Qi Rui's expression changed, and he anxiously asked, "Are you someone else?"
His focus was always on the strangest of things.
Shen Yue had just said that casually, her eyes were very clear, as if she didn't understand, "Aren't I?"
Qi Rui fell silent, his face gloomy.
He had always wanted to bring Shen Yue home, always considering her his wife, but in Shen Yue's heart, she was just someone else!
They had kissed for so long, how could she still be someone else!
Seeing Qi Rui not moving, exuding a low pressure, his face particularly sour, his jawline taut, looking very unhappy, Shen Yue didn't know why he was angry. "What's wrong?"
"Then am I also someone else?" Qi Rui mumbled.
Shen Yue didn't know what to say. She was always gentle, as if she had no temper. Even if she didn't know what she had said wrong, she softly coaxed, "Alright, stop messing around."
Qi Rui pursed his lips tightly, his eyes fixed on Shen Yue, and the temperature of the air seemed to drop a few degrees.
With his back to Shen Yue, his voice was very cold, "I'm sleepy."
Shen Yue was stunned for a moment, and in a flash, she seemed to see the first time she met Qi Rui.
Arrogant and indifferent, looking down on everything, haughty, as if he didn't put anyone in his eyes.
Shen Yue found this Qi Rui unfamiliar, even a little fearful. Her pretty and gentle face turned pale. She bit her lip, putting some force into it, and it hurt a little.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but when she saw Qi Rui's cold back, all the words got stuck in her throat. In the end, she said nothing and left in silence.
---
In the afternoon, Shen Yue took a basket to pick mushrooms. There were many mushrooms on the mountain, and they were all strangely shaped. The system said that the more beautiful they looked, the more poisonous they were.
After picking half a basket of mushrooms, Shen Yue suddenly heard the grass behind her being trampled, and someone was standing behind her.
"Shen Yue."
Shen Yue turned around, and her gaze met the man's.
The man was tall and strong, with muscles developed from years of labor, a broad chest, and a narrow waist. He had a great figure and handsome, well-defined features.
When he saw the girl, he was stunned.
Shen Yue was still squatting on the ground, holding mushrooms in her hand.
Shen Yue greeted him first. She stood up and said, "Brother, what a coincidence."
Zhang Cong came back to his senses. He must have been wandering on the mountain for quite some time, as the back of his clothes was still damp and dark.
His brow bone was deep and handsome, his lips were thin, and his voice was deep, "Why are you picking mushrooms here? It's very dangerous."
It was fine to pick mushrooms at the foot of the mountain, but the deep mountains were quite dangerous. It was summer, and snakes came out frequently. One would almost encounter one or two on the road.
Moreover, Shen Yue looked thin and weak, making the situation seem particularly perilous.
Shen Yue, wearing a straw hat, looked up, revealing her beautiful eyes and pale face, with very red lips.
He had seen many girls in the city and watched many celebrities and models on television, but none of them were as beautiful as Shen Yue.
Even though she was wearing the most ordinary and rough clothes, she was still like a pearl, as if she were glowing.
Zhang Cong's gaze flickered, his ears turning red. He glanced away, "You can call me next time you go up the mountain."
Shen Yue was stunned, then she smiled, her eyes curving, her dimples shallow, "Okay."
Zhang Cong began looking for firewood a few meters away from her. Shen Yue felt relieved and continued picking mushrooms.
As it was getting dark, Shen Yue's basket was full of mushrooms.
She descended the mountain with Zhang Cong.
The mountain path was not easy to walk, especially when going downhill.
Shen Yue was not careful, her feet slipped, and she fell.
It hurt!
Even though she reacted quickly and supported herself with her hands, her knees still stung, and her palms were in pain.
Zhang Cong immediately helped the girl up, his rough, deep voice filled with anxious concern, "Are you okay?"
Shen Yue was so hurt she couldn't speak. Her slender body trembled violently, her legs were weak, and she couldn't stand. She squatted down, and tears fell like broken pearls, one after another.
She lowered her head, trying not to worry the man, and suppressed a sob, "No, I'm fine."
Her soft tone was trembling.
Zhang Cong felt the wetness on his arm. His dark face seemed to freeze for a moment, and after a while, he hurriedly squatted down, "Tell me where it hurts? Why are you crying so much?"
Her eyes were red, her thin eyelids were tinged with pink, and her long eyelashes were clumped together by her tears. She was sweating from crying.
Zhang Cong stared at her, then reached out his rough fingers to gently wipe the tears from the girl's face.
Shen Yue pressed his rough hand, unable to help it. Her face hurt from being touched, and the sweat that had reappeared on her forehead, which she had just wiped clean, made her voice tremble, "Brother, I'm fine, it doesn't hurt."
Zhang Cong was a capable person. Although silent, he was very reliable. The younger people in the village all called him brother.
The dark-skinned man's gaze unconsciously fell on her speaking lips, then he withdrew it as if he had been electrocuted, and his hand retracted. He stiffened, his throat moving.
"Let me carry you back."
There was still some distance to go home, and Zhang Cong was worried that Shen Yue wouldn't be able to handle it.
The pain in her knee had subsided a little. Shen Yue was not that delicate anymore, and she was used to such pain. She could still walk, and she could endure the pain.
She pursed her lips, her voice soft, "No need, it doesn't hurt anymore."
Zhang Cong picked up the straw hat from the ground and put it on her head. He didn't insist, "Then let's walk slower."
Shen Yue felt a little embarrassed, "Brother, sorry to trouble you."
Zhang Cong silently looked at Shen Yue, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and stood up. He clasped Shen Yue's arm and easily pulled her up.
"It's alright."
Afraid that the girl would fall again, Zhang Cong stayed very close to her, making it easier to watch her, and the mountain path was indeed difficult to navigate.
The man lowered his head, looking at the girl's face as white as pearls, and her full lips that seemed to be filled with juice. He swallowed hard as if he were extremely thirsty.
His hands gripped his clothes nervously for some reason.
---
When the two returned to the village, it was already dark.
They walked a bit further, and then they had to part ways.
Shen Yue said goodbye to Zhang Cong. As they were talking, she felt a strong gaze.
She instinctively turned her head and saw Qi Rui.
It was very dark, and the light was dim. Qi Rui was almost merged with the darkness, so she couldn't see him very clearly.
Shen Yue was stunned.
Qi Rui had already walked over, his face becoming clearer.
His eyes were very dark, gloomy, and he was looking at her faintly, making Shen Yue feel like prey caught by a hunter.
This was the first time Shen Yue had felt such aggression and ferocity from the young man.
Shen Yue stood in the moonlight, looking at him with a confused expression.
Qi Rui's gaze slowly shifted to Zhang Cong beside her.
The man was tall and strong, wearing a dark short-sleeved shirt. His muscular body contrasted with the girl, making her appear even more petite.
He stood beside the girl, like a fierce beast coiled around its prey.
Qi Rui clenched his fists tightly, a storm brewing in his eyes.
When he lowered his gaze, he seemed calm.
He stood in front of the girl, his tall figure almost completely enveloping her.
"The meal is ready, let's go home," his low voice was flat and emotionless.
Shen Yue felt that the young man looked a little off, but there was a feeling she couldn't quite describe.