Chereads / Next Stop: Happiness / Chapter 2 - 7th Stop: Jealousy

Chapter 2 - 7th Stop: Jealousy

She ever thought that perhaps they'd feel a sense of regret or they might be at loggerheads or they might just stare blankly at each other and realise that the love between them no longer exists if they meet again.

Or perhaps they might be able to let everything rest and be friends again, or they might just ask each other to take good care of themselves and pretend to be strangers from then on.

She has thought of many other possibilities, but none of them had anything to do with him forgetting her. He has forgotten about her…was it for real? Or perhaps it was just to spite her?

"You… don't remember who I am?" A stunned Mucheng asked.

"Who are you? Why must I know you?" Guangxi said. "Where on earth is this place? Why am I lying around here?"

"This is the village head's office. You fainted on stage just now."

"I fainted?" Guangxi frowned. He felt so useless. A little pollen and he had to faint in front of everyone. He scanned the surroundings and got really upset once he got reminded of the fact that he was at the countryside. His eyes landed on the woman standing in front of him. He was stunned for a moment for he did not expect to see such a lovely looking lady in the countryside. "Who are you?" He asked again.

Mucheng felt the pain as he asked the same question again. She smiled weakly and said, "I'm Liang Mucheng."

"Miss Liang." He nodded like an emperor would do to his subjects. "Where is your village head? I want to see him now."

She stared at him without moving a single inch.

"Didn't you hear me? I want to see your village head."

"——"

"Miss Liang, Liang Mucheng!"

She felt really shocked when he called her full name. For a moment, she thought she had seen the old Guangxi but no, all she saw in his eyes now was a cold expression instead of the teasing looks he had in the past.

He has really forgotten about her. What on earth really happened?

"Why aren't you responding? Are all the people living in the countryside like this?" An upset Guangxi questioned.

He was the one who was rude. Mucheng frowned. He's Guangxi indeed. He was just as rough and emotionless as he was in the past.

She wanted to reply him when the village head opened the door. "Mucheng, has Mr. Lawyer regain his consciousness?"

"Yes, he has." Mucheng stood up and moved aside. "He was looking for you too."

"Sir, I don't think I'm well enough today for the welcoming party. Let's just forget about it" Guangxi said. He didn't want to have anything to do with the villagers in the very first place.

"Of course. We thought of that too." The village head said. "You should rest since you're unwell. We've discussed about it just now. Our village is small and we don't really have hotels here. You can live with Mucheng for the time being since she has an empty room in her house. Moreover, your three meals would be taken care of as she can cook well."

"Village head, what did you say?" Mucheng was caught off guard. "I have an empty room but…"

"Mucheng!" The village head knew that she was going to reject him. "Mr. Lawyer here is our guest, we should do our best to make him feel at home."

"But…" Why must she be the one who should do that?

"What's the matter? Are you afraid that I'll be a free-loader?" Guangxi felt a little upset that she was trying to push him away. "Don't worry; I'll pay you for it. Let's just do that then."

***

In order to show that she cared and wanted to play a part for the village, Mucheng had to accept the village's head proposal and host the guest from Taipei who was here to "save" them all.

She cleaned the guest room and laid the sheets properly. She also moved the only fan in the house into his room. She then checked for his daily necessities. She thought that everything was fine but Guangxi still had to pick on many matters.

"What is this? Tatami flooring? You don't have a bed here? Are you implying that I'd have to sleep on the floor? Isn't there any air-conditioning here? Wouldn't that mean that I'd feel terribly warm at night?"

"It's pretty cool here at night. A fan would be enough."

"What about your bathroom?"

"It's over there." She pointed to a small hut that was about 10 metres away from their house.

"What? That's the bathroom?" Guangxi was disgusted.

Mucheng rolled her eyes. "Don't worry. There are light and water sources in there and I have cleaned the place up already. You won't die from poisoning of fumes if you go in there."

