"I... cough, cough, cough..."
Her throat was choked with smoke, and she had been shouting loudly just now. Xue Niang couldn't speak and couldn't help but cough.
When she stopped coughing and was about to continue what she was saying, Xiao Shan had already turned and entered the kitchen. Before going in, he stuffed something into her hand.
He was indeed ill-intentioned. Couldn't he find any other woman? Anyone else would be prettier than her, so why did he keep pestering her!
She would rather die than comply with his wishes!
Xiao Shan used a ladle to scoop water and thoroughly douse the stove. Then, he took off his clothes and waved them vigorously to disperse the thick smoke. As his vision gradually cleared, he finally saw the situation in the pot.
Good heavens, how much rice had been put in? Was he trying to make dried rice? With his appetite, he'd have to eat for three days.
She was truly a young lady who lived in the clouds, untouched by worldly affairs. This pot of white rice was something many families couldn't even afford during the New Year.
He scooped out the excess rice with a spoon and put it into a bowl, adding some water. He planned to cook it again in the evening. He had bought some steamed buns from the market, so they wouldn't cook lunch.
He didn't hear any movement outside. Xiao Shan smacked his lips. In his haste earlier, he had blurted out what he said. He wasn't going to hide it anymore; it was his true feelings, and what was there for a grown man to admit?
He just wanted her to be his woman!
His heart wanted it, and his body wanted it too! He had never been so impatient in his life. When they weren't together, he itched; when they met, his hands itched.
Who knew what kind of spell this woman had cast on him, driving him mad?
"Little vixen!"
Xiao Shan's voice was fierce, but his sharp, piercing eyes held a rare tenderness.
A shout came from outside the courtyard. It was the waiter, arriving with the things he had bought. Xiao Shan walked out, bare-chested.
Upon seeing the muscular physique and the scars on Xiao Shan's body, including a fresh one across his abdomen, the waiter was startled.
Xiao Shan was accustomed to people's fearful gazes and paid no mind, silently unloading the goods from the cart.
There were over a dozen chickens, a basket of eggs, ten packs of medicinal herbs, several new quilts, snacks, and various other items.
"Alright, brother, I'll be going back now."
The waiter checked the cart again to ensure nothing was left behind and bid Xiao Shan farewell politely.
Had Xue Niang gone back to her room?
Was she still angry because of what he had said earlier?
This ungrateful little thing. He had spent all the money he just earned on medicine for her, and she wouldn't even give him a pleasant look.
Peeking through the small window of the bedroom, he looked inside.
Xue Niang sat upright on the edge of the bed, examining the crystal-clear sugar-coated hawthorn in her hand. This was the red mountain fruit she had eaten yesterday, but it was coated in a layer of shimmering sugar glaze. It was round and exuded a sweet honey fragrance, like red lanterns lit during the New Year, looking incredibly enticing.
When she was being trafficked at the market, she had seen children eating them while onlookers watched. However, at that time, she didn't recognize them.
She had never eaten one before.
Even before she lost her memory, she hadn't eaten one.
If she had eaten them, she would recognize them. Just like eggs, she knew what they tasted like, but she couldn't recall the taste of this string of red lanterns.
Inside was the sour red mountain fruit, and outside was sweet, wasn't it? She smelled a honey sweetness.
Xue Niang tentatively licked it with her pink tongue.
Then, starlight seemed to gleam in her eyes, and her small tongue eagerly began to lick it lightly.
The sugar glaze was sweet but not cloying, leaving a lingering aftertaste. She simply opened her mouth wide and took the entire sugar-coated hawthorn into her mouth, sucking on it forcefully before spitting it out.
The sugar glaze gradually became thinner. Xue Niang pursed her lips and rolled the sticky residue on them into her mouth, unwilling to waste even a tiny bit. Her rosy lips also became glistening.
She sucked on it diligently, like a child. Only when she felt a shadow fall before her did she lift her head, her cheeks bulging with the sugar-coated hawthorn in her mouth.
Xiao Shan's body tensed, his gaze as unfathomable as a deep pool. As her mouth, glistening with sugar, moved, he felt a pang of discomfort.
His Adam's apple bobbed continuously.
Xue Niang spat out the sugar-coated hawthorn again. Because it had melted, the sugar syrup was slightly stringy, and a strand of light brown sugar silk clung to her cheek.
"Sugar-coated hawthorn, you bite it to eat."
Xiao Shan's voice was somewhat hoarse. He extended his thumb, wiped away the strand of sugar, and then put his finger into his mouth.
"So sweet."
"You—" Xue Niang's face flushed red, and anger flickered in her star-filled eyes.
If he wanted to eat it, she would give it to him! Why did he have to eat the sugar silk that had her saliva on it? Wasn't that disgusting!
And his gaze, it was as if he hadn't eaten in ages.
"I'm not eating it anymore, it's for you!"
What was this! If he was so greedy, why didn't he buy another one!
Xiao Shan didn't take it. With his right hand, he grabbed Xue Niang's waist, his large hand gripping the soft flesh on her side, forcing her to lean close to his chest. His left hand had already reached out, his calloused thumb caressing her red lips.
Xue Niang trembled as if she had been electrocuted. Her nose almost touched his bulging chest. The man's unique scent entered her nostrils. Thinking of his words, she couldn't help but panic. A frost covered her gaze, and she turned her head, facing Xiao Shan with her ugly face.
She leaned back forcefully, her entire body conveying resistance.
Xiao Shan gasped for a few breaths before releasing her.
Xue Niang's arm was still raised, her hand tightly clutching the sugar-coated hawthorn, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Xiao Shan bit off the fruit that had been stripped of its sugar glaze by her.
"Let's eat."
In the kitchen, Xiao Shan placed the steamed buns on the table, along with a bowl of bone soup. It had been kept warm in the clay pot during the journey and was just right for drinking.
He unwrapped a pack of herbs and threw it into a ceramic pot, lighting a fire on the makeshift small stove to simmer it.
His movements were very slow. Xue Niang watched clearly how he lit the fire, how he turned it after it was lit, and how he added firewood when the flames grew higher.
"I need to go back up the mountain. It's good that you learn early. If you're weak, don't overexert yourself. I bought some soft cakes for you to make do for the night, but this medicine cannot be stopped."
He frowned, seemingly troubled.
Xue Niang did not appreciate his concern and said coldly, "You don't need to worry about me."
Xiao Shan looked up and saw her expressionless, cold, and unapproachable demeanor. He felt as if his enthusiasm had been doused with cold water.
Was he offering a warm face to a cold backside?
Fine!
"Consider it me meddling. You survived being sold by human traffickers, which shows your life isn't that fragile. Then, you can handle it yourself!"
After saying this with a cold face, he didn't know how she took it, but he felt a dull ache in his chest from his own anger.
He wasn't eating anymore!
He was full of anger!
He didn't know what kind of family raised such a pampered young lady. She was so awkward and truly difficult to serve!
Xiao Shan's cold expression made him look even more like a malevolent god.
He added a few more pieces of firewood to the small stove, patted his pants, and left the kitchen. He went into the yard to deal with the cage of chickens.
Xue Niang bit her lip, her back straight, her gaze fixed on the plate of tender white steamed buns on the table. However, her thoughts had already wandered elsewhere.
"I can't accept your kindness, I can't repay it..."