Chapter 71: Driven Mad with Jealousy

Zhao Zirui still didn’t react.

Li Xinyue was a little displeased. She walked over and tugged at Zhao Zirui’s sleeve. “Zirui?”

“Huh?” Zhao Zirui finally snapped out of it. “Xinyue, what is it?”

Seeing his expression, Li Xinyue felt even more annoyed.

“I just talked to you—did you even hear what I said?”

Feeling guilty, Zhao Zirui hesitated. “No…”

Li Xinyue’s voice rose slightly. “Then what were you thinking about?”

“The house renovations.”

“What’s there to think about…”

Liu Wei took one look at the situation and figured these two were about to start arguing again.

She curled her lips and quietly slipped away.

She spotted Song Yue preparing fish.

Her first instinct was to make some snide remark.

But just as the words reached her lips, Song Yue lifted her head and looked at her.

Her expression was calm and unreadable.

Liu Wei felt a chill down her spine.

She swallowed nervously and silently forced the words back down, then quickly retreated back into the house.

Song Yue smirked slightly and turned her attention back to the fish.

Lin He approached with a smile. “Comrade Song, having fish for dinner tonight?”

Song Yue replied blandly, “Mm.”

Lin He asked, “Where’d you get it?”

“From the village river.”

“Not bad! Next time, take me with you?”

Song Yue gave him a light glance. “We’ll see next time.”

Lin He didn’t get the answer he was hoping for, and he felt a little disappointed.

But he didn’t show it. Instead, he grinned and nodded. “Alright then.”

Lin He left and sat inside for a bit before starting to cook.

Meanwhile, Song Yue’s rice was ready.

She set it aside and prepared to fry and braise the fish.

Just as she started frying the fish—

A rough voice called out, “Song Yue, Lin He, Li Xinyue, Zhao Zirui—who are you?”

Everyone at the educated youth spot looked up.

A tall, burly man with tanned skin strode in, followed by eight men of varying ages.

Each of the eight carried different tools.

With their leader’s fierce brows and aggressive demeanor, they looked like they had come to stir up trouble.

Song Yue and the others: “…”

Some of the older educated youths looked on with schadenfreude, while others seemed concerned.

Song Yue flipped the fish in the pan. “I’m Song Yue.”

Lin He followed immediately. “I’m Lin He.”

“I—” Li Xinyue instinctively started to speak, but Zhao Zirui cut her off.

“Let’s not say anything yet and see what’s going on.”

Li Xinyue nodded and fell silent.

The burly man, Li San, frowned. “Zhao Zirui, Li Xinyue—are you here or not?”

The older educated youths shifted their gazes to the two, some amused, some curious.

Niu Yifan enthusiastically pointed. “That’s them.”

Li San turned to look and saw them sitting there, silent.

He frowned deeper, his tone displeased. “You’re right here—why aren’t you speaking?”

Li San already had a fierce look. With his frown, it seemed like he was about to throw a punch at any moment.

Li Xinyue shrank toward Zhao Zirui in fear.

Zhao Zirui stiffened, trying to put some distance between them.

Li San swept his gaze over the four of them before stepping forward. “I’m Li San. You four are the ones building houses, right?”

Inside the house, Liu Wei perked up at the mention of house construction. She immediately sat up and sneaked to the door to peek outside.

Li San held up a blueprint. “This is the house plan.”

“Take a look.”

“If there’s no problem, we’ll build it as is and start construction right away.”

“Who wants to see it first?”

Li San caught a whiff of something delicious. He glanced at Song Yue’s pan.

Golden, crispy fried fish.

And the oil in the pan…

His first thought: City girls sure are wasteful.

Lin He stepped forward. “I’ll look first.”

Li San came back to his senses and handed him the blueprint.

Another one was for Li Xinyue.

Li Xinyue was too afraid of Li San to step forward, so she made Zhao Zirui go instead.

Zhao Zirui was also scared but didn’t want to lose face. He forced himself to walk over and take the blueprint.

Lin He held up his own blueprint and showed it to Song Yue. “Your hands are busy. I’ll hold it—just take a glance.”

Song Yue responded, “Mm.”

She scanned it quickly. “No problem.”

Lin He smiled. “Same here.”

“I’ll take it to Zhao Zirui.”

He turned and left.

Li San glanced between Lin He and the pale, delicate girl handling fish, deep in thought.

Then he looked away and said, “Song Yue, Lin He, Zhao Zirui—your house layouts are all the same.”

“Only Li Xinyue’s is different since she has an extra room, but there’s not much difference.”

“Mm,” Song Yue replied indifferently. “No problem.”

Lin He: “Same here.”

Zhao Zirui: “Same.”

Li Xinyue: “Same.”

Li San looked at them. “Alright, if there’s no issue, we’ll start construction.”

“We’re heading over now. If you want to watch, come along.”

“Let’s go.”

Li San was a man of action. He came abruptly and left just as quickly.

Lin He called after him, “Take care.”

Li San led his men away.

None of the four followed to watch.

Song Yue and Lin He continued cooking.

Meanwhile, Li Xinyue and Zhao Zirui were acting lovey-dovey as usual. They had Liu Wei cooking for them, so they weren’t in a rush.

Liu Wei was secretly overjoyed to hear that construction was starting.

She spent a long moment celebrating in the room before finally suppressing her excitement and going out to cook.

Among the older educated youths, someone couldn’t hold back their curiosity.

“Comrade Li, everyone else is building single-room houses. Why are you building two?”

The one speaking was Wu Yun, a female educated youth.

Zhu Jing laughed. “Comrade Wu, isn’t it obvious? Li Xinyue and Zhao Zirui are dating.”

“That extra room must be for Zhao Zirui.”

Niu Yifan jumped in, “But isn’t Zhao Zirui already building his own house?”

Wu Yun agreed. “Yeah, if he has his own, why does he need another one?”

Wu Yun turned to Li Xinyue. “Seriously, Comrade Li, is that necessary?”

Without thinking, Li Xinyue blurted out, “It’s for Comrade Liu. She’s living with me.”

The older educated youths were stunned.

Liu Wei, who had been busy cooking, froze.

She never expected Li Xinyue to say that.

And in front of everyone, no less. She couldn’t even describe the feeling—it definitely wasn’t happiness.

Zhao Zirui was also displeased. He couldn’t understand why Li Xinyue had to say that out loud.

Niu Yifan’s eyes widened. “Comrade Li, you’re building it for Comrade Liu? You mean you’re paying for it?”

Li Xinyue immediately shot back, “If I’m not paying, are you?”

The older educated youths: “!!!!!”

Li Xinyue was the one paying!!!