"Goodness gracious, where on earth am I?" That was the exact message that Guangxi's expression sent.

Mucheng gave him a sarcastic look. He was a rich man's son indeed. He actually dared to mention that he could put up with all the adverse situations.

"What was that for?" Guangxi looked at her and he frowned again.

"It's nothing. If there's nothing else, I'll have to go and cook now." Mucheng turned away and decided to ignore him.

"Hey, you…" Guangxi suddenly grabbed hold of her shoulder. Mucheng shook a little because of that. "What's that reaction for?" Guangxi was taken aback by her reaction.

Indeed, why was she so tensed? Mucheng bit onto her lips. All she could say was that she felt a current moving through her body when he touched her.

"Please don't touch me as you wish in future." She said stubbornly so that he wouldn't see the change in her feelings.

Guangxi thought that she had treated him as a pervert and that made him really angry. "Woman, do you think I'm trying to take advantage of you? Please, I wouldn't be interested in a country bumpkin like you."

"I know. You've such a beautiful fiancee." She sounded really sarcastic.

He was stunned. "You know of Yiqian?"

"Please. You're so famous, Mr. Ren. Tabloids of your relationship can be seen everywhere."

"It's so unexpected that news can actually travel to such the countryside too!" Guangxi's lips rose. "Since so, you should know that I was recently voted as the "Bachelor of the Year", right?"

"So what?" Mucheng answered coldly.

"So what? Don't you feel honoured that you are hosting me? It's a once in a lifetime thing, you know."

Did he think that she was trying to butter him up and get into his good books so that he'd be interested in her? She smiled coldly. "Didn't you just mention it yourself? I'm just a country bumpkin and I know my own limitations. It's none of my business even if 100 different magazines chose you as "The Bachelor of the Year" too."

"You!" Guangxi's blood boiled. How can this woman manage to make him angry every time she spoke? To make things worse, he didn't know why he cared so much about what she had to say.

"If there's nothing else, I'll go and prepare dinner now." She ignored him and walked into the kitchen.

***

Even though he was upset with Mucheng, he didn't want to deny the fact that she had pretty good culinary skills.

He never thought that there would be good food in the countryside but Mucheng had proved him wrong. Every dish she served him was not only delicious but was all his favourites too. In the end, he ate so much that he had 2 bowls of rice within a meal.

"Uncle Alien, you're eating a lot." Xiaole said out of curiousity. "Is it because you're starving? Have you forgotten to have your shots of crystals?"

Shots of crystals? Guangxi was lost.

"Xiaole, that's enough. Uncle here is not an alien." Mucheng signaled to her son to stop talking.

"Really? But he has the communicative device that you said, Mummy." Xiaole replied, pouting again.

What? Mucheng paused for a moment. He was still wearing the wristband that she gave him? She looked at his wrist and was disappointed to see nothing on it. She immediately laughed at herself for still having any hopes on the matter.

"It's for real! I saw it just now. Then Uncle hid it from me." Xiaole emphasized.

"Your son is really talkative." Guangxi said, putting down his chopsticks. "Is this trait from his father or from you?" Guangxi chided.

Mucheng was caught off guard by his words. Before she could reply, Xiaole interrupted.

"My Daddy's an alien, Uncle." Xiaole announced proudly. "He went back to his planet to report on his findings. He'd be back for me after his work is done."

What nonsense is he sprouting? Guangxi raised his brow and looked at Mucheng, making the latter feel really embarrassed.

"Xiaole, that's enough. Hurry up and eat your dinner now. Here you go. This is your favourite pork ribs."

"Okay." Xiaole started tucking in obediently. He ate till his whole face was filled with rice grains. Mucheng immediately took a piece of napkin and wiped the rice grains off for him gently. She even took a rice grain from his face and ate it.

