Tian Fūlang’s sudden excitement stirred no reaction in Xie Yushu’s heart.
She cracked a melon seed, glanced lazily in the direction he was pointing—and then she couldn’t look away.
Who else could Tian Fūlang be talking about but Su Chi?
On the ox-cart, Su Chi sat quietly, holding his heavy bamboo basket in his lap, as the cart lumbered slowly toward them.
Xie Yushu spat out the seed shell, set down the rest of her seeds, and suddenly felt nervous.
Tian Fūlang, oblivious to Xie Yushu’s expression, went on and on about Su Chi: “Miss Xie, look—you’re already familiar with Chi-ge’er. You’ve interacted with him so many times, you must know his temperament and character by now.”
“Before, when his father wasn’t doing well and the family was struggling, people in the village might have been a bit hesitant. But there were still women willing to marry him—and now that his family’s situation is improving, even more so.”
There were plenty of unmarried women in the village, but not many eligible young men—not enough to go around. The numbers didn’t match.
Su Chi was never warm with strangers, but the women didn’t mind. They figured that no matter how cold he was, once they married him, they could warm him up. Besides, he had a marketable skill—marrying him would guarantee a steady income for the household, and they could pass his craft down to their children. A trade that could last generations—what a blessing!
As for his sickly father—that wasn’t a big deal either. Once he died, Su Chi would be all alone, and he’d have no choice but to rely on his wife.
Their calculations were precise. They were just waiting for his father to pass, then they’d have Tian Fūlang propose. Whoever got there first would be the lucky one.
Besides, there was no denying Su Chi was good-looking—one of the best in the village.
He was taller than most young men, with delicate, soft features, but his cold, distant demeanor often masked his appearance. He didn’t socialize much with other young men or women, so his looks weren’t as well known as they might have been.
Still, all things considered, they wouldn’t lose out.
The only hesitation came from their fathers—they worried Su Chi was too thin and might not be able to bear children.
So there weren’t many families openly saying they wanted Su Chi, but Tian Fūlang knew exactly what they were all thinking.
With his quick tongue, in the time it took the ox-cart to trundle a short distance, he’d poured out a flood of things Xie Yushu had never known.
Xie Yushu listened in silence. By the end, she was furious.
These illiterate country bumpkins dared to set their sights on Su Chi?
They should take a look in the mirror—who were they to deserve him?
They were all just waiting to feast on an orphaned household, like wolves with hungry green eyes.
Suddenly, something tightened in her chest.
She thought, in a panic—what if she hadn’t been here? What if his father had really died? What would he have done? Would he have been forced to marry some uneducated village woman and live out his life like that?
The thought made her ache. Her fingers tightened unconsciously, crushing the melon seed in her hand. The sharp shell pricked her skin, sending a sharp, undeniable sting through her.
Just then, Su Chi’s ox-cart pulled up near his gate. He gathered his things and prepared to get off.
Today, his regular customers had sold out his buns quickly. He had time to prepare his father’s midday meal—a lightness in his heart he hadn’t felt in a long time.
He’d hitched a ride with an auntie who lived two doors down. Since she was heading the same way, she’d gladly dropped him off at his doorstep.
As he stepped off the cart, he noticed the commotion at Xie Yushu’s house and froze in place.
Tian Fūlang was at Xie Yushu’s house today—he never just visited for idle talk. If he was there, it meant matchmaking. And the smile on his face said it all.
Su Chi’s mind went blank. Had she asked Tian Fūlang to find her a match? Was she getting married?
He stared at her, dazed. He didn’t realize how lost and forlorn he looked.
His head spun, his legs weak—as if all the blood in his body had lost its way, rushing chaotically through him.
This feeling was different from last time, when he’d seen Meng Dongxue at her house.
Last time, it was a bitter ache.
This time, it hurt—a sharp, fierce pounding in a small spot in his chest.
Xie Yushu couldn’t take her eyes off him. Even with Tian Fūlang chattering beside her, his voice seemed to fade into static. Su Chi’s figure filled her entire field of vision.
