Wu Qingyun sat in the yard with her legs crossed, feeling more and more uneasy as she mulled things over. She recalled how Lu Ping’an had acted strangely after returning from the educated youth outpost last time. Could it be that this brat had taken a liking to one of the female educated youths?  

She could already picture her son in the future—holding a child, sitting at home in a daze, waiting for a letter from some educated youth.  

Just the thought of it made her shudder.  

When she saw her son coming back from outside carrying a bucket, she suspected he’d just gone to deliver food to the educated youth like an eager fool.  

She’d heard that several pretty young girls had arrived at the educated youth outpost this year. She wondered which one had caught her son’s eye.  

No—it didn’t matter which one. None of them would do. The younger sister of the Liang family next door was a perfect example of how badly things could turn out.  

“Oh, so you finally decided to come back?” Wu Qingyun probed, “Were you just at the educated youth outpost?”  

Lu Ping’an’s eyes widened instantly as he stared at her. He didn’t say a word, but his face might as well have been stamped with four bold characters: “How’d you know?”  

Heavens, this was a disaster!  

Wu Qingyun immediately clutched her chest in despair. In the blink of an eye, this foolish boy had been lured away by someone!  

“You idiot, have you forgotten what happened to the Liang family’s younger sister? Listen to your mother—educated youths are trouble!”  

“When they leave, can you stop them? What will you do then?”  

At her words, Lu Ping’an’s expression turned complicated, as if he had already become a discarded husband, tricked into a sham marriage.  

He’d already rejected Shen Xiaoyue! His mother’s worries were completely unnecessary. Was he really the kind of person who’d fall for such an obvious trap?  

“Mom, it’s nothing like that.”  

Wu Qingyun sneered, clearly not buying it.  

…

As soon as Shen Xiaoyue returned to the educated youth outpost, Hu Qingqing excitedly rushed over to tell her that there would be a social gathering that evening.  

After the heavy rain, the stifling heat in the air had dissipated somewhat, and the cool breeze had stirred the hearts of these young people. Since they hadn’t yet properly gotten to know each other, they decided to organize a mixer.  

Nightlife in this era was indeed quite limited. Younger folks enjoyed games like jump rope and hide-and-seek, but these educated youths considered themselves adults and wouldn’t engage in such childish activities.  

A social gathering would not only help them get to know each other better but also bring some fun to their otherwise monotonous and exhausting lives. Everyone was all for it.  

Naturally, Shen Xiaoyue had no objections either.  

A few small tables were pushed together, and the educated youths placed kerosene lamps on the tabletops. Those who were better off contributed some snacks. Though there wasn’t much, the atmosphere was just right.  

Xie Ning couldn’t understand why Shen Xiaoyue had been so distant with him these past few days. He saw this as an opportunity to rekindle their connection.  

He directly moved a stool to sit beside Shen Xiaoyue. The others exchanged glances and began teasing them.  

Shen Xiaoyue and Xie Ning were both easy on the eyes, and everyone had noticed the unusual closeness between them when they first arrived.  

Now that Xie Ning had openly taken a seat next to her, it seemed he wasn’t planning to hide things anymore.  

Shen Xiaoyue watched as Shen Xing’s face flickered between green and red like a theatrical performance and found it quite amusing. She didn’t shoo Xie Ning away, instead calmly enjoying the breeze he fanned her way.  

Someone couldn’t resist teasing, “Xie Ning, why only fan Shen Xiaoyue? Why not fan us too? We’re also hot!”  

Xie Ning smiled good-naturedly and said, “Xiaoyue can’t stand the heat. I can’t bear to see her suffer.”  

Shen Xiaoyue: “…”

It was hard to tell whether Xie Ning usually sweated or oiled himself up.  

The educated youths at the outpost were all around the same age, and after some playful teasing, they grew closer. Soon, the group was laughing and joking together.  

In these times, there weren’t many entertainment options. Occasionally, they would pass the time by playing cards.  

Under the bright moonlight, Xie Ning tilted his head slightly and glanced at Shen Xiaoyue. Her profile, bathed in the silvery glow, looked as soft and gentle as flowing water—so beautiful it seemed unreal. A sudden impulse struck him, and he wanted some time alone with her.  

Leaning closer, he lowered his voice and whispered near her ear, “Xiaoyue, want to take a walk to the back mountain?”  

Shen Xiaoyue had actually been wanting to check the mountain for edible mushrooms or other wild ingredients she could stir-fry. Going alone wasn’t safe, and she was afraid others might see her and compete for the finds. Any extra could be sold for some pocket money during breaks.  

Xie Ning’s suggestion couldn’t have been more perfect.  

She readily agreed, “Sure.”  

Having been rejected by her so often these past few days, Xie Ning had grown a little frustrated. Her sudden agreement caught him off guard, leaving him pleasantly surprised.  

Shen Xiaoyue stood up and walked off without hesitation. Xie Ning snapped out of his daze and hurried after her.  

Their departure went unnoticed by everyone, even Shen Xing, who usually kept a close eye on them, was too absorbed in the lively atmosphere tonight.  

“Xiaoyue, why have you been so distant with me lately?” Xie Ning asked, trying to bridge the gap between them.  

Without stopping, Shen Xiaoyue replied casually, “It’s nothing. I just didn’t want to cause any misunderstandings.”  

Xie Ning reached out and grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop. His eyes held a hint of grievance. “Xiaoyue, how could this be a misunderstanding? We’re going to get married sooner or later.”  

“If Uncle Shen found out, he’d be very worried.”  

He deliberately brought up Shen Jianguo, knowing Xiaoyue was filial and wouldn’t do anything to upset her parents.  

The old Shen Xiaoyue might have obediently given in, but now, she was Niohuru Yue—unshakable.  

As they spoke, they reached the back mountain. The trees were lush and dense, and the occasional chirp of insects could be heard from the grass.  

Shen Xiaoyue’s sharp ears caught the faint rustling of grass and footsteps behind a tree. She glanced up.  

A corner of white fabric peeked out from behind a thick trunk.  

Narrowing her eyes, she suddenly turned to Xie Ning and said, “Xie Ning, you go back first. Let me think things over.”  

Thinking he had persuaded her, Xie Ning nodded in satisfaction. He didn’t press further, just gave a few reminders before leaving.  

Behind the tree, Lu Ping’an didn’t understand why his first instinct upon seeing the two of them was to hide—especially when one of them was the very person he had sworn at noon never to see again.  

Their conversation wasn’t loud, but he caught snippets—words like “marriage” and mentions of each other’s parents. They seemed very familiar with each other.  

A strange, inexplicable anger flared in Lu Ping’an’s chest. This Shen Xiaoyue had been flirting with him just this afternoon, and now she was discussing marriage with someone else? What kind of game was she playing?  

His mother’s warnings had been right all along.  

These educated youths were all deceivers, especially this pretty Shen Xiaoyue—the biggest swindler of them all! She was clearly trying to play him for a fool. Luckily, he was sharp enough not to fall for it, or she’d have toyed with him like a dog on a leash.  

The more he listened, the angrier he got. His hand, resting against the tree trunk, unconsciously tightened, peeling off a chunk of bark. His foot scuffed the ground irritably.  

When Shen Xiaoyue glanced in his direction, he immediately jerked his head back like a startled rabbit, cautiously retreating to his “burrow.”  

Hearing her say she needed time to think, he snorted inwardly. Good riddance! Maybe now she’d stop eyeing him like prey.