As soon as the door opened, raindrops drifted in. Wan Mingji, wearing a bamboo hat, hadn’t expected such heavy rain when he went up the mountain today. Seeing a house, he stood under the eaves to take shelter from the rain.

Hearing a familiar voice, Wan Mingji was a bit surprised. He had heard from the villagers that this was the estate of the Xie family, where the county magistrate lived, but he didn’t know Xie Qiaoyu had come to the estate.

“Thank you.” Wan Mingji, carrying a basket on his back, walked in. He took off his bamboo hat, and raindrops still clung to his hair, dripping from his bangs onto the ground. His brows and eyes were as dark as lacquer, and his eyes seemed to hold a chill, deep like a well, carrying a damp aura all over.

When Xie Qiaoyu heard Wan Mingji’s voice, he was a bit skeptical. Seeing him take off the bamboo hat, his heart raced.

Could it really be such a coincidence?

Watching the raindrop roll off his hair onto the ground, Xie Qiaoyu’s ears inexplicably turned red.

This man is so handsome, and the raindrop is so… embarrassing.

“So it’s Young Master Wan. You’re all wet. Put down your basket. Xiao Yun, go to the kitchen and make some ginger tea,” Xie Qiaoyu stammered, not daring to look at Wan Mingji.

“Sorry to trouble you.” Wan Mingji smiled slightly, placing his basket to the side, still dripping wet.

Xiao Yun, following Xie Qiaoyu’s instructions, had already left, leaving just the two of them. Xie Qiaoyu felt very shy. They hadn’t met since the county magistrate’s banquet.

Even though it was a thunderstorm, the air was very humid, but Xie Qiaoyu felt the surrounding air was getting hot.

Wan Mingji, usually carefree, suddenly felt a bit uneasy. He tried to find a topic and said, “Thank you for letting me take shelter from the rain, and for the pastries you gave me.”

“Ah.” Xie Qiaoyu was startled by Wan Mingji’s sudden voice, feeling a bit annoyed. He was still thinking about what to say when Wan Mingji spoke first.

“Did you like the pastries I gave you?” Xie Qiaoyu looked up at him.

He was dressed very simply today, with just a hairpin. Xie Qiaoyu regretted it to death. If he had known he would meet Wan Mingji, he would have worn his favorite beautiful clothes. Now, in his eyes, he must look like a country boy, not attractive at all.

Ah, he’s going crazy.

Xie Qiaoyu was a bit dejected but still very nervous.

“They were delicious,” Wan Mingji’s clear voice came, “But you don’t have to give me pastries, Young Master Xie. You’ve already repaid me for saving you.”

Besides the peach blossom cake, Xie Qiaoyu had also sent many pastries through Xie Zhi. Recently, Xie Zhi’s gaze at him had changed.

What the heck, Xie Qiaoyu thought angrily, “Is my life worth just some pastries? Just take them!”

“My life is precious,” Xie Qiaoyu snorted coldly.

Wan Mingji was a bit confused. He didn’t understand why Xie Qiaoyu was angry, but he made a good point, so he nodded, “Young Master Xie is right.”

The surroundings returned to silence, with only the sound of raindrops falling on the eaves. Xie Qiaoyu saw Wan Mingji’s wet clothes and looked down at his own shoes, “You’re so wet. There are my grandfather’s clothes on the estate. Why don’t you wear them for now?”

“No need,” Wan Mingji didn’t want to trouble Xie Qiaoyu.

“I told you to go, so go. If you get sick, it’ll cost more money,” Xie Qiaoyu said, getting annoyed at this guy. He seemed so straightforward when fighting, but now he’s being so stubborn.

Xie Qiaoyu ran inside to explain to Old Madam Xie, “Grandmother, I want to let him wear Grandfather’s clothes. He’s soaked through.”

Old Madam Xie said, “Liu Mama, go get a set of the old man’s clothes.”

Xie Qiaoyu’s bright eyes were full of joy, “Thank you, Grandmother.”

At the entrance, only Wan Mingji was left. He crossed his arms, looking at the rain outside.

Xie Zhi, this younger brother, was a bit strange.

Coming to Qingshui Alley to find him and bringing him pastries, he knew there was no benefit to be gained from him, and he was puzzled by Xie Qiaoyu’s efforts.

Could it be…

Xiao Yun brought the ginger tea, and after Wan Mingji drank it, he felt warm all over. Xie Qiaoyu brought the clothes, “These are my grandfather’s clothes for you to wear.”

At this point, Wan Mingji didn’t stand on ceremony and asked Xie Qiaoyu for a room to change his clothes.

Xie Qiaoyu watched Wan Mingji go to change clothes, his eyes sparkling as he stared at his figure.

So good-looking, such long legs.

Pretending to be so graceful in front of him, he had seen him fight, clearly very clean and neat, just liked to deceive someone like him who was naive, beautiful as a flower, and delicately raised.

Xie Qiaoyu was in an unprecedentedly good mood, he even wanted to hum a song, wanted to jump up.

Wan Mingji still obediently listened to him.

After changing clothes, Wan Mingji took his wet clothes with him. When he came out, Xie Qiaoyu’s eyes were bright as he looked at him, but thinking about his own appearance, he felt dejected again.

“Xiao Yun, take the bowl away.”

He sent Xiao Yun away.

“Yes, Third Young Master.”

The heavy rain continued, with lightning and thunder.

Wan Mingji saw Xie Qiaoyu’s profile and asked, “Young Master Xie, you didn’t go to Qingshui Alley to buy mung bean soup.”

It was a statement.

Xie Qiaoyu’s mind buzzed, his tongue started to tie up, and he couldn’t speak.

