Chapter 10: Because of Fear

The next morning, Dai Ning woke up to Zhao Yu’s dark eyes staring at her. Rubbing her eyes, she greeted him, “Good morning.”

Zhao Yu was not feeling good at all. His body was stiff, and he was covered in dried sweat.

As dawn broke, the young lady sat up, unsatisfied, and complained, “I slept terribly last night.”

Zhao Yu let out a cold laugh, too frustrated to even respond. He tossed the blanket aside, poured himself water from a bottle, and drank without asking if she wanted any. Afterward, he walked out.

Villagers greeted him as he passed, and he nodded, greeting them back.

Du Tian, who had been restless all night, finally saw him and noticed how tired he looked. She asked with concern, “Zhao Yu, you don’t seem well. Are you okay?”

He shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Du Tian offered, “My mom made breakfast and sent extra. Why don’t you join me?”

Zhao Yu declined. “No need; Zhao Ping will bring me something later.”

Occasionally, he accepted the neighbours’ kindness, but he wouldn’t allow too much familiarity. Du Tian was a young woman, and he was a single man—anything more could harm her reputation.

Du Tian smiled understandingly and didn’t press him. Her gentle smile was quite soothing.

Zhao Yu walked around to stretch his stiff body and felt a bit better before returning to his family’s threshing ground.

Coincidentally, Uncle Qian, having heard that the young lady had come to the threshing ground, had arrived early to check on this “precious gem” from a wealthy family.

Zhao Yu overheard Dai Ning whining to Uncle Qian—

“Uncle Qian, there are so many mosquitoes here, and it’s hot at night. Look at all the bites on me. The ground is so hard, I’m sore all over.”

Uncle Qian was heartbroken.

“Oh my! Look at these big bites! Just hang in there, Miss. I’ll ask Zhang Yongfeng to get you some ointment. You’ve suffered enough—we won’t come back here, alright?”

Dai Ning nodded eagerly, “Mhm!”

Zhao Yu, leaning against a nearby tree, felt his eye twitch. He now felt like a fool for putting up with her all night.

Uncle Qian’s two bodyguards were busy, one holding a basin, a clean towel, and a hot water bottle, while the other handed her a toothbrush and cup, with toothpaste already squeezed out.

Zhao Yu decided to ignore it all and went to a nearby stream to splash his face with cold water.

By the time he returned, the young lady was already sitting cross-legged, eating breakfast.

The aroma filled the entire threshing ground, and all the villagers were swallowing hard, staring at Dai Ning eating.

In this impoverished village, it was rare to see someone like Dai Ning, practically a symbol of earthly luxury. The delicacies she ate were things many here had never seen in their lives.

Dai Ning was oblivious to the stir she was causing, happily eating her breakfast while Uncle Qian waited for her to finish.

Zhao Yu could only shake his head. This young lady really needs a lesson.

When Dai Ning noticed Zhao Yu’s return, she felt unhappy about his “unannounced departure” earlier. In her opinion, Zhao Yu should have responded to her complaints with Uncle Qian’s level of attentiveness.

She’d even considered offering him two buns, since she couldn’t finish them herself. But now, holding a grudge, she didn’t even let him have a taste of the soup dumplings.

Zhao Yu said expressionlessly, “Ji Dai Ning, next time, don’t eat in front of so many people. You’re practically inviting someone to come rob you.”

Dai Ning looked at him like he was an idiot.

“Of course not! My bodyguards will beat up anyone who tries to rob me.” Then, eyeing him warily, she asked, “Are you trying to steal my food? Think twice!”

Unable to hold back, Zhao Yu reached out and pinched her soft, fair cheek hard.

Dai Ning was stunned, her cat-like eyes wide with shock.

Was he not afraid? Uncle Qian was right there, and yet Zhao Yu dared to lay a hand on her!

Suppressing his frustration, Zhao Yu said coldly, “I’ve wanted to set you straight for a long time.”

Fuming, Dai Ning turned to Uncle Qian. “Hit him for me!”

Uncle Qian was at a loss for words.

Watching the scene, he felt a headache coming on. Uncle Qian wasn’t clueless—most villagers here were poor and hungry, many barely scraping by.

And here was Miss Dai Ning, looking like a walking promise of riches to anyone who’d steal from her.

