Chapter 42: The Notorious Tough Guy
"Come in." Xue Han's voice was low and magnetic, like a magnet, firmly attracting Xu Yao's mind.
Xu Yao took a deep breath, suppressed the confusion in her heart, and walked into Xue Han's yard.
This yard is much bigger than her home and is kept cleaner and tidier. There are a few tall pine trees planted in the corner, exuding a sense of military fortitude.
Xue Han's house is also a mud house, but the walls have been carefully smoothed and painted with a layer of white lime, making it look a lot brighter.
The room was simply furnished with a wooden bed, a table, a few chairs, and a photo of Xue Han in military uniform hanging on the wall. In the photo, there was still a hint of immaturity between his eyebrows, but a sense of heroic spirit was overwhelming.
Xu Yao stood at the table somewhat awkwardly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the rough surface.
The touch was just like her mood at the moment, rough and uneasy.
"Please sit down." Xue Han pointed to the chair beside the table, sat down himself, poured two bowls of water, and pushed one bowl in front of Xu Yao.
Xu Yao took the bowl, lowered her head and took a sip. The water was warm, with a hint of sweetness, probably because of the sugar.
This subtle sweetness slightly eased the bitterness in her heart.
"Don't take those rumors to heart." Xue Han spoke, his voice still low, but with an unquestionable power, "I know you are not that kind of person."
Xu Yao looked up suddenly. She didn't expect that this usually taciturn man would trust her so much.
You have to know how important a woman's reputation is in this era. Being labeled a "slut" is almost equivalent to being sentenced to death.
"Brother Xue, you... do you really believe me?" Xu Yao's voice trembled a little, with a barely perceptible hint of expectation.
Xue Han looked at her with a firm and deep gaze, as if he could see through all the anxiety and confusion in her heart.
"I believe you." He paused, then added, "Not only do I believe in you, I will also help you."
Xu Yao's eyes suddenly became moist.
In this strange era, in this situation where she was besieged on all sides, Xue Han's trust and support were like a ray of light, illuminating her dark world.
She felt that she was no longer fighting alone, at least, there was someone standing by her side.
"Thank you, Brother Xue." Xu Yao's voice was choked with sobs. Tears welled up in her eyes but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
Xue Han looked at her
He stood up, walked to Xu Yao, patted her shoulder gently, and said nothing, but this action was worth a thousand words.
In the next few days, Xue Han put his promise into practice with practical actions.
He took Xu Yao for walks in the village, and greeted everyone he met, introducing Xu Yao as his neighbor and a good girl.
Whenever someone mentioned those rumors, Xue Han would immediately frown and seriously correct them: "Those are all lies made up by the Sun family, don't believe them! Xu Yao is an innocent girl, if anyone dares to talk nonsense again, don't blame me for being rude!"
Xue Han is a well-known tough guy in the village, and the villagers are more or less afraid of him.
As his words were so powerful, the villagers also began to murmur, and the wind direction gradually changed.
"That's what I said, Xu Yao doesn't look like that kind of person!"
"That's right, the Sun family is not a good family at first glance!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, this Sun Zhiqiang is such a jerk. He did something dirty himself and he wants to throw dirty water on the girl!"
"That's right, he still wants to marry my third sister? I think he is just a toad wanting to eat swan meat!"
When the Sun family mother and son heard these discussions, they were furious.
Sun's mother cursed loudly at home, cursing Xu Yao and Xue Han's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Sun Zhiqiang had a gloomy face and was thinking about how to take revenge.
"Mom, we can't just let this go!" Sun Zhiqiang gritted his teeth and said, "I have to make that little bitch and that soldier pay the price!"
"What do you want to do?" Sun's mother asked viciously.
"Humph, I have my own way!" Sun Zhiqiang
The third sister sat aside, seemingly calm, but she was actually very happy in her heart.
She hoped that the Sun family and Xu Yao would fight to the death so that she could reap the benefits.
Xu Yao didn't care about the Sun family's reaction. Her mind was now focused on Xue Han.
After spending these days together, she discovered that Xue Han was not only an honest and reliable man, but also had a delicate and gentle heart.
He would help her fetch water and chop firewood, accompany her silently when she was sad, and stand up for her when she was in danger...
