Chapter 5: Picking Wild Fruits, Meeting Xiao Ziyi

After delivering lunch, Lin Yiran went back home. She ate, washed the dishes, took a nap, and then went with her family to work again.

At the fork in the road, Lin Yiran headed toward the warehouse, as usual stopping to chat a bit with Grandma Guixiang.

“Yiran, the wild fruits on the back mountain are ripe. You’ve always loved them. Tomorrow, if you have time, you should go pick some.”

Lotus Village was indeed blessed with its location: fertile farmland stretched out in front, while behind lay vast mountains. During years of natural disasters and hardship, the villagers had survived thanks to the resources the mountain provided.

When she was little, her father used to take her brothers into the mountains whenever he had free time, teaching them what wild plants could be eaten. Lin Yiran would tag along too. Don’t be fooled by her fair skin now—back then, after running around the mountains all day, she was tanned dark.

Just the thought of mountain fruits made her mouth water. She especially loved their sweet-and-sour taste. In summer, they were bursting with juice, and when chilled in well water, they were nature’s very own refrigerator.

“Alright, thank you, Grandma Guixiang. I’ll go tomorrow.”

The next morning, Lin Yiran woke up early. Her parents already knew she planned to pick fruits. Her father had to go to the town for a meeting.

Her eldest brother was taking his wife back to her parents’ home, and her second brother was driving the tractor into town. That meant Lin Yiran would have to go alone.

“Why don’t I go with you?” Wang Fang suggested worriedly.

“It’s fine, I won’t go far—just to the fruit trees on the hillside. I’ll pick some and come right back.”

“I’ll take Xiao Huang and Diandian with me.”

“Alright then,” Wang Fang finally relented.

After breakfast, Lin Yiran put on her hat, slung a basket over her back, and called out:
“Xiao Huang, Diandian, let’s go.”

Bathed in the morning sunlight, she walked along the quiet country path. From the Lin household to the back mountain, there was a small trail that bypassed most of the villagers’ houses, peaceful and serene.

In summer, the roadside was full of wildflowers. Lin Yiran picked them as she walked, soon gathering a large handful, and wove them into a garland to wear on her wrist.

At the back mountain, she quickly found the fruit tree. With her dogs beside her, she circled the tree, looking for the easiest spot to climb. Xiao Huang, ever vigilant, checked that the area was safe.

“Xiao Huang, Diandian, go play for a while. I’ll call you when I’m done.”

The two dogs barked twice as if in reply. Only after seeing her safely up the tree did they run off to play.

Today was a rare rest day, so no one needed to wake up early. The educated youth compound was unusually quiet.

But Xiao Ziyi rose at his usual hour. After washing up, he picked up a book and headed for the back mountain.

Since the compound sat at the very edge of the village, it was close to the mountain. With the others still asleep in the dorm, it wasn’t a good place to read, so he decided to study in the fresh air outside.

The mountain was quiet, the air crisp. He noticed a large fruit tree up ahead.

As he walked toward it, a light breeze stirred the branches. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground in shifting patterns like rippling water.

Drawing closer, he saw the shadows of the leaves dancing on the earth. He lifted his head—and there she was.

Lin Yiran was up in the tree, picking fruit. One hand held a branch for balance, the other reached for the ripe fruit. Sunlight brushed across her face, her lashes edged with a soft golden glow, her skin luminous and bright.

She carefully selected only the best fruits, her lips curling into a smile whenever she found one she liked before dropping it into her basket. She was so absorbed in her task, she didn’t notice the young man quietly watching her from below.

When she smiled, Xiao Ziyi found the corners of his own mouth lifting too.

After filling her basket, Lin Yiran was about to climb down when she noticed someone standing beneath the tree. It was Xiao Ziyi.

Startled, she lost her balance for a moment, her body swaying.

Seeing this, Xiao Ziyi immediately opened his arms.
“Don’t be afraid.”

Lin Yiran steadied herself quickly.
“I’m not afraid, I’m very good at climbing trees. Do you want some fruit? I can pick some for you.”

“Alright. Thank you.” Xiao Ziyi smiled in reply.

Lin Yiran had only asked out of politeness. Wasn’t the male lead supposed to be cold and distant? Yet he agreed so easily.

