Chapter 12

Lin Yu finally shifted his gaze toward the people in the pool.
Staring at a female comrade like that really wasn’t right. He scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh.
“We came to bathe with Brother Shen, didn’t expect to find you two here.”

Then, spotting the basket at his feet full of big fish, his eyes lit up. Goodness—so the brigade leader’s son was here catching fish.
And not just one or two, but a whole basket full.

Su Heng, of course, noticed Lin Yu’s expression. Since they had been seen, it wouldn’t hurt to give them a few fish—as long as they didn’t talk about it outside.
So he softened his tone a little.
“I’ll give you a few. Take them yourselves, but don’t spread this around.”

Lin Yu really wanted them, but… he didn’t know how to cook fish. If he took them home, they’d taste awful, wasting both fish and oil. He quickly waved his hand.
“No need. Don’t worry, we’re not the talkative type.”

Only then did Su Wanwan shift her gaze from behind Xie Beishen to the one speaking.
The man’s features were decent, his face round, looking honest and simple. But with his shirt open, he seemed a bit sloppy. One glance told her—no abs, not as tall as Xie Beishen, maybe about 1.8 meters.

Seeing her gaze on Lin Yu, Xie Beishen stepped forward, blocking her view. His eyes fell on Lin Yu’s half-open shirt.
“Button up.”

He casually pulled his own white shirt off Lin Yu’s shoulder and slipped it on.

Su Wanwan’s eyes were dazzled again. Even the way he put on clothes looked handsome.
Oh my god! Am I even allowed to look at this?
She couldn’t help wondering what it would feel like to touch him—just one try.
No, she had to stop staring, or her mind would be filled with embarrassing images. Who knew she had the makings of a shameless flirt?

She quickly turned her gaze toward her brother.
“Second Brother, who are they?”

Su Heng said, “Educated youth sent down here… what were their names again? I forgot.” He had never spoken to them, so naturally he didn’t remember.

Xie Beishen’s lips curved, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. Last time at the lake, hadn’t she already called his name?
Keep pretending. Let’s see how long you can keep this up.

Lin Yu grinned. “I know who you are—you two are the brigade leader’s children. I’m Lin Yu, and he’s Xie Beishen.”

At the sound of “Xie Beishen,” the first thought that flashed through Su Wanwan’s mind was—could it be he was also someone who crossed over?

She bit her lip lightly, her palms slightly sweaty, but kept up a calm front.
“You’re educated youth. Then… do you have Alipay where you’re from?”

She was testing him.

“What’s ‘Zhifubao’? Something to eat?” Lin Yu asked.

Su Wanwan fixed her eyes on Xie Beishen, waiting for his answer.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’ve never eaten it,” he said.

If he didn’t even know that, then he definitely wasn’t from her world.

She tried again. “Xie Beishen, have you ever eaten KFC?” (In this era, KFC didn’t even exist yet.)

Her voice was crisp and sweet, and when she spoke his name, Xie Beishen was struck by how pleasant it sounded.
“This… chicken you mentioned, I haven’t eaten it.”

That confirmed it—he wasn’t someone who had crossed over.

Su Heng swam slowly back to shore and glanced at his sister.
“Put your shoes on, let’s go. Or do you still want to sit here watching them bathe?”

Only then did Su Wanwan come back to her senses. “Alright.” She turned, placed her feet on the rock to dry them, then put on her socks and shoes.

Su Heng pulled two big fish from the basket and set them on the ground. “These are for you.”

Xie Beishen glanced at the fish. “Better take them home yourselves. Giving them to us would be a waste—we don’t know how to cook them.”

Su Heng still hesitated. What if they told others?

Su Wanwan, finished with her shoes, walked past them. She could see her brother wanted to bribe them into silence. Easy enough. She knew how to cook.
Looking at the two, she offered, “Why don’t you come to our house and eat fish?”

Xie Beishen refused outright. “No need. Don’t worry—we won’t say anything.”

Hearing that, Su Heng put the two fish back in the basket and covered them with wild vegetables before slinging it over his back. Anyone who saw would just think they had been out foraging.

All the while, Su Wanwan kept stealing glances at Xie Beishen.
Her once-dead crush now stood alive before her. How could she not look?
Her heart surged with excitement. He looked exactly the same.
Her eyes remained fixed on him.

Xie Beishen, of course, felt the heat of her gaze. Normally, such looks from women made him uncomfortable, even disgusted. But from her, it felt… good.

Su Heng walked ahead with the basket. “Sister, keep up.”

Su Wanwan looked into Xie Beishen’s deep eyes, the dimples at her lips showing as she smiled brightly.
“Xie Beishen, my name is Su Wanwan. This is my brother Su Heng. See you next time.”

Her voice was especially soft and sweet. Xie Beishen silently repeated her name in his mind.

The young girl’s ponytail swayed high, her lively smile shining like starlight.

But when she took her first step forward, her foot landed on the slippery spot where the fish had been. She lost her balance and pitched forward.

Just as she braced for impact with the ground, she fell into a warm, firm embrace—her lips brushing against Xie Beishen’s bare chest, her hands instinctively wrapping around his lean waist.

The fresh, clean scent of him enveloped her. She froze, her heart pounding wildly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ah—should she pull her lips away?
So this was what a chest felt like—hard.

Her lips moved slightly, and she felt the sudden tightening of his muscles.

Seeing her about to fall, Xie Beishen had stepped forward quickly, catching her fully in his arms, hands resting on her slender waist.

Her sweet fragrance filled his nose, soft warmth pressed against him. Especially at his chest—the moist, tender touch seared him, his heartbeat racing, Adam’s apple bobbing.

Every muscle in his body tensed, the tips of his ears turning red. Realizing his hands were still on her waist, he abruptly let go, his palms hovering awkwardly in the air.

But her face was still buried against his chest, her warm breath seeping into his skin, sending shivers down his entire body.

“How long do you plan on holding me?” His voice came low, rough at the edges.

He had meant to say, How long do you plan on kissing me? but changed it at the last second.

Su Wanwan instantly let go, stepping back two paces. Her pale cheeks were now flushed scarlet, but she still raised her eyes to him.
“I… I didn’t mean to just now.”

She also noticed the red tips of his ears and the faint blush on his face.
So, she wasn’t the only one embarrassed.

By chance, she spotted a tiny mole on his earlobe.
Unbelievable—this world was too uncanny. Even the mole was in the exact same place.

From the distance came her brother’s voice. “Sister, hurry up!”

Su Wanwan waved at Xie Beishen. “Goodbye, Xie Beishen! See you next time.”

Then she ran after her brother.

Only after her figure disappeared into the trees did Xie Beishen lower his gaze. He touched his chest, still faintly damp where her lips had been.
Definitely a little enchantress.

Slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt again, a low laugh flickering in his eyes.

Lin Yu, busy taking off his shoes, had completely missed the interaction between the two.