The mother and son interacted with each other as though there was no one around. Guangxi's heart raced without a reason after seeing their actions. He didn't know why he was touched by the act, but it seemed like he didn't have any similar memories of such. He realised that even though he had a peaceful relationship with his mother, they lacked something. There seemed to be a gap between them, causing them to be unable to touch each other's hearts.

Mucheng would hug his son and stroke him gently. Xiaole, on the other hand would kiss his mother's cheeks. These acts of love made Guangxi really envious. He'd eavesdrop on them when he passed by their room at night. Even though all they had to talk about was silly stuff like aliens and shots of crystals, it'd always put a smile on his face.

Has he gone mad?

Guangxi realised that he was losing ground and he cursed under his breath while walking back to his room to sleep.

The next day, Guangxi started his C.W.O. He reported at the village's head office and provided free legal advice for the villagers. Not only did he have to deal with the case of the land ownership but there were other cases too. For example, there was someone's child who was stealing his neighbour's fruits and another case when a man quarreled with his wife. He wanted some peace and wished from the bottom of his heart that the villagers would stop bothering him over such silly matters.

But he had to continue to do so in order to gain the trust of the villagers and in turn help his prospective father-in-law solve his problems.

During these sessions, he heard some gossip about Mucheng. The villagers immediately warned him about her when they knew he was staying at her place.

"She came to our village 6 years ago and in a few months' time, we all knew she was pregnant. I wonder whose child she was carrying."

"Everyone thought that it was Aunt Hua's son but she insisted that it wasn't. I guess it isn't too; if it really was Tuoye's, he would have married her already.

"I heard that she seduced a rich man's son and got herself pregnant. They didn't accept her so she had to leave."

"That's so pitiful. How can that man cheat her like that?"

"How do you all know that it's not the other way round? I heard she's not very innocent either; if not how is it possible for her to be an unwed mother at such a young age? She's such a disgrace to her family."

"That's enough, ladies." The village head stopped them immediately after hearing their conversation. "Mucheng didn't step on your toes, did she? She has been relying on her own two hands to earn her keep and feed her son all these years. Talking about innocence; there were plenty of men in our village who wanted to marry her but she has never been close to any man except for Tuoye."

"That's why we say that there's a problem between Mucheng and Tuoye! It's just Aunt Hua just refuses to admit that her son has been smitten by Mucheng ----"

"Okay, that's enough!"

That was the end of the gossip session. But Guangxi had already heard enough to know that his current host was an unwed mother and had an unclear relationship with a man named Hua Tuoye.

It seems like this country bumpkin is quite a catch here.

Guangxi thought unhappily to himself. He felt a discomfort in his chest that he couldn't seem to get rid of.

***

"Xiaole, Xiaole!" Mucheng was looking for her son all over the house and was very worried when she couldn't find him. "Where did this child go to?"

Because of his health problem, she was very strict with Xiaole since he was young. She forbade him to run around like other children but there were still times when Xiaole disobeyed her out of playfulness.

"Xiaole, it's time for your shots of crystals!" She shouted and walked out of the house but she still didn't see him. Then she heard water flowing in the bathroom and she heaved a sigh of relief. She smiled and opened the door. "Xiaole, you're here…"

He was stunned and he stared back at her.

There was a naked man in the middle of the bathroom. His tanned skin sparkled under the sprinkles of water.

It was Guangxi. He was taking a bath and his strong body made him look exactly like a Greek sculpture. He was totally dashing and had attracted her attention.

"Is it an unwed mother's hobby to look at suave looking men in the showers?" He chided.

Mucheng paused for a moment and banged the door shut. She cupped the sides of her face which was boiling and red due to the embarrassment. Oh goodness! What was she doing? What did she see? She was totally embarrassed this time round.

Guangxi opened the door just when she was lost and didn't know what to do. He walked out of the bathroom with only a towel around his lower torso.

She turned around immediately. "You, you should put on some clothes first!"

"Your bathroom is so small, there's nowhere for me to put my clothes."

"Then…get into your room now!"