Their eyes met briefly in the air, sparking a tiny, invisible flame.
There was even a smudge of flour on Su Chi’s face—left over from kneading dough.
Xie Yushu’s eyes were sharp—she spotted the little white smudge of flour on his face and couldn’t help but lower her head with a quiet smile.
Su Chi, go home. Don’t stand here and watch them talk about marriage.
He silently urged himself, as if delivering a harsh reminder—he couldn’t stay here any longer.
He also saw Xie Yushu lower her head with that faint smile. She must be enjoying her conversation with Tian Fūlang.
Perhaps… her marriage was already settled.
His throat tightened painfully, his eyes stinging. A dull ache pressed against his chest.
She had a man she liked—so why did she keep coming to him, drawing so close? How could she be so… so wicked?
As he turned to leave, he shot what he thought was a fierce glare at her—then went inside and closed the gate with a firm thud.
Catching that beautiful, sharp little glare, Xie Yushu laughed to herself.
Oh? He dared to glare at her?
His idea of glaring was just opening those pretty eyes wide, with no real menace, and casting a glance in her direction?
His eyes were soft as freshly steamed buns—glistening, watery, and so well-behaved.
Was he angry?
But there wasn’t a trace of anger in that look—it was more like hurt, like a silent plea.
A soft, light glance that went straight to her heart.
It made her feel all tingly and warm inside—she wanted to walk over and wipe that flour off his face herself.
Only now did Xie Yushu know—she was truly done for.
She tilted her head back and let out a relieved laugh at the sky.
So that was it.
After a moment, as if she’d made up her mind, she turned to Tian Fūlang and said, “Uncle, I’ll trouble you to go to the Su house for me one of these days.”
Tian Fūlang’s mouth fell open—”Why the sudden change?” He looked at where Su Chi had disappeared, then at Xie Yushu’s silly, happy expression. There was no mistaking it.
So Miss Xie had liked him all along!
No wonder she’d shown no interest in any of the men he’d introduced—her heart was already taken.
Tian Fūlang wasn’t upset—after all, she was still asking him to play matchmaker. “Of course, of course.”
Xie Yushu added, “Uncle, I need one more favor.”
After hearing her out, Tian Fūlang just covered his mouth and laughed. “Leave it to me—you can count on your uncle.”
They finished their discussion, and Tian Fūlang left with a grin, muttering to himself on the way: “Well, well, those two…”
Sure enough, the very next day, word spread through the village that Xie Yushu was getting married.
Since the whole village was talking about it, Su Chi naturally heard soon enough.
These past few days, he’d been distracted in everything he did—nearly cutting his hand while chopping vegetables, forgetting to add wood to the fire, forgetting seasonings when cooking. He ate only a few absentminded bites before losing his appetite.
When Wang Wen asked, he just shook his head and blamed the heat.
That night, before bed, Wang Wen quietly entered Su Chi’s room. He’d been taking Sun Wuyou’s medicine and was now well enough to walk slowly.
Su Chi was only lightly asleep. He sat up anxiously when he saw his father enter. “Father? What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?”
Wang Wen sat by his bedside, stroked his head, and shook his own. “I’m recovering well—don’t worry about me.”
“It’s not me—it’s you. You’ve been unhappy and sad these past few days. Is it about the Zhai family daughter?”
These past days, the village chief and other close neighbors had come to visit him, and he’d heard a little of what was happening in the village.
Even while sick, he’d been aware of his surroundings—who came to their house, what happened to his son. He knew the Zhai daughter had grown close to Su Chi.
Their family owed her a great deal.
He’d seen his son’s feelings in his heart, and his own heart had been troubled.
Facing his father’s gentle voice, Su Chi felt a sudden wave of support. His eyes reddened instantly, his voice trembling. “Father, you know? I…”
Wang Wen pulled him into his arms and soothed him, “Xiao Chi, my child—whatever you want to do, do it. Whatever you want to fight for, fight for it. Father doesn’t want you to be unhappy.”
His child had found someone he liked. More than anyone, he wanted his son to be happy.
How could he not know how wonderful his son was?
