At the entrance of the Cheng family home, an osmanthus tree stood tall. It was midsummer, and its branches and leaves were lush. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the branches, casting dreamy and hazy shadows.
Cheng Fangqiu leaned her head slightly backward, allowing her to see only his refined and profound brows and eyes, his features extraordinarily handsome.
His palm was broad and burning hot, resting just like that on her waist. There was an intimacy that seemed to seep into the bones. Cheng Fangqiu’s heart trembled slightly, feeling as if her entire body was set ablaze, scorching hot. Before she could even speak, in the next moment, he gentlemanly withdrew his hand on his own accord.
Cheng Fangqiu took the opportunity to turn around, facing him directly. She reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, using the motion to ease the growing trace of awkwardness in her heart. She had been playing around with Cheng Xuejun, but he had seen it all…
Would he think she was childish?
Thinking of this, she lifted her eyelashes and slowly looked at him, trying to catch some trace of his reaction on his face. However, this one glance left her momentarily stunned.
Zhou Yinghuai was no longer wearing the set of clothes he had in the county town. Instead, he had changed into a dark-colored dress shirt and trousers. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a slender neck and two visible collarbones—both sexy and refined.
Yet, the hem of his shirt was neatly tucked into his trousers, adding a hint of restraint. A finely crafted leather belt cinched his narrow waist, making his broad shoulders and slim waist all the more striking—his figure was ridiculously perfect.
Beyond that, his short hair was also meticulously styled.
From this, it was clear how much he valued this visit.
She didn’t find anything odd about staring at him, but the person being stared at felt incredibly uncomfortable. He himself didn’t even know why he had dressed up so formally. It was just a simple meal, nothing more.
Ever since coming to the countryside, he had been invited to meals at villagers’ homes plenty of times.
But today was different.
“You’re here? Come in and have a seat.” Cheng Fangqiu finally snapped back to her senses and invited him inside. Yet, her gaze still lingered on him, as if drawn by an invisible force. They say clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes the horse. Zhou Yinghuai, dressed in formal attire, was even more captivating.
A feast for the eyes—no doubt about it.
But if she had to pick his most “feast-worthy” moment, it would undoubtedly be their first meeting, when he had been stark naked…
Cough, cough. What kind of filthy things was she thinking?! A faint blush crept up Cheng Fangqiu’s ears as she scolded herself for the shameful thoughts that had just popped into her head.
“Mm.” Zhou Yinghuai, oblivious to Cheng Fangqiu’s abnormal behavior, hummed in response, as if relieved of a burden. Then, he bent down to pick up the things on the ground. Cheng Fangqiu couldn’t just stand there idly and hurried to help.
To her surprise, scattered on the ground were two packs of cigarettes, a bottle of baijiu, and several jars and bottles. She didn’t get a clear look, but they all seemed expensive.
Was this really just a casual visit? It looked more like he was delivering money.
Cheng Fangqiu swallowed and watched as Zhou Yinghuai casually packed the items back into his bag. Then, as if nothing had happened, he prepared to follow her inside. Silently, she shut her mouth.
Wealthy, generous, and well-mannered—he truly lived up to his role as the big shot in the novel…
Since he didn’t bring it up, she wouldn’t either.
“Xuejun, pour Comrade Zhou a cup of water.” Cheng Fangqiu led him toward the main hall while directing Cheng Xuejun. The latter had already abandoned his broom the moment Zhou Yinghuai appeared. It was rare to see him looking somewhat reserved. Fortunately, with Cheng Fangqiu’s reminder, he immediately snapped out of it and rushed off to carry out his task.
Their movement was not small, and Ding Ximei and Cheng Baokuan came out of the kitchen upon hearing the commotion. When they saw Zhou Yinghuai, they both beamed with delight and greeted him enthusiastically.
“Oh dear, just having you here is enough. Why did you bring anything?” Ding Ximei’s heart skipped a beat when she spotted the pile of items on the table, feeling a little embarrassed as she playfully scolded him.
“Uncle, Aunt.” Zhou Yinghuai greeted them one by one, then smiled gently. “Just a small token of my appreciation.”
A small token of appreciation? Cheng Fangqiu didn’t even want to expose his lie.
Hearing this, Ding Ximei glanced at the bags on the table again but couldn’t see what was inside. She simply assumed they were small gifts, the kind people brought when visiting relatives in the countryside. So, she didn’t dwell on it. Instead, her smile deepened, and even her tone became noticeably more cheerful.
