Chapter 14: The Spirited Little Rascal of the Seventies (14)

When Li Xiangyang opened the door, he had guessed who it might be, but he never expected it to be her.

He had just spoken so coldly moments ago, yet she came without holding a grudge.

“What are you doing here?” He didn’t know what to say, and immediately regretted his words—they sounded far too harsh.

“You fool, of course I came to see if you applied your medicine properly!” Liu Suisui rolled her eyes at him and ignored his words, heading straight into the courtyard.

“You, you don’t—” Li Xiangyang barely had time to stop her. He wanted to reach out and pull her back but feared being too forward with such a delicate lady.

In the end, he could only stand there, stunned, watching her walk into his home. Resigned, he held the door wide open. Even if someone saw, they couldn’t say much.

“Liu Zhiqing, we’ve only met a few times. Aren’t you afraid of what others might say if you’re seen with me? You’re an educated youth—different from me. Your reputation is far more important than mine,” he said.

Normally, he was a man of few words, but at this moment, he seemed transformed into a chatterbox, as if there were endless things he wanted to say.

Liu Suisui simply nodded, though whether she truly listened was another matter.

“Hold out your hand.”

“For what?”

“Just hold it out!”

Li Xiangyang was puzzled but, seeing her serious expression, obediently rolled up his sleeve.

Though his clothes bore many scratches, his skin underneath was unharmed—only the sight was alarming.

However, on his arm was indeed a wound, likely clawed by some animal.

A long gash, not deep, but frightening to look at.

Liu Suisui took out iodine and cotton swabs from her pocket, first wiping the dirt off his arm with a handkerchief, then carefully disinfecting the wound with iodine.

The dark color of the iodine was intense, but its sterilizing power was strong. Ideally, hydrogen peroxide would have been better for cleaning such a wound, but she didn’t have any.

The medicines she carried were purchased before going to the countryside, bought only after showing pity to the doctor who wrote a prescription.

Nowadays, pharmacies hardly stocked such items, making things inconvenient.

If hydrogen peroxide were poured on the wound, it would sizzle like frying meat, causing pain that would make him remember this lesson.

Liu Suisui thought her stern face made her seem cold and ruthless.

But to Li Xiangyang, she resembled a tsundere kitten, utterly lacking any intimidation.

Sunlight bathed her profile, casting a radiant glow that made the fine fuzz on her skin more noticeable.

It was as if a feather had lightly brushed his heart, tickling it with an indescribable emotion.

After ensuring the wound was disinfected, Liu Suisui took out a bandage and began wrapping it.

“Don’t get the wound wet for the next few days. Once it starts healing, you won’t need the bandage anymore. Your wound isn’t too deep, but if possible, you should get a tetanus shot. Though I’m not sure if they have it here... Hey! Are you even listening to me?”

She noticed his expression had clearly drifted away. She raised her voice to bring him back.

“Hm? Ah, I heard you,” Li Xiangyang replied, lowering his gaze.

“Then repeat what I just said.”

“...” He looked up, eyes wide with surprise, mixed with innocence, and a hint of guilt.

“Well, I…”

“Li Da-ge, are you there?”

A sudden female voice interrupted, breaking the atmosphere.

A plainly dressed girl with two braided pigtails stood outside the door, holding a basket covered with cloth—what was inside, she didn’t know.

She glanced inside, seeing a man and a woman sitting in the courtyard, not close but sharing an atmosphere impenetrable to outsiders.

Had she come at the wrong time?

Instinctively, Li Xiangyang stood and took a step back, distancing himself from Liu Suisui. He feared misunderstandings from others that might harm her.

Unbeknownst to him, this reaction only made things more awkward.

“I’ll go check,” he said hastily, then turned to approach.

They spoke quietly at the gate; passersby could hear voices but not the words.

Liu Suisui sat on a small stool, resting her chin on her hand, appraising the girl.

That girl was the female lead, the unattainable white moonlight the antagonist longed for in the story.

Her appearance was that of a pure, delicate flower, but her personality was cheerful, and her reputation in the village was quite good.

Her official match was the eldest grandson of some old man in the cattle shed—though the story’s characters hadn’t met yet, fate’s gears were already turning.

“Li Da-ge, that’s Liu Zhiqing, right?”

Li Xinxin’s eyes curved in a smile as she looked happily at the girl in the courtyard.

Educated youths from the city were simply more attractive, much more so than country girls like themselves. Just sitting there, she seemed to elevate everything around her.

That kind of innate grace was something ordinary people could never possess.

“Li Da-ge, are you really dating her?” she whispered.

“No.”

“I see. Well, if you truly like her, you’d better seize the chance. With Liu Zhiqing’s looks, she’s bound to attract many admirers. If you don’t hold onto her, it would be a real pity,” she sighed.

If it weren’t for her family being ruthless beasts and only a five-year-old brother to care for, she might have sent them after her.

Li Xiangyang pressed his lips together, gripping the basket a little tighter. “She’s still young.”

He didn’t say whether he liked her or not, but that meant he did.

“Besides, I…”

“Li Da-ge, status isn’t an issue. The problem isn’t you. The Li family has never done anything wrong before; you’re a good person. We have to believe in the country; everything will get better.”

Li Xinxin turned to glance at Liu Suisui once more. Such a pretty girl deserved a second look.

That way, when she returned home and faced all the demons and monsters, it wouldn’t be so painful to the eyes.

“I’ve given you the things. I’m leaving now.”

“Mm.”

They parted shortly after.

Li Xiangyang came back with the basket and noticed Liu Suisui watching him intently in the courtyard. He felt awkward but didn’t know what to say.

“She’s just a business partner. Nothing more—purely a professional relationship,” he explained.

Wait, why was he explaining that?

There was nothing else between them.

Liu Suisui tilted her head, not intending to question him. After all, her affection for him remained unchanged.

But his voluntary honesty did make her happy.

She remained silent, and Li Xiangyang grew a little nervous.