Lan Yan's cheeks gradually grew warm under his gaze. Jun Yelan's complexion had improved, and even in his patched clothes, his unique aura was undeniable.
Seeing that she had said all that needed to be said, she got up and said, "I'm going back to my room to rest. You should head back early too."
She walked towards her room, leaving Jun Yelan alone.
Jun Yelan placed the bowl in the cupboard before returning to his room. He saw Lan Yan fast asleep on the bed. This person was truly simple, sleeping so soundly every day.
Unlike himself, who always had trouble sleeping.
The next morning, Lan Yan woke up and, as usual, didn't see Jun Yelan. She went out to tidy the courtyard. She noticed several holes in the courtyard fence and decided she needed to repair them today, otherwise, it would be too dangerous at night.
As she was looking for tools to make repairs, she heard a sound from the courtyard gate. Looking up, she saw Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan held pheasants in both hands. He had woken up much earlier and gone to check the traps from the previous day, having an unexpected harvest. Although they had sold a wild boar yesterday, the money for medicine and rice had already been spent.
"You went to the mountains," Lan Yan said with a smile. "These pheasants are really plump, and there are rabbits too. Let's prepare them so we can sell them to the restaurant for a good price."
She knew a secret recipe and quickly went to the kitchen to prepare it.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's bustling back, and for some reason, he didn't dislike her as much as before. He went to a corner of the courtyard to heat water for plucking the feathers of the pheasants.
Lan Yan happened to come out with a small bowl, using a brush to spread the seasoning on the pheasants, immediately filling the air with a fragrant aroma. She then set up a grill and placed one of the pheasants on it to roast and test the taste.
As it roasted, the oil from the pheasant dripped out, making it even more fragrant. She couldn't help but swallow, then turned to see Jun Yelan staring as well. She grinned and said, "We can eat soon."
"I'm not interested," Jun Yelan turned his head away, his gaze evasive. He wrapped the other pheasants in lotus leaves, preparing to sell them later.
Lan Yan looked at Jun Yelan's proud little expression and didn't expose him. She flipped the pheasant over, brushed it again, and watched as the skin turned golden yellow. She slowly took it off the grill.
She placed the pheasant in a bowl and then cooked several bowls of clear soup noodles. Thanks to Jun Yelan tending to the vegetable patch every day, they had some greens to eat.
"Big brother, time to eat."
Lan Chuo had smelled the aroma long ago. He didn't know what Lan Yan was doing, but seeing it now, he was instantly amazed. "Our sister's cooking is getting better and better. These pheasants look delicious."
"Then, big brother, you should eat more later." Lan Yan set out the bowls and chopsticks, calling the busy Jun Yelan to eat as well.
Jun Yelan stared at the pheasants and noodle bowls on the table, then looked at Lan Yan, his eyes darkening slightly. "How do you know how to do all this?" The previous Lan Yan only knew how to eat and cause trouble, and rarely went into the kitchen.
Lan Yan was momentarily stunned. How could she explain this!
At this moment, Lan Chuo spoke up, "Stop talking and eat quickly." He couldn't wait any longer. These two were still in the mood for flirtatious banter.
Lan Yan took the opportunity to sit down and eat the chicken.
Lan Chuo tore off a chicken leg and placed it in Lan Yan's bowl. "Sister works the hardest, eat this."
"Brother, one is enough for me." Lan Yan tried to give it back to Lan Chuo, but he had already started gnawing on the chicken wing. She turned to give it to Jun Yelan, but he was methodically eating his noodles, pushing his bowl to the side.
Lan Yan: "..." Forget it, she'd eat it herself.
After the meal, Jun Yelan picked up his tools and went to repair the fence.
Seeing that she had nothing to do, Lan Yan also went into the courtyard to help hand him tools.
Jun Yelan first sharpened bamboo poles, then tied them together with rope, and finally stuck them into the ground.
He also placed bamboo poles on the outer perimeter, so if someone tried to climb over the fence, they would be pricked by the sprung bamboo, increasing security.
Lan Yan watched from the side, feeling admiration for Jun Yelan. She felt it was a shame that Jun Yelan was confined to the village. She remembered his background: intelligent but with a tragic past, and lacking the opportunity to learn.
She hoped not only to improve her family's circumstances but also to give Jun Yelan a chance.
Jun Yelan caught a glimpse of Lan Yan lowering her head, lost in thought again. The Lan Yan of the past had malicious thoughts, but the current Lan Yan was always thinking good thoughts and had learned a lot.
What reason could cause such a profound change in a person? If she hadn't been hiding it well before, then she must have been possessed by a ghost!
His eyes darkened, and he continued tying the bamboo.
Lan Yan handed him the rope. Seeing that Jun Yelan didn't take it, she called out, "Jun Yelan?" Why was he spacing out?
"En." Jun Yelan concealed the scrutiny in his eyes and took the rope.
Lan Yan was a little puzzled. Jun Yelan truly lived up to being the target of the mission; he was completely inscrutable. She stopped dwelling on it. The priority was to fix the courtyard gate. Once the gate was fixed, they could raise chickens, and then they would have eggs every day.
She chuckled to herself, only to be stared at by Jun Yelan. She saw beads of sweat forming on his forehead. She took out her handkerchief and, leaning slightly closer to Jun Yelan, gently wiped his forehead.
Jun Yelan froze, his body stiffening. The sweat on his forehead increased, and he could hear Lan Yan's murmuring, causing him to remain rooted to the spot.
"There, the sweat is finally wiped away." Lan Yan withdrew the handkerchief, her lips curving upwards in satisfaction. She looked up and met Jun Yelan's eyes, her heart skipping a beat.
There was something strange in his gaze. Before, it was filled with hatred, but now, why was it also scorching? She felt a little uneasy, thinking she was mistaken. She tried to get up, but her legs felt numb, and she stumbled forward.
Jun Yelan reached out and steadied Lan Yan's arm, his other hand landing precisely on her waist, infinitely close to her. He hadn't expected this scene himself and was stunned.
Lan Yan blinked. The skin on her waist suddenly felt cool, then hot again. She asked, puzzled, "Jun Yelan, why don't you let me go first?"
Jun Yelan finally reacted and released his hands. The warmth in his palms instantly vanished. He looked away uncomfortably and crouched down to continue tying the bamboo, but he didn't know what to pick up next.
Lan Yan, perplexed, squatted down and kindly handed him some bamboo, smiling, "Jun Yelan, thank you just now. Otherwise, I would have fallen and possibly gotten hurt."
Seeing that Jun Yelan remained silent but was sweating again on his forehead, she wondered how hot it must be. "I'll go get you some water."
She walked to the kitchen, poured the water, and added a spoonful of sugar to it. She thought that Jun Yelan would be happy to drink this sweet water.
Jun Yelan stayed where he was, the temperature in his ears finally cooling down. What had he done to Lan Yan just now? It was so unlike his usual self. He must be too tired lately to have such strange thoughts.
He clenched his fist, forcing himself not to think about it. A person like him was lucky just to be alive. His eyes dimmed, and he pulled out the rotten old bamboo.
This root-rotted bamboo was like his life!