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 making a fuss."
Qi Rui pursed his lips tightly, his gaze fixed on Shen Yue, and even the air temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.
He turned his back to Shen Yue, his voice 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.
Rebellious and indifferent, looking down on everything, aloof, as if he didn't put anyone in his eyes.
Shen Yue found this Qi Rui unfamiliar, even a little afraid. Her pretty, gentle face turned pale. She bit her lip, applying a little force, and it hurt.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but upon seeing Qi Rui's indifferent back, all the words got stuck in her throat. In the end, she said nothing and silently left, lowering her head.
—
Shen Yue went out in the afternoon with a basket to pick mushrooms. There were many mushrooms on the mountain, and they all grew in strange shapes. The system said 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 stepped on and someone standing behind her.
"Shen Yue."
Shen Yue turned her head, and her gaze met the man's.
The man was tall and strong, with well-developed muscles from years of labor, broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a great physique. His features were regular and handsome.
He was stunned when he saw the young girl.
Shen Yue was still squatting on the ground, holding mushrooms in her hand.
It was Shen Yue who greeted him first. She got up, "Brother, what a coincidence."
Zhang Cong came back to his senses. He must have been wandering on the mountain for quite some time; a large patch on the back of his clothes was still wet and dark.
His brow bones were deep and handsome, his lips were thin, and his voice was deep and resonant. "Why are you picking mushrooms here? It's very dangerous."
It was fine to pick some mushrooms at the foot of the mountain, but it was quite dangerous in the deep mountains. It was summer, and snakes were appearing frequently; you'd almost run into one or two on the road.
Moreover, Shen Yue looked thin and weak, and it really seemed dangerous.
Shen Yue, wearing a straw hat, revealed her beautiful eyebrows and fair face when she looked up, her lips a bright red.
When he was in the city, he had seen many girls, watched many celebrities and models on television, but none of them were as beautiful as Shen Yue.
She was wearing the most ordinary and rough clothes, yet she was still like a pearl, as if she glowed.
Zhang Cong's gaze flickered, his ears turning red. He glanced away, "You can call me next time you come up the mountain."
Shen Yue was surprised, then broke into a smile, her eyes curved, and dimples appearing shallowly, "Okay."
Zhang Cong found firewood a few meters away from her, and Shen Yue felt at ease, lowering her head to continue picking mushrooms.
As it was getting dark, Shen Yue's basket was also full of mushrooms.
She went down the mountain with Zhang Cong.
The path on the mountain was not easy to walk, especially when descending.
Shen Yue was careless for a moment, her foot slipped, and she fell.
It hurt!
Even though she reacted quickly and supported herself with her hands, her knees still burned, and her palms were very painful.
Zhang Cong immediately helped the girl up, his rough, deep voice filled with urgent concern, "Are you okay?"
Shen Yue was in so much pain that she couldn't speak. Her slender body trembled violently, her legs were weak, and she couldn't stand. She squatted down, her tears falling like pearls from a broken string, one after another.
She lowered her head, trying not to worry the man, suppressing her sobs, "I'm fine, I'm fine."
Her soft tone was shaky.
Zhang Cong felt the wetness on his arm. His dark face seemed to freeze for a moment. 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 tears. She was sweating from crying.
Zhang Cong stared blankly and reached out his rough fingers to gently wipe away the girl's tears.
Shen Yue pressed his rough hand, unable to help it. Her face hurt from being touched, and the forehead she had just cleaned was sweating again. Her voice trembled, "Brother, I'm fine, it doesn't hurt."
Zhang Cong was a very capable person. Although he was silent, he was very reliable. The younger people in the village all called him Brother.
The dark-skinned man's gaze unconsciously fell on the mouth that was speaking, then he withdrew it as if shocked, and his hand also retracted. He stiffened, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"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 manage.
The pain in her knee had subsided a little, and Shen Yue was not that delicate. Moreover, she was used to this kind of pain. She could still walk, and she could endure the pain.
She pursed her lips, her voice soft, "No need, it doesn't hurt now."
Zhang Cong picked up the straw hat from the ground, put it on her, and didn't insist, "Then let's walk slower."
Shen Yue felt a little embarrassed, "Brother, thank you for the trouble."
Zhang Cong looked at Shen Yue silently, wiped the thin sweat from his forehead, stood up, clasped Shen Yue's arm with his hand, and easily pulled Shen Yue up.
"It's nothing."
Afraid that the girl would fall again, Zhang Cong stayed very close to her, making it easier to watch her. The path on the mountain was indeed difficult to walk.
The man lowered his head, gazing at the girl's face, which was as white as a pearl, and her full lips that seemed to be filled with juice. He swallowed hard as if he were extremely thirsty.
For some reason, his hands held his clothes somewhat awkwardly.
—
By the time the two returned to the village, it was already dark.
They walked a bit further, and then had to part ways.
Shen Yue said goodbye to Zhang Cong. As she spoke, she felt a strong gaze.
She subconsciously turned her head to look, and it was Qi Rui.
It was very dark, and the light was dim. Qi Rui was almost integrated with the darkness, so he couldn't be seen very clearly.
Shen Yue was stunned for a moment.
Qi Rui had already walked over, his face becoming clearer.
His eyes were very dark, dim and gloomy, and his faint gaze on her made Shen Yue feel like a prey caught by a hunter.
This was the first time Shen Yue had felt the aggressiveness and violence in the young boy.
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 robust muscles made the girl appear even more delicate, forming a stark contrast.
He stood beside the girl like a fierce beast lurking near its prey.
Qi Rui clenched his fists tightly, a storm gathering in his eyes.
When he lowered his eyes, he appeared calm.
He stood in front of the girl, his tall figure almost enveloping her entirely.
"The meal is ready, let's go home." His deep voice was flat and unwavering.
Shen Yue felt that the boy looked a little off, but there was something she couldn't quite articulate.