Chapter 3

Shen Jiaojiao’s anger slightly subsided after she kicked the corner of Fang Qinghe’s mouth, drawing blood.  

Her sudden action left everyone present in stunned silence.  

Xu Mo stared at Shen Jiaojiao with an even more intense gaze, unable to believe what she had just done.

Didn’t she always like Fang Qinghe?  

Why did she turn against him now?  

The surrounding aunties and elderly women whispered among themselves.  

“What’s wrong with Shen Jiaojiao? She actually kicked Fang Qinghe. Didn’t she like him?”  

“I feel like she’s acting strange today… Not like the delicate young lady she usually is.”  

“Shen Jiaojiao, f*** your mother! You dare hit me? Are you insane?”  

Fang Qinghe, enraged, scrambled up from the ground, ready to grab Shen Jiaojiao.  

Her pupils shrank as she instinctively moved closer to Xu Mo for protection.  

As expected, Xu Mo immediately stepped forward, shielding her behind him.  

His fist clenched tightly, preparing to punch Fang Qinghe again.  

However, Fang Qinghe knew he wasn’t Xu Mo’s match. He could only stop a step away, glaring furiously.  

“Alright, you two. So, you’re really together! Captain, look at them—so close! They must be hiding something disgraceful!”  

His eyes burned with rage as he turned to Shen Jiaojiao again, his voice laced with veiled threats.  

“Shen Jiaojiao, think carefully. Has Xu Mo defiled you? Don’t be afraid. As long as you accuse him, I’ll protect you for life.”  

His implication was clear—if she pointed her finger at Xu Mo, he would marry her. She shouldn’t be ungrateful.  

At this moment, Shen Jiaojiao finally realized just how much of an idiot Fang Qinghe was. She could only blame her past self for being blind and foolish enough to chase after such a scumbag.  

Suddenly, her eyes reddened as she put on an act, crying pitifully to the Captain.  

“Captain, I’m only seventeen this year. I’m still an innocent girl, but this man keeps ruining my reputation and even wants to frame Xu Mo! I think he just wants Xu Mo thrown into prison! He’s jealous! Jealous that Xu Mo is better than him, more capable, and even more handsome!”  

She deliberately said this to warn Xu Mo, making him wary of Fang Qinghe.  

“And I also want to report him! Fang Qinghe has been hoarding game—he hid a wild boar in his cellar, planning to keep it for himself!”  

Speaking of the wild boar, Fang Qinghe was truly shameless. That boar had been caught in the traps set up by the villagers. But the moment Fang Qinghe saw it, he brazenly carried it back home.  

The village had clear rules—large prey couldn’t be kept by one person alone.

In these difficult times, where securing the next meal was uncertain, hoarding game was an offense that would earn the scorn of the entire village.  

Sure enough, when it came to food and gossip, the villagers cared more about food.  

Captain’s expression darkened as he looked at Shen Jiaojiao and said: “Since Educated Youth Shen has made this claim, we’ll go to the Fang Family and see for ourselves. If he really dared to hoard game, I won’t let him off easily.”  

His expression then softened slightly as he added: “Educated Youth Shen, come with us as a witness.”  

Shen Jiaojiao nodded without hesitation.  There was no way she would miss out on the chance to punish a scumbag.  

“Captain, don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s just trying to divert attention—she’s covering for Xu Mo!” Fang Qinghe panicked and blocked Captain’s path, refusing to let him leave.  

Captain, now thoroughly angered, pushed him aside with a single shove, sending him sprawling onto the ground.  

Then, without another word, he led a group of people straight toward the Fang Family.  

Fang Qinghe shot Xu Mo a vicious glare before scrambling up and rushing after Captain.  

There really was a wild boar hidden in his cellar—if it were discovered, he would be in serious trouble.  

Once the crowd had left, the mud house fell into an eerie silence.  

