CHAPTER 10

“Stop! Stop! It’s me!”

Xu Yi didn’t care who it was. Fearless and daring, even if it were the King of Heaven himself, he would still land a kick for good measure.

“Ow!”

Wen Yang stood up and turned on the bathroom light.

Hu Lishi was kneeling on the ground, curling up his body. Slowly, he turned his head and gave Xu Yi a fawning smile.

“I’m not a bad person.”

In the dim corner of the light, Wen Yang couldn’t see clearly and asked Xu Yi, “Do you know him? Is he with you?”

“No idea. Just a delusional lunatic,” Xu Yi replied dismissively.

Wen Yang felt there was a double meaning in Xu Yi’s words. If he didn’t know him, how could he judge him so confidently? Most likely, this guy was somehow related to the young master.

Xu Yi nudged him with the tip of his shoe, impatiently saying, “Get up.”

Lin Minjing heard the commotion and ran downstairs. “What’s going on? What happened?”

Wen Yang answered, “Caught a thief.”

Hu Lishi wanted to argue that he wasn’t a thief. What treasure could there possibly be in a poor mountain household worth sneaking in at night? But then he thought again—indeed, these two in front of him were the real treasures.

He could only lament his failure to be more discreet and cautious. Losing this time might make it harder to succeed in the future.

At this hour, the entire village was asleep except for the warm lights in Wen Yang’s house.

In the living room, Xu Yi and Wen Yang stood side by side, interrogating the “criminal.”

“Young Master Xu, I just wanted to talk to this young lady. I left in a hurry last time and didn’t explain many things, which may have scared her. I deeply apologize for that.” Hu Lishi looked at them earnestly, his expression full of sincerity and regret.

“This time, you scared me too,” Wen Yang said, refusing to play along with his charade. She pulled up a chair, sat down, and examined her arm. He had tried to ambush her with a bag over her head, but maybe due to first-time nerves, he botched the timing. Her smooth, fair skin now bore red, swollen scratches and faint impressions left by gravel.

She stared at his two crooked mustache strands, recalling the time he had visited before and was mistaken for a lunatic. Now it seemed he really was a lunatic with screws loose.

Hu Lishi noticed her gaze and saw the bruises on her arm. A pang of guilt and regret swept over him—his rough actions had hurt a future star. That flawless porcelain skin was now scarred, lowering its worth. He cursed himself for his carelessness.

Xu Yi, having been pestered by him a few times before, saw through his ulterior motives. “You want her to join the entertainment industry.”

“Yes, yes!” Hu Lishi leaned forward, nodding eagerly.

“A star?” Lin Minjing murmured to herself. She racked her brain but couldn’t recall any part of the novel mentioning Wen Yang being scouted. With her ambitious and competitive personality, if becoming a big star could overshadow Xiao Yan, she wouldn’t have let such an opportunity slip. Why then, in the later chapters, was she just an ordinary office worker?

“Do you want to talk to him?” Xu Yi asked. To him, the entertainment industry was a filthy swamp. For a powerless village girl like her, it would be hard to survive. But if she truly wanted it, he had no position to stop her.

“What’s there to talk about with someone who tried to hurt me?” Wen Yang replied flatly.

“I had my reasons,” Hu Lishi blurted, scrambling to explain. “I just saw someone born to be a star. I believe you can carve out your own place in the entertainment world!”

“But I’m underage, haven’t even finished high school, and I’m just a kid from the mountains with no backing or connections. Do you really think a pretty face is enough to easily become a star? It’s not that simple, is it?” Wen Yang enumerated her current circumstances and concluded, “I prefer a steadier path. There’s nothing wrong with focusing on my studies.”

Xu Yi felt a taut string inside him suddenly relax. His lips curled slightly as he gave her a look of approval. The girl had her head screwed on straight.

Lin Minjing marveled at Wen Yang’s clarity. Her demeanor now bore no trace of the scheming, malicious villainess from the story. Still, perhaps Wen Yang was just trying to score points, building a virtuous image in front of her and Xu Yi. Clever move for a supposed villainess.

“I will personally introduce you to the best manager and ensure you avoid any dirty dealings,” Hu Lishi persisted.

“No need. Breaking and entering with intent to kidnap is enough to put you behind bars for a while,” Wen Yang said, leaving no room for negotiation. “I’m calling the police. Don’t think you can get away with this.”

Then, like a queen issuing commands, she ordered her “manservant” Xu Yi, “You handle the rest.” Without another glance, she went upstairs.

“Wait!” Hu Lishi called out.

Xu Yi gripped his shoulder and shoved him back down. “Sit still,” he said coldly.

Pulling out his phone, Xu Yi’s voice was devoid of emotion as he remarked, “You seem awfully free.”

Hu Lishi winced in pain but dared not cry out, realizing he had truly infuriated Xu Yi this time.

Xu Yi dialed a number. “Zhang Yuan.”

“Young Master.”

“Come pick someone up and take them to the police station. Charges: trespassing and attempted abduction.”

Zhang Yuan was stunned. Who had the audacity to try and kidnap his young master? “Young Master! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Should I bring a doctor? Better yet, why don’t you come back?”

“I’m fine. Just get here,” Xu Yi interrupted, hanging up before Zhang Yuan could nag further.

Xu Yi stayed up all night guarding Hu Lishi. There was no sofa to rest on, so when he got tired of sitting, he would stand and stretch his legs. Meanwhile, Hu Lishi, unable to fight off his drowsiness, fell asleep on the spot.

As dawn broke and the rooster crowed, familiar voices came from outside. Zhang Yuan had arrived with a doctor and bodyguards.

“Young Master!”

