Mu Youyou bit her lip and slowly climbed onto his back.
Gu Beiting’s back was solid and broad, full of masculine strength.
Lying on his back, Mu Youyou felt very safe.
“This slope is so steep… are you sure you can manage?” Mu Youyou asked, a little worried.
“Don’t worry, it’s fine. This slope is nothing for me,” he replied.
Gu Beiting carried Mu Youyou and smoothly climbed up the hillside.
He took the basket off her back and slung it over his own shoulder.
“Can you walk on your own?” Gu Beiting asked, now that he had confirmed she had no injuries.
“I can. Look,” Mu Youyou jumped a few times in front of him.
“How did you fall before?” Gu Beiting asked, spotting the rabbit and guessing the reason.
“Chasing a rabbit,” Mu Youyou said, a little embarrassed.
“Hm,” Gu Beiting stifled a laugh—just as he had suspected.
On the way back, Gu Beiting casually cut a few bamboo stalks to bring home.
“You’re okay, right?” Back at the family housing, Li Yumei anxiously waited at the gate.
“I’m fine, Yumei-jie. I just fell down the hillside and couldn’t climb back up.” Li Yumei’s kindness made Mu Youyou feel warm inside.
“That’s good to hear. I’ll go back to cook then.”
“Mm. Thank you, Yumei-jie, for today,” Mu Youyou smiled gratefully.
“You’re welcome,” Li Yumei said, heading into her yard.
“Aren’t you going to training?” Mu Youyou asked, seeing Gu Beiting taking the bamboo to the backyard.
“No,” Gu Beiting glanced at the time—there were only thirty minutes left.
“Then can you help me kill the rabbit?” Mu Youyou looked at him. She didn’t dare kill living things; in her time, supermarkets and markets sold pre-slaughtered meat.
“Sure,” Gu Beiting nodded.
“Can you handle spicy? Let’s make spicy rabbit meat,” Mu Youyou said, blinking her bright eyes at him.
“Alright,” Gu Beiting smiled at her expression.
Originally, Mu Youyou had planned to make spicy shrimp for lunch, but now she could only think of the rabbit that had caused her fall. Since she couldn’t eat that one, she’d eat another of its kind.
To prevent the shrimp from spoiling in the heat, Mu Youyou placed them in the well to cool.
She also took out the leftover twice-cooked pork from yesterday, picked a few chili peppers, and washed two cucumbers to make smashed cucumbers.
Soon, Gu Beiting had killed the rabbit and chopped it into pieces, sitting nearby to help tend the fire.
While making the spicy rabbit, Mu Youyou lined corn cakes around the pot and used another pot to fry the twice-cooked pork.
The aroma of rabbit meat filled the kitchen. Gu Beiting couldn’t help but sniff the air.
When the rabbit was ready, Mu Youyou served two bowls, handing one to Gu Beiting.
“Take this bowl of rabbit to Yumei-jie’s house. If she hadn’t gone looking for you today, I don’t know how long I would’ve stayed at the hillside bottom,” she said. Gu Beiting should find Deputy Battalion Commander Cui at home at this time.
“Alright.” Gu Beiting set down the firewood and carried the bowl out.
Deputy Battalion Commander Cui opened the door.
“Here, my wife thanks your wife,” Gu Beiting handed over the bowl.
“I could smell it from your kitchen just now,” Cui accepted it without hesitation. Their kitchens were next to each other. Earlier, he had been drooling over the smell, and Li Yumei had scolded him.
Gu Beiting was about to turn back when Cui called out, “You’ve been at this house so long, and your wife has been here a few days—when will you treat us to a meal?”
Gu Beiting glanced at him. “My wife doesn’t cook for others,” he said, then turned and left without another word.
“Eh, such a stingy man,” Cui muttered, sniffing the aroma before returning inside to eat the rabbit.
When Gu Beiting returned home, Mu Youyou had already placed the food on the table.
“You’re back. Wash your hands and eat,” she said, arranging the bowls and chopsticks.
“Mm,” Gu Beiting nodded.
“You didn’t bring the water bottle back, right? You can take mine this afternoon—I’ve already filled the mung bean soup,” she said. He must have gone straight to the mountain after training.
“Okay,” Gu Beiting initially wanted to refuse.
They sat down to eat. Mu Youyou picked a piece of rabbit leg and placed it in Gu Beiting’s bowl.
“Eat quickly, it’s delicious.”
“Mm, you eat too,” Gu Beiting placed a piece in her bowl.
“Okay,” Mu Youyou smiled sweetly at him.
The lunch atmosphere was warm. After the meal, Gu Beiting voluntarily cleared the table—washing dishes had now become his task.
After eating, Mu Youyou returned to her room to start translating.
Gu Beiting, after tidying up, glanced at her room before going to the backyard to set up the vegetable frame.
An hour later, Gu Beiting had finished setting up the frame, sweating heavily. Removing his shirt to fetch water and cool off, he ran into Mu Youyou, who had come to get water.
Seeing his muscular chest and firm abs, Mu Youyou blushed and felt her heart race, swallowing nervously.
“Ah, um… I’ll… pour the water,” she stammered, walking to the table.
Gu Beiting, slightly embarrassed, smiled at her reaction.
Mu Youyou took a few gulps of water, realizing her earlier awkwardness, and quickly ran back to her room.
Watching her flee, Gu Beiting couldn’t help but laugh; the little girl seemed quite impressed with his physique.
“Uuu… Caicai,” Mu Youyou hid in the space as soon as she entered her room.
“Sis, Gu Beiting is still outside. You’re coming in now?” Caicai kicked her out of the space without mercy.
“Caicai, do you have any humanity left?” Mu Youyou complained.
“Sis, you’ve fallen for Gu Beiting,” Caicai shook its mechanical head.
The number above her head showed: Favorability 100, Love 0. Mu Youyou had already fallen for Gu Beiting.
“So fast?” Mu Youyou covered her face.
“Who made you drool over him?” Caicai said helplessly.
“Ah… stop talking,” Mu Youyou hid under the blanket.
“Sis, you even swallowed just now—I’m sure Gu Beiting heard it,” Caicai revealed mercilessly.
“Just dig a hole and bury me,” Mu Youyou groaned.
“Murdering the host will destroy me too,” Caicai replied, harvesting fruits and grains with the farm system.
“….”
“Knock knock knock.” Gu Beiting knocked at the door. “I’m off to training.”
“Okay,” Mu Youyou replied without opening the door.
Gu Beiting smiled at her and turned to leave with the water bottle.
Not long after, Gu Beiting returned from training, rushing back with two water bottles.
He knocked on Mu Youyou’s door.
“Why are you back?” Mu Youyou opened the door, puzzled.