Chapter 30
With the autumn harvest over, the weather is gradually turning cooler, and everyone is putting on thicker coats.
Two rows of dried sweet potatoes that Chen Jingyi had dried were displayed outside the educated youth settlement.
He He walked around the dried sweet potatoes, went out to use the outhouse, and ran into Gu Yuanzhou, who had just returned.
He was carrying large and small bags, clearly having just returned from the supply and marketing cooperative.
He He hadn't intended to pay him any attention, but Gu Yuanzhou called out to her, "Hey, shall we have a chat?"
He He shook her head, "I need to use the restroom urgently, so I'd rather not."
She and Gu Yuanzhou didn't have much to talk about.
Chen Jingbai was angry because she was getting close to Gu Yuanzhou, so she was even less able to get close to Gu Yuanzhou.
It's all because of him that Chen Jingbai hasn't asked her to go to the grove anymore. It's been almost half a month since they last met.
Gu Yuanzhou is annoying, and so is Chen Jingbai.
Gu Yuanzhou was clearly not so easily fooled. He continued, "Then I'll wait for you to come back and we can talk."
"Oh, whatever you want." He He didn't want to argue any further; she really needed to go to the toilet.
When she returned from the restroom, Gu Yuanzhou had already put down his things and was standing under the eaves with a box of pastries in his hand.
He He knew that Gu Yuanzhou was waiting for her; why were people so persistent?
Gu Yuanzhou raised his hand and handed the pastries to He He, "I bought them from the supply and marketing cooperative, have a taste."
He He peeked out and saw that it was peach shortbread. She had plenty of it too, so she didn't need Gu Yuanzhou's bite. She didn't take it.
"No need, I have peach shortbread too. You can keep it for yourself. I can't even finish mine."
Gu Yuanzhou smiled warmly and said, "Alright then."
"Before, I was busy with farming and didn't have time to talk to you. Now that I have some free time, I can finally chat with you alone."
He He forced a smile, waiting for Gu Yuanzhou to continue.
Gu Yuanzhou took a step closer. "I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I feel like you've been avoiding me lately. Can I ask why?"
They were too close, far exceeding the normal distance, and He He was so frightened that she took a step back.
She thought for a moment and made an excuse, saying, "I'm not avoiding you, I'm just too busy. It's normal that we don't see each other often. Besides, sometimes we girls and you boys work separately, so it's even harder to see each other."
Even she and Chen Jingbai rarely saw each other. The autumn harvest was busier than the summer harvest. The brigade planted more crops, and sometimes everyone couldn't even get together to eat. Someone would always come back later.
She's the kind of person who's always lazy; she's so tired when she gets back that she just collapses into bed, let alone the guys who do even more work.
Gu Yuanzhou suppressed his annoyance. He He said that was true, but he knew that He He was avoiding him. He wasn't stupid; he could see that.
Gu Yuanzhou's narrow eyes swept over He He's eyes.
Is it because of Chen Jingbai? Has Chen Jingbai spoken to her?
Gu Yuanzhou smiled, but this was even more amusing. He was in the most disadvantageous position. If he managed to snatch He He away, Chen Jingbai would be even angrier at having wasted so much time.
His mind flashed back to Chen Jingbai's lean, muscular body and his handsome face.
There are also scenes of He He getting very close to him.
Even if they get along well now, Chen Jingbai hasn't won He He's heart yet. If he does win He He's heart, wouldn't Chen Jingbai look even more like a loser?
In the capital, he never failed to steal women.
He came from a wealthy family and had an outstanding appearance; no man who competed with him could possibly win him over.
After figuring it out, Gu Yuanzhou felt much better and pretended to suddenly realize something. "So that's how it is. Maybe it was because you didn't respond when I called you last time, which made me feel like you were distancing yourself from me. I was wondering why you would suddenly become distant from me. It turns out it was just my imagination."
He He's heart skipped a beat. Last time she heard Gu Yuanzhou call her, but she had definitely done it on purpose.
He He looked at Gu Yuanzhou's refined face, with a faint smile always playing on his lips, and said, "Of course it's your imagination. I didn't hear you call me. When did you call me? I probably didn't hear you because we were too far away."
"That's not important. I know you haven't deliberately distanced yourself from me. Since you haven't, can you accept the peach shortbread I gave you? I bought it especially for you." Gu Yuanzhou deliberately emphasized the last sentence.
Gu Yuanzhou's insistence left He He somewhat at a loss. "No, it's not necessary."
Gu Yuanzhou: "It's okay. If you can't finish it, you can share it with others. Only if you accept it can I be more certain that you haven't distanced yourself from me."
He He felt that Gu Yuanzhou was being unreasonable, but she couldn't find any other reason to refuse, so she had no choice but to accept the peach shortbread.
"Then I'll go back and share them with them. I'll thank you on their behalf."
