Chapter 30

When the man wasn’t smiling, his sharp, deep-set features gave him a fierce and intimidating air, exuding an overwhelming pressure.

Jiang Henian even had the illusion that the modern-version He Jinshan—with his memories intact—had shown up.

Fear crept up her heart, and she instinctively retreated two steps. Her palm accidentally sank into a sunken spot at the edge of the kang bed, startling her. Losing her balance, she toppled over.

He Jinshan’s face darkened. Reacting swiftly, he reached out and pulled her back up.

“Sit properly. What are you hiding from?”

Jiang Henian couldn’t hide the panic on her face. Her big eyes fluttered nervously.

The fear and guardedness in her eyes made He Jinshan inexplicably annoyed.

He already knew the girl was hiding something from him. At first, he went along with her pretending not to know him just because her reactions were amusing.

But now it seemed she was hiding quite a lot.

“Then I must’ve misheard,” she offered.

He Jinshan’s tone was calm, seemingly accepting her explanation. He reminded her, “Don’t go chasing danger like that again. With that tiny frame of yours, even a sickle would be useless, let alone a butcher knife.”

Jiang Henian let out a sigh of relief and nodded obediently.

She hadn’t expected to get away with it so easily.

But then—

“So tell me—why did you insist on kissing me?”

She choked on her breath.

So it wasn’t over. He’d been waiting for this moment.

He Jinshan casually stretched out one leg and propped his arm behind him, radiating an imposing presence.

His gaze was deep, his tone unhurried. “Was it artificial respiration again?”

The two sat facing each other on the kang bed. From the side, He Jinshan’s posture completely enveloped Jiang Henian’s petite frame like he was staking claim.

She lowered her gaze, her face paling and then flushing again. After a long moment, she finally shook her head slowly.

“A-actually…”

Her fingers clutched the fabric of her faded, washed-out pants tightly. She took a deep breath and braced herself to recite the excuse she had just made up in her head.

“Actually… I have a strange illness.”

…

The sound of a dog barking in the distance made the shabby grass hut at the foot of the mountain feel eerily quiet.

Jiang Henian sat cross-legged, so awkward she wanted to dig her toes into a hole.

Finally, He Jinshan spoke.

“So you’re sick—and sometimes you need to engage in… that kind of contact?”

“For treatment?”

His voice was stiff. Jiang Henian didn’t dare look up, but she nodded firmly.

“I wasn’t trying to take advantage of you.”

Another suffocating silence.

Jiang Henian couldn’t take it anymore and peeked up at him—only to be caught red-handed.

For some reason, He Jinshan looked like he was… angry?

She grew even more guilty.

If it were her, she wouldn’t believe that kind of nonsense either!

She began to waver. Maybe she should just confess everything.

But he had amnesia. If she said, “You’re not actually a soldier He Jinshan. You’re the future mafia boss He Jinshan, and we both time-traveled here from the modern era. Our lives are bound together, and we need regular kisses and cuddles to maintain our vitality—or we’ll both die,”
any sane person would think she’d lost her mind.

Tomorrow, she’d be the pitiful fool dragged through the streets for spreading witchcraft and lunacy.

Jiang Henian was battling with herself internally, her expression constantly shifting.

He Jinshan stared at her, and suddenly everything clicked into place.

He let out a cold laugh.

So the brat didn’t like him at all.

All that sneaking into his bed at dawn to hold hands and cling to him, pestering for kisses… it was all for treatment.

She was forced into it.

Fake.

No feelings.

He Jinshan, who had seen it all, had actually been tripped up by a snot-nosed girl.

He pursed his lips, his whole body emanating a low, oppressive energy, his eyes growing more and more terrifying as he looked at her.

So I’ve kissed her like that, and the little brat doesn’t even like me?!

Utter humiliation.

Jiang Henian’s heart sank.

Crap! His face is even darker now.

He must think I was messing with him—being a pervert and making a fool of him! He’s mad!

Terrified, she instinctively tried to scoot away again, but He Jinshan’s slightly forward-leaning, dangerous gaze pinned her in place.

His voice was chilling: “Who else have you used this treatment on?”

Jiang Henian froze.

He believes it?!

She shook her head honestly. “Only you.”

His expression eased slightly, though he still looked fierce. His gaze swept across her rosy lips, then he looked away, clearly annoyed.

“How often does it flare up?”

He’s buying it!

Jiang Henian immediately sat upright, scooting back toward him eagerly and chirped, “Every twelve hours!”

Her joy was written all over her face. Her bright eyes crinkled with a sweet smile, and she quickly added:

“But once I get better, the intervals should be longer.”

“I won’t trouble you too much~”

“Okay?”

Please help me out here! It’s good for you, good for me, good for everyone!

She knelt there, palms planted in front of her, looking up at He Jinshan with hopeful, shining eyes.

Those clear, black-and-white cat-like eyes held not a trace of flirtation.

Even the beauty mark at the corner of her eye lacked seductiveness—just pure and mischievous.

An unawakened little wild cat.

He Jinshan stared at her for a long time before reaching out to pinch her soft cheek, shaking it with a grumble. He didn’t go easy on the strength, and didn’t say whether he agreed or not.

“Filthy little cat.”

“Eat the pancakes in the basket.”

Jiang Henian, cheek still red from the pinch, didn’t mind one bit. Beaming, she chirped, “Okay!”

He’s not mad—that means he believes me!

If he believes me and still feeds me, that means he agreed!

Relieved, she scrambled on all fours to the corner and dragged the basket over.

Lifting the white cloth, she found three vegetable pancakes and a bowl of corn porridge.

“Little uncle, you eat too,” she said brightly, her smile warm and sincere.

The little liar was clearly overjoyed.

He Jinshan let out a quiet chuckle, not quite warm, and accepted the pancake she handed over.

The brat was good at lying—mixing truth with fiction.

The illness was fake, but the fact that their time travel had forcibly bound their lives together was likely real.

They probably did need physical contact within a certain time period… or else face life-threatening consequences?

Jiang Henian squirmed under his meaningful gaze.

But at least the biggest threat had been averted. She was in a great mood, taking a big bite of the oil-less vegetable pancake and even giving a thumbs-up while sucking up.

“Little uncle, your mom’s pancakes taste way better than the witch’s.”

Ever since she burned the stove twice, ruined the dishes five times, and confused sugar with salt three times, Wang Chunfang had gone from raging and beating her to completely losing her temper and banishing her from the kitchen—relegating her to chopping wood, feeding pigs, hauling water, and doing laundry.

Jiang Henian pouted as she chewed.

It wasn’t like she meant to waste food—she just wasn’t good at cooking. And Wang Chunfang hovering over her like she might poison the food didn’t help either.

If only she had a gentle and patient teacher, she might learn to cook properly. Then the flour, meat, and vegetables she had in her space could finally be put to use.

“Little uncle, when you were in the army, you were in the kitchen squad, right? You must be really good at cooking?”

She tilted her head, gazing at him with hopeful eyes like a fan meeting a celebrity chef.

He Jinshan: “……”

Expressionless, he took a bite of his pancake. “I’m okay.”

Jiang Henian’s eyes lit up with admiration and excitement.

This thigh—I’m clinging to it for life!

“Ah—can you hear me?”

After a crackling electric sound, an impassioned voice rang out across Huagou Village.

“All members of Huagou Village, attention! Assemble at the drying field immediately for a meeting! Right now—move it!”

That voice, that tone.

It could only be the busiest man in Huagou Village: Director of Security, accountant, and labor recorder—all rolled into one—Comrade Ding Guangsheng.

…