Chapter 1: Hot Cornfield

The dark night enveloped the earth, and moonlight spread across the land. The occasional chirping of cicadas was barely audible as the bustling Liang family household finally began to quiet down.

However, in the nearby cornfield, a different kind of heat was beginning.

“Comrade, what are you doing?”

The usually composed man, confronted with the sudden softness and warmth, instinctively panicked and retreated several steps. Eventually, with no other options, he reached out to steady her around the waist as they both fell to the ground, bending several corn stalks under the weight.

The woman before him had clearly little strength, yet her slender white arms wrapped around his neck like iron bars, imprisoning him completely. He found himself stiff and immobile, his breathing quickening.

Logically, with her petite frame, how could she possibly push over a man nearly six feet tall? But the situation was complicated by the fact that he had had a few too many drinks that day. Standing by the roadside to clear his head, he was unprepared and didn’t anticipate a woman suddenly lunging at him from behind, catching him off guard.

Her warm, sweet breath, tinged with a faint scent of alcohol, drifted straight to his nose.

“What are you doing?” After a low laugh, her soft, delicate voice made his heart race like a drum. The deliberately prolonged tail of her voice rose slightly, as if hooked, “Tell me, what can a man and a woman do?”

In the next moment, his large hand, resting on her lower back, tightened suddenly.

It was the first time Fan Yanxing had been teased by a woman. After a moment of stunned silence, his expression turned very interesting, with a smirk slowly forming at the corners of his lips. He was curious to see which audacious person dared to act so “openly” in broad daylight!

But before he could brush aside her face-covering long hair, the woman herself lifted it, her delicate fingers threading through her dark hair. The ends of her hair gently brushed his nose, sending shivers through him.

A small face, no bigger than a palm, came into view. Her skin was so white that it dazzled him under the moonlight.

With her arched willow-leaf eyebrows, slightly upturned fox eyes, and a natural, charming allure, she was captivating. Her high, elegant nose and small, full red lips, which were naturally rosy with a faint pink hue, were incredibly eye-catching.

Her tall, curvaceous figure was well-proportioned. Two buttons were undone, hinting at what lay beneath, with her fullness accentuated by each breath, an undeniable presence.

Her long legs were pressed closely against his, her knees occasionally brushing against his thigh, causing the temperature to rise rapidly with each touch, combined with her sweetly uttered words.

Though he was reluctant, Fan Yanxing had to admit that this woman exuded an indescribable charm. Just a single word or glance was enough to make one’s heart itch.

“I’m just kidding. Don’t take it to heart.”

Seeing his face turn sour, the woman chuckled softly and, after saying her last line, wobbled as she tried to stand. But as soon as she moved, her body went weak, and she almost fell to the ground.

Fortunately, there was a human-shaped cushion beneath her, so she let out a soft exhale and propped herself up on his chest, steadying her balance.

The touch was firm and solid. Without even removing his clothes, she could tell how well-built he was.

At this moment, their gazes finally met. Liang Qingqing’s eyes flashed with a hint of awe, and her mind cleared a bit. It wasn’t just his impressive physique, but also his superior features. She could even say that this man fit her aesthetic perfectly.

His rugged looks, with thick brows and large eyes, smooth facial contours, and a blend of nobility and roughness…

Tsk, she was only bragging to Linlin earlier, and that guy would be green with envy. But unfortunately, she was going back home tomorrow. For the sake of years of planning, such a glamorous encounter would only end up being missed.

So, while she was still tipsy, it was about time to take some liberties with her words.

But… why had the lights in the courtyard gone out in the blink of an eye? It was pitch black and quite eerie.

Liang Qingqing muttered under her breath, her smile fading as she patted his chest and spoke again, “Sorry, I was being crazy from the alcohol. Let me buy you a drink later as an apology, anything you want.”

After saying this, as she tried to stand up again, she finally noticed something wrong.

She had been wearing a smoky pink backless gown tonight, but how had it turned into a short-sleeved shirt and long pants?

In shock, Liang Qingqing looked around, realizing that the luxurious garden she had been in was now replaced by what looked like an unknown wilderness.

“Did I get so drunk that I’m seeing things?” She mumbled in disbelief, covering her forehead with her hand, thinking she was hallucinating from the alcohol. However, the itchiness from the corn husks brushing against her feet and her clear mind kept reminding her that this was not a dream.

“Liang Qingqing! How long do you plan to keep me pinned down?”

A gritted-teeth voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts. Before she could react, she was thrown to the ground, landing on her backside.

Feeling the pain on her bottom, Liang Qingqing cried out and complained, “Do you know me? Why are you pushing me then?”

There was no man in this world who would push her around!

“I didn’t even use much force.”

“If you didn’t use much force, how could I fall?”

