Actually, Ye Manman couldn’t really say what kind of person He Chen was, but she was sure he wasn’t someone who would harm her for personal gain.
When reading the novel, she even lamented about the original character’s fate, saying that the supporting male and female roles seemed to show more deep affection than the leads.
The original character remained loyal to the male lead, treating such a good husband like He Chen as trash, even when kidnapped, her mind was still fixated on the male lead.
Yet He Chen, despite being despised and hurt by the original character, still treated her well year after year, providing money, and even visiting her often after she was moved to a mental hospital, advising the doctor to treat her kindly.
To believe that someone like him would harm or exploit her just because of her current odd situation would truly be nonsense.
"He Chen, what if I could make anything I think of appear? How would you react?"
Listening to her, He Chen couldn’t sit still.
He put down the rabbit meat in his hand, washed his hands, and led her into the mountains.
"I would hope you stop thinking about those things, especially when I’m not around. If something happens, I..."
He paused for a moment, turned to glance at Ye Manman beside him, who seemed unconcerned about the severity of the situation, and suddenly crouched down.
"Let me carry you. Let’s experiment at the place we went this morning. Can’t let others see, it’s too dangerous."
Not wanting to walk those tough paths, Ye Manman obediently climbed onto his back.
He Chen, usually reserved, started blurting out sentences along the way.
"If I’m not around, don’t go up the mountain alone, especially avoid thinking these thoughts."
"Also, don’t mention this to others. People are unpredictable, and most aren’t as good as they appear."
"Try thinking of smaller things later, don’t think of wild boars. Don’t think of wild boars ever, they’re too dangerous."
"..."
Ye Manman was stunned. Though she believed He Chen wouldn’t harm her, she hadn’t expected him to be so talkative.
"He Chen, aren’t you afraid?"
She poked He Chen’s firm back muscles, feeling like she was poking a wall, with no elasticity whatsoever, hard as stone.
"Maybe I’m a monster transformed, aren’t you scared I’ll devour you?"
Ye Manman intentionally laughed creepily, trying to create a spooky atmosphere.
However, her soft voice, intentionally lowered near his ear, didn’t feel scary at all; it was more like lovers whispering sweet nothings.
Her voice had a husky allure, with occasional soft strands blowing onto He Chen’s face, their faint fragrance reaching his nostrils, matching the gradually dimming sky. The shadows of the surrounding shrubs teased him into a sweaty grip.
He Chen took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and raised Ye Manman a bit higher.
"If you really are a monster..."
"...just eat me."
His last words were whispered almost inaudibly, fearing she might hear them. Hidden by the dimming night, no one noticed his flushed face.
Ye Manman adjusted herself after being lifted, not quite catching his words.
"Hmm? What did you say?"
"...Nothing."
He Chen clenched his fists, wanting to wipe the sweat from his palms but unable to free a hand.
"We’re almost there. Think of rabbits, chicks, and ducks later. Don’t think of anything too big, okay? Stand beside me."
He reminded her again, his strong legs taking swift strides before gently placing Ye Manman on the ground.
He Chen quickly fetched the axe he’d left nearby, stood by her side, looking tense.
Ye Manman found his on-edge demeanor amusing, but her laughter soon faded.
Because a sound emerged from the familiar shrub.
This time, they both smelled the distinctive stench of a wild boar carried by the wind.
He Chen stepped forward, fully blocking Ye Manman behind him, preparing himself as the wild boar suddenly charged out of the bushes.
This time, rather than rushing toward Manman’s location, it ran headlong into the nearby tree trunk. He Chen’s axe had no opportunity to be used, as the boar calmly lay there.
Ye Manman: "..."
He Chen: "..."
They were silent for a moment before Ye Manman broke the awkwardness by touching her pretty nose.
"Ahaha, it’s so dumb, even dumber than the last one, hahahaha~"
She laughed dryly, glanced at He Chen, and pursed her lips.
"I didn’t mean to... I accidentally thought of braised pork..."
The various menus circling in her mind somehow landed on pork braised meat.
This thinking process really isn’t easy to control, Ye Manman thought.
He Chen helplessly picked up the axe to check the boar, confirmed it wasn’t breathing, and returned.
"Luckily I’m here; if you ran into this alone, you’d be terrified."
He didn’t blame Ye Manman; he didn’t even say much more. Instead, he raised a large hand, carefully brushing her hair.
"Tomorrow I’ll make braised pork for you; don’t think of wild boars anymore, okay?"
His tone was akin to coaxing a child.
Ye Manman knew she was wrong, flushed with embarrassment, but she still raised her chin, proudly gazing at He Chen.
"Hmph, that’s because you’re here, I’m not afraid of wild boars."
After speaking, she pondered what else to think of. He Chen, upon hearing her words, froze, unable to react with a new expression for a while.
She said she wasn’t scared because he was there.
Suddenly, it felt like fireworks exploded in his heart, noisily ringing in his ears, until Ye Manman tugged his arm, bringing him back to reality.
"Look, there’s another silly rabbit over there."
"..."
Their experiment didn’t last long; Ye Manman had already grasped the pattern, and He Chen couldn’t carry that much game.
In the end, He Chen had no choice but to carry Ye Manman home and make several trips to carry back the small chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits in a basket, then use tools to roll the wild boar to a less remote spot before heading to the village to ask for help.
This wild boar was smaller than the last, but still required several people to lift. Hearing he caught another wild boar, everyone praised him fervently.
Li Hongmei and Liu Dongliang were also praised by the crowd, cheered for having such a capable nephew, worthy, obedient, and hardworking, making them feel elated, reluctant to leave the meat distribution area.
He Chen, however, felt heavier with each praise.
He felt relieved only he knew everything yet worried that Ye Manman might be exposed in the future. People’s hearts are hard to predict; someone might do horrifying things for profit.
He Chen didn’t help with the meat distribution but hurriedly took their share and returned home.
On the way, he made up his mind.
Ye Manman’s situation must not be revealed to anyone.
Especially to Li Hongmei and Liu Dongliang.
However, upon returning home, he found Ye Manman was angry.
She sat in the living room, holding a pried open padlock, her fair cheeks lightly tinted pink from anger.
He Chen hurried forward but didn’t wait for Ye Manman to speak before his expression darkened.
Because the padlock she held was from their room door.
Someone had broken into their room!
"He Chen, our room was burglarized, the rabbit meat you prepared in the afternoon is gone."
Ye Manman looked up at him, her expression extremely aggrieved, as if she could burst into tears anytime.
He Chen pursed his lips, about to speak, but Ye Manman grabbed his hand, pulling him outside.
"Come on, let’s report to the captain, there’s a thief in the house!"