Yang Donglian was forced to meet Xie Fengmian’s gaze, and seeing her own face reflected in the eyes of the handsome and charming man in front of her, she felt as if she could die of happiness.
So Yang Donglian did not want to wait any longer.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, she firmly said, "Mm."
"I believe you."
Neither of them had said they loved each other, yet at this moment, it felt like everything was tacitly understood.
Of course, everything that followed seemed to happen naturally.
In the mountains where Gao Huifang lost everything, in these very mountains Yang Donglian used to despise, it was as if Yang Donglian forgot all the things she’d said about Gao Huifang being shameless for fooling around in the mountains.
Guided by Xie Fengmian, Yang Donglian, filled with joyful anticipation, offered herself up in the very manner she used to look down upon, perhaps even less than Gao Huifang.
Perhaps because they were in such an open area, knowing someone might pass by at any moment, Xie Fengmian was a bit nervous; it didn’t last long.
But Yang Donglian was satisfied.
She was almost dying of happiness.
Being able to give her long-kept self to the man who made her heart race—that sense of fulfillment was simply unparalleled.
Yang Donglian even felt that it was because of her Lucky Baby’s fortune, that Xie Fengmian was the true destiny bestowed upon her by heaven.
Actually, doing something so absurd in the mountains was also a first for Xie Fengmian, and this "Lucky Baby" was really hard to stomach, yet Xie Fengmian found it quite novel.
And it didn’t matter that this woman was ugly. Having her back facing him, without seeing her face, beauty or ugliness was the same.
Anyway, she was very obedient and extremely compliant.
Maybe because she thought she had found true love?
Xie Fengmian leaned against the tree trunk, smiling while mocking Yang Donglian’s innocence and ignorance in his heart.
Seeing Yang Donglian still shyly putting on her clothes, with no one around, in the expansive mountains with cold winds blowing, Xie Fengmian suddenly had another idea.
After all, because Ye Xiaotong was pregnant, he hadn’t indulged for quite a while; after such a long time, indulging again, and since this woman was cooperative and obedient, he had to satisfy himself fully.
Moreover, he hadn’t tried such a thing in the mountains before.
So, Xie Fengmian sighed again, feigning regret and longing.
"Ah."
"Lian-Lian, I only have this chance to return to the village, and in the afternoon, I have to go back to the town."
"I really can’t bear to leave you."
Saying this, Yang Donglian naturally thought he was truly unwilling to leave her, and quickly ran over to hug him.
"I can’t bear to leave you either."
When it came to this, she was a bit sad. After all, she had just dedicated herself to this man, who was so handsome; how could she bear to part with him, she couldn’t get enough of looking.
Xie Fengmian patted her head, soothingly lowered his head and kissed her for the first time.
Because there was discomfort in his heart, Xie Fengmian closed his eyes while kissing; their lips touched briefly, but this was enough to make Yang Donglian’s heart flutter, her face reddening terribly.
Embarrassed, she lowered her head, not daring to meet Xie Fengmian’s eyes, while Xie Fengmian only perfunctorily brushed her off, as he was merely paving the way for what was to come.
"Why don’t we, while still early..."
He stroked Yang Donglian’s hair, step by step guiding her.
"I can’t bear to part with you, and our time together is so short—who knows when we’ll meet again."
While speaking, Xie Fengmian even showed the kind of melancholy expression he had at the beginning.
"I want to create some unique memories, is that okay?"
Yang Donglian was even more embarrassed, stammering out an "Mm," but unsure how to make memories unique.
"How can I make it more memorable for you?"
She too hoped Xie Fengmian would always think of her, thus actively asking and pondering.
Seeing her hooked, Xie Fengmian let a smug smile slip, but in Yang Donglian’s eyes, it was a blissful smile, causing her to blush again, lowering her head unwilling to look at him.
"Why don’t you squat down?"
Xie Fengmian leaned against the tree trunk, and Yang Donglian obediently squatted down, preparing to ask him what to do next, only to see him undoing his poorly fastened belt again.
Yang Donglian suddenly understood, her face rapidly turning crimson, not daring to look.
Xie Fengmian feigned a troubled sigh.
"If you’re unwilling, let’s forget it."
"Lian-Lian, I don’t want to force you; if you’re unwilling, we can go back now?"
He seemed truly disappointed, pretending to walk away.
Yang Donglian quickly grabbed his pant leg, shyly saying.
"I, I’m willing."
"For you, I’d do anything, Fengmian."
With her head lowered, naturally she couldn’t see the gloating and mocking on Xie Fengmian’s face.
He feigned difficulty looking at her.
"Really? Lian-Lian, are you truly willing?"
Yang Donglian was already so embarrassed she couldn’t meet his gaze. Just listening to his voice made her legs weak.
So, she softly uttered an "Mm," and then became very proactive.
Xie Fengmian had never experienced such an environment before, and he didn’t want to look at Yang Donglian’s dough-like face, so he kept his head up, imagining Ye Manman’s face in his mind.
Imagining this woman in front of him, so humble and compliant, was Ye Manman.
Actually, Xie Fengmian himself didn’t know why, no matter what kind of woman he met, he always believed Ye Manman was the best in every aspect: terms of appearance, temperament, eloquence, or anything else.
Thus, his fantasy was always Ye Manman.
Even when he pursued Cheng Yuan, it was just because some aspects of her subtly resembled Ye Manman.
Sometimes he wondered how his mind got muddled enough to marry Ye Xiaotong at that time, why did he think Ye Xiaotong was better than Ye Manman.
After having realized all he wanted with obedient and compliant Yang Donglian, Xie Fengmian was quite satisfied as he brushed off his clothes and returned to the Ye Family.
It was just in time for Yang Xiumei to have just finished cooking lunch, as Ye Xiaotong was about to go out and look for him.
His expression was evidently quite pleased, Ye Xiaotong hadn’t seen him this happy for quite some time and felt rather suspicious.
"Where have you been?"
Xie Fengmian glared at her, seeing her repugnant face, as his mood plummeted once again.
"None of your business! I just went for a walk, do you have to be bothered by that?"
"You!"
Ye Xiaotong had just been angered by Ye Manman’s "none of your business," and now Xie Fengmian said it too, she nearly lost her temper.
Fortunately, Yang Xiumei, being sharp-eyed, stopped her just in time.
"Alright, alright, it’s New Year, don’t get all moody. He just went out to clear his mind, don’t overthink it. Come, eat, you’re pregnant, don’t starve the baby?"
At the mention of the baby, Ye Xiaotong calmed down, touching her belly, planning not to argue with Xie Fengmian.
After all, she couldn’t rely on him in the future.
Having reinforced that point to herself internally, she ceased being so enraged.
He Chen, as a self-proclaimed "just indulged," felt something was off when seeing Xie Fengmian.
But he didn’t say anything, just looked at Xie Fengmian and the others before turning to diligently set tableware for Ye Manman.
Serving rice, pouring hot water, picking up dishes, watching which she liked more and giving her a couple more pieces, adding hot water to cool water when needed...
The whole sequence of actions was smooth and effortless, as if he’d done it countless times, stunning everyone present.
Yang Xiumei even thought back to the day He Chen and Ye Manman returned home, recalling he had acted the same since, surprised that he hadn’t changed at all?
She couldn’t quite comprehend it.
"He Chen, why aren’t you eating, just serving food to Manman?"
"At home, do you always take care of Manman like this?"