Xu Yi frowned and strode toward him. “Keep your voice down.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

“Take him away. Let him reflect on his actions in custody.”

“Understood,” Zhang Yuan said, lowering his voice. “I brought the doctor. Would you like to get checked?”

Xu Yi was about to refuse but changed his mind. “Later.”

“Where are you hurt?” Zhang Yuan scanned him anxiously, finally spotting a dried blood scab on his elbow. “Is this…?”

“It’s nothing,” Xu Yi replied, brushing off his concern. “You keep an eye on him. I’m going to change.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Xu Yi headed upstairs, Zhang Yuan glared daggers at the sleeping Hu Lishi. He couldn’t act now, but on the way back, all bets were off.

When Xu Yi came back down, he found Wen Yang dressed head to toe in protective clothing.

The two met at the staircase, one going up and the other coming down.

Xu Yi asked, “What’s with the outfit?”

“Cutting grass.”

“For what?”

“Pig feed.”

“Is it fun?”

Wen Yang stopped, letting him catch up, and turned to look at him. “You want to come?”

Xu Yi met her gaze, blinking unintentionally. His tone was lazy. “I’m supervising you.”

“Then you should put on a jacket.”

Xu Yi didn’t say a word and strode out the door.

Standing at the doorway, he saw Wen Yang not far away, carrying a bamboo basket three times wider than her frame. Like an old man leisurely strolling, she moved slowly, her hands clasped behind her back. He lightened his footsteps and followed her unhurriedly.

After trailing her for some distance and realizing she still hadn’t noticed him, Xu Yi wanted to comment on her lack of vigilance. If she encountered someone with bad intentions, she could have been abducted countless times by now.

“You didn’t realize I was behind you?” Xu Yi suddenly broke the silence.

“I knew.”

Her response left Xu Yi at a loss for words. Should he ask, If you knew, why didn’t you turn around and call me over? But such an undignified question wasn’t something he’d ever voice.

Instead, he changed the subject. “How much farther do we have to go?”

“Who knows.”

Xu Yi was beginning to find her calm demeanor infuriating. “You’re doing this on purpose to annoy me.”

Wen Yang: [Which way do I turn?]

System: [Turn right… Host, stop talking to him.]

The system was still holding a grudge. Last time, Xu Yi disrupted the plotline for the villainous supporting character, earning it a scolding from its superiors.

Wen Yang stepped off the dirt path and turned onto a narrow trail overgrown with weeds and scattered with stones. After walking straight and then turning right, they arrived at a field full of tall pigweed.

Beyond the pigweed stood a dense, dark bamboo forest, its towering stalks blocking out the sunlight entirely. Only the outermost bamboo bent slightly in the light.

Wen Yang set down her bamboo basket and began wielding her sickle to cut the grass. Her movements were smooth and efficient, showing no signs of struggle.

Watching her work, Xu Yi found himself inexplicably feeling a pang of pity for her. No, wait! He quickly shook his head vigorously, trying to rid himself of such ridiculous thoughts.

Wen Yang had the tip of her sickle pressed against his leg now. Standing up to take a break, she said, “Move aside; don’t block the way.”

It was late autumn, but the temperature remained uncomfortably warm. She was bundled up so tightly that sweat dripped down her face and neck.

After resting, Wen Yang resumed cutting along the edges of the field.

Xu Yi thought this girl had a knack for riling people up. Frustrated, he decided to be blunt. “I saved you last night and even got injured. Don’t you think you owe me something?”

Wen Yang paused her work, straightened her sore back, and stared unblinkingly into Xu Yi’s eyes. After a long moment, she gave him a thumbs-up, complete with a sarcastic grin. “You’re so cool.”

Xu Yi was stunned for a moment, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face.

“Ahem!” He coughed into his fist, looking up at the sky. But the corner of his mouth betrayed a slight upward twitch. Fine, he decided to let it slide.

“I’ll help you for a bit.” Without waiting for her consent, he grabbed the sickle from her hands and began cutting pigweed, mimicking her movements.

Seeing someone eager to take over her work, Wen Yang happily let him. Naturally, she wasn’t going to stop him.

On the way back, it was Xu Yi who carried the now-overloaded bamboo basket. The pigweed brushed against his head, but he didn’t seem to mind.

In the courtyard, Zhang Yuan was pacing around, clearly uneasy. He couldn’t believe their young master had been living in such a place for almost a month now.

“Young Master!” Zhang Yuan’s eyes widened as he saw Xu Yi walk in, carrying a basket of pigweed taller than himself. He was utterly dumbfounded. Young Master, have you completely given up on your image?

Had their young master been successfully transformed by the influence of this countryside girl? He was barely recognizable from the arrogant, rebellious troublemaker he used to be.

Zhang Yuan wasn’t the only one shocked. The family doctor and bodyguards who came with him wore the exact same astonished expressions.

This was Xu Yi’s first time stepping into the backyard, and the stench nearly overwhelmed him. The smell wasn’t too strong in the front yard, but here, it was suffocating.

Wen Yang instructed him to dump the grass out so she could chop it up to feed the pigs.

Xu Yi glanced over at the filthy, bony pigs in the pen and asked incredulously, “Do you feed them instant noodles every day? Why are they so skinny?”

Wen Yang focused on chopping the grass. Without even looking up, she casually replied, “I like lean meat.”

Her response left Xu Yi speechless. After a pause, he added, “But don’t you only eat instant noodles?”

“Why do you care so much?” Wen Yang snapped, not wanting to admit that these weren’t even her pigs—she was just a temporary caretaker.

Sensing the irritation in her tone, Xu Yi wisely chose to keep quiet.