"Why are you so nervous?" The more embarrassed she was, the more he felt like teasing her. "Don't tell me you haven't seen a naked man before? You have given birth already, haven't you? What's all the pretence for then?"

"You…!" He had almost driven her mad. "Why must you take a bath in the middle of the day?"

"Blame it on the sun here. It's so hot and there's no air-conditioning, so I had to bathe lest I get sticky."

"For… forget it, you can do as you please!" She was terribly upset and wanted to walk away at once but he immediately pulled her arm.

She shook again and Guangxi felt that her reaction was really funny. "What is the matter? Are you afraid that I'll eat you?"

His teasing remark made her feel totally embarrassed and angry. "Didn't I warn you about touching me?"

"What? Do you think I want to touch you?" Guangxi was really upset that she had taken him to be a pervert. "I just wanted to tell you that Xiaole's with me. Weren't you looking for him?"

"What?" She turned around, shocked.

"Mummy, I'm here. I was taking a bath with Uncle Alien." Xiaole said with his face beaming with happiness as he walked out of the bathroom.

"You two were taking a bath together?" Mucheng was shocked for a moment. She felt her heart ached as the two of them winked at each other in unison. "Xiaole, didn't I tell you not to disturb Uncle Ren?"

"It's okay." Guangxi expressed his disregard for her comment. "I found your son to be pretty interesting after all."

Xiaole's interesting? Mucheng became frantic. She wasn't going to let this man to be too close to her son. She can't let them develop feelings for each other --- "Please, I beg with you. Please keep a distance away from Xiaole in future!"

"What did you say?" Guangxi became angry upon hearing her remark.

"I'm afraid that you'd be a bad example for my son." She made up a lame excuse. She pulled Xiaole over and said. "Xiaole, let's go now."

"But…" Xiaole was reluctant; he really liked this Uncle.

"Hey, what is your problem?" Guangxi burst. "Am I a devil? Or I have a contagious disease and you're afraid that I'd spread it to your son? I've heard that you don't let Xiaole go out and play on his own. Are you a little too protective? He's now at the age when children love to move around. What's wrong with him going out then?"

Mucheng's face became pale. "You… you don't know a single thing at all! Why are you lecturing me then?"

"I'm not lecturing you; I'm just giving you a suggestion. Why don't you try to train Xiaole to be independent instead of being so overly-protective?"

The problem was she had to protect him well. If not, she would lose him…

Mucheng clenched her fist. "It's none of your business how I want to raise my son!"

***

Damn it! Did she think that he was a busybody? He wouldn't even respond if it wasn't because of the fact that Xiaole was sticking around him all day long.

Guangxi got more and more upset whenever he thought of the incident of him quarreling with Mucheng. It was actually none of his business how the mother and son interacted with each other. But after spending these few days with Xiaole, he found that he was actually a rather obedient child. Even though he loved to stick around him, Guangxi found his wild imagination rather interesting too. He even felt that it was actually exciting to hear Xiaole talk about his Alien Daddy.

He knew that it was a story that Mucheng had made up to coax Xiaole and only children with the most kindred and pure souls would buy her story.

He had lost that kind of soul for a very long time already. It suddenly occurred to him that his heart actually ached slightly whenever he hears Xiaole's child talk.

Even though Xiaole's mother loved him dearly, Xiaole was still desperately seeking fatherly love. This was perhaps the kind of loneliness that children in single parent families would somehow feel.

His situation was similar to Xiaole's. He only had his mother. He couldn't even remember how his father looked like… Did his father love his mother? Did he and his father have any happy memories together?

He couldn't recall a single thing. He had lost his past memories after the surgery 6 years ago. He didn't know his past, including all the love and hatred that he had experienced before.

All he knew was everything that he has now was given to him by his mother. Therefore, he should follow her wishes and do as she please in life. He should also repay Yiqian as she took care of him with lots of love and gently encouraged him when he was in need of it back then.

