Huo Shiqian did not answer her question; instead, he gave her a head-to-toe scan with eagle-like eyes, as if using X-rays.
Xia Chuyi was somewhat puzzled.
Huo Shiqian nodded expressionlessly, seemingly pleased. He spoke in a light tone, "Not bad, you're quite vigilant."
Ha ha, Uncle Liberation Army is really humorous.
Xia Chuyi put down the stick.
"Thank you for the compliment," Xia Chuyi followed up on his comment, but, "Uncle Liberation Army, did you really come to test my alertness by climbing through my window in the middle of the night?"
Huo Shiqian's demeanor suddenly changed; his gaze gripping her made her slightly uneasy.
This man's every action was truly unpredictable!
"I'm not that old; you don't need to call me 'Uncle, Uncle'!"
Huo Shiqian said each word deliberately, heavily emphasizing 'Uncle' with an uncompromising expression on his face.
"Pfft!" For some reason, she suddenly found it funny.
Men care about their age too?
Huo Shiqian's expression turned cold, and an imposing aura suddenly pressed down on her, clearly displeased by her laughter.
Touching her braid, her eyes curved into little boats.
"Alright!" She looked at him smilingly, "If I shouldn't call you uncle, then what should I call you? What's your name?"
She twisted her braid in her hand; she of course knew his name, but in this lifetime, she wanted to get to know him all over again.
Huo Shiqian looked at her deeply, and she heard him say in a deep voice, "Remember my name, Huo Shiqian."
Xia Chuyi stared at him.
Strange, she always felt like there was more to his words.
Not delving into the implications of his words, she nodded and said, "Mhm, I've got it."
In her previous life, the first time she heard these three words, they represented the person who ruined her chastity.
In this lifetime, these three words would signify a fresh start.
She thought for a moment and then extended her small hand toward him.
"Huo Shiqian, it's nice to meet you; my name is Xia Chuyi."
Still with a smiling appearance, but now with an unprecedented seriousness.
Huo Shiqian's gaze was dark and unreadable. After a long pause, he reached out his hand and grasped hers.
"Nice to meet you, Xia Chuyi."
The man's voice remained deep and magnetic.
Xia Chuyi, who was used to doing farm work at home, did not have particularly soft hands, but they were small and neat. Huo Shiqian's hands, on the other hand, had distinct bones, strong and powerful, with thick calluses on his knuckles and the base of his thumb.
This person must have endured many hardships.
She couldn't resist gently touching the tough calluses with her fingertips.
Huo Shiqian's muscles instantly tensed.
It was only when he swiftly pulled his hand back that she realized what she had just done.
"Um... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Xia Chuyi hurriedly explained, only to feel she was making things worse.
Oh well, she simply shut her mouth.
The air suddenly felt somewhat awkward and ambiguous.