Still, she always kept her word. She carefully chose several fruits and tossed them down to him.

“If I drop them down, can you catch them? My basket is full.” Lin Yiran looked down at Xiao Ziyi standing under the tree. The tree was quite tall, and she wasn’t sure if he could manage.

“I can, go ahead.” Xiao Ziyi nodded firmly.

Lin Yiran tossed the fruits down, and Xiao Ziyi caught each one with ease.

Once she finished, Lin Yiran began climbing down. Xiao Ziyi kept his eyes fixed on her the whole time, a little worried. Only after she landed safely did he finally relax. He carefully tucked the fruits away in his own pocket.

When Lin Yiran came over, she noticed how tall he was—taller even than her brother, with clear skin and striking looks. Truly the male lead, she thought.

Sensing her gaze, Xiao Ziyi grew a bit tense and shifted his hand, which drew Lin Yiran’s attention to the book he was holding.

Her curiosity was piqued—this was the kind of advanced text that only a top researcher from the future would read. She wanted to know what it was.

Seeing her glance at the book, Xiao Ziyi asked first: “Do you want to take a look?”

“Me? Really?” Lin Yiran was a little flustered. Wasn’t he supposed to be distant and unapproachable? He’s being so friendly—must be because I gave him fruit.

“Of course.” Xiao Ziyi handed the book to her. Lin Yiran took it, flipped a few pages, and quickly realized it was far beyond her. With only her sophomore-level knowledge from her previous life—even as a student from a 985 university—she couldn’t understand a thing.

“Thank you… I can’t understand it at all. You’re amazing.” She hurriedly handed it back with genuine admiration.

“If you’d like, I can explain it to you.” Xiao Ziyi’s gaze was sincere.

Lin Yiran didn’t want to get too entangled in the male lead’s future path, but it wouldn’t hurt to build a good connection.

Smiling, she said, “Thank you, but I prefer storybooks.”

Then she added seriously, “One day, you’ll definitely become a brilliant scientist.”

Xiao Ziyi’s heart skipped a beat. His teachers, grandfather, and father had always told him he had great talent and a bright future if he persevered—but no one had ever affirmed him so directly and sincerely.

Lin Yiran decided it was time to head back before the sun got too strong.

“Dahuang, Diandian, let’s go home!”

Her dogs bounded over at once, barking a few times at Xiao Ziyi.

“It’s okay, he’s a friend of mine.” Lin Yiran patted Dahuang’s head, and the dog calmed down.

Before leaving, she kindly reminded him, “I’m going back now. The sun will get harsher soon—you should head back early too, or you’ll get sunburned.”

Xiao Ziyi nodded obediently. “Alright, thank you.”

Lin Yiran waved. “You’re welcome. I’m off.”

He watched her figure retreat, the breeze lifting the brim of her hat. She removed the flower wreath from her head and played with her dogs as she walked.

After she left, Xiao Ziyi sat under the fruit tree reading for an hour. As the sun climbed higher, he returned to the educated youth dormitory, where everyone else was already awake.

The moment he came back, Zhuang Wenting rushed over. “Ziyi, where did you go? Have you had breakfast yet?”

Chen Tai spotted the fruits in his hand. “Ah, you went to the back mountain, didn’t you? The fruit trees there are great. Once they ripen a bit more, lots of people will go picking. We used to go all the time—right now they’re still a little sour.”

Xiao Ziyi glanced at the fruit in his hand. So, she likes them just a little sour…

Jiang Lanru came over too, noticing the book in his hand. “Brother Xiao, I love reading as well. Could you lend me your book?”

“You wouldn’t understand it.” Xiao Ziyi turned and headed back to his room.

Zhuang Wenting burst into laughter, casting Jiang Lanru a sideways glance before huffing and returning to her room.

Jiang Lanru’s face flushed red, then pale. Beside her, Liu Qinggang nodded in agreement. “Brother Xiao’s books really are difficult to understand. He’s just too brilliant.”

Wang Zhengming quickly dragged the clueless Liu Qinggang away. “Come on, let’s go eat. Didn’t you see Jiang Lanru’s face just now?”