Seeing Duan Wujiu’s expression, Liu Zhiheng quickly understood.
Right—he wanted her to send the guest away.
“Chuncao, my cousin must be hungry. Our family needs to prepare for a meal, and I have to cook. How about you come back to play tomorrow?”
Chuncao hurriedly stood up, about to leave, but suddenly remembered the package tucked in her sleeve.
Today’s visit wasn’t just about Xie Gege’s request—she had another plan…
She still had something important to do.
“Then… then let me help you cook! I always cook at home, and I often help Xie Gege with cooking too!”
“That’s not good… I…”
Chuncao cut Liu Zhiheng off. “Don’t be polite with me!”
Without waiting for Liu Zhiheng’s refusal, Chuncao dashed straight to the kitchen, leaving Liu Zhiheng and Duan Wujiu at the doorway staring at each other.
“You seemed to be having quite a pleasant chat…” Duan Wujiu couldn’t help but sound sarcastic. “So busy all morning that you didn’t have time to talk to me…”
Seriously? Was he jealous of a girl too?
Duan Wujiu walked into the room, looking displeased.
“It seems only I miss A Heng, but A Heng never misses me.” Duan Wujiu’s tone carried a hint of grievance.
From the other room, Duan Wujiu had heard Liu Zhiheng chatting with someone, from the east end of the village to the west, from pockmarks to widows, growing more and more cheerful—without sparing a single thought for him.
Liu Zhiheng quickly went over to coax him, tugging at Duan Wujiu’s sleeve and whispering, “I had to entertain her. If I’d sent her away, wouldn’t it have looked like I had something to hide? If I had to choose, I’d always prefer spending time with Xuelang the most.”
She wasn’t lying. Though she enjoyed gossiping with Chuncao, if forced to choose, cuddling and kissing a beauty was definitely more exciting.
Duan Wujiu knew Liu Zhiheng wasn’t lying, and his mood improved slightly.
Seeing Duan Wujiu remain silent, Liu Zhiheng tugged his sleeve again.
“Cousin… don’t be mad at me, okay? How about I play chess with you this afternoon?”
Liu Zhiheng noticed that Duan Wujiu’s ears had turned red at some point. He looked somewhat awkward, cleared his throat, and glanced at Liu Zhiheng with an unnatural expression.
“What did you just call me?”
“Huh?” Liu Zhiheng realized and tentatively repeated, “Cousin?”
“Mm…”
The blush on Duan Wujiu’s ears spread to his face.
Tsk, tsk. Liu Zhiheng could tell—Duan Wujiu liked being called “gege.” She’d have to call him that more often next time.
“Does Xuelang like it when I call you cousin?” Liu Zhiheng teased.
The suspicious blush on Duan Wujiu’s face hadn’t faded yet. He lowered his gaze and said softly, “Because it sounds closer to A Heng… I don’t want to be someone who has no connection to A Heng.”
Liu Zhiheng’s steel-like heart was struck again, instantly softening.
Yes, Duan Wujiu remembered nothing. Apart from her, he had no one familiar in this world. Naturally, he wanted to have some ties to it.
“Alright, cousin. After the meal, your cousin will stay with you the whole time, okay?”
Duan Wujiu nodded, his face still flushed.
“Then sit for a while. I’ll go check on the kitchen. We can’t really let Chuncao cook for us—she’s a guest.”
Liu Zhiheng lifted her skirt to leave but was stopped by Duan Wujiu.”I’ll go…” Duan Wujiu paused, a faint blush coloring his cheeks as he said hoarsely, “Cousin, you rest.”
Duan Wujiu turned and left, and Liu Zhiheng couldn’t help but chuckle.
Hmm, this cousin is really getting into character.
In the kitchen, Chuncao stood by the water vat in the corner, holding the packet of medicine. But after thinking for a long time, she tremblingly put it away again.
She couldn’t do this to Liu Zhiheng.
Although Liu Zhiheng had been harsh to her before, she had never actually done anything to harm her. But if she used this medicine, she would be ruining Liu Zhiheng.
Having made up her mind and stowed the medicine away, Chuncao turned to leave, only to see Duan Wujiu standing at the doorway.
Chuncao was startled, unsure if he had seen anything.
Flustered, she began to stammer.
“Y-y-you, how long have you been standing there?”
Fortunately, Liu Zhiheng also walked over at that moment.
“What are you two doing standing here?” Liu Zhiheng looked at Chuncao. “Chuncao, don’t trouble yourself. How can we let a guest cook? I’ll do it. Go sit for a while and have lunch at my place.”
“No, I just remembered my brother should be getting up soon. I need to go back and cook for him. I… I’ll be going now…”
Chuncao lowered her head and hurriedly ran off.
After Chuncao left, Liu Zhiheng frowned and looked at Duan Wujiu, asking, “Why did she run off? Did you say something to scare her?”
“I didn’t say a word. Perhaps my appearance is frightening.”
Liu Zhiheng looked Duan Wujiu up and down. Such an exceptionally elegant gentleman was indeed quite intimidating.
“Maybe she was frightened by Xuelang’s handsome looks…”
After saying this, Liu Zhiheng didn’t glance at the slightly embarrassed Duan Wujiu and went straight to prepare lunch.
Duan Wujiu shook his head helplessly with a smile, then walked alone to the water vat where Chuncao had been standing earlier. He crouched down and felt the ground.
There was a small amount of medicine powder that Chuncao had accidentally spilled earlier. Though not much, Duan Wujiu could still detect an aphrodisiac component in it.
An aphrodisiac?
Duan Wujiu stood up and sniffed the water in the vat.
The water in the vat was fine—clean and uncontaminated.
So she intended to drug them but backed out and regretted it halfway?
Somehow, Duan Wujiu actually felt a bit disappointed.
That Chuncao, she really is useless…
Chuncao returned home in a daze, her mind still replaying the events at Liu Zhiheng’s house.
As soon as she entered the courtyard gate, she saw her brother stretching lazily as he walked out of the kitchen.
Chuncao’s brother, Fang Chengcai, was much burlier than the average person, with extremely thick body hair and an aura of rough, brutish arrogance.
Seeing Chuncao return, Fang Dalang flew into a rage. He kicked her in the stomach, sending her sprawling to the ground.
Chuncao clutched her stomach, sweating from the pain but not daring to make a sound.
If she cried out, her brother would only beat her harder.
“Where have you been all morning? Didn’t even make breakfast. Trying to starve your brother to death, are you? You worthless wench! Who knows whose bed you’ve been crawling into again?”
Chuncao, eyes red, got up without daring to utter a single complaint.
“I didn’t know you’d wake up early today. I’ll go make breakfast right away.”
Chuncao was long accustomed to her brother’s frequent beatings and insults. She headed to the kitchen to prepare his breakfast, but when she looked down, she realized the packet of medicine had fallen from her sleeve onto the ground.Chuncao wanted to pick it up, but her brother snatched it first.
“Wait! What is this?”