Xia Zhi looked at Lu Beiting, whose face was flushed from coughing, she set down the chicken coop in her hands, and quickly walked inside.  

She picked up a nearby kettle, poured some hot water, and handed it to him.  

Lu Beiting took the cup from her, his gaze coldly sweeping past Xia Zhi to stare at Xu Rufeng in the distance.  

Xu Rufeng stiffened momentarily before calling out, “Xia Zhi, I’ll head back first. Let me know if you need any help.”  

With that, he carried his things upstairs.  

“Ah—” She hadn’t even properly thanked him yet.  

By the time Xia Zhi turned around, Xu Rufeng was already gone.  

Lu Beiting lowered his head to drink the water, a flicker of displeasure flashing in his eyes. Was she really that concerned about Xu Rufeng?  

…No, why should he care about this?  

“I’ll come back later to give you the acupuncture,” she said before walking out again to settle the chickens first.  

After surveying the open space, she decided to temporarily place the chickens in a corner and build a proper coop tomorrow with some wood she’d gather.  

She hadn’t gone to the mountains today and wondered how those two little rascals were doing.  

Lu Beiting wheeled himself to the doorway, watching Xia Zhi work outside for a while before rolling forward. “Go gather some usable sticks nearby. I’ll help you.”  

Xia Zhi studied him for a long moment. What was this man up to?  

Lu Beiting looked up at her with a cool expression. “What’s wrong?”  

Meeting his deep, narrow eyes, Xia Zhi immediately turned and walked outside.  

She collected sticks of various sizes—some long, some short—planning to build a simple coop for now and use the rest to fence off a vegetable patch. Tomorrow, she’d go up the mountain to find thicker logs.  

Lu Beiting stared blankly at the chickens in the coop, only snapping out of it when he heard movement behind him.  

Xia Zhi set down the pile of sticks and looked at him expectantly.  

After assessing the spot, Lu Beiting picked up a stick and hammered it firmly into the ground with a rock.  

Xia Zhi watched, then curiously stepped forward to test its sturdiness—surprisingly solid.  

With practiced ease, Lu Beiting finished the frame and glanced back, signaling for her to put the chickens inside.  

Xia Zhi lifted the coop and released the family of chickens inside, then tossed in some vegetable leaves that had come with them.  

The hen led her chicks to peck at the leaves, and Xia Zhi couldn’t help but smile at the sight.  

Still worried, she gave the coop a few pushes, but it stood firm. Relieved, she couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—this man really was strong.  

“Don’t worry, it won’t be a problem. Against the wall, it’s sheltered from strong winds. Just add some plastic sheeting during the rainy season.”  

Xia Zhi turned to him curiously. “Do you often help the villagers?”  

“It’s just a small thing.”  

In the past, during landslides after heavy rain, he’d lend a hand when he was nearby. As long as no one was hurt, it wasn’t a big deal.  

“Let’s go back inside.” Xia Zhi pushed his wheelchair into the house, then took out her acupuncture kit to administer the treatment.  

Lu Beiting lowered his gaze, watching Xia Zhi’s focused expression. When she was serious, she was completely different from her usual self.  

But soon, his attention was wrenched away from her—the pain in his legs was even more intense than last time, and sweat quickly beaded on his forehead.  

Xia Zhi handed him a towel. “I’ll go make dinner.”  

When she arrived at the canteen, Chen Yan smiled at the sight of her. “Xiao Xia, you’re here! Go ahead, the kitchen is free now.”  

“Thank you, Auntie.”

Xia Zhi prepared something more nutritious this time, adding some minced meat. Before leaving, she gave the remaining half portion to Chen Yan.  

“Oh, this child, always so polite. It’s really no big deal—such a large piece of meat!” Chen Yan said, though she still accepted it. Tomorrow, she’d add a little extra to the meal for the kids.  

When Xia Zhi returned, she paused at the doorway. Lu Beiting’s white undershirt was soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his toned upper body, the muscles sharply defined. With each labored breath, his abdominal muscles subtly flexed beneath the fabric.  

Combined with his strikingly handsome face—exuding raw masculinity with a hint of restraint—Xia Zhi couldn’t help but swallow hard.  

Lu Beiting tilted his head back in discomfort, his Adam’s apple bobbing enticingly.  

Xia Zhi froze mid-step, her gaze locked on him like a predator. This man… was seriously playing dirty.  

Lu Beiting turned his head slightly, his half-lidded eyes meeting hers. Xia Zhi sucked in a sharp breath, jolting back to reality before hurriedly setting the pot on the table, her cheeks burning.  

She patted her face lightly with both hands, then stepped forward to stand beside Lu Beiting, even giving his thigh a firm squeeze.  

“How does it feel?”  

Lu Beiting shook his head.  

Xia Zhi gritted her teeth and pinched the solid muscle of his thigh hard, twisting slightly.  

A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Beiting’s eyes as he looked up at her. “A little sensation.”  

After removing the needles, Xia Zhi massaged his legs.  

Though Lu Beiting couldn’t feel much, the situation still made him uneasy, so he turned his head away.  

If Xia Zhi had glanced up just then, she would have seen the tips of his ears, bright red and hidden beneath his hair.  

After a while, her hands grew sore, and she shook them out. “Let’s eat first.”  

She brought over the medicinal porridge she had prepared and handed it to him.  

Lu Beiting took it with a word of thanks, but when he saw the tiny bowl in Xia Zhi’s hands—barely the size of her palm—he paused.  

Compared to his portion, hers couldn’t even be called a bowl. It was more like a teacup.  

“Can you really get full eating so little?” Frowning, he moved to scoop some of his porridge into her bowl.  

“Ah, ah, that’s enough! I can’t eat that much!” Xia Zhi held her bowl behind her back with one hand while using the other to stop him.  

Lu Beiting’s frown deepened, but he withdrew his hand and began eating silently, a question nagging at him.  

Was it because he was eating too much?  

After finishing her meal, Xia Zhi sighed contentedly, then cleaned up the dishes and went to organize her things.  

“Wait.”  

Xia Zhi turned, puzzled. Was he really going to ask her to stay the night?  

Lu Beiting pulled out a thick stack of cash from under his pillow and handed it to her. “Take this. Buy better food—don’t starve yourself.”  

Xia Zhi stared at the money in shock. How did he have so much? Had his parents not demanded any from him?  

“Why do you have this much?” She didn’t take it; she was just curious. How could someone from such a ridiculous family have savings?

“The military covers my living expenses. I don’t have much use for money.” Seeing her hesitation, Lu Beiting pressed his lips into a thin line.  

Was it not enough?  

“Oh, no need. I have money.” Xia Zhi shook her head firmly. She had already gotten plenty from the Gu family—enough to last her a long time.  

“Take it. I can’t just freeload off you,” he insisted, pushing the money toward her.  

“I already said I don’t want it!” By all accounts, he was a hero. Helping him in a small way was nothing, especially since she had already benefited from him.  

As they struggled over the money, Xia Zhi stumbled and lurched forward.  

Both of them froze.