Chapter 175 A Wavering Heart
The auntie enthusiastically made the suggestion, and before Xu Zhili could respond, she rushed towards the direction where the crowd was gathering, like a gust of wind.
Xie Yunze and Xu Zhili exchanged a glance, and Xu Zhili's eyes instantly lit up with a gossip-loving glint. Her eager expression clearly showed that she was determined to go and see what was going on.
Without saying a word, Xu Zhili quickly and gently put the pheasant in her hand into her basket, and then hurriedly followed behind the aunt, eager to walk towards the crowd to find out what was going on.
"Comrade Xu Zhili..."
Xie Yunze had barely called out her name when Xu Zhili had already taken several quick steps ahead. He smiled helplessly and could only quicken his pace to catch up.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, Xu Zhili spotted the old locust tree with its low branches, braced herself against the trunk, and nimbly climbed up, landing steadily on a thick branch.
She took out a water bottle from her cloth bag, unscrewed the cap, and slowly drank the water. A gentle breeze blew by, lifting the stray hairs on her forehead, giving her a sense of ease and comfort.
But her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the commotion under the tree, her eyes fixed on the scene, lost in thought.
Little did she know, Xie Yunze was following her silently.
When he saw Xu Zhili nimbly climb up the tree trunk like a nimble monkey, he was stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief.
In his mind, women were all gentle and quiet, but the agile appearance in front of him completely shattered his perception.
Its vibrant and slightly wild appearance was so novel that it captivated his gaze like a magnet, making it impossible for him to look away.
A strange feeling quietly spread in his heart. Seeing her smile as she watched the play and drank water, and hearing her clear and cheerful laughter, he felt that this ordinary scene was tinged with a different color, making his heart burn.
Xie Yunze couldn't suppress the urge to go up and join his sister in the fun.
But then I thought about it again. In this era of strict social norms, even a casual touch between a man and a woman could be the subject of gossip and cause a lot of trouble.
He knew that in this world, a young woman's reputation was valued above all else, and even the slightest mistake could attract criticism. He couldn't get too close, lest the villagers gossip.
Considering all this, he ultimately didn't move forward. Instead, he found a secluded corner where he wouldn't be noticed and watched the commotion from afar, treating it as just a spectacle.
Lu Yanchen was surrounded and questioned by Bai Linlin and Yao Xueru, who were on either side of him.
Bai Linlin's eyes were red-rimmed, her slender fingers gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, her voice choked with sobs: "Lu Yanchen, just now... why did you take her water bottle first?"
She became more and more aggrieved as she spoke, tears welling up in her eyes, "You clearly promised to fix my hoe first today!"
As she verbally accused Yao Xueru, her eyes kept glancing at her, her gaze filled with resentment and obvious hostility.
Yao Xueru maintained a calm and composed expression, but inwardly she was overjoyed.
As expected, just like in her previous life, Lu Yanchen would eventually be firmly in her grasp.
She slightly raised her chin, her eyes holding a hint of barely perceptible smugness as she looked at Lu Yanchen, as if everything was under her control.
She wore a polyester shirt that seemed too fitted for the times and was made of brand new material, which accentuated her slender figure.
She raised her chin slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips, her gaze fixed solely on Lu Yanchen, her tone intimate and slightly coquettish.
“Brother Yanchen, look at her, she’s always making such a fuss.”
She lightly stomped her foot, gesturing to the somewhat old-fashioned seeder, "Didn't you always say you admired my independent and unattached nature? Quickly, take a look at this; it seems to be stuck. I remember you later..."
She paused abruptly, as if she had almost said something wrong, then smiled gently, her eyes sparkling, "Anyway, you're the best, you'll definitely be able to fix it."
Caught in the middle, Lu Yanchen frowned, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a hint of barely perceptible enjoyment.
He first turned to Bai Linlin, his voice softening slightly, as if coaxing her: "Linlin, don't be silly. When have I ever forgotten what I promised you? I'll definitely fix it for you, it's just a matter of time. Look how anxious you are, your eyes are even red."
As he spoke, he even subconsciously reached out to wipe her eyes, but then stopped himself, remembering something.
He then turned to Yao Xueru, his tone unconsciously softening, tinged with a gentle warmth born of admiration: "Where's it stuck? Let me see. You're using it wrong. I've told you several times, you have to be gentle, you can't use brute force..."
As he spoke, he naturally took the tools from Yao Xueru's hand, his fingers inadvertently touching the back of her hand, causing them both to pause slightly.
Xu Zhili sat on the old locust tree, just tightening the lid of her water bottle. Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the little rabbit that An An had drawn on the bottle. The lines were crooked, but they revealed a child's unique earnestness, and at this moment they became a place for her to express her feelings.
The crowd below is really lively.
Lu Yanchen's heart was like a reed by the river; it looked upright, but it was actually empty inside. He would involuntarily lean towards whichever side the wind was more attentive.
When he first came to the countryside, still carrying the naive pride of city life, he did indeed show some affection for her.
Back then, he would blush and stammer as he tried to discuss books with her. The admiration and probing in his eyes were somewhat clumsy, but not entirely fake.
Unfortunately, Xu Zhili saw through the shallowness of that underlying nature at a glance.
That "liking" stemmed more from the restlessness of adolescence and the instinctive pursuit of a beautiful appearance. Seeing her indifferent response, he quickly lost interest and turned to find more flammable fuel.
Bai Linlin is like a handful of dry, easily ignited firewood.
She was innocent and passionate, her joys and sorrows clearly written on her face. Her wholehearted dependence on Lu Yanchen and her undisguised adoration greatly satisfied a young man's vanity and protective instincts.
Lu Yanchen had genuine feelings of attraction and pity for her.
However, Yao Xueru's appearance was like a sudden downpour, completely muddying up this shallow pool.
This girl, who is said to have returned from the future, is absolutely certain of Lu Yanchen's future "glory". Her methods are direct and bold, and her eyes always seem to say "I am determined to succeed".
The novelty of the "future" she brought, the unreserved admiration, and the timely, prophetic help she offered left Lu Yanchen both confused and unable to resist, his vanity swelling rapidly like a seed soaked in water.
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