The weather was scorching hot, and the White Rabbit milk candies had begun to melt, turning sticky. When they brushed against soft fingertips, Lu Ping’an flinched as if burned.  

Ever since Shen Xiaoyue called out to him, everything had gone beyond his expectations.  

No—actually, ever since this educated youth arrived, everything had started to feel strange.  

“Hey—don’t pull and tug like that.”  

Lu Ping’an jerked his hand away as if electrocuted, the softened candy now stuck in his palm, leaving him unsure what to do with it.  

Things weren’t strictly regulated now, but a man and a woman walking together without being in a relationship was the easiest way to invite gossip!  

He knew she was infatuated with his good looks, but being handsome wasn’t his fault. The way she stared at him so openly, and now even pulling at him in broad daylight—  

If the villagers saw them, there would inevitably be talk, fabricating baseless rumors.  

More importantly! He wasn’t even close to her and didn’t like her.  

He’d been good-looking since childhood, and the girls in the village loved chasing after him, calling him out to play. It was so annoying—he’d rather stay home and sleep.  

He preferred someone quieter, shyer. She didn’t even need to be too pretty—having one good-looking person in the family was enough. But Shen Xiaoyue wasn’t like that—she was bold and intense.  

Shen Xiaoyue wasn’t upset. She just let out a sweet “Oh,” then pointed at his clenched fist and said, “I gave you candy.”  

“Comrade Shen…”  

Lu Ping’an frowned, trying to figure out how to respond without hurting her pride.  

Giving him candy? Did he lack her two measly pieces? After coming to the countryside, she probably didn’t even have enough for herself.  

Meanwhile, Shen Xiaoyue, nearly dehydrated from the heat, was growing impatient. Her tone was casual and natural as she spoke: “Lu Ping’an—can I call you that?”  

Lu Ping’an thought to himself—*she already did, so what’s the point of asking? Even if I said no, would it matter?*  

“Do whatever.”  

Shen Xiaoyue’s eyes curved into crescents. She reached out, pinching his sleeve with two fingers, tilting her face up to look at him. Her eyes sparkled as if she was pouting. “Lu Ping’an, it’s so hot—I want some water.”  

Distracted by her sudden shift, Lu Ping’an forgot about the candy. His mental alarm bells rang as he glared at her warily.  

*Just as I thought—she’s up to no good. First, she grabs my hand, now she wants my water. Who knows what she’ll think of next? Does she think I’m some kind of loose man?!*  

“No! You’re a girl—have some dignity! You—”  

Shen Xiaoyue checked the time—almost everyone had finished eating. Not in the mood to listen to his nagging, she peeled another milk candy and popped it into Lu Ping’an’s mouth while he was mid-sentence. Then she stuffed the remaining candy and a piece of flatbread into his pocket.  

Quickly turning away, she waved with a smile, her thick braids swinging in the air in two graceful arcs. “Lu Ping’an, I’ll come find you next time.”  

*He hadn’t even said anything yet!*  

*Next time? What next time?!*  

Lu Ping’an was both annoyed and filled with an indescribable emotion.  

Rubbing the milk candy in his hand, he muttered to himself and turned to go home.  

He wasn’t the type to take advantage. Since he’d inexplicably accepted Shen Xiaoyue’s things, he needed to go home and think about how to repay her.  

*One courtesy deserves another—absolutely no room for her to get the wrong idea!*  

When Shen Xiaoyue returned, she didn’t attract much attention. Everyone was exhausted from the morning’s labor and just wanted to finish eating and rest.

Even though the food was dry, everyone was focused on eating their cornbread with water—except for Shen Xing, who kept eyeing the candy in Shen Xiaoyue’s pocket.

Shen Xing watched as Shen Xiaoyue walked back with a noticeable smile on her lips and couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. *Did she sneak off to eat something? And she didn’t even share? Her sister was getting stingier by the day.*  

Then she remembered how Xie Ning had come over earlier to ask where Shen Xiaoyue had gone, and her heart twisted with bitterness.  

*No, I can’t just sit back. Am I really going to wait until Shen Xiaoyue and Xie Ning get together?* 

*If that happens, where does that leave me?*  

…  

“You went to the educated youth point with your dad today? Since when did you become so diligent?”

Wu Qingyun was at home cooking, thinking that since her son wasn’t one for labor, how long could he possibly last out there? But no matter how long she waited, Lu Ping’an didn’t return. *Could it really be like Old Lu said—has the sun risen from the west today?*  

It wasn’t until well past the usual mealtime that she finally saw Lu Ping’an strolling back, nibbling on a piece of cornbread with one hand in his pocket, looking completely at ease.  

The Lu family had a village party secretary for a father and two strapping sons in their prime. Even though they doted on Lu Ping’an like a treasure, their life was comfortable—especially in these times of scarcity, their circumstances were quite good.  

They didn’t need a special occasion to buy meat for a feast, and at the very least, they could always have sweet potato porridge. As for cold cornbread, Lu Ping’an usually found it too rough and unappetizing—he never liked it.  

In other families, the attitude might’ve been “Eat it or starve,” but Lu Ping’an had been born as soft and white as a little snowball, giggling and cooing at everyone he saw.  

By the time his two older brothers were old enough to understand things, they were already full of curiosity about their new baby brother. Back then, Wu Qingyun was busy working to support the family, so Lu Ping’an was practically raised by his brothers.  

Later, when he was a little older, his brothers hit their rebellious teenage years and decided it’d be fun to take Lu Ping’an to the mountains to hunt wild boars.  

But they ended up angering a young boar, which charged straight at them. The two brothers froze in panic, but eight-year-old Lu Ping’an, frantic, threw himself in front of them. Luckily, the adults arrived in time, and Lu Ping’an only suffered a broken bone.  

The guilt ate at his brothers. The sight of Lu Ping’an writhing in pain on the ground had terrified them, and they blamed themselves. From then on, they treated him like the apple of their eye, always worried he might suffer lasting effects.  

Even now that Lu Ping’an had grown into a tall young man over six feet, in their minds, he was still too delicate for hard labor.  

His sisters-in-law were reasonable too—*Before we married into this family, Lu Ping’an never worked. Why should he start now just because we’re here?*  

Besides, the Lu family was already doing well compared to others in the area. Lu Ping’an wasn’t some lazy schemer—he was just laid-back. Occasionally, he’d go hunting in the mountains to bring back game and improve the family’s meals. Everyone was happy to spoil him.  

*If he doesn’t like cornbread, then he doesn’t have to eat it!*  

So today really must’ve been the day the sun rose from the west! Wu Qingyun watched in disbelief as her youngest son, who usually turned his nose up at cornbread, was now nibbling on it like it was something precious.  

*What, is the cornbread from the educated youth point that much better?*  

But a mother knows her son best. Wu Qingyun had a feeling it wasn’t about the taste of the bread—it was about *who* gave it to him.  

So she suddenly blurted out, “Is it good? Who gave it to you?”

Lu Ping’an had been lost in thought, considering whether he should go to the mountains later and collect some bird eggs to repay Shen Xiaoyue. *I wonder if she likes them?*  

*Wait—why should I care whether Shen Xiaoyue likes them or not?!*  

*She didn’t ask me before stuffing those milk candies into my hand.*  

(Though he *did* really like them.)  

Lu Ping’an’s sweet tooth was no secret in the Lu family. But how did *Shen Xiaoyue* know?  

He chalked it up to pure, dumb luck.