The hungry, cold, and indifferent stares made Uncle Qian uneasy, and Zhao Yu’s warning only highlighted the danger.

The bodyguards were skilled, but there were only four of them. Counting Chen Xiaoli, Zhang Yongfeng, and himself, they were just six people.

Even with electric batons, they couldn’t defend against an entire village. The villagers hadn’t acted yet, but if the young lady stayed longer, who knew what might happen?

Uncle Qian’s heart sank as he leaned in and whispered to her, “Zhao Yu is right, Miss. We should tone things down.”

The green orb in Dai Ning’s consciousness lay flat, utterly exasperated.

It had forgotten that, as a character in a book, Ji Dai Ning was bound by her characterization—arrogant, conceited, petty, and selfish.

Covering her red cheek, Dai Ning rubbed it and rolled her eyes.

“Alright, alright! I won’t eat, then.”

The green orb turned over, thinking there might still be hope.

—At least Ji Dai Ning had a thick skin and knew when to give in, even if she might be plotting her revenge.

Zhao Yu watched her coldly.

Dai Ning sidled up to him with a playful smile. “I know you’re right, Zhao Yu. You’re so nice; don’t be mad at me.”

She poked her other cheek, shamelessly adding, “Was it nice to pinch just now? Want another go?”

Her soft cheek dimpled with every poke.

Zhao Yu studied her, then finally helped her up. He leaned toward Uncle Qian and said in a low voice, “If you all plan to stay, you should bring in more people for security. But my advice is to leave as soon as possible. Xinghua Village isn’t a good place. You’ve seen it over the past few days—it’s poor, isolated, without communication or entertainment. Staying longer is pointless.”

Uncle Qian looked over at Dai Ning.

She nodded and said, “Uncle Qian, bring more people over.”

Surprised by her insistence on staying, Uncle Qian agreed reluctantly, quickly packing up the breakfast she hadn’t finished.

As this fuss unfolded, Zhao Ping arrived to bring Zhao Yu his meal.

Seeing the large crowd, he braced himself and called, “Brother.”

Zhao Yu said, “Xiaoping, keep an eye on the threshing ground for a bit. I’ll go home to shower and change, then I’ll take over for you.”

After a night spent dealing with the young lady, Zhao Yu needed a break. Letting Zhao Ping watch the threshing ground for a while would be fine.

“Alright.”

As Dai Ning followed Zhao Yu back home, she glanced at his back, her hand forming a claw as if she were scratching at his silhouette.

She couldn’t help but reflect on a serious question: why had she died young, while someone like Zhao Yu, with his miserable luck, had survived to the end?

“Fated survivors are truly named as such for a reason,” she thought.

For now, she decided to go along obediently, suspecting that sticking with this old, wily fox might keep her alive for a long time. When the day came that she no longer needed him and was safe from danger, she’d deal with him accordingly.

Dai Ning decided to write a “grudge journal” once she returned, detailing every single one of Zhao Yu’s faults.

Zhao Yu, unaware of her thoughts, went to check on his parents first, chatting briefly with them before heading to the backyard to draw water and wash up. The young man’s strong body was well-suited to the cold water, which he found refreshing. When he returned, he saw Dai Ning and his younger sister, Zhao An’an, sitting in the main room, and his nerves tightened again.

Zhao An’an, her mouth stuffed with an egg pancake, looked at him pitifully.

Zhao Yu grabbed Dai Ning’s wrist, questioning, “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you to stay away from my sister? Did you ignore my warning—”

Quick as lightning, Dai Ning shoved a golden shrimp ball into his mouth.

The flavor burst across Zhao Yu’s palate, and he instinctively wanted to spit it out. But his upbringing taught him never to waste food, so he held back, giving Dai Ning a hard look before swallowing the bite.

Despite his irritation, he couldn’t deny it was the best thing he’d ever tasted.

Zhao An’an said softly, “Big Brother, the lady wasn’t bullying me. She was feeding me.”

Although she knew she probably shouldn’t accept, Dai Ning didn’t waste time with words, stuffing one delicious treat after another into her mouth, filling her with happiness.

For once, Dai Ning, who always kept the best things to herself, had decided to share with his little sister.