Gu Yuanzhou continued his invitation, "I heard from the villagers that there are persimmons on the mountain this season. Would you like to come up the mountain with me to pick persimmons tomorrow?"
He He gripped the peach shortbread box tightly, her face conflicted. "I think I'll pass. The autumn harvest just ended a couple of days ago. I want to stay in the dorm and rest more. Going up the mountain is too tiring."
Gu Yuanzhou's face flashed with apology, "I didn't think it through. Let's go up the mountain to pick persimmons after you've rested. It's just the season for persimmons to ripen, so they won't be picked all so quickly. We've made a promise. When you've rested and want to go up the mountain to eat persimmons, just tell me and I'll take you up to pick some."
He didn't give He He a chance to object, and made the decision for her without asking, as if he thought she wouldn't refuse.
He He didn't even have a chance to refuse. She sighed and decided to leave it at that for now. She could just delay it as long as possible. When Gu Yuanzhou came to ask her, she could just say that she hadn't rested enough and didn't want to go up the mountain.
If she declined a few more times, Gu Yuanzhou would stop inviting her to go up the mountain.
After they finished speaking, they each went back to their rooms.
Little did they know that someone was watching the two chatting and laughing from the window of the boys' dormitory.
As soon as Gu Yuanzhou pushed open the door to the boys' dormitory, Sun Jiabao put his arm around his shoulder.
The person I just saw chatting with Gu Yuanzhou and He He outside was Sun Jiabao; he was the only one in the dormitory.
Cheng Surin was nowhere to be found, but Sun Jiabao guessed he had gone to meet Chen Jingyi. Zhao Dechuan went to the brigade headquarters to help repair bicycles.
Chen Jingbai went up the mountain to pick his herbs again; he was always the busiest person around.
In contrast to Chen Jingbai, Sun Jiabao was the most idle. As soon as he had a break, he wanted to stay in his dormitory bed all day.
Sun Jiabao asked Gu Yuanzhou, "Yuanzhou, what's the situation between you and He He? You seem to get along quite well with her."
Sun Jiabao was very curious. Gu Yuanzhou hadn't been in the countryside for long, yet he and He He had already taken a liking to each other? That was fast!
That's normal, though. He He has changed a lot now. She doesn't speak so harshly anymore, and she's also pretty and well-behaved.
It's perfectly normal for Gu Yuanzhou to like He He since he hadn't heard of her past achievements.
He was much faster than Chen Jingbai. Chen Jingbai didn't usually say it, but he could tell that Chen Jingbai liked He He. He usually spent the most time with Chen Jingbai and knew him well enough.
He could understand Chen Jingbai's glances.
Moreover, Chen Jingbai and He He usually get along very well, and they really don't hide it from anyone. Anyone who looks at them can tell that there's something going on between them.
The two of them aren't together yet. If Gu Yuanzhou were to get involved, Sun Jiabao would be really worried for his brother. He doesn't want He He and Gu Yuanzhou to end up together while Chen Jingbai is just watching helplessly.
Even if He He wasn't that great, Sun Jiabao didn't want to see his brother miss out on happiness, so he wanted to find out the details about Gu Yuanzhou and He He for Chen Jingbai.
Gu Yuanzhou said vaguely, "I get along quite well with her, and I feel that I also get along quite well with He He."
Sun Jiabao's eyes widened. Really? He He could actually get along with him? He He was always so arrogant, looking down on everyone, and always seemed ready to fight.
Sometimes, when he accidentally made eye contact with He He, he could see the obvious disdain in her eyes; she didn't try to avoid anyone at all.
Things have gotten better lately, it seems to have started when her relationship with Chen Jingbai improved, and He He's eyes have become less impatient.
But how could He He think so highly of the newcomer Gu Yuanzhou? This is truly unbelievable. It took He He two years to get along well with them and to speak well with Chen Jingbai.
Sun Jiabao was a little incredulous, but then he thought that Gu Yuanzhou was from the capital after all, and he often came up with novel gadgets that excited He He, so it was not unreasonable for him to be favored by He He.
Sun Jiabao silently mourned for Chen Jingbai.
He's facing a formidable competitor. Once Chen Jingbai returns, he won't care about anything else; he'll have to immediately tell Chen Jingbai that someone is trying to steal him away.
As the last rays of the setting sun were about to disappear into the evening, Chen Jingbai returned carrying a full basket of herbs. He had barely put down the basket when Sun Jiabao pulled him aside.
Sun Jiabao said solemnly, "Jing Bai, I have something to tell you. This afternoon I saw Gu Yuanzhou and He He chatting happily outside. What do you think?"
Chen Jingbai, who was just catching his breath, almost choked on it.
His voice was serious. "You saw them together this afternoon?"
Sun Jiabao nodded: "Yes, they talked for quite a while, and Gu Yuanzhou even gave He He a box of some kind of stuff."
Chen Jingbai's eyes showed disdain. Did Gu Yuanzhou think he could bribe her with just a box of things? However, he was still a little angry.
