The disappointment in the girl's eyes was reflected in Lù Yúnhǎi's. However, he had no regrets. Setting aside the current situation of his family, what right did she have to marry him? Was it just because he was poor? Besides, they were both unmarried, and if someone saw them, who knew what rumors would spread. His background was already problematic, so he didn't care, but it would certainly not do for a pure and innocent girl like her.
"What's wrong with me? Is this place yours, that I can't come here?"
Mù Xīyáng didn't care about all that. She was a little upset because the beautiful scenery was blocked, and the man's physique was even better than those in the gym, comparable to a soldier.
"Mù Xīyáng, you're a girl, aren't you!"
Lù Yúnhǎi sighed helplessly, his tone carrying a hint of indulgence he didn't even notice himself. Dressed in a gray jacket, he still looked like a tough guy, but his rugged features made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Mù Xīyáng pouted. She had confirmed it; this person should be the past life of her senior brother. Except for the fact that her senior brother was a bit fairer, his tone of voice and appearance were truly alike.
She felt a little displeased with his words: "What's wrong with being a girl? Aren't people born to be looked at!"
Faced with the suddenly appearing young woman, and her questioning look, Lù Yúnhǎi choked, his clear eyes deepening. If someone else were here bare-chested, would she look at them the same way?
"Mù Xīyáng, not everyone is like me. You'll only know regret when you've suffered a loss one day."
Everyone was working now. If someone with bad intentions really showed up, she'd have no one to call for help. Although the village had simple folkways, there were still a few bad apples. Especially for someone as beautiful as her, if she suffered a loss, she'd have to swallow her pride.
She really didn't learn her lesson. Just after one Luó Jīnshùn left, who knows if another Gǒu Jīnshùn would appear.
Thinking of this, Lù Yúnhǎi decided he had to pay attention and not let her come to such a place alone in the future. No matter what, she had saved his life. Lù Yúnhǎi was quite good at making excuses for himself.
Mù Xīyáng had no idea what he was thinking. She raised her right hand and pulled down his clothes in front of him, signaling him to lower his head a bit.
"Why don't you try it and see if I suffer a loss?"
Staring at her red lips, a blush crept onto Lù Yúnhǎi's bronzed skin. Especially as her maidenly fragrance filled his face, making him feel completely unnatural.
Just as Lù Yúnhǎi was about to step back, his foot missed and he fell backward. Mù Xīyáng was not one to stand by and watch. Seeing him about to fall, she reached out and grabbed his clothes. Unexpectedly, her strength was too little, and not only did she fail to hold him, but she also pulled herself down.
Mù Xīyáng wailed and in her fear, quickly closed her eyes. However, as she fell into the water, she landed in a warm and broad embrace. As they both fell, Lù Yúnhǎi instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around her to prevent her from getting hurt. Thus, Mù Xīyáng did not choke on the water.
"Are you okay?"
She had only meant to tease him, but an accident occurred.
Mù Xīyáng, usually carefree, felt awkward now. After getting out of the water, she looked at the man completely soaked and showed a hint of shyness on her face. When she fell, she had heard a muffled groan and wondered if his back was injured.
The girl's voice was like the warm breeze of spring, making him want to get lost in it. When her soft hand touched his back, his mind went blank, and an indescribable feeling arose in his body.
"I'm fine. Wait here for a moment." After removing her hand from his back, he quickly ran off. When he returned, he was holding a clean jacket, though it was full of patches.
"This is what my younger sister usually wears. Hurry up and put it on to change your clothes, don't catch a cold."
They were working at the end of the village today, which was close to Lù Yúnhǎi's home.
Mù Xīyáng didn't fuss. The water in the ditch was quite cold. If she hadn't seen what he was trying to do, she would have already gone into her Space to change her clothes.
"Thank you. This fish I just caught from the water, let's each take one."
Mù Xīyáng held two carp strung together with silk reeds and handed one to Lù Yúnhǎi.
Seeing the man's tight lips, Mù Xīyáng's face fell. This stubborn man was just like her senior brother, completely unromantic.
"Lù Yúnhǎi, you don't think I'm going to cling to you just because I'm giving you a fish, do you?"
"How could that be?" Given his family's situation, shouldn't she be the one to worry about being clung to?
"Then, what are you afraid of? Hurry up and take it. I'm freezing. If I catch a cold and get a fever, I'll be in trouble."
Even if he wasn't her senior brother, he had saved her life, so she had to show some appreciation.
Vinegar fish, chili fish, grilled fish – they were all her favorites. Walking on the road, all she thought about was what kind of fish she would make today.
On the way back, she naturally received many envious glances. Let alone fish, even rats were almost extinct in their village.
"Mù Xīyáng, where did you get that fish? Did you go to the big pond?"
Seeing the woman who appeared before her, Mù Xīyáng couldn't help but want to hit her. Why were there always people in the world who were eager to be scolded?
As expected, among the envious crowd nearby, some showed signs of displeasure.
"Zhāodì, it's not that Auntie is lecturing you, but the fish in the big pond belong to the public. You can't knowingly break the rules."
"I say, the village head's family is good. Look how well Mù Zhāodì is raised; they must be eating meat every day."
"Really? I don't think so. I see only Xīyáng is well-built; the others aren't that great?"
"People are raised with the same rice, but they are all different. Look, we all eat the same things, and you're not as good-looking as Zhāodì!"
The village was divided into two factions. One group disliked Mù Xīyáng, feeling that there was no need to raise a girl so delicately, and deliberately called her by her old name. The other group thought the Mu family was really good. Mù Xīyáng had raised her well and even sent her to finish high school. They heard that if college resumed, they might even send her to university. By then, Mù Xīyáng would have a formal job, and maybe she would help them someday. Therefore, these people treated Mù Xīyáng very well and greeted her with smiles.
Mù Xīyáng pulled at her clothes, shivering from the cold: "Are you blind? Didn't you see I came from the ditch? If you have the ability, go catch one yourself."
As she spoke, she deliberately wrung out her sweater, and water droplets dripped down. Now, everyone saw it. A few kind aunties quickly urged her to go home and change clothes.
Mù Xīyáng, who thought she was fine, started cutting the fish into slices after returning home. She put some lard in the pot, then fried the fish head and bones until golden brown, and added pickled vegetables to make soup. At noon, she received many compliments. Only the old lady felt sorry for her oil, yet she ate the most. Even the last bit of soup in the basin was mixed with rice and finished by her. However, Mù Xīyáng developed a high fever while taking her afternoon nap.