Chapter 157: Past Life, with Xie Yan (2)

Husband and wife? They're definitely not husband and wife!

Shen Shuangning immediately wanted to retort.

But when she looked up, she met Xie Yan's gaze carrying a warning, and she swallowed the words on her lips.

"Turns out you really are a young couple, see how well you match—I could tell earlier." The auntie smiled, exchanged a few pleasantries, then turned and went out to tidy their guest room.

The firewood-chopping old man stopped now, glanced their way, and Shen Shuangning felt an inexplicable chill in her heart.

She didn't understand why Xie Yan would deceive people; after several days together, she didn't think he was the sort to take advantage of others.

Thus, when night came and no one else was around, Shen Shuangning whispered, "Why are you deceiving them? We're clearly just passing acquaintances..."

"One must always be on guard against people; do you think this family truly intends to take us in?" Xie Yan glanced around, speaking casually.

The room is tiny, holding only a hard plank bed and a rickety table; the corner is piled with dry grass, and on the table sits a lone dim oil lamp.

Shen Shuangning sat on the hard plank bed, already changed into the clean clothes the auntie had brought—a washed‑out plain cloth garment, somewhat loose.

She blinked at his words: "But they don't look like bad people."

Xie Yan then glanced at this young lady, overly sheltered by her family.

Perhaps the light was too dim; the side of his face he turned toward, the injured side, looked somewhat ferocious, and Shen Shuangning inexplicably shrank her neck.

Seeing her reaction, Xie Yan paused, then lowered his eyes, his voice dropping: "You also said it's just 'looks.' People are good at disguising themselves, especially evildoers—the more heinous they are, the more they like to appear kind, so as to lure prey."

Shen Shuangning muttered under her breath, a hint of displeasure: "You talk as if you know all about it..."

Xie Yan suddenly lifted his eyes; in the dim light his gaze seemed especially deep, and he said in a sinister tone: "Then aren't you afraid I'm exactly that kind of person?"

Shen Shuangning gave a "don't try to scare me" look: "If you were a wicked person, reduced to this state and needing a weak woman like me to rescue you, there's nothing to fear."

Xie Yan seemed not to have expected such an answer; he then leaned against the cold wall and actually let out a muffled laugh.

That laugh was low and hoarse, tinged with self‑mockery, yet also seemed genuinely amused, softly echoing in the cramped room.

"What are you laughing at? No laughing!"

Shen Shuangning thought he was mocking her, instantly grew displeased, and grabbed the soft pillow on the bed, hurling it at him.

Xie Yan let out a muffled grunt.

Seeing this, Shen Shuangning thought she had really hurt him, immediately rose and went over, anxious: "I didn't mean to, are you alright?"

Unexpectedly, Xie Yan suddenly seized her wrist and, using the momentum, shoved her against the wall, his motion swift and steady.

Shen Shuangning was caught off guard; her back slammed hard into the cold earth wall with a "uh," his face extremely close, his nose almost touching her forehead.

Before she could react, Xie Yan had already extended his other hand, clapping it over her mouth; his palm was cool, carrying the bitter scent of herbs.

"Shh," his voice pressed extremely low, almost against her ear, warm breath brushing her ear, "Someone's outside."

Following Xie Yan's gaze to the window, she indeed saw a black shadow flickering on the paper, like a ghost loitering outside.

A faint, indistinct whisper drifted in.

The window paper was already not very opaque; if someone peered in from outside, they could see part of the interior.

Shen Shuangning therefore dared not move.

To an outsider, it looked as if Xie Yan was holding her, being intimate.

"Let's put on a show," Xie Yan whispered.

Shen Shuangning stared at him, bewildered.

Xie Yan didn't explain, suddenly waved his hand to extinguish the oil lamp, with a touch of deliberate affection, and said: "Madam, you've tired yourself today—rest now."

Although she understood Xie Yan was just acting, Shen Shuangning still couldn't help her cheeks flushing.

Xie Yan took her wrist and led her toward the bed.

The wooden plank bed was so crude it lacked even a canopy, but fortunately the window's orientation meant the interior couldn't be fully seen from outside.

Xie Yan gestured for her to lie down, then stood to the side and rocked the bed.

At that time, Shen Shuangning, though an inexperienced young lady, had also read a few books...

Thus she understood his intention, and her face burned crimson.

Xie Yan rocked for a while; seeing she remained silent, he stopped and asked softly: "Are you mute? You won't call out?"

Shen Shuangning: "Call... call what?"

In the dim light, neither could see the other's expression clearly.

Xie Yan raised an eyebrow: "What do you say?"

Shen Shuangning bluntly replied: "I won't."

Xie Yan: "Or maybe I should call?"

Shen Shuangning buried her face in the pillow and muttered: "Then you call!"

After a moment of stalemate, Xie Yan walked over to her.

Lying on the bed, Shen Shuangning suddenly sensed Xie Yan approaching, instantly startled, her hairs standing on end.

Could he be intending to make the act real?!

Just then, Xie Yan asked: "Are you ticklish?"

