Chapter 15 ☆ Drink spring water.

The afternoon sun was bright in early summer, and the road was covered with a haze. To reach the soybean field, one had to cross a suburban road. Long reeds swayed in the wind, canals alongside the road gurgled, and frogs croaked in the grass, bringing a hint of coolness.

Xie San, tall with long legs, walked quickly with a large basket on his back, showing no intention of slowing down for Cheng Yaoyao. She struggled to keep up and soon became out of breath, holding her stomach and gasping, “Slow down… Slow down, I can’t keep up…”

Cheng Yaoyao’s soft and tender panting made Xie San’s ears feel warm. He frowned and glanced back at her. The delicate girl’s cheeks were flushed from the sun, sweat trickled down her fair forehead, and her black hair clung to her temples. Even in her disheveled state, her beauty was undeniable.

Cheng Yaoyao, glancing at Xie San, immediately made a pained expression as soon as he looked back: “I really can’t walk anymore…”

Xie San stared at her with dark, expressionless eyes, “It’s only another mile.”

“Another mile?!” Cheng Yaoyao cried out and squatted on the ground, unable to rise. “We’ve been walking for a long time!”

Xie San glanced at the sky and said, “If you delay any longer, the sun will get even hotter.”

Xie San’s tall figure cast a shadow over Cheng Yaoyao’s head, blocking the sunlight either intentionally or not. Cheng Yaoyao felt some relief, squatting and saying, “I’m so thirsty, and my legs hurt. I need to rest for a while.”

Xie San’s eyes narrowed slightly, making Cheng Yaoyao timidly say, “Then… you go ahead. I’ll catch up after a short rest.”

“No,” Xie San said sternly. “The captain asked me to be responsible for your safety.”

Cheng Yaoyao retorted, “You’re also responsible for my well-being. If you leave, I’ll be exhausted.”

Xie San untied the rope from his waist and said, “The captain didn’t make me responsible for this.”

“You!” Cheng Yaoyao stared in disbelief. Who said Xie San was tongue-tied? His one sentence was enough to infuriate her, but she didn’t dare argue.

Cheng Yaoyao pouted in anger as Xie San took two steps towards her, startling her into shrinking back. “What are you doing?”

The rope in Xie San’s hand swung in front of Cheng Yaoyao’s eyes: “Do you want to go by yourself, or do it like last time?”

The rough hemp rope was still stained with blood, swinging menacingly in front of Cheng Yaoyao. Memories of the pig’s trotter buckle flashed in her mind, making her furious as she shot a hateful look at Xie San.

Xie San remained calm and asked again, “Are you coming or not?”

Could Cheng Yaoyao admit defeat? She pouted and said, “Let’s go!”

Xie San waited quietly. Cheng Yaoyao, struggling to get up, blushed and stammered, “My legs are numb…”

Xie San’s lips curled slightly as he handed the rope to her. “Hold it.”

Cheng Yaoyao grabbed the rope, and Xie San gently pulled her up. Cheng Yaoyao didn’t let go and hung her entire weight on the rope. Xie San said nothing and continued walking with the basket in one hand and Cheng Yaoyao in the other.

Cheng Yaoyao, like a disobedient pet, deliberately lagged behind, using Xie San’s strength to move forward. Xie San’s broad back was covered in sweat, his arm muscles bulged, and he held the rope firmly. Cheng Yaoyao smiled secretly, but when Xie San suddenly pulled the rope, she staggered and nearly collided with his back.

Xie San turned and glanced at her calmly. Cheng Yaoyao, feeling chastened, followed him with a sense of grievance, not daring to misbehave again.

Cheng Yaoyao had been a top beauty in both her past and present lives. Regardless of what people thought, they only flattered and cajoled her. She was also arrogant, like a princess, looking down on everyone.

How could she not feel wronged after being beaten to a pulp by a country bumpkin? Cheng Yaoyao pouted and staggered as Xie San led her away.

Walking along the path, they passed a wind and rain bridge. At the end of the bridge was a small spring, with wildflowers and grass swaying gently. The water gurgled beneath the bridge, and a cool breeze refreshed her.

Cheng Yaoyao was already sweating profusely from exhaustion. The cool breeze tempted her to hold on to the bridge pillar, but she feared Xie San would tie her up. As she struggled with her dilemma, Xie San suddenly stopped.

He set down the basket and rope and walked over to the spring. Cheng Yaoyao hurriedly followed him, her throat sore from thirst. 

As they approached, cool water vapor wafted towards them. The spring water flowed from the mountain wall, collecting in a basin-sized pool with a clear bottom. Water plants swayed softly, and transparent shrimp darted about. Purple-flowered Guanyin grass and yellow quail grass grew on the moist sand around the spring, and a broken porcelain bowl lay nearby.

Xie San splashed his face with water, droplets running down his handsome features. Cheng Yaoyao was momentarily stunned, realizing for the first time how attractive he was. His facial features were sharp and defined, and his narrow eyebrows and eyes were bright like cold stars. His lips were perfectly shaped, neither too thick nor too thin. His wheat-colored skin exuded a wild, masculine beauty.