“The dishes aren’t ready yet. Why don’t you keep comrade Zhou company, Qiuqiu and Xuejun? Have some snacks and chat—we’ll be done soon.”
To properly host Zhou Yinghuai, Ding Ximei had gone to borrow some sugar ration tickets from her eldest uncle’s family early in the morning. She then visited the commune’s supply and marketing cooperative to buy some treats. Candies, sunflower seeds, fruits—everything one could think of. She had truly gone all out.
“I’ll help out.” Zhou Yinghuai had said he would come to help earlier, and he really meant it. Ever since he stepped through the door, he hadn’t even sat down once. Seeing Ding Ximei and the others heading back to the kitchen, he immediately rolled up his sleeves, ready to follow them in.
“No, no need.” Seeing this, Ding Ximei nearly had her eyeballs pop out of their sockets and hurriedly stopped him. How could they let a guest cook? Besides, though it wasn’t right to think this way, Zhou Yinghuai didn’t seem like someone who knew his way around a kitchen. If he went in, wouldn’t that just slow things down?
“Since I’m just sitting around anyway, I might as well do something.” After saying this, Zhou Yinghuai paused for two seconds before adding, “They say my cooking skills aren’t bad—I shouldn’t be a burden to Uncle and Auntie.”
This wasn’t about being a burden or not—it was just…
Wait, Zhou Yinghuai could cook? That was unexpected.
Not only Ding Ximei, but even Cheng Fangqiu’s eyes lit up slightly. The book hadn’t mentioned that Zhou Yinghuai knew how to cook. Who would have thought that the big shot was not only capable in the grand hall but also in the kitchen!
“Then how about I chop some firewood?” Zhou Yinghuai noticed that Ding Ximei didn’t want him to enter the kitchen. He assumed it was because too many people would get in the way, so he suggested heading to the backyard to split firewood instead.
“That’s not necessary either, Comrade Zhou, you…” Ding Ximei had never encountered a guest so eager to do work in their home. She was completely at a loss and stammered for a long time, unable to come up with a good reason to refuse.
It was Cheng Fangqiu who quickly stepped forward and tugged at Zhou Yinghuai’s sleeve, stopping him with just one sentence: “Comrade Zhou, my little brother was just saying he wanted to become a technician. Could you explain a bit about the trade to him?”
Feeling the downward pull on his clothing, Zhou Yinghuai hesitated for two seconds before nodding. “Of course.”
Seeing him give up on helping in the kitchen, Ding Ximei breathed a sigh of relief. After giving a few instructions, she and Cheng Baokuan returned to the kitchen, leaving the three of them sitting there, staring at one another.
Cheng Fangqiu didn’t know what had gotten into Zhou Yinghuai today. Normally, he had a rather cold temperament, but today, he was being unusually enthusiastic. If she had to describe it, he was acting like a peacock in full display, going out of his way to show off.
The more she thought about it, the weirder it seemed. She couldn’t resist shooting him a suspicious glance. Just then, he happened to look at her too, and their gazes collided in midair. A strange and inexplicable tension slowly spread between them.
Cheng Fangqiu suddenly turned around and picked up a peach from the table. “You guys chat—I’ll go slice the peach.”
After saying this, she was about to head to the kitchen but stopped after taking two steps. She suddenly remembered that the only kitchen knife at home had just been used to cut pork. Her footsteps abruptly halted. “Forget it, let’s just eat it as is.”
Her odd behavior immediately caught the attention of the two men in the room. Being stared at like that made Cheng Fangqiu’s skin prickle with goosebumps. She simply plopped down onto a chair and silently listened to their conversation.
But after a short while, she started feeling bored.
Resting her cheek on one palm, Cheng Fangqiu absentmindedly tapped her fair fingertips against her face, leaving behind faint red imprints. In her brown eyes, Zhou Yinghuai’s focused profile was reflected as he seriously explained the responsibilities of a technician.
It seemed that, in his eyes, nothing else existed apart from technical terms and Cheng Xuejun.
Cheng Fangqiu was not happy about this.
Her bright eyes flickered mischievously. Without thinking much, she casually picked up a peach from the plate and held it out in front of him. “I can’t finish this. Can you break it open?”