When Zhao An’an finished speaking, Dai Ning instantly switched on the drama, her eyes brimming with fake tears as she accused Zhao Yu, “I was giving your little sister food, and you scolded me!”

Zhao Yu, holding back a sigh, said, “I’m sorry.” He didn’t even bother correcting Dai Ning’s disrespectful nickname for his sister.

Dai Ning held out her wrist, pouting, “Look, you hurt my wrist!”

Zhao Yu, exasperated, asked, “Alright, I was wrong. What do you want?”

Dai Ning said, “I fed your little sister so many treats, and you even had some yourself. Now that we’ve all shared something good, we’re all in the same boat. Until Uncle Qian brings more people, you need to protect me!”

Zhao Yu’s lips twitched. “Understood.”

So that whole act was just because she feared for her life.

Getting his agreement, Dai Ning instantly returned to her lively self, her previous look of pitiful resentment gone. She bounded out and called, “Uncle Qian, I need a bath! Get someone to heat water for me!”

Zhao Yu glanced down, rubbing his little sister’s head with a soft smile.

——

Zhao Yu was concerned that Dai Ning might follow him to the drying yard that night. If she came along again, she’d probably drag her entire bed over, attracting even more attention.

Luckily, it was the third day, and Zhao Yu decided to sun-dry the grains once more during the day and then bring everything back at night, making a nighttime trip unnecessary.

Meanwhile, Du Tian was simmering with frustration. She’d spent three nights watching the grains under the harsh mountain mosquitoes, barely getting any sleep, surrounded by people who snored. Worst of all, aside from the first night when she and Zhao Yu discussed a few English questions, she’d gotten nothing out of it—she felt she’d lost both time and dignity.

Du Tian took a deep breath, telling herself not to get angry. Sooner or later, Dai Ning would get her comeuppance, and she just had to wait.

Zhao Yu hadn’t expected that, as soon as he finished gathering the grains, it would rain that night. Those still at the drying yard rushed to cover the grains, muttering about the bad luck.

Originally, he had wanted to sun-dry them for another day or two, but the rain had come so suddenly.

The next day, it continued to rain, marking the start of the rainy season in the mountains.

Dai Ning, pleased, boasted, “See, Zhao Yu? Ever since I came, your family’s luck has improved!”

She truly had a way of crediting herself for anything good.

Zhao Yu felt a bit amused. If it weren’t for the fuss caused by this “trouble magnet,” he wouldn’t have rushed to gather the grains so early. In a way, she wasn’t wrong.

Unable to go out in the rain, he followed his usual routine and stayed home to teach his younger siblings.

With his mind clear, Zhao Yu understood that living in these mountains wasn’t a future he wanted for his family. He needed money to treat his parents’ illness and to give his siblings a better life.

Most people might have thought of using Dai Ning, but Zhao Yu wasn’t like that.

For one, he saw her as too self-centered and unreliable. He also knew he could only rely on himself for long-term success. One day, Dai Ning would leave, and he would still need to take care of his family.

So, even if she was in a good mood and occasionally fed his siblings, he calmly pulled Zhao Ping and Zhao An’an aside, asking her not to disrupt them.

It’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to return.

He wouldn’t allow his younger siblings to grow accustomed to her generosity. He wasn’t the type to depend on others, nor could he repay Dai Ning for such rare treats.

Fortunately, his siblings were obedient. When their older brother told them no, they shut their mouths tightly and stopped hoping for more.

To Dai Ning, this family was awfully dull.

Bored, she wandered around and eventually sat in on Zhao Yu’s lessons with Zhao Ping and Zhao An’an. Maybe she could even find a mistake to point out for fun.

Among the two small, thin children sat a girl with a dazzling beauty.

Her eyes were larger and rounder than Zhao An’an’s and Zhao Ping’s.

Watching her, Zhao Yu recalled that night at the drying yard when she had boasted that she knew everything. In truth, she hadn’t understood half of those words, had she?

With her rebellious nature, it was a wonder she even attended school. She was probably a menace there, bullying her classmates left and right.

Once he accepted that Dai Ning was a hopeless student, Zhao Yu found himself looking at her differently. The wide-eyed girl with curly hair, sitting among the two children, suddenly didn’t seem all that annoying.