“Are you thirsty?” Xie San’s voice snapped Cheng Yaoyao out of her reverie. She met his cold eyes and quickly looked away.

She was staring at the future boss in a daze! Cheng Yaoyao, it’s not like you haven’t seen handsome guys before—wake up!

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly splashed some water on her face, exclaiming, “Hiss, this water is so cold!”

The mountain spring water was refreshingly cool, and Cheng Yaoyao shivered as it touched her sunburned cheeks. She splashed several handfuls on her face, soothing her skin. Gazing at her reflection in the spring, she patted her cheeks and muttered to herself, “I’m all sunburned. I wonder if I’ll get sun spots. It’s over. Ultraviolet rays will accelerate skin aging…”

Cheng Yaoyao fiddled with her bangs, ensuring her appearance remained flawless. Her skin, even after three months of exposure to the elements, was still soft and smooth.

After a while, she remembered Xie San’s presence. Turning her head stiffly, she saw him leaning against the bridge pillar, arms crossed, watching her with an unreadable expression. She had no idea how long he had been observing her.

Cheng Yaoyao’s cheeks, already cold from the water, turned red again. Shamelessly, she said, “I know I’m beautiful. Go ahead, take your fill.”

Xie San silently glanced at the rope on the ground before finally saying, “Drink some water, and let’s get going.”

Cheng Yaoyao stared at the spring, then looked up at Xie San and asked, “How do I drink it? That bowl is filthy.”

The porcelain bowl had a hole in it, and it had been used by countless people. A layer of moss coated the bottom. If she had to drink from that bowl, she’d rather die on the spot.

Xie San gave her a strange look, and Cheng Yaoyao looked back at him innocently. A cool breeze blew between them, swirled around, and left.

Xie San tried to hold back but eventually couldn’t. “You don’t have hands? Or a brain?”

Cheng Yaoyao’s pretty face flushed visibly with anger. Finally, anger overcame her fear, and she scooped up some water and flung it at him. “You’re the one with no brains! How dare you say that to me!”

The water fight ended with Cheng Yaoyao exhausted. Xie San’s coat and face were soaked, and Cheng Yaoyao’s frantic splashing had muddied the spring water, making it undrinkable.

Xie San, with a cold expression, picked up a leaf and stuck it on the stone wall, letting the spring water gather and flow down. Cheng Yaoyao leaned over the tip of the leaf and took a sip, cooling her heart and sweeping away the summer heat. The water was slightly sweet.

Cheng Yaoyao drank like a kitten, licking the water with her pink tongue. Xie San, who had been wringing out his wet coat, accidentally saw this and froze.

After drinking her fill, Cheng Yaoyao refilled her kettle, wiped her mouth and hands with a handkerchief, and then stood up with satisfaction. “I’m done.”

Xie San, his muscles stiff, remained in a daze. Cheng Yaoyao poked him with her finger. “Hey…”

As she was about to touch him, Xie San dodged violently. Cheng Yaoyao pouted, “What’s with you? You’re acting weird.”

Xie San didn’t respond. He turned around, went to the spring, and drank several gulps of water before splashing some on his face. Soaked from head to toe, he half-knelt there, gasping for breath like a drowned dog.

After a long while, Xie San stood up, walked to the bridge, and picked up the basket and rope.

The rope suddenly tightened, and Cheng Yaoyao took the initiative to pull it, urging him, “Let’s go, let’s go! I’m not tired anymore!”

Cheng Yaoyao held one end of the rope and ran ahead, her black hair swinging on her back, looking light and cute.

Xie San: “…”

At that moment, a white cloud drifted across the sky, blocking the sun and bringing a rare coolness. Cheng Yaoyao stopped making trouble, and Xie San quickened his pace. They soon reached the soybean field.

Corn was interplanted in the soybean field. The green corn stalks stood neatly in rows, with purple ears sprouting. A ridge about half a meter wide was left in the middle of each row of corn to plant soybeans.

Cheng Yaoyao ran into the shade of the cornfield, fanning herself with a handkerchief, and asked Xie San, “What are we doing?”

Xie San put down the basket and rope, walked to the cornfield, and looked around before taking out two shovels. He handed the new one to Cheng Yaoyao and gave her a pair of dirty gloves. “We’re turning the soil and sowing seeds.”

“I don’t understand it at all, but I’m a fast learner.” Cheng Yaoyao put the shovel aside, spread out the gloves, and shook them, dislodging dirt and grass clippings.

She wrinkled her nose and studied the gloves, her pretty face full of seriousness, as if she were contemplating a complex problem.

Xie San smirked, about to say something, but then Cheng Yaoyao slipped on the gloves. Her slender white fingers slid into the dirty gloves, which were more than two sizes too big and hung loosely on her hands, looking quite comical.

Cheng Yaoyao adjusted her fingers and reassured herself, “It’s a little big, but I can still use it! It won’t make my fingers rough. Thank you, Xie San.”

Cheng Yaoyao suddenly looked up and gave Xie San a sweet smile.