Chapter 43 Who knows if he is still innocent?

Chang Suisui pursed her lips and hesitated before speaking, “It’s just… if we really get married, then… how will we live?” Her gaze fell on the somewhat shabby little house and the bed that Xie Yu was sleeping on. It was the only piece of furniture in the room worth mentioning, and… it had collapsed before.

Hearing this, Xie Yu’s rough fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of the headboard, and a trace of awkwardness flashed in his eyes. “There’s still a storage room next door, right? If I tidy it up, it could be livable,” he said, trying to sound casual. But in reality, the freshly repaired corner of the bed was just broken off again by his hands.

Chang Suisui said nothing, only furrowed her delicate brows, and her whole face dimmed slightly.

Seeing this, Xie Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly corrected himself, “No, no, no, Chang Zhizhiqing, I meant… I live in the storage room, and you stay in the main room. That way you’d have more space.” His tone was a bit urgent, afraid that Chang Suisui would misunderstand. How could he let her live in that cramped storage room? He hated the thought of her suffering.

Chang Suisui pursed her lips, “Comrade Xie, what are you saying? I can’t live in the storage room, but you can?”

Strangely, Xie Yu caught a hint of coquettishness in her tone. He really wanted to slap himself and say, “Why are you overthinking it so much!” He awkwardly pulled the corner of his mouth, “I’m a man, I’m tough. I can live anywhere.”

“Then since that’s the case, Comrade Xie, you live with me in the same room!” Chang Suisui’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Besides, your leg isn’t in good shape to move around too much. If something happens, it’d be worse.”

Hearing this, Xie Yu felt a complex mix of emotions in his heart. He wanted to refuse but couldn’t find a good excuse. After all, it was his own words—he could live anywhere. If he said he couldn’t live with her in the same room, this delicate little Zhizhiqing would definitely overthink it.

He opened his mouth, about to speak, but Chang Suisui beat him to it, “Comrade Xie, you said before you didn’t mean me any harm, and this is just a temporary arrangement. So even if we live together, nothing will happen—I trust you!”

Xie Yu: “…” But he didn’t trust himself at all! They had already been physically close, and he wasn’t indifferent to her. If it weren’t for his injured leg, he couldn’t imagine how crazily he would want this little girl, how much he would spoil himself by tearing apart all reason just to consume her inch by inch, body and soul.

He wanted to refuse, but under her too-clear gaze, the words stuck in his throat. He sighed helplessly, forced a bitter smile, and finally compromised, “Alright, since you say so, then… let’s try living together first.”

At his words, Chang Suisui’s face instantly lit up with a brilliant smile, like the brightest star in the night sky illuminating the whole room. She gently patted Xie Yu’s arm and playfully winked, “Comrade Xie, don’t worry, I’ll definitely be good to you~”

Xie Yu couldn’t help but laugh at her playful look. He raised his hand and ruffled her hair again, losing the earlier awkwardness. “Silly girl…”

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Suddenly, the front door of the courtyard was knocked on fiercely and heavily. Like thunder in the midnight, it shattered the night’s quiet.

Chang Suisui’s brows furrowed sharply, and she instinctively looked toward the door. She knew Xie Yu’s home rarely had visitors, and this kind of noise probably meant trouble.

Seeing Chang Suisui’s troubled face, Xie Yu immediately patted her hand, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll handle everything.” His voice was low and steady, somehow instilling confidence.

But just as he finished speaking, the force outside returned with a deafening crash—the door was violently broken open, splinters flying, dust rising.

A group of people rushed in loudly, crowding the small room where Xie Yu and Chang Suisui were.

Xie Yu’s room was already cramped, and now with so many people squeezed inside, it felt suffocating.

Chang Suisui’s delicate face tightened involuntarily, and she immediately spotted the ringleader—the eldest sister-in-law, Zhao Xiulan.

Zhao Xiulan plopped down on the ground, kicking her legs wildly, her hands slapping the floor like rain, cursing foully, “Shameless! Chang Suisui, how dare you be running around with men in the middle of the night! You’re ruining the Xie family’s reputation!”

Xie Xiaohua stood aside, sneering in a sarcastic tone, “I knew that Chang Suisui isn’t a decent woman. She’s even trying to seduce a paralyzed man! So shameless!”

The villagers watching began to gossip loudly, full of insults.

“Oh, isn’t that Chang Zhizhiqing? Why is she mixed up with a cripple? Wonder if he still works down there?”

“Tsk tsk, the world is going downhill. Xie Yu used to be a soldier, but who knew he’d be messing around after retiring?”

“Hmph, Chang Suisui’s just restless. Trying to seduce a cripple? Shameless!”

“Well, maybe Xie Yu was the one who made the first move. Men can’t always resist temptation.”

“Tsk tsk, the Xie family really isn’t peaceful. Just a few days ago, the village chief’s eldest son was mixed up with that little Chang Zhizhiqing, and now the chief’s younger brother is involved too…”

Xie Yu’s face darkened, veins bulging on his tense arm. He suppressed his anger and looked at Zhao Xiulan, “Sister-in-law, you must have proof before you speak. Don’t slander Chang Zhizhiqing! She came here to treat my leg. We’re clean. If you keep making a fuss, don’t blame me for being rude!”

Xie Yu’s voice was low and threatening, sending chills down spines.

Zhao Xiulan opened her mouth but nearly swallowed back her words in fright. If she dared not curse Xie Yu, could she curse fragile Chang Suisui?

“She… she’s hitting on a man in the middle of the night! Shameless!” Zhao Xiulan straightened her back and cursed at Chang Suisui again.

Xie Yu’s face grew even darker. “Sister-in-law, if you didn’t understand me earlier, I’ll say it again: Chang Zhizhiqing is my benefactor. I won’t allow anyone to slander her. Even if something happened between us, it was me pursuing her, not her hitting on me! I, Xie Yu, am honest and upright—I don’t do such things!”

His words were firm and forceful, and his resolute expression made many around reduce their hostility toward Chang Suisui.

Xie Xiaohua muttered resentfully, “She sneaks into a man’s house in the middle of the night, who knows if she’s really innocent?”