Volume One, Chapter 15: Darling, I Was Wrong

But seeing how dark and gloomy it was, the repairs would have to wait until tomorrow.

With the major task completed, Jiang Yuan turned around and realized that Lu Xiuyi had awakened.

Blinking, their eyes met, but Lu Xiuyi was the first to look away, pursing his lips as he said, “You sleep on my side. I’ll fix the roof tomorrow.”

After speaking, Lu Xiuyi threw off the blanket covering him and prepared to make a bed on the floor.

“No need,” Jiang Yuan shook her head and climbed onto the bed as if it were natural, staring at Lu Xiuyi seriously. “We can both just sleep here.”

She then moved her damp bedding aside and wriggled closer, attempting to crawl under the blanket on Lu Xiuyi’s side.

Lu Xiuyi stiffened all over, hastily getting out of bed. The next moment, the man, clad only in a thin shirt, stood by the edge of the bed.

Jiang Yuan successfully wrapped the blanket around herself and closed her eyes contentedly. The blanket still held residual warmth, cozy and soothing.

“Mm~ so comfortable!” she stretched lazily.

Lu Xiuyi was silent, gazing at Jiang Yuan.

“Hmm?” Jiang Yuan tilted her head and smiled at him, lifting the corner of her mouth. “There’s only this one blanket in the room now, husband. Are you sure you want to sleep on the floor?”

Lu Xiuyi’s gaze dropped to the blanket Jiang Yuan had left tossed behind her.

“Don’t even think about it,” Jiang Yuan said, pushing the blanket aside again and shrugging. “It’s all wet and can’t be used.”

Though the day had been bright and sunny, the cool night breeze made it chilly without a blanket.

Outside, the rain seemed to be growing heavier, and the temperature appeared to drop further as night deepened. Meanwhile, the two inside the room, breathing close to each other, gradually raised the room’s warmth.

In the quiet deep night, two figures lay close together on the heated brick bed. A triumphant smile curved Jiang Yuan’s lips—they ended up sharing the same blanket after all.

Beside her, Lu Xiuyi lay rigid along the edge of the bed, keeping his posture straight and purposely avoiding any physical contact with Jiang Yuan.

Bathed in moonlight, Jiang Yuan could see the broad expanse of his back, imagining how good it would feel to touch.

Yet, worried that reaching out might cause him to fall off the bed, she dared only to admire silently.

“Sleep,” Lu Xiuyi’s voice was low and hoarse. Without turning, he could feel the unavoidable gaze fixed on his back.

Jiang Yuan was slightly surprised—how did he know she was looking?

“Husband, you’re not asleep yet?” Comforted, she slowly shifted forward, shortening the distance between them.

A soft warmth leaned against him. Lu Xiuyi closed his eyes briefly then opened them, a vein twitching sharply at his temple—he had known this girl wouldn’t behave quietly.

With a sudden breeze, Lu Xiuyi turned around abruptly, his hands seemingly with a mind of their own, quickly pulling the blanket up and wrapping Jiang Yuan like a cocoon, gripping the blanket’s edge tightly with one hand.

Jiang Yuan froze for a moment. When she realized what was happening, she was completely trapped, twisting her body helplessly.

She immediately pleaded for mercy, admitting her fault. “Husband, I’m sorry, please let go of your hand?”

“Sleep,” Lu Xiuyi ignored her, placing his free hand gently on the back of his neck, closing his eyes as he lay flat on the bed.

Jiang Yuan struggled again but, as expected, could not move. Frustrated, she turned her head and blew softly into his ear, trying to tease him into releasing her.

Lu Xiuyi’s eyes twitched slightly, his lips parted as he spoke.

“If you don’t want me to shut your mouth too, just behave and sleep.”

Jiang Yuan gave in and obediently closed her mouth. After a moment of silence, she felt an itch on her back. Despite being wrapped like a cocoon, she was still uncomfortable.

She tilted her head and whispered to the man whose sleep she wasn’t sure had come yet, “Husband, my back itches. Could you let me go for a moment?”

Lu Xiuyi said nothing.

“Or, you could reach in and scratch it for me, how about that?”

Still no response.

Jiang Yuan puffed out her cheeks in frustration. “Hmph.”

In the golden autumn, rolling waves of ripe wheat spread across the fields. Yet in the blink of an eye, the busy harvest season had quietly arrived.

The villagers, weary from hard work, were more filled with the joy of the impending harvest.

Even Lu Xiuyi, who rarely showed emotion, now had a faint glimmer of feeling in his eyes.

Before the work officially began, Village Chief Liu Youzhi gathered everyone together, standing at the front to rally the villagers’ spirits.

“Everyone, the coming days are crucial for our harvest. After a year’s hard work, the time to reap has finally come.”

“We must pick up our hoes and work hard to ensure we have enough to eat, eat well. Are you all confident?”

A chorus of voices rose in response, each villager’s face filled with determination, eyes shining bright.

“Louder, are you confident?” the chief shouted hoarsely.

“Yes!” came the clear, resolute reply, carrying the sweat, hardship, and hope of the entire year.

The chief nodded in satisfaction, repeatedly affirming, “Good.”

After this encouragement, the villagers’ enthusiasm soared, sleeves rolled up, eager to head out to the fields immediately.

“Xiaoyuan, eat more or you won’t last,” Li Lianhua worriedly advised during breakfast as she watched Jiang Yuan put down her bowl early.

Recently, Jiang Yuan had been eating less for her diet, stopping once she felt moderately full.

But today was different; the harvest was about to commence, and from the elderly to the youngest children, no one could afford to rest.

Li Lianhua feared Jiang Yuan’s insufficient eating would cause her to collapse in the field.

“Mom, I really can’t eat anymore,” Jiang Yuan shook her head. Her appetite had been conditioned, and this amount was enough; eating more would just make her feel bloated.

Unexpectedly, Li Lianhua was unusually firm, insisting, “No, finish these two steamed buns.”

Jiang Yuan glanced at the two fist-sized buns and felt a pang of distress. She cast a pleading look at Lu Xiuyi, hoping he would speak up for her.

Lu Xiuyi briefly scanned Jiang Yuan’s bowl, then took one of the buns and ate it himself.

Then, leisurely, he said, “Eat.”

Sighing, Jiang Yuan resigned herself and picked up a bun—well, one fewer was better than none.

Looking out over the endless wheat fields, heavy stalks bowed under the weight of the grain but did not crush the villagers’ fighting spirit.

Today, Jiang Yuan was unexpectedly paired not with Lu Xiuyi but with Chen Xiangxiang.

Everyone in the village was involved in the harvest. Chen Xiangxiang, who usually did little work and was slow, ended up alone because no one wanted to team up with her. She came to Jiang Yuan.

Feeling a moment of softness, Jiang Yuan agreed, only to realize how overwhelming the work really was once they started.

“Chen Xiangxiang! You’re just squatting there; I saw you right there earlier.”