Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

When Xia Lanyue woke up in the early morning, she was in bed.

Xia Lanyue looked around in a panic, but there was no one there. Then, remembering something, she reached for her clothes; they were all there. She breathed a sigh of relief and lay down.

She was sleeping so soundly that she didn't even know when Xia Yao carried her to bed.

Her room had no windows, so Xia Lanyue didn't know the time.

At this time, someone knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Xia Lanyue asked.

"Waiter, bring the food," the waiter's voice rang out at the door.

Xia Lanyue got up and opened the door, and saw her younger brother holding a bowl of noodles, smiling at her.

"This is what the village magistrate ordered for you. I'm bringing it to you, young lady," the waiter said, handing the noodles to Xia Lanyue. "He said you don't need to bring food to your brother-in-law today, so he's taking it with him."

Brother-in-law?! Is he talking about Dai You? When did she agree to marry him, and even address him by that name?! Xia Lanyue was anxious but dared not show it, so she could only nod awkwardly and take the bowl.

Worried that Xia Yao might say something inappropriate, Xia Lanyue hurriedly finished her meal and rushed to the official residence to see Dai You.

As expected, Dai You's face turned ashen.

"I heard he became a township official?" Dai You asked, his face full of displeasure.

Xia Lanyue nodded, looking at the food in the cell, "Why didn't you eat?"

“I won’t eat what he gives me,” Dai You stared at Xia Lanyue, seemingly noticing something unusual, and asked with a furrowed brow, “Why is it him who brings me food?”

Xia Lanyue stammered, "He was going that way anyway."

"That simple?!" Dai You stared into Xia Lanyue's eyes, his gaze full of doubt.

“He’s already working here, isn’t this just a side job?” Xia Lanyue avoided Dai You’s gaze.

Dai You sighed, "And what about you? You told me before that you...you liked him, but what about now?"

The sudden question made Xia Lanyue nervous. She didn't know how to answer for a moment and wanted to avoid the question altogether. She reached through the fence and pushed the bowl of rice in front of him, saying, "Eat quickly, don't let it get cold."

Not getting an answer, Dai You became uneasy and shook his head, "I won't eat it. If you don't tell me, I won't eat it."

Xia Lanyue was taken aback. Was he going to start a hunger strike again?! "Then I'll feed you," Xia Lanyue reached in, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, and held it to Dai You's lips.

Dai You didn't speak, but instead held her hand, staring intently into her eyes, seeking an answer, "A-Yue?"

Xia Lanyue wanted to avoid the situation, but Dai You held her hand, preventing her from leaving. After struggling for a long time, she finally managed to squeeze out four words, "I don't know."

Dai You looked at Xia Lanyue helplessly and loosened his grip.

Xia Lanyue took the opportunity to pull her hand back and walk out of the house.

She didn't want to see Dai You sad, but she also didn't want to deceive him. However, she truly didn't know her own feelings.

At this moment, Xia Lanyue most wanted to see Xia Yao, not for any other reason than that she wanted to know what Xia Yao had said to Dai You that had caused Dai You to become like this.

Xia Lanyue saw the village security guard passing by and went up to ask, "Brother, is Xia Yao here?"

“He’s out, he’s not here right now,” the village official said.

Xia Lanyue nodded her thanks.

She didn't know what to do, how to face Dai You! After thinking it over, she decided to hide for a while and give each other some time.

Xia Lanyue returned to Yunji Inn.

At dinner time, Xia Lanyue handed the dinner to the village security officer, who then delivered it to Dai You. She still did not go to see Dai You.

She was sound asleep when she was woken up by a knock on the door.

Xia Lanyue sat up abruptly, her heart filled with suspicion. "Who is it?"

“It’s me,” Xia Yao’s voice said.

"What's up?"

"About Dai You."

Upon hearing this, Xia Lanyue became nervous and quickly got up to open the door.

Xia Yao walked into the house and then closed the door.

Xia Lanyue looked at Xia Yao with a puzzled expression, "What's wrong with him?"

"My throat is so dry," Xia Yao said, looking at the teacup on the table.

Xia Lanyue understood what she meant and brought the water to Xia Yao. "What's wrong with him?"

"He's fine, he's doing well."

Xia Lanyue was taken aback, realizing she had been tricked. She went over and opened the door, saying, "Get out."

Xia Yao not only didn't go out, but also sat down on the stool and poured himself another cup of water.

Xia Lanyue sighed helplessly when she saw his expression. "How come I never noticed your shameless side before?"

Xia Yao smiled and asked, "So, do you like it?"

"dislike".

"Oh dear, Yue has learned to be hypocritical. I remember when you saw me at the Xia family, your eyes were practically glued to me," Xia Yao said with a smug look on his face.

Xia Lanyue gritted her teeth. It turned out he had seen through her back then, and he had deliberately teased her, saying, "I didn't."

"Sigh," Xia Yao pouted, "You've changed in just a few days."

"Are you here to tease me today?" Xia Lanyue didn't want to continue talking to him.

"Of course not, I'm here to talk about Dai You," Xia Yao put down his teacup and looked at Xia Lanyue.

Sure enough, Xia Lanyue became nervous when Dai You was mentioned. "What happened to him?"

Xia Yao gestured for Xia Lanyue to close the door. After Xia Lanyue did so, he pretended to be nonchalant and said, "It's nothing, I just wanted to ask you, do you want him to come out?"

"Isn't that obvious?!" Xia Lanyue felt her tone was too forceful, so she quickly changed her approach. "Can you let him go?"

"I can't."

Xia Lanyue pouted; she'd been tricked by him again.

Xia Yao smiled, "But I can persuade Village Chief Zhao to release the people."

"Can you just finish what you're saying all at once?" Xia Lanyue had been tricked by him so many times that she seemed to know his tricks. "And then? Are there any conditions?"

Xia Yao nodded.

Xia Lanyue didn't ask about his conditions, but she could guess. "What did you talk to Dai You about today? He seemed to be in a bad mood."

Xia Yao recalled for a moment, "No, I had a lot of errands to do today. I put down my food and came out."

"Did he eat today?"

“He won’t eat what I give him, but he ate what you bring.”

Hearing him say that, Xia Lanyue finally felt relieved.

"Aren't you curious about my conditions, A-Yue?" Xia Yao asked.

Xia Lanyue shook her head and asked him another question, "Why did you want to become a village head?"

Xia Yao smiled and said, "I already said it yesterday, because of you, Yue, I can't let my brother-in-law suffer."

"Brother-in-law?! Don't talk nonsense!" Xia Lanyue glared at Xia Yao, who was all smiles, and then asked seriously, "Are you willing to accept this?"

After calming down yesterday, she thought it over carefully. Compared to Xia Yao's dream, Dai You's matter was insignificant. If it was really as Xia Yao said, that it was for her sake, then she couldn't let it happen. She didn't want to owe him such a huge favor, because she couldn't repay it.

"I'm not willing to accept it, but it's worth it for A-Yue," Xia Yao said earnestly.

Although she was mentally prepared, Xia Lanyue's heart still melted when she heard Xia Yao say those words, "You don't have to give up your pursuits for me."

Xia Yao smiled and looked down. "You are my current pursuit. Yue, let's get married."

"Could you... please stop saying that?" Xia Lanyue asked helplessly, but her voice softened considerably when she refused Xia Yao.

"Then marry me."

"No," Xia Lanyue said firmly.

“It seems I haven’t done enough,” Xia Yao said.

"Xia Yao, don't waste your time on me."

Xia Yao didn't reply to her. He stood up and walked towards the door, saying, "Get some rest."