“Ah, my family’s business has been doing well lately. My mom is really busy, so of course, I have to take a leave to help out.”
Ye Xia said, already picturing herself making big money, sitting there with a silly smile.
“Ye Xia, you’re slacking off again! Half a day’s pay deducted!”
The supervisor who was patrolling the factory shouted angrily when he saw Ye Xia’s lazy demeanor.
Ye Xia’s face turned red, scoffing to herself. So what if he held a slightly higher position? There’s nothing to be smug about. Once she starts making money, she won’t have to put up with this.
Ye Qiu might have known that Ye Xia would sneak a peek, but so what?
Calculating that today was the day Ji Chen was to be saved by a hero, Ye Qiu sent Ye Mother to the village entrance and turned towards the youth commune spot, just in time to bump into Ji Chen who was about to leave.
Ye Qiu took advantage of Ji Chen closing the door, quietly standing behind him and clearing his throat.
Ji Chen was startled by the sudden sound, turning around to see Ye Qiu, his eyes crescent-shaped as he smiled, “Why did you come here all of a sudden?”
“I guessed what you were doing today. Are you going to town?” Ye Qiu feigned seriousness, frowning and extending his hand like an old ma.
Ji Chen blinked without hesitation, staring at Ye Qiu in surprise, “How did you know?”
“Actually, I’m a celestial being descended from the heavens who can read minds!” Ye Qiu chuckled secretly in his heart, raising his eyebrows triumphantly.
People in this era loved to hear mystical stories, and Ji Chen widened his eyes, asking which immortal he was and if he could perform the spells from the stories.
Seeing Ji Chen’s expression of complete belief, Ye Qiu playfully flicked his forehead, “Just teasing you. We share a mental connection.”
Ji Chen’s face turned red, pouting, “Of course I know! I was just messing with you too.”
The sun gradually crawled over the horizon as Ye Qiu swayed on the ox cart, this being his first time seeing the scenery of a small mountain village.
The ox cart jolted over a mud pit, causing Ji Chen to grip the cart tightly, swaying along with it, his eyes pleadingly looking at Ye Qiu.
He had always borrowed a bicycle from the commune before and had only ridden in a cart once while coming here.
“Look at this little youth, just like a timid little bride.”
“Blushing too; she’s really cute. Unlike my guy, who can’t say a single nice thing after talking for half a day!”
Ji Chen’s face turned slightly red, feeling flustered by the teasing from the aunts. Ye Qiu wrapped his arm around Ji Chen, a bit helpless, saying, “It’s fine for the aunts to know, but don’t stare at my little bride like that!”
“If you keep staring, your partner will get jealous!”
Most young men in the village, with their good looks, had been teased this way, and the aunts had no ill intent. Hearing Ye Qiu’s words, they didn’t think much of it. The relationship between the two was open, and if they hurried to refute it at this moment, it would only raise suspicion.
The aunts changed the topic and continued chatting, no longer teasing them.
The two hurried to the post office in town to collect Ji Chen’s parcel.
While Ji Chen was retrieving his package, Ye Qiu observed the people outside and, as expected, noticed two suspicious figures peeking inside. When he looked over, those two had vanished.
Even without Ye Qiu’s troublesome friends, there were always other robberies happening. Ji Chen would retrieve the package and head back to the village, and even if he visited the town, it would be with other youths. The youths had not been in the village long enough to catch attention so quickly—it should have been that troublemaker, Li Hui, causing this mess.
Ye Qiu reached for Ji Chen’s parcel and asked, “The ox cart won’t return until tonight; should we catch a movie later?”
“Sure.” Ji Chen nodded, unaware that the cart would come back full.
Ye Qiu wrapped his arm around Ji Chen’s shoulder, unknowingly leading them to a dead end.
“Look at those young fellows from the city. They also want to catch a movie. Why don’t you invite them to join?”
Hearing voices from behind, he turned to see two mischievous-looking rascals, one tall and the other chubby. Ji Chen nervously clutched Ye Qiu’s arm.
“What? Do you two want to treat us to a free movie?”
“Hmph, you won’t drink the wine offered but will drink the penalty wine. Come at me!” The clueless rascals exchanged glances, advancing with their sticks.
Ye Qiu quickly removed his jacket and draped it over Ji Chen’s head, then swiftly knocked the tall one to the ground.
“This… I’ll let you off this time as I’m in a good mood!” The chubby rascal saw Ye Qiu, the fearsome one, preoccupied and took the chance to escape, scuttling away.
The tall figure, realizing the chubby one had abandoned him, cursed internally, tossed away the stick, and fled as well.
Who the hell said these two were easy to handle? The incapable wastrel and the delicate youth, that one could handle three of them easily, right?
“Ye Qiu, are you okay? You scared me to death!” Ji Chen took off the jacket, having already seen both leave and rushed over to hold Ye Qiu, inspecting him closely.
“Don’t move.”
Ji Chen’s hurried breaths filled Ye Qiu’s ears, and the faint scent of soap wafted from Ji Chen’s nose. Watching Ji Chen’s lips form and part as if hearing nothing, Ye Qiu’s mind blanked, and he instinctively leaned down to kiss.
Ji Chen, frozen and unable to react as Ye Qiu drew closer, dumbly shut his eyes.
Between their lips, Ye Qiu murmured indistinctly, “Chenchen, let’s be together!”
“But… but we’re both guys. How can we be together?”
Ye Qiu repeatedly pressed soft kisses on Ji Chen, gripping his chin to prevent him from lowering his head, “Who says guys can’t be together? You studied more than I did; have you ever read about this in a book?”
“What… what book would write such a thing!” Ji Chen’s face flushed at Ye Qiu’s words, tears welling in his eyes.
Those who could be bent a little undoubtedly liked men to some extent, whether it was the original or the current Ji Chen; he should inherently like men. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so easy for him to be with the original Ye Qiu.
Ji Chen’s face turned crimson, his tear-filled eyes glimmering like a clear sky after rain, “If others find out about us, it’d be over.”
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
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