He’d kept the household running smoothly, cared for him all this time without complaint. And now, he had feelings for someone but was too afraid to speak up. If it were any other woman, Wang Wen might not have approved—but the Zhai daughter, he was willing to accept. She was a good child too.
—
“Boss, I asked for three meat buns, but you gave me three vegetarian ones.”
“Sorry, sorry.” Su Chi apologized, handing him three meat buns. “The vegetarian ones are on me.”
“Boss, I’ll have—”
Before the customer could finish ordering, Su Chi cut him off: “Sorry, I’m closing up now. You can buy from another stall.”
“Hey, it’s still early—you’re closing already?”
Su Chi didn’t reply. He just packed up even faster. Before long, he’d closed his stall and was heading home.
All morning, he’d been switching in and out of this dazed state. He thought back to what his father had said to him last night.
He’d thought about it all morning—and he’d made up his mind. He should be brave.
What if… she didn’t really like that person? Then maybe…
This was the first time in his life that Su Chi had ever wanted to fight for something.
But when he got home, he found Xie Yushu wasn’t there. She’d gone to Mapu Ferry with Ye Youchun and didn’t return until late that night.
After a long day at the ferry, Xie Yushu came home planning to wash up and go straight to bed.
She was just heating water when the yard gate creaked open. Footsteps approached, heading inside.
She’d forgotten to bolt the gate again. She stepped out of the kitchen, thinking: no one would come this late—unless they were up to no good. But stealing from her broke-down shack? What was the point?
To her surprise, it was Su Chi—his eyes red-rimmed.
She froze. She opened her mouth to call out to him, but he was faster. His small face looked up at her, hurt, and said words she would never forget for the rest of her life.
“Don’t marry someone else, okay?”
“Marry me instead. I… I’ll be your husband, okay?”
“I can cook, do laundry—I… I can do anything.”
The more he spoke, the quieter his voice got, fading to barely a whisper. He was acutely aware of how improper this was—a young man coming to a woman’s house late at night to demand a commitment. If anyone saw, he’d be shamed to death.
But he had no other choice. Xie Yushu was about to marry someone else. If he didn’t do something, he would lose her.
The thought of losing her made him feel sick to his stomach.
Hearing those soft, humble words, Xie Yushu felt like she might pass out. Did this fool even know what he was saying?
After speaking, Su Chi lowered his head and fell silent, waiting for her judgment.
Xie Yushu’s mind was spinning. Blood rushed to her head—she was nearly dizzy. She took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. “Su Chi, are you serious? Do you really mean that?”
He lifted his eyes and nodded firmly. “Mm. I mean it.”
“Don’t marry anyone else. Marry me, please.” He tilted his head up, his voice small.
Xie Yushu let out a soft laugh, crossed her arms, and leaned lazily against the doorframe. Her brows arched high as she looked at him with a mischievous glint.
“Su Chi, do you like me?”
Under that scorching gaze, he felt his whole body grow warm. He kept his head down and nodded dumbly.
“I see.”
Her voice was flat, giving nothing away—as if his confession meant nothing to her. Just as he looked up, hurt, a shadow fell over him.
Then, a kiss landed softly on his lips—just a light brush, like a dragonfly skimming water. A gentle nip, and then she pulled back.
Her voice landed by his ear, teasing and tender: “Su Chi, I like you too.”
Dazed, Su Chi felt as if he’d tasted wine for the first time—his cheeks flushed deep red.
“Su Chi, I never realized how bold you could be.”
A young man, sneaking into a woman’s house late at night to confess and demand a place in her life.
Embarrassed, Su Chi knew he’d been shameless. He didn’t dare look at her.
But even after all this, he had to gather his courage and ask one more time.
He tentatively tugged at her sleeve. “So… you’re saying yes? You won’t marry anyone else? You’ll have me as your husband?”
Seeing his nervous, anxious little face, Xie Yushu couldn’t bear to tease him anymore. Her eyes softened. “Mm. I won’t marry anyone else. I don’t like anyone else.”
“I only want you to be my husband.”
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