The more she looked at him, the more convinced she became of her good taste—or was it just because he was so handsome? Otherwise, why had she only ever scammed Lu Ping’an and no one else in the past?  

*How blind I was in my past life not to have chosen him from the start.* Just looking at his face made it hard to stay angry.  

When Lu Ping’an spoke to her, she didn’t quite catch what he said and let out a puzzled, “Hmm?”  

He didn’t look up at her, but the girl’s fervent gaze burned hotter than the flames beneath the pot. She didn’t seem the least bit afraid of being caught staring, and after he spoke, her eyes only roamed over him more boldly.  

His face flushed crimson, his ears burning. He wanted to tell Shen Xiaoyue to tone it down but had no idea how to bring it up, so he simply pretended not to notice and repeated his question: “Do you want mushroom soup?”  

“Yes!”  

Shen Xiaoyue thought happily—*could this count as progress?*  

The sky darkened gradually, the moon hanging high as summer cicadas chirped noisily.  

The two sat side by side. Lu Ping’an tossed more firewood into the flames, stoking them higher. The mushroom soup bubbled vigorously in the pot, while the rabbit meat roasting above turned golden, its aroma filling the air.  

Returning to this world, Shen Xiaoyue felt excitement, exhilaration, but also hesitation and unease.  

There were too many uncertainties. She was afraid of messing up, afraid things might turn worse.  

Yet, in this moment, all those emotions seemed to settle, as if she had finally found an anchor.  

The flickering firelight cast shifting shadows over Lu Ping’an’s face, making him look like a meticulously carved work of art—every contour perfectly sculpted.  

Shen Xiaoyue couldn’t resist leaning closer. *I really want to kiss him.*  

Afraid the flames might leap up and burn her, Lu Ping’an raised a hand in surprise to stop her, only to meet a pair of blazing eyes.  

His heart skipped a beat.  

Flustered, he clumsily tried to divert her attention. “The soup’s ready. You can have some now.”  

Food came first—no matter how big the matter, it had to wait.  

Obediently straightening up, Shen Xiaoyue kept her eyes fixed on Lu Ping’an as she grinned and took the bowl he handed her.  

“It’s delicious,” she said, smacking her lips.  

*Seems I worried for nothing—Lu Ping’an has some culinary talent.*  

Though not as much as before.  

In the past, to coax her into eating more, Lu Ping’an had gone out of his way to learn cooking, experimenting with all sorts of dishes. She’d been afraid the family chef would lose his job and had to suffer several financial losses just to dissuade him.  

*Those days really left me sore all over…*  

Watching her satisfied expression, Lu Ping’an’s lips unconsciously curled upward.  

He rotated the skewer, flipping the rabbit meat, then pulled out some unknown seasoning from his pocket and sprinkled it on before tearing off a leg for Shen Xiaoyue.  

This was undoubtedly the most satisfying meal Shen Xiaoyue had had since her return. The last bite of rabbit meat disappeared into her mouth, and her stomach was now round and full.  

……  

“Lu Ping’an, I heard the village is organizing a movie screening soon. Let’s go together?”  

“We’ll see.”  

The boy stuffed his hands into his pockets, lifting his eyes lazily. He knew full well that outright rejection wouldn’t work on Shen Xiaoyue. *I’ll just say I’m busy when the time comes.*  

He mentally patted himself on the back for his cleverness.  

Unfortunately, the girl didn’t know the meaning of the word “discouragement” and pressed on.  

“We can go to the county this week! I want to eat the big meat buns at the state-run restaurant. Come with me?”  

“No.”  

Lu Ping’an refused coldly. Going to the county meant waking up early, and he was *not* a morning person.  

“But I’ll be scared alone. I’ve never been there before.”

**Shen Xiaoyue pressed on.**  

“…Then you shouldn’t go either.”  

Lu Ping’an made a last-ditch struggle.  

“I want to eat the buns.”  