“…”

Fan Yanxing’s lips moved as he tried to explain but didn’t know where to start. He couldn’t exactly say he was surprised by how fragile she was, that even the slightest force could cause such a big commotion.

If he said that, given Liang Qingqing’s unreasonable nature, she would probably become even more enraged. He wouldn’t be able to leave tonight.

“You’ve had too much to drink. I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear those rude comments you made earlier.”

Fan Yanxing ignored Liang Qingqing’s words, stood up, and brushed off the grass from his clothes, preparing to leave. However, before he left, he couldn’t resist giving her a final piece of advice: “If you’re drunk, go home and sleep. What are you doing wandering around alone at this hour?”

In these times, there are many bold men who take advantage of women who are alone at night, especially when it’s dark and windy. So, even in a village, it’s not safe.

Unable to hear Fan Yanxing’s inner thoughts, Liang Qingqing could only see his disdainful face from above and his preachy words. Combined with the lingering pain in her bottom, it was like a spark igniting a fuse, causing her temper to flare.

Liang Qingqing’s eyes widened with anger. Forgetting to consider the strange change in her surroundings, she wanted to retort. However, it was as if he didn’t even see her accusatory gaze, and he turned to leave.

Seeing this, Liang Qingqing hurriedly got up and blocked his path, clenching her fists in frustration.

“When did it become any of your business where and when I wander around? What era is this? Are women not allowed to go out at night anymore? You’d think you live by the sea with how wide your concerns are.”

“Hey, stop right there! Even though you know my name, I don’t know you at all. Why are you shouting at me? Why are you lecturing me? What’s it to you if I’m wandering around a friend’s yard at night? It’s not your place!”

Liang Qingqing saw that he was treating her as if she were invisible and was trying to leave from another direction. She reached out and grabbed his arm, puffing her cheeks and looking extremely aggrieved. Her long eyelashes fluttered repeatedly as her dark eyes stubbornly fixed on him.

Everyone in her circle always catered to her, revolving around her. This was the first time something like this had happened!

Looking at the woman who seemed stubbornly seeking an explanation, Fan Yanxing’s gaze first landed on her delicate face. Though he had only seen her briefly before, he had never thought Liang Qingqing was as beautiful as others claimed. However, today he had changed his mind.

This woman was indeed stunningly beautiful, especially those fox-like eyes, which held an indescribable charm and allure. She was likely the most beautiful girl for miles around, and even in the capital city, few could compare.

But her temper… that was another story!

After pausing for a few seconds, his gaze shifted to her hand still gripping his arm. The difference between his strong build and her delicate frame was obvious. Her slender arm was only half as thick as his. With just a slight twist, it would break into two pieces.

He wondered where she found the courage to block him so recklessly.

“Speak up! Why are you shouting? I didn’t mean to—just lost my balance and pulled you a little. It was just a joke!”

“I already said I’d buy you a drink as an apology, right?”

“Hmph, with such a bad temper, shouting and pushing people around, you don’t understand how to cherish delicate things at all.”

Her honeyed voice continuously insisted on her innocence, with two out of three sentences emphasizing that he had yelled at her, as if he were the most detestable villain in the world.

Yell? Did he?

Fan Yanxing felt a throbbing pain in his temples and couldn’t help but raise his voice to refute, “I didn’t yell at you!”

As soon as he said this, her eyes visibly reddened, and the curve of her lips was so pronounced it could hang a soy sauce bottle. The hand gripping his arm also trembled with fear.

Damn it, she’s definitely going to cry.

Fan Yanxing pressed his thin lips together, feeling like giving himself a couple of slaps for getting entangled with a young girl over trivial matters.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but glance around nervously. If anyone saw this scene, he would have a hard time explaining himself—what a mess!

But he didn’t expect that, instead of crying, she turned into an angry wildcat, her entire body bristling. She stomped hard on his foot and angrily shouted, “Cheapskate, uncouth bastard!”

Still not satisfied, she stomped on him two more times.

Fan Yanxing furrowed his brows, thinking that once she calmed down from her drunken frenzy, he’d quickly leave while no one was watching to avoid any more trouble. He decided to let her minor tantrum slide, treating it like a mere itch.

“I’m not buying you a drink! You don’t deserve it!”

Having vented all her frustrations, Liang Qingqing turned and stomped off, taking several big steps. But halfway through, she came to a halt, staring at the tall corn stalks blocking her path.

She was dumbfounded.

Her mind finally caught up, and she remembered the most important thing!

Where exactly was she? What was going on? How had she ended up in a cornfield?

Her lips quivered.

Liang Qingqing looked back at the only other person around, just in time to see him walking away. Without thinking of anything else, she hurried to catch up and managed to grab the corner of his shirt at the edge of the main road.