Zhou Shuyan hadn't expected that Lu Youxi, so young, would be so cautious.
He chuckled softly, a sound that under the serene moonlight seemed particularly clear, as if it were the splash of a teasing water droplet hurled into a pool under the moon, the sound of it sending ripples through the stillness.
"In the middle of the night, waiting here for a man whose background you don't know anything about, that doesn't quite fit with the caution you preach," Zhou Shuyan mocked coldly.
Lu Youxi: "..."
This man sure held a grudge, still remembering what she had said the first day she brought him back when she stopped Grandma Xu.
At that time, she had said that she didn't know anything about him and that bringing him back might be dangerous.
Lu Youxi pursed her lips and said, "Yes, if it were only me, I wouldn't come over, nor would I care what you were up to. But for Grandma Xu's sake, I had to come."
"Grandma Xu is a good person; she took you in when you needed help the most. I hope that no matter what you do, you'll remember this and not drag Grandma Xu into it," Lu Youxi said solemnly. "I know you're no ordinary person, and whether you've really lost your memory or not, you won't stay in the village for long. You must have more important matters to attend to than what Xing Village can offer."
"Since you're only treating this place as a temporary stay, I hope you won't cause any trouble for Grandma Xu while you're here," Lu Youxi pursed her lips again, "I don't know who you are or why you had an accident, but as long as you don't harm Grandma Xu, I won't pry or be the slightest bit curious about your affairs."
Against the moonlight, Zhou Shuyan lowered his gaze to look at Lu Youxi.
He had initially thought Lu Youxi was someone full of schemes, highly guarded.
Kind-hearted yet vigorously eliminating anything that could pose a danger to herself.
Despite having saved him, she disagreed with Grandma Xu taking him back.
But after Grandma Xu insisted on bringing him home, she made sure to ensure Grandma Xu's safety.
She was indeed a somewhat contradictory person.
But Zhou Shuyan found it rather agreeable.
The people and things in this world were not just black and white.
Having a guard up could keep oneself safe, could let one live well.
He looked down on those with an overwhelming martyr complex.
But before tonight, he felt that Lu Youxi was smart only within the scope of Xing Village.
After all, Lu Youxi was still a village girl, intelligent but limited by her upbringing.
Now, however, a smile flickered in Zhou Shuyan's eyes.
This young lady was far smarter than he had originally thought.
"I promise you," Zhou Shuyan said softly, "Let's go. I'll walk you back."
Lu Youxi breathed a sigh of relief, "I can go back on my own."
Zhou Shuyan didn't speak, but when Lu Youxi started walking back, he automatically followed her.
On their way, both had only heard their own footsteps, lonely and desolate in the night.
But now there were two sets of footsteps beside each other, gradually synchronizing their pace.
The feeling was foreign and wondrous.
Neither of them spoke, and yet Lu Youxi's ears tinged a bit red.
She inexplicably thought of the image of Zhou Shuyan suddenly coming close earlier.
While Lu Youxi was somewhat lost in thought, Zhou Shuyan's voice suddenly broke out of the dark, "Do you think that because you're in the village, where everyone knows each other, there are no dangers?"
Lu Youxi: "..."
She actually did think so.
Having lived here for two lifetimes, she knew every villager very well.
But then she heard Zhou Shuyan say, "It seems your caution is also limited. Many crimes are committed by acquaintances. Don't assume you really know someone."
Lu Youxi: "..."
After all, she had lived to 38 in her previous life, and was actually much older than Zhou Shuyan.
Did this kid know he was actually facing his elder?
"Have you ever thought that if I killed you here, no one would know?" Zhou Shuyan suddenly remarked.
Lu Youxi was startled, only to hear Zhou Shuyan continue, "No one knows who I am here, 'Xu Mai' is just a temporary name you gave me. I have no ID, even the police haven't figured out my identity. I haven't lived here long; if I killed you now and ran, by the time the villagers found out tomorrow, I would be long gone, without a trace and no one could provide any information about my identity."
Lu Youxi: "!!!"
That really was the case!
Zhou Shuyan suddenly stopped walking, his gaze fixing on her, "Do you still think coming to find me tonight was safe?"
"Would you?" Lu Youxi halted alongside Zhou Shuyan, turned around, and looked up at him.
Under the night sky void of any light, it was somewhat difficult to make out Zhou Shuyan's face clearly.
His features were deeply set.
High brow bones, and a high nose.
The lines of his lips were so firm they seemed severe.
The pale and lackluster moonlight on his face only made the raised parts stand out even more.
Those raised areas cast a shadow on his face, making it difficult to see the rest of his features.
Lu Youxi strained to see his eyes, to discern through his gaze whether he was serious or joking, but she failed.
Just as Lu Youxi finished speaking, Zhou Shuyan suddenly extended a hand to grasp her neck.
His palm was warm, and the tips of his fingers, perhaps due to recent labor, became a bit rough.
The contact felt ticklish on the skin of her neck.
Lu Youxi's heart surged, and she raised her hand instinctively to seize his wrist, trying to remove his hand from her neck.
Being held by the neck by someone was far too dangerous.
Lu Youxi, overwhelmed by tension, even overlooked the fact that Zhou Shuyan's grip on her neck was not forceful at all.
He was merely lightly holding it.
But the man's grip was indeed too firm.
Even though it was gentle, it wasn't something she could pull away from.
His wrist was too strong, solid as rock or iron.
Lu Youxi, drenched in nervous sweat, exclaimed, "Let go of me!"
But when she spoke, she froze.
How could she speak normally?
If her neck had truly been seized, she would hardly be able to breathe, let alone talk.
It was then that Lu Youxi realized that Zhou Shuyan had not been applying force at all.
His hand was simply resting on her neck.
"I won't hurt you," Zhou Shuyan said as he took his hand off Lu Youxi's neck.
Because he hadn't exerted any force, not a single mark was left on Lu Youxi's neck.
"But in such a situation, with someone else, it could have been another outcome," Zhou Shuyan said indifferently. "Do you still feel confident that you can stay safe?"
Zhou Shuyan had no intention of harming her, but Lu Youxi still felt a residual fear as she clutched her neck.