"What are you doing! You scared me to death!"
Xue Niang clutched her chest, only then realizing she had been dreaming.
Xiao Shan's face was dark, his lips pressed into a straight line, his eyes deep, and upon closer inspection, there was even a hint of grievance.
"Why are you looking at me like that, trying to scare someone?"
Xue Niang climbed up. "Have I been asleep for a long time? My head feels so heavy."
Xiao Shan let out a "hmph!" and didn't answer her, instead walking out.
Xue Niang was very puzzled. Why was this scoundrel throwing a tantrum for no reason?
Xue Niang ran out but couldn't see anyone. "Where did he go?"
"Mrs. Xiao!"
Someone suddenly appeared from behind her. It was Chen Dong's wife. She still had a flower tucked into her hair, but it was pink this time, making her face look a little prettier.
Xue Niang frowned, not knowing what this woman wanted.
"I'm pregnant," Su Peilan said in a low voice. "It's Xiao Shan's!"
Nonsense!
Xue Niang's eyes blazed, and she stared at her fiercely. "You, a married woman, come to me saying your child is another man's? I've never seen such a shameless woman as you!"
Su Peilan's face turned pale, and she bit her lip in shame. "I don't want to snatch your man, nor will I ruin Xiao Shan's reputation. I just hope you can help me in my difficult time. Don't worry, the child's parentage will never be revealed."
"What does it matter if it's revealed or not? The child in your belly isn't Xiao Shan's. Do you think I didn't see what happened on the mountain that day?"
Su Peilan's heart suddenly panicked. "You, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"I'm not talking nonsense, and don't think you can pin this on Xiao Shan! If you dare to spout any more nonsense, I'll tell everyone you're unfaithful!"
She was originally a victim, and she felt pity for her. But if she had wicked intentions, Xue Niang would never let her hide them.
She knew why the women in the village all wanted to get close to Xiao Shan. It was because he was so capable and lived such a good life, making them envious.
They truly disregarded propriety and shame.
Su Peilan gritted her teeth, not expecting this woman to be so tough. But just because she said it wasn't Xiao Shan's child, did that make it so? She insisted it was!
Anyway, Er Laizi was missing, and no one had proof it wasn't Xiao Shan's doing!
"Say whatever you want. If you don't care about Xiao Shan's reputation, then go ahead and say it. The child in my belly is his! If you don't protect me, we'll both perish!"
A layer of frost covered Xue Niang's eyes, and she chuckled sarcastically.
"Let alone that it's not Xiao Shan's child, even if it were, haven't you heard how the main wives in the city guard against concubines giving birth? You're not hiding it, but instead coming to me for protection. Are you out of your mind?"
Su Peilan was stunned and instinctively covered her belly.
Xue Niang glanced at her with disgust, not wanting to be in the same place as this woman for another moment. "If you don't want to be ruined, don't provoke me!"
Xue Niang left, but a different emotion flickered in Su Peilan's eyes.
Perhaps she should try a different approach.
She didn't want this disgusting child in the first place.
If she could make Xiao Shan or this woman feel guilty, and thus gain their protection, her goal would be achieved.
Chen Dong was becoming more and more terrifying. He was no longer the Chen Dong who was good to her. She feared that even if the child in her belly was born, he wouldn't treat her the same as before.
If no one protected her, how miserable would her future be?
Xue Niang returned home with a cold face and saw that Xiao Shan was already back, squatting in the yard fiddling with something.
She walked up to him. How dare he ignore her?
He held a piece of wood, meticulously grinding it. It looked like a crossbow bolt?
It was quite complex. The groove at the handle seemed unsuitable, and the trigger wouldn't fit. He was concentrating, using a delicate blade to scrape it lightly.
Finally, it was almost done. He fitted the trigger and threaded the bowstring.
Xue Niang reached out and pulled the bowstring out.
Xiao Shan glanced at her indifferently, then threaded the string back through. Xue Niang pulled it out again.
Xiao Shan looked up. "What do you want?"
"I don't like looking at you."
"Who do you like looking at?" Xiao Shan put down the crossbow and stood up, a powerful pressure emanating from him.
He pulled her over, his hand forcefully pinching her delicate buttocks. "Hmm?"
Xue Niang resisted him, glancing nervously towards the door. "You slut! Let go!"
Xiao Shan: "..."
"I think you're asking for a beating," he gritted out. "Who taught you such foul language, daring to use it on me."
"I'm just scolding you for being a flirt, for not abiding by your marital duties! Let's see if you dare to discipline me!"
Oh really? He wouldn't dare? If he didn't dare, what kind of man was he!
Xue Niang cried out in alarm, trying to escape but being held tightly by Xiao Shan.
"What did you dream about just now?" Xiao Shan expertly slid his hand under her clothes, gently caressing her. "Tell me?"
To hell with you, Xiao Shan!
Xue Niang's heart was in a panic, and her body softened from his teasing. Her eyes reddened with anger. "I command you—"
Before she could finish speaking, the door of her house creaked open. Xue Niang's eyes widened in fright. Before she could even look, Xiao Shan spun around and blocked her body.
Du Ling, standing at the door, froze.
If his eyes weren't deceiving him, the two inside were just... right? Xiao Shan's hand was already inside.
A killing intent surged, and Du Ling shivered. He had felt such a murderous aura from his own master, but the one emanating from Xiao Shan now was even more heart-pounding.
Xiao Shan looked at Du Ling at the door with icy eyes and said sharply, "Yuan Bufie really is tired of living!"
Du Ling almost fell to his knees on the spot.
"I, I've come to deliver a message for my master!"
Xue Niang stomped hard on Xiao Shan's foot, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment. She ran to the door and sternly yelled at Du Ling, "Get out!"
Du Ling quickly dodged, thinking: Both these husband and wife are extraordinary people. Their auras are exactly the same.
"Xue Niang, where are you going? It's getting dark!" Xiao Shan called from behind.
Xue Niang ignored him. She was truly furious today. Such a thing was witnessed by someone. That scoundrel Xiao Shan, he dared to act so outrageously towards her in the yard. Where were his ears? Didn't he hear someone coming!
Xue Niang ran with her head down, not watching where she was going. Somehow, she ended up at the fence of the house at the foot of the mountain.
Xue Niang looked at the deserted fence house. It was strange, but when she lived here before, she felt it was home. Now that she had moved to a new house, she had forgotten about it. In the end, it was all because of Xiao Shan, wasn't it?
Wherever he was, that was home.
Xue Niang gradually calmed down, her anger towards Xiao Shan dissipating. She turned to go back, but a shadow flashed in her former bedroom from the corner of her eye.
She was startled and looked again carefully. There was nothing unusual, and she heard no sound.
The house inside was empty, with only some old items left behind. It was meant for Yu Tou to move in, and Xiao Shan had already told Yu Tou, waiting for him to finish tidying up and move in.
Could it be Yu Tou inside?
"Yu Tou? Yu Tou? Are you in there?"
Xue Niang called out a few times, but there was no answer.
She shouldn't have seen wrong just now. There was definitely someone inside, but now it was getting late, and she didn't dare to go in alone to check.
There wasn't much of value inside. Could it be a passing beggar?