Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Xia Lanyue looked at the bamboo forest she could only pass through, caught in a dilemma. She had been to this forest many times during the day, but never at night. The bamboo forest before her was pitch black, the light blocked by the leaves, a dark mass where she couldn't see anything, and she began to feel afraid.

Knowing there was no way back, Xia Lanyue took a deep breath and mustered her courage to move forward. The rustling of leaves around her kept her on edge. The more she walked, the more frightened she became, her heart sinking into despair, and tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably.

Just then, she heard the sound of something crunching through the bushes ahead, heading in her direction. Xia Lanyue felt every pore on her body open; she froze, unsure what to do. Suddenly, the sound moved rapidly ahead, and she could no longer contain herself, turning and running back.

Suddenly, she was caught off guard and bumped into someone's arms. "Ah!" A scream rang out.

The man groaned and was knocked backward.

The dim light prevented Xia Lanyue from identifying the other person, but the faint scent of ink wafting from the collision made her think of something, and she tentatively asked, "Xia Yao?"

"It's me."

Xia Lanyue followed closely behind Xia Yao as they walked out of the bamboo forest.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry," Xia Lanyue had already stepped on Xia Yao's shoe for the third time.

Xia Lanyue hadn't expected that Xia Yao was worried about her and had come along! She had completely lost her earlier imposing demeanor and was now just following behind Xia Yao in a disheveled state.

Xia Yao didn't mind. He turned to Xia Lanyue and said, "Ayue, I'm very sorry about what happened today. I promise you, I will never force you to do anything unless you are willing."

Xia Lanyue was taken aback. Her words reminded her of the scene when the two of them hugged, and her face unconsciously turned red. Fortunately, it was dark enough that it couldn't be seen. "Anyone can say nice things?"

"Then what do you want me to do?" Xia Yao asked.

“I…” Xia Lanyue couldn’t think of anything, after all, trust isn’t something you can build with words.

"You can give me another chance, and I'll prove it to you."

Seeing that Xia Lanyue didn't speak, Xia Yao smiled and said, "Then let's go home."

"Wait, I think I'll pass," Xia Lanyue turned around, but when she saw the bamboo forest in front of her, she couldn't take her feet off the ground.

"Don't force yourself, come with me," Xia Yao said, taking Xia Lanyue's hand.

Xia Lanyue stood still, caught in a dilemma. She decided to test Xia Yao's attitude first, "But I fought with your mother."

Xia Yao nodded calmly, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Xia Lanyue, on the contrary, was unsettled. She didn't understand Xia Yao's attitude. "Don't you have anything to say?"

“I understand your concerns. But don’t worry, I’m on your side,” Xia Yao said.

Xia Lanyue was surprised by Xia Yao's words and felt a warmth in her heart, but she was also worried. "She's your mother!"

Xia Yao smiled and said, "She did something wrong, and I have nothing to say in her defense."

Xia Lanyue looked at Xia Yao with suspicion.

Xia Yao seemed to see through Xia Lanyue's thoughts, "If I had the same idea as her, we would be in bed right now, instead of standing in the woods feeding mosquitoes."

Hearing his words, Xia Lanyue blushed again and silently withdrew her hand. She thought about it and realized he made sense. "Then what about Dai You? You didn't lie to me, did you?"

“I’m not lying to you, he will definitely be able to come out tomorrow. Just remember our promise when he does,” Xia Yao reminded him.

Xia Lanyue was relieved to hear his words, but she didn't care about their marriage.

“Let’s go back,” Xia Lanyue said.

After returning to the Xia family home with Xia Yao, Xia Lanyue rushed into the house and closed the door.

Not feeling reassured, she used a stool to prop up the door and closed the window tightly. After testing it and finding it secure, she finally lay down on the bed.

Hearing Xia Lanyue bustling around in her room, Xia Yao silently went into the kitchen and started tidying up the dishes and the messed-up tables and chairs.

Hearing the noise, Xia Huifang, wearing an overcoat, came out of the house. She first looked Xia Yao up and down before asking, "Did things work out between you two?"

Xia Yao shook his head and continued tidying up.

Xia Huifang sighed, "Useless."

Xia Yao complained, "You should have told me beforehand."

"Hmph, I told you, do you dare?" Xia Huifang looked at Xia Lanyue's room, somewhat uncertain. "She's back?!"

Xia Yao nodded.

Xia Huifang whispered in Xia Yao's ear, "Listen to me, go to her room, take care of what needs to be done, and she will definitely marry you."

Xia Yao lowered his eyes. "Mother, she has already agreed to marry me."

"What?! Really?" Xia Huifang exclaimed in surprise, but seeing Xia Yao's unhappy expression, her face darkened. "You're just kidding me, aren't you?"

Xia Yao shook his head. "She really did agree, she didn't lie to you. However, there's something I need to tell you..."

The weather in June was hot and humid, and with the doors and windows tightly closed, she felt like she was suffocating.

Xia Lanyue walked over, pressed her ear against the door to listen for any sounds outside, and only dared to open the window after confirming that no one was there.

As the window opened, a blast of cool air rushed into the room, and Xia Lanyue felt alive again.

She glanced warily into the courtyard; the lights in Xia Huifang and Xia Yao's rooms were already off. She lay slumped over the table, having unknowingly fallen asleep.

When I woke up again, I was awakened by the sounds of arguing in the courtyard. Xia Huifang's voice sounded particularly jarring in the early morning.

Xia Lanyue listened carefully to the conversation outside. It seemed that the two had a disagreement about the private school. Basically, Xia Yao didn't want to continue running it, but Xia Huifang wouldn't allow it.

Now that she was awake, Xia Lanyue saw no need to wait any longer. She picked up her bundle and walked out of the house.

Xia Huifang ignored her and slapped Xia Yao across the face. "Do you think you've done right by all those years of hard study? Do you think you've done right by my kindness in raising you? Is it really worth it for a woman? You've gone crazy from studying!" Then, Xia Huifang pointed at Xia Lanyue and said, "You're a real menace!"

After Xia Huifang finished speaking, she walked towards the house, but before she left, she spat in Xia Lanyue's direction.

Xia Lanyue didn't know what Xia Huifang was referring to. She just looked at Xia Yao, who had been beaten, and hesitated whether to go forward and say something.

Xia Yao looked at Xia Lanyue as if nothing had happened.

Xia Lanyue looked away as she passed by Xia Yao. "I'm going to town now. Is everything alright with Dai You?"

“No problem,” Xia Yao said.

"Thank you," Xia Lanyue said, walking towards the gate.

“Wait, I’ll go with you,” Xia Yao said.

Xia Lanyue was somewhat puzzled, but she nodded nonetheless.

Along the way, Xia Lanyue learned that Xia Yao had closed the private school and would no longer teach.

"Why? This is too sudden," Xia Lanyue said, confused.

“I promised Chief Zhao that I would become the village head and take over from Li Chuan,” Xia Yao said calmly.

"But you're about to participate in a scientific expedition."

"I give up."

"Why?" Xia Lanyue's eyes widened.

"Because I wanted to help A-Yue. I became the village head so that I could persuade Village Chief Zhao to release her," Xia Yao said, not looking at Xia Lanyue, but gazing into the distance.

Xia Lanyue felt that Xia Yao was just saying things out of anger, and she couldn't believe that Xia Yao would really do that for her. "Really?"

“You’ll find out soon,” Xia Yao said.

Xia Lanyue stopped in her tracks. She didn't know if what he said was true or not, but if it was, the price was too high! Someone as shrewd as Xia Yao wouldn't do something so foolish, would he?!