Chapter 27: I Want to Live a Good Life with You

Right now, Chen Manman felt like a cat that had just stolen fish.

“Dahu~ Mama will be right there! Go eat first!” She patted her burning cheeks, her heartbeat still out of control.

“Alright! Mama, come quick!” Dahu saw his mom was inside the room. Though the lights were off, he didn’t think too much and trotted happily out the door.

That confession — “I like you” — kept echoing in her mind, and Chen Manman didn’t even know how she managed to get through dinner.

Seeing her daughter so distracted, Chen’s mother thought something had gone wrong at the hospital. After dinner, she quickly pulled Chen Manman aside.

“Manman, what’s wrong? Did your aunt bully you again?”

“If something’s wrong, just tell Mama,” her mother said, becoming even more anxious when she saw her daughter avoiding eye contact.

“Did something happen with Xiao Zhi…?” She didn’t dare finish the thought, afraid it would be too much to bear.

Chen Manman quickly stopped her mother’s thoughts. “No! Mom, everything’s fine at the hospital. They won’t cause any trouble for now. I’m just thinking about some things.”

She was still in a daze. In the original novel, the male lead didn’t like the original host at all. He had always treated her coldly. After the college entrance exams resumed, he returned to the capital, and once he was there, he got together with the female lead.

Why had the story changed?

She’d been planning to quietly get through these two years and divorce him when he returned to the capital!

But then what was that kiss about tonight?

Was he just being flirtatious? Or did he actually mean it when he said he liked her?

No, no, no! Impossible! How could that be?

She had only transmigrated here a few days ago! She had to ask him clearly tonight — what exactly was going on with this man?

Chen Manman silently made up her mind. “Mom, I’m fine. You and Dad should rest early~”

“Really nothing’s wrong?” Her mother still didn’t feel at ease.

“Really~ Mom, go rest. I’m fine!” Chen Manman hugged her mother’s arm.

Suddenly, she remembered — she hadn’t dug the pit to bury the liquor yet!

Beauty is truly a distraction!

“Brother! Bro! Help me with something!” Chen Manman walked up to her brother’s door and knocked.

Chen Guangming always did whatever his little sister asked. Hearing the noise, Lin Shuhe also came over.

He grabbed a hoe and began digging the hole himself, even telling her brother to go back inside — he’d do it.

Chen Guangming looked at his sister, then at his brother-in-law. What are they up to? Playing tricks on me? These young people! So impulsive!

He turned and went back to his room. His wife’s scent was still better!

“Manman, just tell me when you need help with things like this. No need to trouble your brother.”
— Your business is my business.

Chen Manman had planned to talk with him anyway, so she didn’t stop him. Let him dig if he wants.

Using a flashlight, she watched the man’s muscular arms as he dug, his veins bulging, and his abs faintly visible.

Ah! This—

Lustful Chen Manman suspected this man was deliberately seducing her!

“Um… do you want to put on a shirt? It’s late, and you might catch a cold,” she said tactfully.

Lin Shuhe glanced down at his white tank top. Since they were at home, he had taken off his outer shirt.

It was technically autumn, but the temperature was still high — no need to worry about the cold.

He looked at her, noticing her flushed cheeks and hesitant expression.

Of course he knew — she was shy.

Silently, he picked up his shirt and put it on. “How deep should the pit be?”

His voice was cool and low, with a magnetic tone that lifted at the end.

Chen Manman’s ears turned red again. She cursed herself for being weak!

“Just over a meter deep will do!”

The digging resumed.

“What did you mean by what happened tonight?” Chen Manman finally blurted out.

Lin Shuhe paused. “What?”

“You know, what you did tonight — what did you mean by that?” Ugh, this scoundrel — already pretending to forget!

Seeing her pouty lips and puffed cheeks, Lin Shuhe decided to tease her, “Which thing?”

“That thing! You know what I mean! What you did when you got home tonight!” She sounded furious.

The man chuckled quietly. “Oh, that? You tell me.”

“What do you mean by it?!” Chen Manman moved to smack him.

This scoundrel! He was infuriating!

Lin Shuhe dropped the hoe, gently grabbed her wrist, and wrapped his other arm around her waist. “Of course it means I like you.” His gaze was deep and intense, as if it could draw her in.

“I, you…” Being suddenly embraced, Chen Manman’s mind went blank. “You! Be serious! Didn’t you say you didn’t like Chen Manman?”

She didn’t clarify whether she meant the original one or herself.

“I didn’t like you before,” he admitted, his eyes darkening with emotion. “But lately I’ve noticed you’ve changed — you’ve become clever, sweet, filial, and adorable. And it makes my heart flutter. I want to live a good life with you. Can I?”

The last line trembled slightly, revealing his true feelings.

“I… I was planning to just wait until you went back to the capital, then we could divorce. I could handle my parents myself.” Chen Manman gently pulled away from his embrace.

“I won’t agree to divorce. Manman, let’s live a good life together, okay? I’ll change, I promise! I’ll do whatever you say, listen to everything you want!” Lin Shuhe held her tighter, unwilling to let her go.

The scent of fresh grass from his body surrounded her, making her head spin. “You can’t be so domineering!”

She thought she sounded fierce, but in his ears, her soft tone was more like a spoiled child’s.

He gently brushed the hair off her forehead and gave her a light kiss on the brow.

“Be good. I’ll finish digging the hole.”

It took Chen Manman a while to snap out of it. This scoundrel — he’s good at flirting! If she didn’t know this was the 1970s, she’d think it was modern times!

She didn’t say anything, just squatted to the side, quietly pondering his words.

So the scoundrel didn’t like the original Chen Manman — but now he liked her, which meant… he liked her?

Not bad taste, huh! Hmph!

What if it’s just a short-lived crush? Hmph! Scoundrel!

Soon, Lin Shuhe had dug a hole over a meter deep in the backyard. “Is this good enough?”

Chen Manman thought it looked okay and went to the front yard to carry the large jar of liquor.

Just as she was about to lift it, someone took her hand.

“Leave this kind of work to me. You just shine the flashlight,” his low voice said dotingly.

Chen Manman: “……” Hmph! Taking the chance to hold my hand! Scoundrel!

Under her direction, Lin Shuhe buried the large liquor jar in the ground. It would be dug up in five days, moved to a cool place, and opened after another seven days.

Clapping her hands with satisfaction, Chen Manman turned back toward the house.

Behind her, Lin Shuhe’s lips curled slightly. Heartless little thing — use and discard!

As usual, Lin Shuhe fetched water for the two kids’ baths, then washed up himself, and finally filled a large basin with hot water.

“Manman, I drew the water for your bath. Go ahead and wash up.”