“……Fine.”  

Lu Ping’an resigned himself to fate. He was certain that if he refused, Shen Xiaoyue would come up with a hundred reasons to convince him. And if she impulsively showed up at his house to drag him along? That would be disastrous!  

Wouldn’t his parents faint from shock?  

After careful consideration, Lu Ping’an decided to agree.  

His eldest and second brothers were usually busy looking after their nephews and nieces on their days off, and his family hadn’t eaten anything from the state-run restaurant in a long time. He might as well bring some back for them.  

Pursing his lips, Lu Ping’an added, wary of Shen Xiaoyue reading too much into it, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just bringing some back for my parents.”  

Shen Xiaoyue thought his mouth was far more stubborn than his heart. After hearing similar excuses a few times, she’d become immune.  

But since she was benefiting from his compliance, she decided to humor him—just this once.  

She nodded solemnly.  

“Okay, I won’t overthink it.”  

Lu Ping’an: “……”  

*Why does that feel even more off?*  

As they bickered all the way to the educated youth outpost, Shen Xiaoyue felt a twinge of reluctance.  

She suddenly realized she might be possessed by some kind of lustful spirit—why else would she keep wanting to kiss Lu Ping’an?  

*Even though he’s infuriatingly stubborn…*  

Pinching her fingertips to psych herself up, she reached out and grabbed Lu Ping’an’s hand.  

“You—”  

Watching her face draw closer, Lu Ping’an froze in place, his heart pounding like thunder, as if it might leap out of his throat. His mind went blank.  

**”Xiaoyue!”**  

The two of them jerked apart in panic.  

“Xiaoyue, you’re back?”  

“Comrade Xie has been looking for you for ages.”  

Hu Qingqing had been standing far away and hadn’t seen clearly—just a vague impression that the figure resembled Shen Xiaoyue. Only when she got closer did she notice the familiar-looking boy beside her.  

“Is this Secretary Lu’s…”  

Her gaze flickered between the two. She remembered Secretary Lu’s son very well—first, because she’d been stunned by the boy’s beauty, and second, because she couldn’t believe such an exquisitely handsome young man was the son of the round, stout Secretary Lu.  

It was as absurd as someone telling her a winter melon had sprouted a cucumber seedling.  

The two of them standing together looked indescribably perfect, like a matched pair—though for some reason, Secretary Lu’s son was blushing furiously. *Must be the heat*, she thought.  

She didn’t dwell on it, assuming it was just a coincidence.  

In her mind, Comrade Shen was the absolute best. Even someone like Comrade Xie was only *barely* worthy of her.  

(*And it’s definitely not because Comrade Shen often shares malted milk and milk candies with me!*)  

Secretary Lu’s son was undeniably good-looking, but for educated youths like them, returning to the city was inevitable.  

Rumors said Secretary Lu’s son was the family’s treasured jewel—no way would they let him become a live-in son-in-law. And the idea of Comrade Shen staying in the countryside? Hu Qingqing had never even considered it.  

So she just casually greeted them before pulling Shen Xiaoyue away.  

“Xiaoyue, Comrade Xie is looking for you—it seems urgent.”  

Lu Ping’an watched their retreating figures, his heart still racing, his cheeks practically steaming. Apart from the croaking of frogs, the only sound in his ears was the deafening thump of his own heartbeat.  

He pressed a hand to his chest, trying to calm his unruly heart—to no avail.  

*If that educated youth hadn’t shown up out of nowhere, my innocence would’ve been lost just like that!*  

He sighed inwardly in relief, though an inexplicable sense of disappointment lingered.  

Then, remembering something, Lu Ping’an narrowed his eyes and scoffed.  

*Good thing I held my ground. Listen to this—she’s over here trying to take advantage of me, while some “Comrade Xie” is waiting for her over there.*  

*If I ever trust Shen Xiaoyue again, I’m a dog!*