Chapter 19 "Xie Beishen, what a coincidence."

Su Wanwan had no idea what her father was up to, so she headed toward the threshing floor.

Seeing her fully covered from head to toe, passersby couldn't help but stare with curiosity. Who on earth was this? Was she not stifling in all that gear?

She hadn't gone far when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to find her next-door neighbor, Aunt Liu’s daughter, Su Xiaofeng.

The original host of this body had been bullied by her relentlessly since childhood. Being four years younger and suffering from malnutrition as a child, the original host was constantly mocked as a "runt." However, after her family’s situation improved these past few years and she had eaten better, she had shot up in height and now stood a head taller than Su Xiaofeng. Su Xiaofeng had long since stopped calling her a runt.

Looking at the strangely dressed girl, Su Xiaofeng sneered, "Su Wanwan, you really are a freak for attention. Aren't you hot dressed like that?"

"I am," Su Wanwan replied. "Do you live by the sea? You're certainly sticking your nose into a lot of business."

She rolled her eyes at her and continued toward the threshing floor.

Su Xiaofeng couldn't believe her ears. The girl actually dared to snap back at her! Previously, no matter what she said, the girl would never talk back. It was as if the sun had risen in the west today.

She quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path, and demanded with an air of self-righteousness, "Take off that hat right now! Let me see what you look like. My mother keeps praising you in front of me, saying you're much prettier than I am. I want to see just how 'pretty' you've become."

As she finished speaking, she reached for Su Wanwan's hat, but Su Wanwan dodged her easily.

"I’ve always been prettier than you; that’s a fact everyone has seen for themselves. Unlike you—dark, short, thin, and a total runt," Su Wanwan retorted. "Get lost."

She was simply returning the words that had once been used against the original host.

Su Xiaofeng was so angry she gnashed her teeth. "You... you..."

"Well, look at you, actually stuttering. Why learn the bad habits instead of the good ones?" Su Wanwan said. "I’m just returning the favor. Stay out of my way from now on, or I really won't be polite."

With that, she turned and walked in a different direction. She was not the original host; she wouldn't let anyone who made her life difficult off the hook. If she provoked her again, she would take action.

Su Xiaofeng stood there, stamping her feet in frustration.

Glancing around, Su Wanwan caught sight of Xie Beishen.

Wearing a white shirt, Xie Beishen had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs. With his sturdy and well-defined upper body, it wasn't hard to imagine the incredible physique hidden beneath that fabric. Heh, she had seen him by the pond before—it was a body bursting with raw, masculine energy.

*Stop, stop!* she told herself, *don't think about it, or your mind will head straight into the gutter again.*

Lin Yu was with him, too. She slowed her pace, waiting for Xie Beishen to catch up.

***

Xie Beishen recognized Su Wanwan immediately. Only her lively, expressive eyes were visible, and she was looking right at him. Was he imagining it? Why was she looking at him? He instinctively glanced behind him.

Ma Zhiming.

He had thought she was looking at him, but it turned out she was eyeing Ma Zhiming, who was walking behind him.

*How self-absorbed of me,* he thought. *So, she was looking at her boyfriend.*

His eyes darkened with a complex, sullen emotion. He averted his gaze and headed toward the threshing floor, changing his direction. *What kind of taste is that? This woman’s judgment is truly terrible if someone like Ma Zhiming is worth her affection.*

*She’s blind.*

Lin Yu, seeing his boss change directions, hurried to follow.

Seeing Xie Beishen walk away, Su Wanwan realized that her disguise must have prevented him from recognizing her.

*If the mountain will not come to me, I will go to the mountain.*

She decided to take the initiative—she was going to chase this man. She hurried to catch up, watching his long, confident strides. His legs were truly long.

*Tsk, tsk, tsk.*

At 1.65 meters tall, she had to jog to keep up. She pulled up alongside him and said, "Xie Beishen, what a coincidence."

Xie Beishen stopped abruptly and turned to look at her, seeing only those bright, spirited eyes. "Do you... need something?"

Su Wanwan looked at him with sparkling eyes. "Xie Beishen, it's me, Su Wanwan."

Xie Beishen merely responded with a cold, indifferent "Hmm."

Lin Yu looked at her and laughed. "What is this outfit? Are you trying to hide from the world?"

Su Wanwan glanced at him. "You're the one who’s a sight for sore eyes. I’m just trying to avoid the sun, alright?"

Lin Yu chuckled. People in the countryside were never afraid of the sun; she was the only oddity on the entire threshing floor.

Su Wanwan looked back at Xie Beishen. "Let’s walk together."

Xie Beishen couldn't figure out what this woman wanted. Wasn't her boyfriend over there?

Su Wanwan’s mind raced. She wanted to chat more with him, so she deliberately started a conversation. "Did you eat the fish I made yesterday? Where are you from? Was it to your taste?"

Xie Beishen’s cold, dark eyes flickered. "I ate it." He hadn't expected the fish to be made by her. It had been delicious.

Su Wanwan watched him, her eyes bright. "You still haven't told me where you're from. Was it good?"

***

Xie Beishen didn't answer her questions. He simply quickened his pace and walked ahead.

*Since she has a boyfriend, she shouldn't be provoking me. I am not a man she can toy with.*

Lin Yu hurried to keep up with his boss.

Su Wanwan stopped in her tracks. She felt that after she asked those questions, he seemed a bit annoyed. Was she overthinking it?

The man was cold, but she couldn't help liking him anyway. She jogged to catch up again.

The group soon arrived at the threshing floor.

Word had spread that those who didn't show up would have their work points deducted, so the villagers arrived quickly.

The brigade leader stood in the center and announced, "I’ve called you all here today to discuss the issue of leave requests. Let's talk about the reasons. There are 42 people who requested leave today; there must be a reason, but if we don't deal with it today, won't there be even more tomorrow?"

He scanned the crowd. "Doesn't taking leave now directly affect the upcoming double-harvest season? You all know the gravity of the situation. Without a valid reason, I will not approve any leave, and these cases must be handled strictly."

The crowd suddenly erupted. Someone shouted, "Brigade leader, you aren't being fair! We’re just learning from your family. Your daughter doesn't have to work, so why can't our daughters take leave?"

Su Wanwan was stunned to hear that these people were taking leave because of her. She started looking around, but since there were too many people in front, she stepped forward and stretched her neck to see.

It was hard to see clearly, and it was getting stifling in the crowd, so she took off her hat.

Xie Beishen looked down and saw Su Wanwan standing in front of him, her head bobbing as she looked around. A pleasant, sweet fragrance drifted into his nose—it smelled lovely.

It was worlds apart from the perfume his mother used.

*Did this woman put on perfume, too?*

He instinctively took a large step back, his brow furrowing slightly.

Just then, Aunt Liu stood up and accused, "Brigade leader, this won't do. You let your daughter take leave to nurture her health and prepare for matchmaking; why can't we do the same? We have the same idea. If this goes to the superiors, we’ll have our say, too."

The villagers who had taken leave chimed in, "Exactly!" They all wanted to snag a wealthy husband; it was much better than working in the fields.

The noise grew louder and louder.

Su Wanwan couldn't believe they were all taking leave because of her. How did the rumor spread that she was looking for a match?

*Who started this rumor? Aunt Liu?*

*If Xie Beishen misunderstands and thinks I’m looking for a suitor, will I still be able to win him over?*

She turned around and looked up at Xie Beishen.