Reborn in 72, I hunt to support my family and spoil my younger sister rotten.

"I admit, I only wanted to get close to you because of who you are now."

Li Xiaoyun looked directly into his eyes. "But what's wrong with that? Isn't that how relationships work? You're first attracted to certain qualities in the other person, then you get to know them slowly, and finally you fall in love?"

A cold wind blew through the pine forest, rustling the branches.

"You're right, I used to look down on people from rural areas."

"But after spending these past two years working in the countryside, I've changed. I now know how difficult life is for people in rural areas."

She took a deep breath: "You say I'm attracted to you because you can hunt and live a good life. But let me ask you, wasn't Su Yan attracted to you because you were kind to her and brought her food?"

Li Xiangyang fell silent.

“The difference is,” Li Xiaoyun’s voice hardened, “I didn’t intend to lie to you. I just thought, if I can’t go back to the city, I’ll find someone to live a good life with.”

At this point, her eyes reddened slightly: "You say I don't understand you, then give me a chance to understand you. It's better than being like Su Yan, pretending to understand you but actually just using you, right?"

Li Xiangyang never expected her to say those words.

He spoke slowly, "Things about feelings can't be explained by logic alone."

"Then what can make sense?" Li Xiaoyun pressed.

"Since you're being so frank, I'll share my thoughts with you as well."

Li Xiangyang found a clean tree stump and sat down: "You're right, relationships do start with attraction. But have you ever thought about it? Between people, besides the mundane things like food and shelter, there are things more important."

Li Xiaoyun was taken aback: "What?"

“For example, ideals, or rather, pursuits.” Li Xiangyang looked up at the distant mountains. “Do you think it’s all over if you can’t go back to the city? Do you think there’s no future in staying in the countryside?”

Li Xiaoyun was stunned.

She didn't expect Li Xiangyang to say these things.

“Actually, there are many ways to return to the city,” Li Xiangyang said slowly. “The college entrance examination will definitely be reinstated in the future, and you educated youth have a better chance than the rural children.”

"But......"

“No buts,” Li Xiangyang interrupted her. “I’m just asking you, what is your biggest dream?”

Li Xiaoyun was silent for a moment: "I want to be a teacher. I've wanted to since I was little."

“That’s right,” Li Xiangyang smiled. “See, you have your own ideals. You’re not just thinking about going back to the city. That’s much better than those who only think about finding connections and using back channels.”

At this point, his tone softened: "So I don't want you to give up your dreams and just settle for anyone you can manage to get by because you feel you can't go back to the city."

Li Xiaoyun's heart skipped a beat: "You're worried about me...?"

"What I want to tell you is that true feelings should be built on mutual understanding and mutual support."

Li Xiangyang said earnestly, "It's not because I think the other person can give me a good life."

He stood up: "You said you want to be a teacher, then go and prepare for the college entrance exam. Even if you stay in the countryside, you can still become a village teacher in the future."

Li Xiaoyun's eyes gradually welled up with tears.

She never imagined that a young man from the countryside could say such a thing.

"And what about you?" she couldn't help but ask, "What is your dream?"

Li Xiangyang smiled: "Me? I want my younger sister to go to university, and I want my mother to have a good life. A little further afield, maybe I could open a hunting supplies shop and teach people how to hunt."

Having made things so clear, Li Xiangyang turned to leave, when he heard a soft sob behind him.

He stopped and turned around with a hint of surprise.

But then they saw Li Xiaoyun covering her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"Do you think I'm not as pretty as Su Yan?" Li Xiaoyun's voice trembled with tears. "So you won't even be friends with me?"

These words stunned Li Xiangyang.

He really didn't understand what women were thinking.

Who is prettier, her or Su Yan?

Li Xiangyang carefully examined the girl in front of him.

Li Xiaoyun wore a slightly oversized blue cotton-padded jacket, tied at the waist with a red hemp rope, which made her look slender.

Although she had been working in the countryside for two years, her skin remained fair and delicate, and a faint blush appeared on her face due to her excitement.

Beneath her slender, willow-leaf eyebrows were a pair of clear, bright almond-shaped eyes, now brimming with tears.

If it weren't for her sharp tongue and tendency to say sarcastic things without thinking, and the fact that she wasn't as voluptuous as Su Yan, she would actually be a pretty good girl.

Compared to Su Yan, although Li Xiaoyun was also pretty and charming, she was still a little lacking.

With her enchanting figure, tall stature, and pretty oval face, Su Yan could make any man around her dream of her simply by standing there.

"What are you saying?" Li Xiangyang shook his head helplessly. "Everyone has their own beauty, why compare yourself to others? Your eyes are beautiful, clear and bright."

"Thank you." Li Xiaoyun smiled through her tears, but she kept wiping them away with her hands.

"Alright, alright, stop crying. It's freezing cold; you don't want your face to get frostbite. Besides, if people see you in these mountains, they'll probably start gossiping."

"Hmm." Li Xiaoyun gently wiped her eyes, her voice much softer. She glanced at Li Xiangyang, her eyes filled with a hint of resentment.

“But Li Xiangyang, I can accept that I'm not as good as Su Yan, but you can't say I'm not even as good as the girls in the village, can you? After all, I went to high school.”

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyang's face immediately darkened.

"Li Xiaoyun, I've noticed you still can't shake this snobbish habit of looking down on others," he said coldly. "In your eyes, does being from the city and having an education make you superior?"

"No, I didn't mean it that way, it's just a habit of my speaking..." Seeing his anger, Li Xiaoyun's tears started flowing again. "I'm sorry. What if I changed my harsh ways? Could we be friends?"

Hearing her sincere apology, Li Xiangyang felt even more helpless.

“We can be friends, but remember, a friend is just a friend.” His tone softened. “I really don’t have the mind to find a partner right now.”

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Li Xiaoyun said, her tears turning into a smile. "Then...then we've agreed?"

"Hmm." Li Xiangyang nodded. "But you have to remember, try to say less disrespectful things in the future. You're supposed to be a sent-down youth, always chanting slogans about equality..."

"Okay," Li Xiaoyun said softly, head down. "Then can I ask why you don't want to find a partner right now?"

"What do you think?" Li Xiangyang countered. "Right now, I'm the only breadwinner in the family, and my younger sister is still in school. I need to make sure the family's situation is stable first, so my sister can focus on her studies. I can think about my own things later when things are better."

“I understand.” Li Xiaoyun lowered her head, her voice almost inaudible. “But I still want to be your friend. Not because you can hunt, not because you live a good life, I just simply want to talk to you.”

Li Xiangyang fell silent.

He could sense the sincerity in Li Xiaoyun's words, but the reborn man was no longer the naive young man easily swayed by sweet words.

"It's getting late, you should go back now." He ultimately chose to turn and leave. "It's easy to get lost in the mountains when it gets dark."

Behind her came Li Xiaoyun's slightly stubborn voice: "Goodbye. Don't worry, I'll change. One day, I'll show you a completely new Li Xiaoyun."