Chapter 44: Encountering a Scoundrel (1)

The hunter showed mercy once again, and Wen Lan was overjoyed. This time, she didn’t dare stir up any more trouble. She quickly thanked the Lin couple for urging her to stay, then grabbed the hunter and hurried out of the village.

Along the way, she didn’t forget her role as a maid. She occasionally pointed out the path for the hunter, saying, “Big Brother, watch your step,” and sometimes broke off a low-hanging branch and said, “Big Brother, mind your head.”

She busied herself with great enthusiasm.

Seeing her so attentive, Xuan Yue couldn’t help but recall the mocking expression she had when he encountered the wild boar in the mountains. He asked himself silently: What kind of temperament does this girl really have?

When he talked about driving her away, she immediately lowered her head, admitted fault, and teared up.

But once he showed leniency, she climbed up and strutted around like she was in charge.

And earlier, when she confronted that shrew in the village, she was so composed and eloquent. How could someone like her think of hanging herself in the mountains?

“That…” Xuan Yue wanted to ask her something, but he felt it might be inappropriate.

They were just strangers who had met by chance. Perhaps in a few days, they would part ways and never cross paths again. There was no need for him to get to know her.

With that thought, Xuan Yue fell silent.

Wen Lan was “serving” by his side and noticed the hunter looked like he wanted to say something. She immediately perked up and asked with flattery, “Big Brother, is there something you want to tell me?”

“No.”

“If there’s anything you need, just say the word. Don’t be polite with me.”

Fine. Xuan Yue randomly picked a question. “That village woman earlier said you ran off with a man. But that’s not what you told me before.”

Wen Lan inwardly cursed. As expected, men do care about this kind of thing—even if we aren’t a real couple.

She shrugged nonchalantly and relayed the events involving Lin Furong truthfully to Xuan Yue.

“Later, I heard what Sun Dafu said at the market. Only then did I realize I had entrusted my heart to the wrong person,” Wen Lan said, a trace of remorse surfacing in her expression.

“You hate him?” Xuan Yue asked.

“Who? Meng Qiancheng?” Wen Lan thought about it. If she ignored Lin Furong’s emotions, she personally would love to drag that fair-skinned man out and beat him up.

But if she were Lin Furong, she probably wouldn’t hate him.

Because hatred is still a strong emotion—and Meng Qiancheng didn’t deserve any strong emotions.

When it comes to people who hurt you, some choose revenge, others choose to let go. Wen Lan hoped Lin Furong would become the kind to let go—freeing others was also freeing oneself.

But Meng Qiancheng still needed to be taught a lesson.

That was a separate matter.

“I don’t hate him. But I do want to beat him up,” Wen Lan said, voicing what she and Lin Furong both felt.

“Is that why you’ve become the way you are now?”

“Big Brother Hunter, I don’t quite understand your question.”

“I don’t think you’re Lin Furong.”

What?!

Wen Lan was startled. Her mind raced through Lin Furong’s memories, trying to recall if she had ever met the man standing before her.

She suspected this hunter had known Lin Furong before. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have seen through her so directly.

Because she wasn’t Lin Furong.

But… she couldn’t find any memory of him.

“Why would Big Brother Hunter say that? How could I not be Lin Furong?” Wen Lan’s voice wavered with a trace of panic.

This tiny detail was not missed by Xuan Yue.

He narrowed his eyes.

But soon, he relaxed.

Even if this “Lin Furong” had been sent by the Emperor to spy on him—so what? He had no ambitions and nothing to hide.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said calmly. “Who you are isn’t important to me.”

He truly didn’t care.

“It’s getting late. Hurry up and go back. I’m hungry.”

“Alright.”

The two picked up their pace and were soon back at the hunter’s house.

As soon as they entered, Wen Lan began preparing dinner.

The two wild chickens the hunter had caught were still there, and the pine mushrooms Wen Lan had foraged were carried back with her.

Wen Lan steamed a pot of rice, boiled water, and cleaned one of the chickens. Then, with the pine mushrooms, she began stewing a soup.

The stew would take some time, so Wen Lan thought to let the hunter know in advance so he wouldn’t get too impatient waiting.

With that thought, she left the firewood room and headed toward the hunter’s quarters. Just as she approached, she saw the hunter carrying a bundle of clothes and opening a small side door before walking out.

She’d stayed here for two days and knew that besides the main gate, the hunter’s house had a side door. But she didn’t know where it led.

Is that the laundry area?

Seeing the bundle of clothes, Wen Lan realized something was off.

He was the master, and she was the maid. Laundry should be her responsibility.

“Big Brother Hunter!” Wen Lan quickly ran after him, pulling open the side door to follow.

Beyond the door was a narrow, uneven path.

The moon was high and stars sparse, and Wen Lan could only make out the general direction.

One side of the path leaned against a mountain slope; the other side was lined with wild bamboo. The road was winding and not easy to walk.

But the hunter was clearly very familiar with it. By the time Wen Lan had stepped out, he had already vanished.

She hurried after him and had barely gone ten meters before she heard the sound of water.

So he really came to wash clothes, Wen Lan thought, a little touched.

She thought, People call him “Master” this and “Master” that, but he’s not lazy at all.

He rose early, kept fit, was a skilled hunter, and even chopped wood and lit fires.

Now, even though he had a maid he could order around, he still did his own laundry.

I wonder what blow he suffered to end up living in such a remote, harsh place, Wen Lan speculated. It must be related to a woman.

That young man named Qingfeng had said it—his master had someone he liked.

If he already has someone he likes but came to this kind of place, odds are he got heartbroken. Wen Lan suddenly felt a bit sorry for the hunter.

If there was a chance, she wouldn’t mind helping him win that girl back.

As long as they weren’t married, there was always hope.

While she was lost in thought, Wen Lan suddenly noticed that the side of the path hugging the mountain had disappeared, replaced by thick steam.

She stopped walking and sniffed the air. There was a distinct sulfur smell in the mist.

Having soaked in many hot springs before, she immediately realized—there was a hot spring here, and the hunter hadn’t come to do laundry at all. He came to bathe!

Upon realizing the truth, Wen Lan pouted in annoyance. And to think I was just feeling sorry for him. Turns out he’s been secretly enjoying hot springs and didn’t even tell me!

She thought of the cold water bath she took last night, with a broken door and no light—just fumbling around to wash up a little.

Today, after climbing the mountain, picking pine mushrooms, and dodging wild boars, she smelled so bad she couldn’t stand herself.

This place must feel amazing for a bath, Wen Lan squinted into the mist.

Under the moonlight, the hunter was lying comfortably by the water’s edge, looking completely relaxed and on vacation. His arms rested on the shore, and his lean upper body glowed faintly under the moon.

Wen Lan didn’t dare peek any longer. She was afraid the hunter would catch her and think she was lusting after his rugged charm.

Quickly, she turned and went back to the kitchen to continue stewing the chicken.