During this busy autumn harvest season, the medicinal herbs needed by the supply and marketing cooperative have also reached maturity. He is very busy and has no time to visit He He. She doesn't even come to him on her own initiative, not even once.
However, what made him happy was that he had been seeing He He staying away from Gu Yuanzhou.
Gu Yuanzhou, oblivious to social cues, shamelessly approached them like a dog.
Chen Jingbai: "I understand."
Sun Jiabao was surprised, "Huh? Just one person knew and that's it?"
Chen Jingbai: "You don't need to worry about the rest. Thank you for telling me about this today."
Sun Jiabao was relieved. It turned out that Chen Jingbai had indeed taken action. "There's no need to thank me. It's just what brothers should do."
"Hmm." Chen Jingbai gave Sun Jiabao a deep look; Sun Jiabao was still on his side.
Late at night, after dinner, before Chen Jingbai could go to find Gu Yuanzhou, Gu Yuanzhou came to him on his own.
The two met under the banyan tree in front of the house.
Southern vegetation is evergreen, and banyan trees are no exception, with green leaves on their branches.
"What do you want to talk about?" Chen Jingbai asked in a cold tone.
Gu Yuanzhou: "I just wanted to ask you, does He He have any favorites? I see you two are quite close, you should know her quite well, right?"
Gu Yuanzhou always had that same smile on his face, which Chen Jingbai found disgusting. "Is your relationship with her so bad that you need to go through someone else to find out her preferences? It seems you don't get along well with He He either, you don't even dare to ask her to her face."
The tension between the two was palpable. Gu Yuanzhou was equally blunt, his words laced with barbs. "Of course not. I had a great chat with her. Although we haven't known each other for long, we hit it off immediately. We even made plans to go up the mountain to pick persimmons together another day."
Gu Yuanzhou raised an eyebrow and said, "Why don't you come along? More people should be able to pick more."
Chen Jingbai and Gu Yuanzhou are about the same height, but if you look closely, Chen Jingbai is slightly taller than Gu Yuanzhou.
A slight smile curved his lips, but it didn't go deep, and there was no joy in his eyes. "It seems you're very confident that the agreement won't change. How do you know she'll still come up the mountain with you until the very last moment?"
If he wasn't mistaken, the agreement to go up the mountain was just Gu Yuanzhou's wishful thinking; it was still unknown whether He He had agreed.
He knew her temperament; climbing the mountain was so tiring, how could she possibly be willing to go? If something could be fed to her, she would never pick it herself.
Gu Yuanzhou curled his knuckles, a hint of surprise on his face. "In your heart, she's someone who doesn't keep her word?"
Chen Jingbai's eyes grew even colder. "We'll talk after she agrees."
He didn't want to beat around the bush with Gu Yuanzhou anymore. "I'm warning you, put away those thoughts you shouldn't have. She can't understand you or tell what kind of person you are, but I know exactly what kind of person you are. Don't think you're so good at pretending. Your little tricks are no match for her."
Chen Jingbai could tell that Gu Yuanzhou was interested in He He, but it wasn't love; he just found her amusing and a source of amusement to pass the time.
Or perhaps there's something else that interests Gu Yuanzhou more in pursuing He He. In Gu Yuanzhou's eyes, Chen Jingbai can't see a trace of genuine love.
Just like when he looked at He He, or when Cheng Surin looked at his sister.
During the years his family was closely monitored by the corrupt officials, he learned to read people's expressions and could keenly perceive the true intentions that others thought they had hidden well.
Gu Yuanzhou was one of the two-faced people he had seen many times.
He He didn't want to tell everyone they were dating, and he would comply, but he needed to warn Gu Yuanzhou in other ways not to provoke He He.
Gu Yuanzhou didn't expect Chen Jingbai to see through him, but what could he do even if he did? Could Chen Jingbai stop him from pursuing He He?
It's good that he saw through it; the difficulty has increased, and it will be even more exciting. He can't wait to win He He's heart. Chen Jingbai is just like those other useless men before, only picking up the women he dumped.
Chen Jingbai's gaze toward Gu Yuanzhou was like a drawn sword, sharp enough to pierce through him. "Don't waste your time. She's not as easy to win over as you think, and you don't have the ability to move her."
With him around, how could Gu Yuanzhou possibly get what he wanted?
Gu Yuanzhou said nonchalantly, "Whether I have the ability or not, you'll find out when the time comes. I've never failed before."
Chen Jingbai frowned. Never failed before? Just how many girls has Gu Yuanzhou ruined?
"Don't do anything disgusting."
Gu Yuanzhou: "I'm glad I can disgust you."
Chen Jingbai's forehead veins throbbed, but he quickly calmed down, thinking it was a waste of time to get angry at this kind of person.
He didn't want to waste any more time, so he said nothing more and walked past Gu Yuanzhou to leave.
The two parted on bad terms.
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