Chapter 47 ☆ Cicada Shell (Part 2)

But in the end, Xie San didn’t touch her.

Xie San worked efficiently, quickly filling a box with cicada shells and starting to catch cicada monkeys.

The best time to catch cicada monkeys is probably at night, but since sunlight doesn’t penetrate this forest, the cicada monkeys, unable to see the sun, scramble to the ground.

There were many small holes around the tree roots, some large and some small. Each cicada digs several holes. Xie San, being very experienced, could find the right ones every time he dug.

Cheng Yaoyao looked at the cicada monkeys and cried. She actually didn’t want any cicada monkeys at all! But seeing Xie San’s eyes inadvertently reveal a hint of offering treasures, she had no choice but to generously offer him great praise and a sweet smile.

Encouraged by her praise, Xie San wanted to continue digging. He had already caught a basket of cicada monkeys but aimed to catch more.

Cheng Yaoyao said quickly, “I haven’t eaten mushrooms for a long time. I want to eat mushrooms.”

“Okay.” Xie San said naturally, then closed the basket with the cicada monkeys. “There are chicken mushrooms in the area nearby. I’ll go pick some.”

Cheng Yaoyao wanted to follow, but Xie San said, “There are a lot of mosquitoes there. You wait here, be good, and don’t run around. Call me if you have any problems.”

“I won’t run around. This isn’t my first time picking mushrooms!” Cheng Yaoyao raised her chin.

Xie San looked at her with distrust, then picked up the basket and walked deeper into the woods.

Cheng Yaoyao wandered alone in the forest, looking for cicada sloughs on tree trunks. No one had ever picked cicada sloughs in this area, so Cheng Yaoyao collected two or three taels of them by herself. After a day’s work, she could earn about one dollar, which was much more cost-effective than going to work.

As Cheng Yaoyao was searching, she suddenly heard voices coming from outside the woods. It sounded like a man and a woman.

“Ah Yan, wait for me, I can’t walk anymore…”

Four words flashed in Cheng Yaoyao’s mind: Enemies often meet on a narrow road.

Cheng Nuonuo still spoke in that timid tone, but her voice sounded hoarse, as if she hadn’t had a drink of water for a long time, which sounded very inconsistent.

Shen Yan obviously noticed this too and said impatiently, “There were so many people in the field just now, and you insisted on calling me out. If others saw us, they would think something happened to us!”

Cheng Nuonuo said faintly, “Ah Yan, you have been avoiding me since we moved to the dormitory. Do you not want me anymore? Or… are you still angry with me?”

Shen Yan was speechless for a moment, then said, “Don’t think too much. How will the new family you move into treat you if they know?”

“Ah Yan, I really didn’t mean it that day. I was so sad that I scratched you,” Cheng Nuonuo explained in a sad tone. “I have always regretted it. Looking at the wound on your face, I feel more pain than if I were injured myself…”

“Nuonuo,” Shen Yan’s tone was a bit shaken, “I think you have changed a lot.”

“Do you think I’ve become ugly?” Cheng Nuonuo suddenly asked, her tone becoming a bit sad.

“No,” Shen Yan said hurriedly, “It’s your temper. You used to be the most gentle and kind, but now… Nuonuo, don’t be like this!”

There was a sound of fabric rubbing together. When Shen Yan spoke again, his tone was breathless and much softer, “Don’t be like this… I want to make things clear to you…”

“Ah Yan, I’m already yours.” Cheng Nuonuo’s voice was so soft it seemed like water could drip from it, which was very inconsistent with her rough voice. “We…”

With a snap, a branch snapped underfoot, and the sound was particularly harsh in the woods.

“Who?!” The wild mandarin ducks ^[1]phrase used to describe frightened individuals. scattered immediately. Shen Yan, suppressing his panic, shouted, “Come out!”

Cheng Yaoyao hesitated for a moment, and Shen Yan had already rushed in. He saw Cheng Yaoyao standing under a tree, wearing pink clothes, with snow-white skin and red lips. The light and shadow fell on the ends of her hair, as if coated with a layer of glaze.

Shen Yan’s angry look turned into a look of helplessness, and he stammered, “Yaoyao? Why are you here?”

“Sister?!” Cheng Nuonuo also ran over, looking at Cheng Yaoyao in panic.

Cheng Yaoyao hid the box of cicada shells behind her back, raised her eyebrows, and looked at them with disdain. “Why can’t I be here?”