His life these 6 years has been a lonely one. It seemed like he was on the top of the world but in actual fact, he felt like there was a part of his heart that was missing. He wasn't too sure what this was but sometimes when he accidentally encounters Mucheng's sorrowful gaze at him, his heart would start to feel something.

He found that he cared for the mother and son. The more he got along with them, the more he cared for them.

That was the reason why he asked her not to be so overly-protective of Xiaole! He meant good, but that woman treated his kindness like cheap dirt…

"Uncle Alien, why are you frowning?" Xiaole asked innocently. "Are you upset?"

Guangxi realised that he was in a daze. "I say, Xiaole, aren't you bored that all you do daily is just going to school and staying at home?"

"I am bored." Xiaole admitted. "But sometimes, Brother Tuoye will come over and play with me. Moreover, I have you to chat with me now, Uncle Alien."

"Brother Tuoye?" Guangxi raised a brow. Isn't he rumoured to be with Mucheng? "Why do you call him Brother?"

"That's because he's my best friend." Xiaole answered.

"But I heard that he's thinking of wooing your mother?" Guangxi probed.

"How can that be?" Xiaole was shocked. "He's my brother. He'd be committing incest if he's together with my Mummy!"

Incest? Guangxi chuckled. Trust this lad to come up with this radical thought. But he liked it, it was so well-said!

He unconsciously stretched his hand and tousled with Xiaole's hair. "I must say that you seem to be pretty smart sometimes."

"Of course." Xiaole became very happy at the comment. "That's because I'm Mummy's son."

That woman may be a hard nut to crack but it seemed like she had educated her son well. Guangxi paused for a moment. Then he suddenly said, "Xiaole, do you want to go roller-skating?" He found a pair of roller-skates when he was cleaning up his own room. He guessed then that perhaps he knew how to roller-skate.

"Yes, I'd love to do that!" Xiaole nodded his head hard. He was very envious when he saw the other children at the kindergarten roller-skating away. "But Mummy wouldn't allow for me to do so." He said in disappointment.

"Let's just ignore her! Your Mummy keeps treating you like a glass doll. Her over-protectiveness is just too unbearable." Guangxi stood up and said to Xiaole, "Let's go and get you a pair of skates now and I can teach you how to roller-skate."

***

Xiaole was missing again! Mucheng looked around frantically but she just couldn't seem to find her son.

Where did he go again? She was very angry and worried. She realized that she had been "playing" hide and seek with her son frequently ever since Guangxi came. Xiaole became more playful because he had Guangxi to back him up whenever she was lectured him for his playfulness and disobedience.

She started to wonder if he was having fun somewhere with Guangxi now.

"Xiaole, didn't I warn that you umpteen of times that you'll have to have your shots of crystals whenever there's a need to?" Mucheng muttered under her breath. She decided that it was getting dark soon and she should go out and look for him instead of waiting frantically at home.

***

Xiaole skated pretty smoothly while Guangxi expressed his approval. This child does have a hidden talent for skating. It only took him an afternoon and he already could grasp the basics well. "Xiaole, I'll be letting go of your hands now."

"Okay." Xiaole nodded. He trembled a little while trying to move forward after Guangxi let go.

"Well done! Xiaole, you've almost mastered it." Guangxi smiled and applauded for him.

Xiaole was just getting pleased when he suddenly felt dizzy. He fell onto the ground. Fortunately, he had safety guards on his elbows and knees and that prevented him from getting bruised.

Guangxi thought he fell because he lost his balance. He said, "It's alright. Stand up right now."

"Okay." Xiaole struggled as he tried to bring himself back onto his feet but he got dizzier instead.

"What's the matter? You are a boy. You should be brave. Come on; be up on your feet now." Guangxi frowned as he walked up to Xiaole. It was then he realized that Xiaole was covered in cold sweat and his face as pale as a sheet. He felt his heart strings being tugged. "Xiaole, how are you feeling?"

