pan, filling the air with a delicious aroma.
Up so early?
A low voice spoke suddenly from behind her, startling Su Qinghe.
She turned around and saw Xiao Hanyuan leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest, staring at her with a dark, gloomy expression.
He was wearing his dark blue cotton robe, his hair tied back loosely behind his head. His face still had that usual cold, stern look, but there were noticeable dark circles and red lines under his eyes. He looked somewhat like a man who had been denied what he wanted…
No, no, what was I even thinking, denied what he wanted…
Su Qinghe quickly shook those useless thoughts out of her head and put on a bright smile. Good morning! I saw you sleeping soundly, so I didn’t wake you. Breakfast will be ready in a minute. Go wash your face and you can eat right away.
Xiao Hanyuan did not move. His eyes swept over her from head to toe like a searching beam of light.
You have changed a lot lately, he said suddenly, his tone unreadable, giving nothing away.
Su Qinghe’s heart skipped a beat, and she almost dropped the spatula in her hand.
Here it comes. The interrogation again.
She steadied herself. While flipping the pancake in the pan, she replied casually, People change. I was young and foolish before, and I had water in my brain. Now that the water has drained out, naturally I’ve become different.
Is that so?
Xiao Hanyuan walked into the room. The already cramped kitchen felt even smaller with him standing there.
He stopped right behind Su Qinghe, his tall frame casting a shadow that completely enveloped her.
Before, you used to act as if you wanted to glue your eyes right onto me. You’d climb into my bed whenever you got the chance.
His voice was right next to her ear, carrying a dangerous warmth. Just now in bed, my robe was open. Why didn’t you do anything?
Su Qinghe froze, her back stiffening.
Didn’t he hate it when she touched him?
Now that she had stopped touching him, why was he unhappy about it?
She turned off the fire, plated the pancakes, and turned around. Leaning back against the stove, she tilted her head up and looked straight into Xiao Hanyuan’s eyes.
They stood very close—close enough to see their own reflections clearly in each other’s pupils.
Su Qinghe took a deep breath. Xiao Hanyuan, I think I need to make something clear.
She held up three fingers in a solemn gesture. What happened before… well, I was immature and lonely back then. I was tempted by good looks and behaved like a hungry, desperate woman. But I am not that person anymore.
The woman looked at him earnestly. Her rosy lips moved as she spoke. I am different now.
Now, I have no interest in romance or passion. My mind is clear and focused. All I want to do is make money, pay off my debts, and live a good life.
Men will only slow me down when it comes to earning money!