“Sister, you… you heard everything?” Cheng Nuonuo seemed about to cry.

Cheng Yaoyao glanced at Cheng Nuonuo’s face and was stunned. Cheng Nuonuo’s once fair face now looked dried out, visibly rough and dark yellow, with dim eyes.

Cheng Nuonuo was aware of these changes and was extremely sensitive to others’ gazes. Cheng Yaoyao’s surprise felt like a whip that lashed at her self-esteem.

Shen Yan’s face also looked quite ugly.

Especially when he saw Cheng Yaoyao and Cheng Nuonuo standing face to face—one as bright as a pearl, while the other looked dry and thin in comparison—the feeling of missing something made Shen Yan more and more irritated.

Cheng Nuonuo struggled to maintain her innocent look and said to Cheng Yaoyao pitifully, “Sister Yaoyao, this is all my fault. It has nothing to do with Ah Yan. Please don’t tell anyone else.”

“I’m not as boring as you,” Cheng Yaoyao said coldly.

Shen Yan said, “Yaoyao won’t tell anyone. Let’s go.”

Cheng Nuonuo refused. She thought Cheng Yaoyao was always irritable and frivolous and couldn’t keep secrets. Since Cheng Yaoyao had discovered it, it might be better to spread it around. Thinking of this, Cheng Nuonuo reached out to pull Cheng Yaoyao’s hand, “Sister Yaoyao, you…”

“Let me go!” Cheng Yaoyao still remembered the day she caught Zhang Xiaofeng and Shen Yan. The scar on Shen Yan’s face was still there!

The two of them were pulling at each other, and Shen Yan hadn’t expected this to happen. Before he could intervene, a deep voice suddenly commanded, “Stop!”

Xie San threw down the basket, strode over with a sullen face, and positioned himself protectively in front of Cheng Yaoyao.

The young man in the torn coat was tall and strong, with a sinister look in his eyes. Cheng Nuonuo was so scared that she subconsciously stepped back, biting her lip and saying pitifully, “I… I just want to talk to my sister.”

Xie San didn’t even glance at her; instead, he turned to Cheng Yaoyao with concern.

“I’m fine,” Cheng Yaoyao said, shaking her head.

Cheng Yaoyao spoke in a tone that Shen Yan knew well, the way she acted when she was close to someone. He immediately became jealous and shouted, “Yaoyao, why are you staying with this ‘black five category’ from the landlord’s family?”

Xie San’s muscles tensed as he glared at Shen Yan with sharp eyes, like a cheetah ready to pounce.

Cheng Yaoyao stepped in front of him and sarcastically asked Shen Yan, “Why are you and Cheng Nuonuo here?”

“…” Shen Yan blushed, unable to respond, realizing that Cheng Yaoyao had overheard everything earlier.

Cheng Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him and said to Xie San, “Brother Xie San, let’s go home.”

Xie San picked up the basket and walked out with Cheng Yaoyao. As they passed Shen Yan, Shen Yan deliberately blocked the exit, looking at Xie San provocatively.

He glanced at Xie San’s ragged clothes and thought of his background, feeling especially angry. Just based on his appearance, is he worthy of being by Cheng Yaoyao’s side?

Xie San walked towards him expressionlessly, his tall and strong shoulders knocking Shen Yan aside. Shen Yan felt as if he’d been hit by a truck; his shoulder went numb, and he staggered back several steps.

Cheng Nuonuo hurriedly supported him. “Ah Yan, are you okay?”

Shen Yan pushed Cheng Nuonuo’s hand away and angrily cursed, “Barbarian! Yaoyao, don’t get too close to this kind of person! He’s from the ‘five black categories,’ a bastard! Think about your own identity!”

Cheng Yaoyao and Xie San walked away shoulder to shoulder without looking back.

On the way back, Cheng Yaoyao grumbled to Xie San, “They’re so annoying, just making noise. Don’t listen to their barking.”

Then she asked, “What kind of fungus did you find? Show me.”

Xie San remained silent the entire time, just turning his head toward Cheng Yaoyao.

When they reached the alley, they encountered others returning from work. Xie San immediately distanced himself from Cheng Yaoyao, walking one in front and one behind, as if they had nothing to do with each other.

Many people greeted Cheng Yaoyao. She slowed down to chat with them briefly. But when she looked forward again, Xie San had already disappeared.

Cheng Yaoyao’s smile froze on her lips.