Wei Aiguo gently stroked her face, wiping away the water droplets with his thumb. There was an air of aggression in his eyes.

"Ah!" Song Yan was so startled that he took several steps back. He looked at Wei Aiguo warily, "You, what are you doing?" This was Song Yan's instinctive reaction.

Wei Aiguo looked at Song Yan silently for a moment. The wariness in her eyes disgusted him. "Shall we get a divorce in a few days? Also, don't go up the mountain to catch rabbits, it's dangerous!" After saying this, Wei Aiguo turned his back to Song Yan and lay down on the kang.

Song Yan stood alone on the ground, Wei Aiguo bringing up divorce again. What did she mean by suddenly touching her face just now? Song Yan's retreat and evasion were instinctive reactions. Was he angry because she didn't throw herself into his arms? If she did, Wei Aiguo would probably think she was shameless. All the mistakes the original owner made were Song Yan's fault, and Song Yan was already trying her best to make amends. She took care of the elderly, the children, and did the housework. All that fish and meat—did Wei Aiguo not eat it? Did it all end up in Wei Aiguo's stomach?

A strange sense of humiliation welled up in Song Yan's heart. If she had let Wei Aiguo do whatever he wanted, would he have been satisfied? But how had Wei Aiguo treated her? Cold and aloof every day. He'd never say a word to her, not even half a sentence. And yet, he wanted to have sex with her. What difference was there between that and letting him abuse her? Wei Aiguo was a masculine man, the type Song Yan preferred. Song Yan wasn't a proactive person in relationships. Plus, she felt Wei Aiguo would like someone else in the future, so she couldn't bring herself to take the initiative. If Wei Aiguo had been more gentle with her, and she could have done something with him, Song Yan would have accepted it. After all, Song Yan had always wanted a child, not a man. Whether Wei Aiguo was a loyal dog to the female lead, or risked his life for her, so what? As long as the child was hers. But who did Wei Aiguo think he was…?

So many things rushed to my mind. The loneliness and helplessness I'd been deliberately ignoring these past few days could no longer be suppressed. My eyes stung, and tears slowly streamed down my face…

There was no sound from the ground for a long time. Wei Aiguo couldn't help but turn around to look. Song Yan was crying, her eyes vacant and lifeless, one hand still holding a wet towel, standing there motionless. Wei Aiguo thought of Song Yan's fair neck again, and the delicate, smooth feeling he had just touched... A sense of unease crept into Wei Aiguo's heart. He turned his head away, no longer looking at Song Yan.

Song Yan didn't climb onto the kang (a heated brick bed) until her legs were numb from standing. So be it! Things were much better now than when she first arrived. The villagers could see how diligently she cared for Wei Aiguo's mother and two children; they wouldn't stand for him if he wanted to retaliate. At worst, she could go back to the fields to earn work points. When the college entrance exam was reinstated in 1977, Song Yan could work hard and leave this place. She had three more years; Song Yan believed she could live a good life. Having just cried, Song Yan felt tired and had made plans for the future. She lay down and soon fell asleep.

The pattering rain outside kept Wei Aiguo awake. Song Yan cried, and cried silently…