The man took out a cloth-wrapped bundle from his bosom and held it out before Su Qinghe.
This is for you.
Su Qinghe froze for a moment, then took the bundle and unfolded it.
Inside lay a snow-white fox fur collar.
The fur was pure and flawless, without a single strand of mismatched hair. It felt soft and plush to the touch, and still retained a hint of warmth.
At the ends, two round pearls were used as fasteners in a clever design, making it look both noble and exquisitely crafted.
This is… Su Qinghe murmured, her fingers brushing over the soft fur, feeling somewhat bewildered.
I hunted it in the mountains the other day, said Xiao Hanyuan. I noticed the collar of your padded jacket was getting worn out. The wind is harsh in winter, so this will keep you warm.
What he did not mention was that he had lain in wait in the snow for half the night to get this perfect, unblemished pelt. When he had taken the shot, he had been extremely careful, terrified of damaging the fur in any way.
Su Qinghe’s heart felt as though it had been filled with warm honey—sweet, rich, and overflowing.
This man, usually so quiet and reserved, turned out to be so thoughtful and caring.
He even thought to give her a gift.
Let me put it on for you.
Xiao Hanyuan took the fur collar and stepped closer.
He stood a full head taller than her. Now he lowered his gaze slightly, and with long, nimble fingers, he undid the pearl fasteners and arranged the soft fur around her slender neck.
The snow-white fur framed her small, delicate face, making her skin appear even fairer than snow and her features as beautiful as a painting.
Her almond-shaped eyes, clear and bright as black and white jade, were fixed intently on him, her reflection mirrored clearly in his pupils.
For a brief moment, his fingers lingered near her chin, and his breath caught in his throat.
He realized then just how truly beautiful she was.
Does it look nice? Su Qinghe asked, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she touched the collar around her neck.
It does, Xiao Hanyuan replied, his voice sounding a little hoarse.
I have a gift for you too.
Su Qinghe smiled mysteriously and pulled out a dark jade thumb ring from her clothing.
Give me your hand.
Xiao Hanyuan looked at the familiar object, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
That ring…
Even though he had lost his memories, he felt an instinctive familiarity toward it, as if it were a part of his own body.
He remembered that once, she had taken this ring away from him and sold it for money.
Since then, a hollow feeling had remained in his heart, as if he had lost something precious and irreplaceable. But for the sake of getting by, he had let her do as she pleased.
And now, the ring had come back to him.
This ring… his voice came out tight and strained.
Back then, our family was so poor we could barely afford food, Su Qinghe said softly, her head bowed, looking up at him with pleading eyes. I… I was foolish and immature, so I pawned it. I’ve been working hard all this time just to earn enough to redeem it. Husband, please don’t be angry with me, okay? I will never touch your things again.
As she spoke, she reached for his left hand.
His palm was broad and thick, with a layer of tough callus at the base of his thumb—the mark of someone who had held weapons for years.
Su Qinghe held the ring and gently slid it onto his thumb.
It fit perfectly, as if it had grown there.
Her fingertips, cool to the touch, brushed lightly against his palm, sending a tingling sensation shooting through him like an electric current.
Xiao Hanyuan looked at the dark jade ring on his thumb, then at the young woman standing before him, her face full of guilt.
It felt as though a hard block of ice within his heart had melted away completely in an instant.
He knew what she had done to get it back. She had risen early and stayed up late selling snail noodles, even going so far as to deal with bullies and troublemakers just to make ends meet. Every copper coin she earned represented months of hard work and effort. And she had spent every bit of it just to bring back this ring, simply to give him a surprise.
I am not angry with you, Xiao Hanyuan said, turning his hand to clasp hers, enclosing her small hand entirely in his large palm. As long as you are here, all material things are unimportant.
At that moment, Su Qinghe’s heart began to race uncontrollably. She looked into his deep, dark eyes and felt momentarily dazed.
As a husband, he was truly quite good to her.
Yet all of this had come about through her deception.
If Xiao Hanyuan ever regained his memory and learned the truth, he would be furious at having been tricked and made a fool of. At best, he might show her mercy; at worst, he would make her pay dearly for it.
Su Qinghe quickly collected herself, forcing her mind back to reality.
She must never let herself fall for him. After all, once she had saved enough money, she planned to leave and never come back.
Ahem… well… let’s go and slaughter the pig now, Su Qinghe said, pulling her hand away, her cheeks flushing slightly. If we don’t start preparing it soon, it will be dark before we’re done.
Very well, Xiao Hanyuan replied, his gaze resting on her.
For the next little while, the small courtyard was filled with the warm, lively atmosphere of daily life.
Xiao Hanyuan took charge of the work.
He moved his hands with incredible skill and speed. The heavy butcher’s knife he wielded seemed as light and precise as an embroidery needle in his grasp.
He skinned, deboned, and cut the meat.
Every stroke was perfectly accurate, following the natural lines of the bones without the slightest hesitation or clumsiness.
Su Qinghe watched from the side, utterly amazed.
This was like the legendary master butcher who carved oxen without ever striking the bone.
She realized that Xiao Hanyuan was not only skilled in combat—he also had a natural talent for butchering pigs.
As Xiao Hanyuan worked, images began to flash unbidden through his mind.
A dim, gloomy prison cell; iron bars glowing red-hot from the fire; a cold, sharp blade slicing into the skin of a prisoner wearing a uniform, stripping it away bit by bit…
He paused, trying to recall more details, but a sharp, dull pain shot through his head, making it impossible to think clearly.
We’ll send this piece to the village chief, and this one to Aunt Hua, Su Qinghe said, placing two cuts of fine pork belly into a basket. We’ll roast the rest for dinner tonight!
When she received no reply, she turned around and saw that Xiao Hanyuan’s face had gone pale.
Husband, what is wrong? she asked with concern. Are you tired? Or do you feel unwell?
It’s nothing, Xiao Hanyuan said, trying to push the memories away. The throbbing pain in his head began to fade slightly. As he continued his work, he spoke in a casual tone. What kind of man was I before?
Su Qinghe’s heart skipped a beat. Was he beginning to suspect something?
We were betrothed to each other since we were small, she said, watching his reaction closely as she spoke. You were highly skilled in martial arts and very capable. But you offended powerful people and were hunted down by your enemies. That was how you lost your memory.
Husband… did you perhaps remember something just now? she asked tentatively.
Xiao Hanyuan suppressed the chaotic emotions rising inside him. Nothing important.
Perhaps those scenes flashing in his mind were memories of the work he used to do. Since he had been skilled with his hands, maybe he had once served as an officer or a jailer.
I see… Su Qinghe said, letting out a silent breath of relief.
Thank goodness. As long as he hadn’t remembered the truth, she could keep up the act a while longer.
But she knew she had to speed things up. She would earn as much money as she could, and as soon as she had enough, she would be gone.