Wan Mingji continued, “At the county magistrate’s banquet, you tied a bow for me.”

Xie Qiaoyu’s face turned completely red.

“You had Xie Zhi bring me pastries.”

Wan Mingji hinted, “And now, you let me in to take shelter from the rain, gave me your grandfather’s clothes to wear.”

“Would you give your grandfather’s clothes to a stranger?”

Xie Qiaoyu inwardly retorted, how could that be, his dark eyes moistly looked up at Wan Mingji.

Actually, he also noticed that Xie Qiaoyu liked to look at him.

“Did you see me fight them at the funeral?” Wan Mingji asked.

Xie Qiaoyu’s knees went weak.

The atmosphere became more tense, and Wan Mingji also felt unnatural. He subconsciously looked at the wound on his hand, which was bitten by Xie Qiaoyu, and there was still a tooth mark.

Xie Qiaoyu’s heart was pounding, as if he could clearly hear his own heartbeat, feeling a bit dizzy.

“I understand now.”

Wan Mingji thought everything stemmed from Xie Qiaoyu seeing him fight Qian Yi and the others. Everyone has a tendency to admire strength, and Xie Qiaoyu wanting to get close to him was inevitable.

Xie Qiaoyu saw him fight well, so he wanted to gain his favor and protection.

Understanding this, Wan Mingji felt much more relaxed.

Xie Qiaoyu wanted to cover his own heartbeat, what do you understand?

Going crazy, ahhh.

Wan Mingji now looked at Xie Qiaoyu, who seemed only fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a gray outfit, which instead highlighted his beautiful face.

Such a pretty boy would indeed attract a lot of jealousy.

“Wan Mingji, you…” Xie Qiaoyu was embarrassed to ask, his snow-white neck tinged with pink.

“Don’t worry, whatever you want, as long as it’s within my ability, I’ll give it to you.” This was his promise, Wan Mingji looked at the wound on his hand, suddenly feeling very warm.

“Ah.” Xie Qiaoyu’s earlobes were red, “No need for that, I don’t lack anything, just take care of yourself.”

It’s just that Wan Mingji promised him so quickly, too fast.

Xie Qiaoyu stammered, feeling this man was really decisive.

“Why are you on the estate?” Wan Mingji took the initiative to ask. Logically, Xie Qiaoyu should be in Ningjiang County, not in Linshui Village.

“I came with Grandmother, and I’ll be staying for a few months before going back,” Xie Qiaoyu answered obediently.

The rain gradually lessened, and Wan Mingji put on his bamboo hat, “I’ll wash the clothes and return them to you.”

Xie Qiaoyu was still feeling anxious, looking at Wan Mingji’s handsome face, he said, “Then come find me.”

“I will.”

Wan Mingji walked out the door, suddenly thinking of something, he turned around, Xie Qiaoyu was still standing there watching him, Wan Mingji was stunned, he took out a dead wild rabbit from his basket.

“For you.”

Xie Qiaoyu: “???”

Xie Qiaoyu almost exploded, his tone incredulous, “You’re giving me a dead rabbit?”

“Wild rabbit is delicious, it’s for you to eat,” Wan Mingji explained.

Xie Qiaoyu reluctantly accepted.

“Your hand injury?”

“It’s nothing, it just looks like a crescent moon,” Wan Mingji smiled handsomely, “Very cute.”

Do you know what you’re saying?!

You little devil!

Xie Qiaoyu got goosebumps all over.

This time, Wan Mingji really left. He walked into the dim path and soon disappeared from sight. Xie Qiaoyu was still standing at the door, if it weren’t for the dead rabbit in his hand, he would have thought it was a dream.

When he looked at Wan Mingji’s back, he felt a bit reluctant.

This might be a longing for Wan Mingji, or perhaps the novelty of meeting someone while staying on the estate, Xie Qiaoyu handed the rabbit to Xiao Yun.

Boldly saying, “We’re having rabbit tonight.”

Xiao Yun: “…”

Wan Mingji returned to the village and entered his home, changing his clothes. Wan Xiuyue poked her head out, “Big brother, you’re back. I was about to go find you.”

“What for? The ground is slippery.”

“Tomorrow, when you go to town to sell the game, buy a few umbrellas. We only have bamboo hats at home,” Wan Xiuyue said.

“I know,” Wan Mingji replied.

“Hey, big brother, why are you washing two sets of clothes?” Wan Xiuyue, sharp-eyed, noticed the two sets of clothes in the basin.

“Go back to your room,” Wan Mingji dismissed his younger brother.

Wan Xiuyue retracted her head and went back to the room to share this with Wan Xiubai, who responded, “Tomorrow, when big brother goes to town, he can also sell the handkerchiefs we embroidered.”

“Right, the money big brother earns from selling will be given to us separately.” After the Wan family fell into decline, Wan Xiuyue also liked to save money. Li Yun took them to farm, and they also made handkerchiefs, which was a bit tiring.

If Li Yun went to sell, they wouldn’t get any money, but if Wan Mingji went, they would all get some copper coins.

The luxurious life of the past now seemed like a dream.

Living well now isn’t bad, life will get better.

Wan Mingji washed the clothes clean and hung them in his room. When they first arrived in Linshui Village, Li Yun even had Wan Xiuyue and Wan Xiubai wash his clothes.

Wan Mingji didn’t agree.

Now the family gradually got used to Wan Mingji washing his own clothes.

Having given away a wild rabbit, tomorrow he could still sell three pheasants and two wild rabbits. After selling the game, he should think about the fields.

Currently, the wild rabbit had already appeared on Xie Qiaoyu’s dining table.

Xie Qiaoyu ate with great relish.