Zhou Yinghuai had been in the middle of explaining a technician’s daily duties when, out of nowhere, a large, soft pink peach suddenly appeared right in front of him. Following the delicate hand holding the fruit, he looked up and met a stunningly beautiful face.
Her eyes seemed to have hooks in them, staring straight at him without blinking. Her slightly parted red lips carried an indescribable allure.
“I’ll go wash my hands.” Zhou Yinghuai shot her a glance, as if saying, Did you really have to ask?
Cheng Fangqiu touched the tip of her nose and gave him a sweet smile before bouncing up to follow him. “The washing area is this way.”
And just like that, the two of them left the main hall together, leaving behind a thoroughly bewildered Cheng Xuejun.
Why did it feel like his sister was stealing his conversation partner?
—
The Cheng family’s backyard faced the mountains, and very few people passed by, making it particularly quiet. Only the faint sound of voices from the kitchen could be heard in the distance.
Under the eaves near the entrance, there was a large water vat, filled with water that Cheng Baokuan and Cheng Xuejun had drawn from the well that morning. It was meant for household use throughout the day.
Zhou Yinghuai moved the lid aside and was just about to scoop up some water when Cheng Fangqiu beat him to it.
The soft sound of trickling water filled the air. Zhou Yinghuai bent slightly at the waist, carefully washing his fingers clean. She stood beside him, watching. This scene felt strangely familiar—just like the day she had brought him chicken soup.
That day, he had accidentally bumped into her…
Recalling that moment, Zhou Yinghuai’s eyes darkened, his breathing unconsciously deepening.
Cheng Fangqiu, unaware of what was running through his mind, handed him the ladle after he finished washing. He helped her scoop some water, and she washed her hands as well. She also rinsed the peach again, making sure it was clean.
They moved in sync without needing words. Soon, Zhou Yinghuai picked up the peach and, with both hands applying force, cracked it open with a crisp snap—splitting it into two perfect halves.
“You’re so strong,” Cheng Fangqiu said, her voice deliberately soft and sweet, even though this was exactly what she had expected. She didn’t stop praising him until she caught the faint trace of embarrassment in his eyes. Only then did she withdraw her teasing with a satisfied smirk and reached out to take the smaller half of the peach from his hands.
“You eat the bigger half.”
Zhou Yinghuai had no objections. Whatever she said was fine. Logically speaking, sharing a peach like this was an ordinary thing. He had split food with friends before.
But because it was her, this simple act carried an inexplicable hint of intimate ambiguity.
His gaze naturally drifted toward her. She lifted half of the peach to her lips, her pearly white teeth sinking into the soft pink flesh, leaving a delicate bite mark. However, after just a couple of chews, her expression scrunched up in displeasure.
“Sour.”
The peach had looked perfectly ripe and enticing on the outside, but it turned out to be all appearance and no substance. It wasn’t sweet at all—in fact, it was sour enough to make her teeth ache. Her delicate face crinkled like a little steamed bun as she grumbled, “My mom just told me this one would be delicious.”
“That shopkeeper was such a liar. How could she say these are the best peaches of the season when they’re this sour?”
Cheng Fangqiu stared at the remaining half of her peach, caught in an internal struggle between eating and not eating. She had always disliked bitterness and sourness. She didn’t want to force herself, but she also hated wasting food. For a moment, she found herself unable to decide.
At that moment, Zhou Yinghuai extended his hand toward her. “Give it to me.”
Cheng Fangqiu turned to him in surprise. “But I already took a bite…”
“I don’t mind.”
Zhou Yinghuai hadn’t tasted his half yet, so he had no idea just how sour the peach was. But how bad could it be? It was just a peach. If she didn’t want to eat it, then she shouldn’t have to force herself.
Though his expression remained composed and his voice carried no discernible hesitation, if one looked closely, they would notice the faint blush creeping up his ears.
Seeing this, Cheng Fangqiu’s alluring peach blossom eyes slowly curved into little crescent moons. Then, with a playful glint in her gaze, she took a step forward and grabbed his outstretched hand, giving it a sudden tug.
Their distance instantly closed.
Like a soft little lamb, she leaned in close, her breath—carrying the faint scent of peaches—warming the skin of his chin. With a teasing smile, she asked, “Comrade Zhou, do you like me?”
Zhou Yinghuai froze, every muscle in his body tensing. But inside his chest, his heart pounded harder and faster with each passing second.