"I…" Xiaole was too weak to even speak and he fainted in Guangxi's arms.

"Xiaole!" Guangxi panicked. He was lost and decided to rush him home immediately. On his way home, he met Mucheng who was worriedly looking for Xiaole. He immediately knew something was amiss.

"Give him to me." She said, while taking out the needles from her bag. She immediately gave Xiaole an injection.

Guangxi stared blankly at her. "What are you doing?"

"Can't you see for yourself? I'm giving him an injection."

"Why?"

"That's because Xiaole has Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (Diabetes Type 1). He has to be administered with insulin whenever there's a need for it!" Mucheng raised her voice. She was very upset and burst out in front of Guangxi. "That's why I said that Xiaole can't be running around as he wished. He can't do vigorous exercises too. Do you know what you've just done? You nearly killed Xiaole!"

Guangxi was shocked. He finally understood why she was so overly-protective over Xiaole. He thought that it was because she was too anxious as an unwed mother. But now, he knew that there was a very good and heart-wrenching reason why she was so.

Guangxi felt his heart ached. "… I'm really sorry."

Mucheng ignored him and turned around. She then cradled Xiaole in her arms.

"Let me help." He said.

"That's no need for that!" She rejected his offer. "He's my son. I'll carry him home on my own."

***

Perhaps he should apologise to her again.

After they were back at home, Guangxi watched as Mucheng tended to Xiaole. He felt apologetic but she was so cold that he didn't know how he should break the ice between them.

Admittedly, it was his fault that Xiaole had a relapse. But he didn't do it purposefully. Did she have to take him as an enemy?

He felt unjust and upset that she gave him a cold shoulder. He, Ren Guangxi had never had to apologise to anyone for the past 6 years. He also never had to be humble in front of any woman. But this woman made him break his entire pattern.

He guessed he had to admit that she was one of a kind.

His hand phone rang and Guangxi picked it up in frustration. "Hello, who's that?"

"Why is your tone like this? Are you upset?" The other party sounded shocked.

"Oh. It's you, Yiqian." He tried to control his emotions. "Aren't you in the States for a conference? Are you free enough to call me now?"

"I'm back already." Yiqian smiled. "I decided to call you for a chat before I report to the hospital. How are things going for you at Huatian Village?"

"Things are fine here. What about you?" Guangxi asked while he rubbed his eyes.

"I'm fine. I had quite a fruitful experience in the States." Yiqian shared with him her experience in the Sates while he listened to her patiently. Occasionally, he asked a few questions and replied hers. "Why do you still sound so depressed? Is it because the case that my father entrusted you isn't going well?"

"Are you talking about the case regarding the land ownership rights? Don't worry. The villagers here really trust me and they have decided to entrust me with the case too. I'll try my best to settle it for Huanyu Constructions. Please help me tell him that he doesn't have to worry about anything."

"There's no need for that. My father trusts you the most." Yiqian said, smiling.

They hung up after a while. Guangxi stared into space for a moment. Then he turned around to see Mucheng standing at the doorway of his room. She had a stern look on her face.

"I see. You're here for Huanyu Constructions. Why did you have to say that you're here for C.W.O.?"

Guangxi realized that Mucheng had heard him. He felt guilty and became anxious as he saw the look of disapproval on her face. He wanted to explain but the things he said didn't sound so. "If not why do you think I'm at the countryside now?"

"Despicable!" Mucheng threw the clean sheets that she brought to change for him onto the floor. "Let me tell you this; no one in Huatian Village will sell their land. We all earn our keep from this land."

"Money can do magic. I see that you guys have been really fickle-minded? Is it all an act to raise the price of the land?" He chided.

She stared back at him. "Do you think we're like you rich folks and we have all the time and strength to play such games that you people do?"

"We never know." He rebutted.

"Despicable! Shameless!" She was terrible upset. "I guess you defended that rapist because of his status right?"