Xu Mo pursed his lips as he watched that small, disappearing figure. After a brief hesitation, he decided to follow.  

He didn’t want to admit that he was worried that in a fit of desperation, Fang Qinghe might harm Shen Jiaojiao.  

And Shen Jiaojiao, a delicate young woman, would be at a disadvantage without someone to protect her.

As expected, there was indeed a wild boar hidden in the Fang Family’s cellar.  

After confirming the evidence, Captain had the boar confiscated and fined the Fang Family twenty yuan.  

Furthermore, he ordered Fang Qinghe to apologize to both Shen Jiaojiao and Xu Mo in front of everyone.

Amidst the wailing and complaints from the Fang Family, the matter was finally settled.  

Upon leaving the Fang residence, Shen Jiaojiao limped her way toward the Educated Youth quarters.  

The sprain in her foot seemed to be getting worse, the pain growing sharper with each step.  

By now, the sky was completely dark.  

Rural folks tended to sleep early, and since they were reluctant to waste kerosene on lamps, the village was pitch black at night.  

Fortunately, the moonlight tonight was bright enough that Shen Jiaojiao wasn’t completely blind in the darkness.  

Suddenly, faint rustling sounds came from behind her, accompanied by light footsteps.  

Her scalp tingled instantly, and her mind went blank in terror.  

Pitch-black night… wandering ghosts… help… was there a ghost?!  

A chill crawled from her spine to every limb, and her heart pounded like a war drum. She was so nervous that she barely dared to breathe.  

Panicked, she quickened her pace and ran for dear life.  

But she had completely forgotten about her injured ankle.  

The moment she exerted force, an excruciating pain shot through her foot like a knife slicing through bone.  

Her ankle twisted once more, and her balance faltered.  

Then, her entire body lurched sideways—straight into a ditch.

“Ah…” she exclaimed in shock.  

But the expected pain never came. Instead, she fell into a firm and unyielding embrace.  

“Why are you running?” The man’s voice was low and deep.  

That familiar voice came from above her head.  

Shen Jiaojiao, who had been stiff with fear, instantly relaxed. She looked up in surprise and saw Xu Mo’s cold face, illuminated clearly by the moonlight.  

“Xu Mo~”  

Her soft, trembling voice carried a hint of a sob, delicate and sweet, making one’s heart tremble upon hearing it.  

A crack appeared in Xu Mo’s usually icy expression. He found himself unable to meet her gaze.  

His Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously, his throat tightening and drying up.  

Unbidden, images from earlier that night flashed through his mind—memories of them together on the bed.  

At that time, the way she had called his name had been even more seductive, even more alluring.  

Her gaze had been sultry, her body soft and supple—every inch of her had ignited something deep within him, testing the limits of his control.  

Xu Mo snapped back to reality, abruptly stepping back and letting go of the person in his arms.  

Annoyance flickered across his face—annoyance at himself for his wandering thoughts. He was truly no better than a beast.  

Shen Jiaojiao thought he was going to leave.  

Panicked, she hurriedly grabbed his arm.  

His muscles were firm and well-defined, strong and unyielding like steel.  

She knew.  

It wasn’t just his arm that was rock hard—his entire body was.  

“Xu Mo, can you take me back to the Educated Youth quarters? I’m scared.”  

She deliberately acted weak and coquettish in front of him.  

This was one of her greatest regrets from her past life.  

In her previous life, under Xu Mo’s meticulous care, she had gradually emerged from the darkness.  

But before she could properly thank him, before she could tell him she liked him, before she could act spoiled and affectionate around him—she had died.  

Now that she had a second chance, she wanted to make up for that regret.  

Xu Mo, however, remained unmoved. He broke free from her grasp, his cold face devoid of warmth.  

But the tips of his ears were burning, already flushed red.  

“Shen Jiaojiao, why did you do it?”  

What he truly meant was—why had she drugged him? Why had she been willing to sacrifice her own innocence?