A farmer has a shrewish wife; he's busy making money every day.

Lu Ningyuan returned to his tent and stayed there for a long time.

His gaze was fixed on a point in the empty space ahead.

"If a woman thinks you're married and is throwing a tantrum at you, do you think she has any feelings for you?"

Ye Qingxue's words were still echoing in his mind, but he, who considered himself quite clever, suddenly couldn't understand what they meant.

From childhood to adulthood, Lu Ningyuan had never actually experienced love.

His parents saw him as a bargaining chip to help them rise in society, which made his only younger brother resent him. He felt that the world was gray, so his eyes were always devoid of light, until Chi Miaoxian appeared.

That timid little girl, with her bright, expressive eyes, looked at him innocently, across the crowd, across the intrigue and scheming.

His first thought was to possess her completely.

So when Lu Ying brought the girl to his room, he was happy.

When the little girl reached marriageable age, he coaxed her into doing those intimate things.

Chi Miaoxian was probably unwilling, but he had no choice but to submit to someone else's authority. He understood all of this, but he still wanted to possess him.

I want to own something that is completely my own.

In every subsequent intimate encounter, he looked into Chi Miaoxian's eyes, which gradually shifted from fear to disgust. Instead of stopping to comfort her, he used even more intense actions to shatter the emotions in her eyes.

He thought he was satisfied with this. As long as Chi Miaoxian stayed by his side, he didn't care whether she disgusted him or hated him.

Until that day, he went up the mountain to catch a musk pheasant, intending to bring it back for his daughter to research medicine, but he was caught in a trap and injured his ankle.

That was the first time he had seen Chi Miaoxian's eyes look like that—tears glistening with tears, soft and sad, seemingly filled with concern.

He pretended to be unconscious, feeling her carefully applying medicine to him. When she wasn't paying attention, he opened his eyes and caught this expression.

His mind went blank for a moment, and an indescribable feeling spread through his limbs and bones. Never before had he so desperately wanted to be loved.

She wanted to win Chi Miaoxian's love.

But he has already missed the best opportunity; he has lost the little girl who was somewhat dependent on him when she was a child.

Regret, inner turmoil... painful emotions tormented him. The day Lu Chuci took him away, he experienced a brief moment of relief, followed by a long period of confusion and worry.

The day he saw Chi Miaoxian again, he was so excited he almost shouted out loud, but he held back because of the pride he had to maintain in front of the woman he loved.

His current status could no longer bind the two of them together, and he had no reason to do those intimate things from the past anymore.

He felt both disappointed and relieved about this.

Fortunately, the two of them still have a chance to get to know each other again and get along as ordinary friends.

This was the best outcome he could imagine.

If Chi Miaoxian dislikes him, that's fine, as long as she doesn't ignore him.

But now the worst has happened. No matter how much he throws a tantrum, acts crazy, or pretends to be stupid, Chi Miaoxian is unwilling to pay attention to him anymore.

He wasn't unaware of it, but even though it actually happened, he was still saddened.

But fate is truly cruel. When he desperately sought help from Ye Qingxue, he was told that Chi Miaoxian was being cold to him because he mistakenly believed that he was already married.

This information seemed to have fallen from the sky, completely stunning him.

You see, all he ever wanted was a reason to stay by her side—it could be someone he disliked, but a friend would be best.

I never imagined that there would be even a slight chance, as a lover.

Lu Ningyuan stood against the wall like a wandering ghost for about half an hour.

Then he wiped his face abruptly, slowly stood up straight, and his eyes gradually hardened.

He turned around and flung open the tent flap, saying to the guards outside, "Please fetch me some hot water; I want to take a bath."

Just as the guards were about to go down to prepare, Lu Ningyuan called them back: "Oh, if you have any flower petals, you can have some too."

Guard: "..." Where are we going to find flower petals in this desolate wilderness!

Lu Ningyuan added, "Go look for it at Young Madam Lu's place."

Guard: "...Yes."

—

Chi Miaoxian stared at the reaction vessel on the table.

The liquid inside the container gradually changed from light blue to dark blue, and a faint tinkling sound seemed to emanate from the air.

It worked!

She stood up abruptly, and the first smile in many days appeared on her face.

She quickly bottled the successful-response medicine, carefully placed it in a soft box, and prepared to take it to show Ye Qingxue.

Just as she was about to step out of the tent, a sweet and pleasant rose scent wafted to her nose, seemingly easing some of her fatigue from the past few days.

Are there really people in the military camp with such refined tastes? Bathing in roses in broad daylight?

A question flashed through Chi Miaoxian's mind for a moment, but she continued walking forward without stopping, and the fragrance of flowers stopped in front of her.

"Where are you going?" The culprit who had kept her up at night for days stood before her, his tone different from usual.

Chi Miaoxian moved aside, ignoring him, and continued walking past him.

Lu Ningyuan raised an eyebrow and followed.

Chi Miaoxian walked to Ye Qingxue's tent and noticed that someone behind her was also coming over. The hand holding the soft box gradually tightened.

That's right, this is his camp too, she has no right to blame him for following her.

Chi Miaoxian looked at the tent in front of her, closed her eyes briefly, and then suddenly turned around to look at Lu Ningyuan.

She pressed the soft box against his chest: "Give this to you... Ye Qingxue, take it."

Lu Ningyuan paused, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, and asked, "Why didn't you take it in yourself?"

"Or do you think it's the same whether I take it or you take it?"

These words were ambiguous, and Chi Miaoxian frowned: "Giving it to you is the same as giving it to her!"

"Why are they the same?" Lu Ningyuan tilted his head and leaned closer to ask her, seemingly unaware of anything.

Chi Miaoxian's throat tightened, and she took a step back: "What...what do you think?"

"Why?" he persisted.

Chi Miaoxian was already annoyed, and now she had lost all patience: "Give it to me if you want, or don't."

She turned to leave, but unexpectedly Lu Ningyuan grabbed her arm, causing her to lose her balance and fall into his embrace.

Lu Ningyuan had no reason not to seize this unexpected opportunity. Taking advantage of the surprise, he hugged the soft, boneless person in front of him tightly, feeling a sense of comfort all over his body.

This feeling, like an embrace, made Chi Miaoxian's blood rush.

She hated herself for this, for not being able to control her emotions in front of Lu Ningyuan.

"Get away from me!" She shoved Lu Ningyuan away abruptly, her pent-up emotions exploding in an instant. "You're already married, why are you still bothering me! Are you playing me?"

Although Chi Miaoxian's eyes clearly showed annoyance, Lu Ningyuan felt an unprecedented sense of comfort.

He feigned a puzzled expression at just the right moment: "Who told you I got married?"

Chi Miaoxian was taken aback: "What?"

“I’m asking you, who spread rumors that I’m already married?” He repeated himself, deliberately emphasizing the word “rumor.”

Chi Miaoxian suddenly looked a little confused: "You..."

At this moment, Ye Qingxue, who had been enjoying the show inside the tent, poked her head out and asked, "What are you all doing here?"

Lu Ningyuan raised an eyebrow and looked at Ye Qingxue: "Sister-in-law, so you're here."

Chi Miaoxian's eyes widened suddenly, her fine eyelashes trembling wildly.

"Sister-in-law?!"