Qin Jizhi also felt a bit awkward. In his twenty-two years of life, he had barely had any contact with girls. The words he had spoken to the opposite sex in just one day today already exceeded what he had said in the past several years combined.
Moreover, Yu Qiaoqiao was the kind of person who acted freely and didn’t follow conventional rules. Several things she said left him completely unsure how to respond.
“I don’t blame you. If one day you figure things out and want a divorce, I won’t stop you.”
Although Yu Qiaoqiao hadn’t shown any disgust or impatience toward him today, there was no guarantee that over time she wouldn’t regret it.
After all, compared to a clean, educated urban youth, he—an injured cripple—had no advantage at all.
On top of that, Yu Qiaoqiao probably still had feelings for Zhao Lijie. Toward him, it was likely only sympathy, or even pity.
He didn’t dare hope for anything, nor did he want to delay her life.
Yu Qiaoqiao looked at the man lying in bed, clearly unsettled, and couldn’t help but internally roll her eyes. This man was probably used to being looked down on—so much so that he had strong self-esteem yet was overly sensitive.
And she was not someone who liked beating around the bush. She said what she meant. Misunderstandings were absolutely unacceptable—especially between a married couple.
She set the basin down and walked over to Qin Jizhi. Leaning down, she got very close to him.
“What kind of nonsense are you thinking about? I have absolutely no feelings for that Zhao Lijie. Never did in the past, and definitely won’t in the future.”
Because she suddenly leaned in too close, a flush immediately spread across Qin Jizhi’s ears and neck. He awkwardly cleared his throat.
“Yu Qiaoqiao comrade, y-you… you… you should move back a little.”
They were so close that even their breaths seemed tangled together.
Qin Jizhi felt like he could barely breathe.
Yu Qiaoqiao almost burst out laughing in her heart. Men of this era were really pure and innocent.
Who knew why this “species” seemed almost extinct in later generations?
She felt a playful urge rise in her. Looking straight at him, she suddenly reached out, cupped his face, and before he could react, kissed him on the cheek.
Afterward, she looked at him mischievously.
“If you keep overthinking things, I’ll kiss you again.”
“You—you—you—” Qin Jizhi stammered for a long time but couldn’t form a coherent sentence. His neck turned visibly red.
Yu Qiaoqiao smiled, picked up the basin again, and left. Before going, she even teased him.
“Be good and wait for me to come back.”
After she left, Qin Jizhi remained alone in the room. His face was still burning hot. He subconsciously raised his hand to touch his cheek, then quickly pulled it back as if startled.
He closed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.
As he thought, the corners of his lips slowly lifted into a faint smile.
Yu Qiaoqiao carried a basin of dirty clothes to the river and began washing them one by one.
Halfway through, footsteps sounded behind her.
She turned her head and immediately saw someone she did not want to see.
“Disgusting.”
She rolled her eyes and continued washing.
“Yu Qiaoqiao, what did you just say?” Zhao Lijie walked over and squatted beside her, trying to meet her eye level. “Are you still angry?”
Yu Qiaoqiao didn’t even look at him. “Get lost. Don’t get in my way.”
“Qiaoqiao, that day—it wasn’t what you think. Me and Shanshan, we…”
Yu Qiaoqiao stood up impatiently and splashed the water in her basin directly onto him. Zhao Lijie jumped up in shock.
“Yu Qiaoqiao, have you gone crazy?”
“The crazy one is you, thinking the whole world revolves around you,” she said coldly, lifting her washing paddle. “Let me tell you—if you see me again, take a detour. Otherwise don’t blame me for being rude.”
Zhao Lijie quickly stepped back.
This shrew!
If he hadn’t needed the cloth vouchers she had, he wouldn’t have bothered lowering himself to talk to her at all.
Suppressing his annoyance, he forced a smile.
“Qiaoqiao, about those cloth vouchers you mentioned before—can you give them to me now? I need them urgently.”
In the past, no matter how angry Yu Qiaoqiao got, as long as Zhao Lijie spoke gently and said a few nice words, she would willingly hand over everything she had.
This time, Zhao Lijie expected the same.
Instead, he was met with a basin of cold water.
Yu Qiaoqiao looked at him like he was an idiot.
“You reminded me. I almost forgot. I previously gave you two grain coupons, three cloth vouchers, and you also borrowed twenty yuan from me. Pay it all back today.”
To please Zhao Lijie, the original Yu Qiaoqiao had stolen money and ration tickets from her grandmother and father, all of which ended up in Zhao Lijie’s hands.
Because of that, she had been beaten many times at home.
Yet every time, after just a few sweet words from Zhao Lijie, she felt even getting beaten was worth it.
“What did you say? You want me to return all that to you?”
“Why? Got addicted to dreaming?” Yu Qiaoqiao sneered. “I used to feel sorry for you, so I lent them to you. If you don’t return them, I’ll go tell everyone what I saw yesterday.”
“That ‘obedient and proper’ Yu Shanshan—should I let the whole village know what kind of ‘good girl’ she really is? Not even married yet and already hugging a man? I’m sure that’ll be quite entertaining for everyone.”
She pretended to head toward the brigade office.
Zhao Lijie panicked instantly. If she really spread rumors there, Yu Shanshan’s reputation would be ruined.
He hadn’t expected Yu Qiaoqiao to suddenly act like this.
It seemed like she really was acting out of jealousy—was this because she still had feelings for him?
Thinking of this, Zhao Lijie looked at her with a disappointed expression.
“Qiaoqiao, what do I have to do for you to believe me? My feelings for Shanshan aren’t what you think. The one I truly like… is you.”
He put on a deeply affectionate look, but Yu Qiaoqiao found it almost laughable. In her previous life, the original owner had been completely fooled by this pretty face.
“Zhao Lijie, since you keep saying you like me, then you shouldn’t mind returning everything you owe me, right?”
Zhao Lijie choked.
He hadn’t expected her to suddenly become so difficult.
“Qiaoqiao, I really don’t have that much money right now. My family will send me money in a few days—I’ll return it to you then, okay?” He tried to reach out and grab her hand.
Although he truly liked Yu Shanshan, that didn’t stop him from keeping Yu Qiaoqiao on the side. In truth, Yu Qiaoqiao was even prettier than Yu Shanshan—just too fiery and uncontrollable. That’s why he had only ever been stringing her along.
Before his hand could reach her, Yu Qiaoqiao stepped hard on his foot.