ICCFVHR 05

Chapter 05

Pervert

“Well? I’m asking you. Do I look pretty or not?”

Seeing that he still wasn’t answering, Su Wanqing stepped even closer, tilted her face up toward him, and smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.

Lu Shiyan lowered his gaze.

He looked at her rosy, fair face, her long curled eyelashes, and her glossy lips that seemed to have something shimmering on them.

His throat tightened.

He looked away.

“You look pretty.”

Su Wanqing was finally satisfied.

She flashed a grin, revealing her small white teeth.

“That’s more like it.”

She took a step back, looked him up and down, and frowned.

“Look at you. You’re covered in sweat. You’re filthy.”

Lu Shiyan glanced down at himself.

His gray undershirt was splattered with mud, his pant legs were covered in dust, and dirt from working in the fields still clung to his hands.

“When you’re working in the fields, how clean do you expect someone to stay?”

Su Wanqing curled her lips.

“You should still clean yourself up. Look at Erhu. His clothes are much cleaner.”

Lu Shiyan’s face darkened immediately.

Erhu?

That brat?

“Erhu?” His voice became noticeably colder. “Why are you bringing him up?”

Su Wanqing didn’t notice the jealousy in his tone and continued casually.

“Brother Erhu spent the whole morning teaching me. He was so helpful. He even carried the table and stool for me and kept running around helping.”

Lu Shiyan tightened his grip on the hoe.

Brother Erhu?

She certainly called him affectionately enough.

Su Wanqing continued,

“Oh, right. My table is a little too low. Sitting there all day makes my back hurt. Later, make me a taller one. And it’d be even better if you could get me a chair with a backrest. Sitting on that little stool all day is exhausting.”

Lu Shiyan looked at her.

This girl really knew how to order him around.

She used to avoid him whenever she saw him.

Today she had smiled at him, walked right up to him, and chatted with him.

For a moment, he had actually thought something miraculous had happened.

Turns out…

She had only come because she wanted to make him do things for her.

“Did you hear me?” Su Wanqing urged.

Lu Shiyan tugged at the corner of his lips.

“I heard you.”

“And another thing,” Su Wanqing continued. “I’m almost out of pencils. Do you have any more? Get me a couple. And an eraser too. I keep making mistakes.”

“All right. Anything else?”

He listened patiently as she continued making requests.

Such a spoiled little thing.

“And…” Su Wanqing thought for a moment.

“I don’t want to eat at the educated youth dormitory at noon. The food is awful. Get me something good to eat and bring it to me tonight.”

Lu Shiyan looked at her, amusement appearing in his eyes.

“Anything else?”

Su Wanqing tilted her head thoughtfully.

“That’s all for now. I’ll tell you if I think of anything else.”

Lu Shiyan nodded.

“Fine, little ancestor. I’ll get everything for you.”

Su Wanqing looked pleased.

She waved her hand.

“All right, go back to work. I should head back too.”

She turned to leave.

Lu Shiyan stepped forward and blocked her path.

Su Wanqing looked up.

“What?”

Lu Shiyan leaned down close to her ear.

His voice was low and slightly husky.

“Tonight. The usual place.”

His warm breath brushed against her ear.

The tips of Su Wanqing’s ears instantly turned red.

She hurriedly stepped back and glared at him.

“What are you saying?”

Lu Shiyan straightened up.

Looking at her reddened ears, the corner of his lips curled upward.

The sour jealousy he had felt moments ago finally disappeared.

Su Wanqing scolded him.

“You pervert. Shameless.”

After saying that, she turned around and walked away, her braided pigtails swaying behind her.

Lu Shiyan stood where he was, watching her leave.

The smile never left his face.

Beneath the shade of a nearby tree, several women taking their lunch break had witnessed the entire exchange.

“My goodness, did you all see that?” Aunt Wang slapped her thigh. “What was Lu Shiyan saying to Su Wanqing just now? He leaned in so close!”

Aunt Li cracked sunflower seeds as she replied,

“I saw it too. I don’t know what kind of spell that girl cast on Lu Shiyan. Usually he ignores anyone who talks to him. But today? He stood so close to her… and he even smiled!”

“He smiled?” Aunt Wang’s eyes widened.

“Lu Shiyan can smile? Ever since that boy was sent down to our village, I’ve never seen him smile once!”

“Exactly! But I swear I saw him smiling just now!” Aunt Li insisted.

A young married woman nearby spoke quietly.

“Su Wanqing’s got some nerve too. She orders Lu Shiyan around like he’s her own husband. She just kept talking and talking, and Lu Shiyan stood there listening without interrupting her once.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Aunt Wang clicked her tongue in amazement.

“The last time my husband asked Lu Shiyan to help carry a sack of grain, Lu Shiyan rolled his eyes and walked away without a word. My husband came home complaining for half the day, saying that boy had no manners. But look at him now. Su Wanqing orders him around, and he obediently stands there listening!”

Not far away, several female educated youths were secretly watching as well.

Liu Weihong nudged Zhang Hongying.

“Hongying, look over there. Su Wanqing is talking to Lu Shiyan.”

Zhang Hongying was squatting on the ground resting.

She glanced up and curled her lips dismissively.

“What’s so interesting about that?”

“No,” Liu Weihong whispered. “Look at Lu Shiyan. Normally he barely responds when anyone talks to him. Why is he talking with Su Wanqing for so long?”

Zhang Hongying looked over again.

She couldn’t help feeling a little uncomfortable.

Lu Shiyan really was handsome.

Among all the young women and married women in the village, who didn’t secretly steal an extra glance whenever they saw him?

But his temper was just as famous.

He always wore a cold expression and treated everyone the same.

Not long ago, a village girl had brought him water.

He hadn’t even looked at her.

He had simply said, “No need,” and walked away.

The girl had cried for several days afterward.

After that, no one dared approach him anymore.

But now…

Su Wanqing stood right in front of him, talking nonstop.

Lu Shiyan simply lowered his head and listened.

They were standing so close together.

He had even leaned over to whisper in her ear.

Zhang Hongying threw the blade of grass in her hand onto the ground.

“So what if she’s prettier than everyone else? Who cares?”

Liu Weihong glanced at her but didn’t say anything.

Deep down, she thought,

Who doesn’t care? If you don’t care, why are you always sneaking looks in his direction?

Su Wanqing returned to the scorekeeper’s table, packed away her notebook and pencil, and prepared to head back to the educated youth dormitory for lunch.

She had just finished tidying up when she looked up and saw Erhu jogging over again.

“Comrade Su, finished for the morning?” Erhu scratched his head awkwardly.

“Um… are you coming back this afternoon?”

“Of course,” Su Wanqing replied.

“Don’t I still have to keep records this afternoon?”

“Right, right. You do.” Erhu nodded repeatedly.

“Then… when you come back this afternoon, just sit here again. If you need anything, call me.”

“All right. Thank you, Brother Erhu.”

Erhu blushed once more and stood there awkwardly, unsure what else to say.

Seeing his expression, Su Wanqing couldn’t help smiling.

“Brother Erhu, is there something else?”

“N-No!” Erhu shook his head frantically.

“Then go have lunch. See you this afternoon!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and ran off as fast as he could.

Su Wanqing smiled and shook her head before carrying her notebook back toward the educated youth dormitory.

Halfway there, she ran into several young women from the village carrying baskets, apparently on their way somewhere.

The moment they saw her, they all stopped and looked her over.

Su Wanqing didn’t recognize any of them.

Still, since they had stopped to look at her, she simply nodded politely and continued walking.

She had barely passed them when she heard them whispering behind her.