"That's right. He was a minister. It's better to defend someone famous than some nobody." She was already despising him and yet he just couldn't bring himself down in front of her. "Why? Is there something wrong with that?"

"You…" Mucheng was extremely disappointed. She thought that he might have done that because he was in a predicament. But it turned out that it was all for money and fame… She had actually loved this man before! "Move now! Get out of my house now! I don't welcome people like you!"

"What did you say?" He looked extremely upset too.

"I said, I don't welcome you here. Please move out of my house now."

***

He'll do as she pleased! Did she think that he like to live at her place?

Guangxi packed his belongings that night and left for the village head's house in his convertible that was already being repaired. He didn't care if the village head was willing to take him in or not; he insisted that he wanted to stay and that was it.

The village head was shocked by his upset expression and agreed to it. He slept on the king-sized bed that was specially prepared for him. But he couldn't sleep at all and tossed and turned till dawn.

That woman had really made his blood boil. Who did she think she was when she spoke to him in that manner? And why was he so hurt by what she had to say? The problem was; he really cared whenever she judged or reprimanded him. It made him feel like a death row criminal who was going to burn in hell whenever she did that. This was totally absurd!

He jumped off his bed and started to kick the walls in an attempt to vent his anger. The noise he made all night had led to the village head's family thinking that there was an evil spirit knocking at their door that night.

After that day, he continued to provide his services daily. But he always wore a face when he was there and was so stern that the villagers all avoided him and decided that it was definitely not a good time to get any legal advice.

That was what he wanted anyway so it didn't matter to him even if everyone kept their distance from him. Then, things changed one evening when Guangxi heard from the villagers that there was a typhoon that was coming. He was shocked.

"I heard that it may be here at midnight. How much of your flowers have you harvest already?"

"It's almost done. I got a few temporary workers to help me with it. How's yours then?"

"I'm almost done too. But I heard Mucheng's in a pretty bad shape. She can't afford temporary workers so she has to do everything herself."

"Can she handle it?"

"There's nothing she can do even if she can't. Everyone's so busy; there's no one available to lend her a hand now…"

Guangxi frowned upon hearing that. He felt a little worried as he looked out and saw the weather changing.

What was the problem with him? Why was he so worried for that woman? It's her own problem if she can't manage to harvest her crops in time. He could use this as an opportunity to tease her.

It began raining as he thought of that. Guangxi decided that he couldn't sit around anymore and pretend he didn't care. He stood up suddenly and went out.

***

Oh no!

Mucheng looked at the weather and saw that the rain was getting heavier. She had a premonition but there was no other way out than working faster.

If only Tuoye was around; he'd be able to help her look for temporary workers that could help her with this. She wondered if he had already found the village head's grandson…

It seemed like she could only depend on herself then.

A strong wind blew and it stung Mucheng's face. She held on strongly to the box containing the flowers she had just harvested lest they became damaged.

The wind nearly blew her over. She lost her balance and almost fell into the soil. Fortunately, a pair of strong arms grabbed her in time. That person then cuddled her.

"What on earth are you doing here in such weather?" That person cursed.

She lifted her head and she saw Guangxi's face with a look of disapproval on his face. She was speechless for a moment.

"Let's go now. Go home with me now!" He started to drag her.

"No, I can't do that. I'm not done yet…"

"Can you just leave them alone? It's just an inevitable loss."

Why must he make her angry by making it sound so simple? "Do you know that I'm tight on cash now? I need to pay for Xiaole's school fees soon."

"You…." He hesitated and suddenly realized that she had a heavy financial burden on her.

"Let go of me." She said and shrugged him off. "I must at least put some plastic sheets over them even if I can't harvest the rest. In that way, I can save more crops."

He stared at her silently and he couldn't bring himself to drag her away. "Let me help you."

"What?" She was stunned.

"Didn't you hear me? I said, let me help you!" He shouted back at her, his expression showing that he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. "Where are the plastic sheets? I'll move them over now."