Before Shen Shuangning could react, Xie Yan placed his hand on her waist and gave a light pinch.

Shen Shuangning couldn't help but utter a sound, instinctively wanting to dodge, but the bed was tiny—where could she go?

Shen Shuangning was like a fish on a chopping board, being tickled to the point of near death; though the sound wasn't quite right, her voice being naturally thin, she could barely get by.

"No, don't... spare me." Shen Shuangning laughed through tears, begging for mercy.

Xie Yan said: "Still not enough."

Clearly it was cold weather, yet they were worked up into a sweat.

But her waist wasn't Shen Shuangning's most sensitive spot; just as she struggled to escape, Xie Yan grabbed her nape.

Shen Shuangning's whole body felt as if shocked, tingling and numb, she let out an "ah," truly emitting a seductive moan.

Xie Yan also froze.

Shen Shuangning took the opportunity to escape from his hand, retreating all the way to the corner of the bed.

The shadow outside the window finally left.

Xie Yan glanced, then said, "That's enough."

His voice was a little hoarse.

Shen Shuangning felt as if pardoned, after calming her breath she softly said, "We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."

No matter whether the household harbored ill intentions, the eerie atmosphere of the place made her uneasy, and she didn't want to stay another second.

Xie Yan gave an "uh" and then went over to sit on the haystack by himself.

Although they had been relying on each other for warmth these past days, sharing a bed was still too intimate; seeing him voluntarily go to the haystack, Shen Shuangning breathed a sigh of relief and said nothing.

She had taken care of him so hard for so long—how could she be made to sleep on the bed?

Thinking that, she wrapped the blanket around herself without any psychological burden, the fatigue of the past days welled up, and she soon fell into a deep sleep.

She had planned to say goodbye the next day, but as soon as dawn broke, Shen Shuangning was startled awake by a stifled cough.

She opened her eyes to see Xie Yan curled up in the haystack, his face frighteningly red, his forehead burning hot, his breathing thick with nasal congestion—he had actually come down with a high fever!

Only then did Shen Shuangning realize the air was much colder than yesterday's!

She pushed open the window and looked out; as far as the eye could see, it was a vast white expanse, actually a bit dazzling.

It turned out that heavy snow had fallen in the second half of the night, the cold wind seeped in through the door crack, and Xie Yan, uncovered in the haystack, ended up catching a chill.

And the result of the snowfall was that the mountain was blocked by snow—trying to leave was impossible.

The two of them had no choice but to continue staying where they were.

Shen Shuangning's brows remained furrowed with worry.

Seeing that they hadn't left, the auntie's face broke into a delighted smile, showing no impatience at the two strangers "mooching food and drink"; instead, she was overly enthusiastic.

"Oh dear, the heavy snow has sealed the mountain—nowhere to go! Just stay put and wait until the snow melts!"

She not only took the initiative to brew ginger tea for Xie Yan, but also brought over a thick cotton quilt, laughing as she stuffed it into Shen Shuangning's arms.

"It's not easy for a young couple out there; this quilt is warm, so cover yourself with it at night and don't catch a chill again. That young lord looks frail and has wounds—he needs proper care; I'll go kill a chicken for us to eat!"

The auntie didn't stay long before leaving.

Shen Shuangning then returned to sit beside Xie Yan, and that ominous feeling grew stronger.

Xie Yan lay on the bed, his complexion pallid, and he whispered, "There are some herbs in the thatched hut across the way; see if you can get them without them noticing."

In winter, night falls early, and the desolate mountain is utterly silent.

The oil lamp in the little house had been out for a while; the auntie confirmed there was no movement inside before turning and entering her own room.

The old man was sitting by the kang, sharpening his knife.

She brushed the snow off herself, walked over, and said to the old man, "They won't be able to leave for a while, so don't rush. Once that invalid gets stronger, it won't be too late to act."

The simpleton was playing with the corner of his clothes on the kang, occasionally letting out a foolish laugh or two.

The auntie added, "Today we killed a hen that lays eggs; I had wanted to keep it for the New Year, which feels wasteful. But speaking of that, that young lord is delicate-skinned and tender-meated; if we fatten him up, he'll be enough to feed us until next spring, which would be worth it."

Her tone was ordinary, as if she were talking about slaughtering pigs or sheep, not discussing human lives.

The old man obviously took this in stride, merely glancing at her before continuing to sharpen his knife.

After saying that, the auntie walked to the kang and sat down, reaching out to touch the simpleton's face, and gently said, "As for that young lady, let her be Dog Sheng's wife and bear lots of nice, chubby children—how about that?"

"It's just a pity she's not a maiden, having already been taken. But our Dog Sheng isn't picky—having a wife is enough, right?"

The simpleton didn't understand any of this; hearing only the two words "wife," he immediately raised his saliva‑smeared hand and happily slapped the edge of the kang, laughing, "Wife! Marry a wife! Warm the kang..."

Shen Shuangning hid beneath the window outside, listening to the hair‑raising conversation inside, clapping a hand over her mouth, her expression terrified beyond measure!