Xu Yao's heart, unknowingly, slowly moved closer to Xue Han.
The way she looked at Xue Han became more and more gentle and dependent.
That evening, the two walked side by side on the way home, and the setting sun stretched their shadows very long.
"Brother Xue, thank you." Xu Yao said softly.
Xue Han turned his head to look at her, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a rare smile.
"What are you thanking me for? We are friends."
Xu Yao's heart skipped a beat and her cheeks flushed slightly.
At this moment, Xue Han suddenly stopped and looked forward.
Xu Yao followed his gaze and saw a familiar figure standing under the big locust tree at the entrance of the village... The golden afterglow of the setting sun dyed the dusty road a warm orange, making the shadows of Xu Yao and Xue Han thin and long.
A comfortable silence hung between them, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of their footsteps on the dry earth.
The day's heat had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of honeysuckle and the fragrance of newly plowed land.
They walked back from the village well, the heavy barrel swinging rhythmically among them.
Xu Yao felt more relaxed than she had been in the past few days, and she secretly glanced at Xue Han a few times.
His strong, silent presence was like a reassuring anchor amid the swirl of village gossip.
He stood up for her without flinching and firmly, in stark contrast to the cowardly and crybaby Sun Zhiqiang.
When she thought of Sun Zhiqiang, she felt her stomach churning.
She thought to herself that she was finally free of him, and a smile appeared on her lips.
As they reached the edge of the woods beside the road, a flash of brown fur darted past their feet.
Xu Yao instinctively shrank back with a cry of surprise, and she reached out to grab the nearest solid object - Xue Han's arm.
The rough texture of his shirt was strangely soothing beneath her fingers.
Her heart thumped between her ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the sudden silence that fell between them.
Xue Han was startled by her sudden movement. He put his strong arm around her waist to steady her.
The warmth of his body radiated through the thin cotton of her shirt, making her shiver.
The scent of pine and an indescribable, unique scent that belonged to him filled her nostrils, temporarily overshadowing the smell of the woods.
Time seemed to freeze and twist, the sunset seemed to hold its breath, and they stood there like a still picture.
Xu Yao was still trembling slightly and could feel Xue Han's heartbeat hitting her back steadily.
It echoed with her own frantic pulse, creating a strange, syncopated rhythm in the sudden silence of the woods.
She could feel his rough hands against her waist, contrasting against her soft skin.
Xue Han looked down at the top of Xu Yao's head, and a strange desire to protect her surged in his heart.
Her hair, the color of deep honey, shone in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the trees.
He could feel her body still trembling slightly, and the tiny vibrations were transmitted to him.
Her vulnerability, so obvious and unconcealed, touched something deep inside him.
In his arms, she looked so small and fragile, like a frightened bird.
He tightened his embrace around her slightly, which was a silent comfort.
He wanted to tell her that he would keep her safe and wouldn't let anyone hurt her, but the words got stuck on his lips.
So he just stood there holding her, the silence between them filled with unspeakable emotion.
Finally, Xu Yao's breathing slowly returned to normal, she broke free a little, and a faint pink color appeared on her cheeks.
"Thank you," she whispered, almost inaudibly.
Her large, bright eyes met his.
Deep in her eyes he saw something he couldn't quite comprehend, and it made his own heart beat a little faster.
He cleared his throat, his voice oddly hoarse.
"You're welcome," he said in a low voice.
He loosened his grip on her waist, but the warmth of her body still lingered on his skin, and the illusory feeling made his palms tingle slightly.
They walked on and the awkward silence fell again, but this time it was different.
There was a new feeling in the air, and the atmosphere between them changed subtly.
As they emerged from the woods, the setting sun cast long shadows that intertwined and blended their outlines together.
When she reached the door of her house, Xu Yao stopped.
"Thank you again, Xue Han." Her voice was softer than the night breeze.
She looked at him with a hesitant smile on her face.
He nodded, his eyes meeting hers. "See you tomorrow, Xu Yao."
She turned to open the door, her fingers brushing against the rough wood.
As she walked into the yard, she heard him call her name, his voice low and hoarse.
She turned and saw him standing there, silhouetted in the fading light, his hand extended...towards...what?
A fallen leaf on her shoulder?
The latch on her door?
Or... is there a deeper meaning?
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