Chapter 6: The Other Room Is Mine

No one responded.

Below came the agonized screams of Xu Jinyan, crying out in pain.

Xu’s mother didn’t even stop to see who was in front of her.

She scrambled and rolled forward in pursuit.

Xia Xiaoyu looked at the man before her—a tall figure, his silhouette dark and foreboding in the night.

She couldn’t make out his face clearly and stood frozen in place.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” came a cold, deep voice.

“Th-thank you,” she stammered.

Although he had just saved her, the man gave off a chilling, intimidating aura, so she instinctively took a step back.

But as she retreated, her foot caught on the grass, causing her to fall hard to the ground.

Biting her lip in embarrassment, Xia Xiaoyu felt utterly humiliated.

A large hand reached out toward her. “Can you get up?”

She had landed on her wound and could only use her other hand to grasp his strength.

The moment he helped her to her feet, she could feel a surge of powerful, muscular energy coursing through him.

This was someone who must have trained hard.

Still unable to see his face clearly, she searched her mind for any clue—when had such a person come to their village?

A shiver ran through her, and she even thought of another man with strong arms.

Like being shocked by electricity, she instantly withdrew her hand and kept a distance of about a meter from him.

Her quick retreat made her actions seem abrupt.

“Thank you, thank you,” she repeated, her mind suddenly blank, unable to find any other words.

“Where are you headed? Why are you wandering alone at night?”

Xia Xiaoyu hesitated for two seconds before replying, “I’m going home.”

The man said nothing. In the darkness, she felt his sharp, probing gaze fixed on her.

“If that’s the case, then suit yourself.”

He remained standing, unmoving.

Xia Xiaoyu hurried to lift her fallen basket, grabbed her bag, slung the carrying pole over her shoulder, and prepared to leave.

But she had overestimated her strength. Her legs suddenly weakened, and when she squatted to lift the load, she inexplicably couldn’t muster the power.

Her whole body wobbled, and she tumbled forward with the pole.

The contents of the basket spilled out.

The man did not move.

Yet precisely because he stood still, watching over her like a god from above, Xia Xiaoyu felt an even greater panic and pressure.

Xu Jinyan was a weakling—couldn’t carry with his hands, couldn’t shoulder a burden—and she hadn’t even managed to best him.

She didn’t know if this man was the same one from that night, but judging by his demeanor, he was clearly on a different level, and her heart raced with unease.

“Where are you going? I’ll help you.”

“You’re quite kind!” Unable to refuse, she braced herself and accepted, “Thank you.”

The man, unaffected by the darkness, moved swiftly, picking up the fallen basket, lid, and bowls, placing everything back inside.

Once all was packed, he said, “Nothing’s missing. If you want to be sure, you can check yourself.”

These things were insignificant to Xia Xiaoyu, but she didn’t want the Xu family to get them easily, so she brought everything out.

Even if she lost one or two items, it wouldn’t matter.

The man carried her bag in one hand and slung the pole over his shoulder, then asked, “Where are you headed? If you don’t leave soon, those two just now might send others to cause trouble.”

A chill ran through Xia Xiaoyu.

Xu’s mother really was capable of such things.

“To the cowshed,” she said.

Upon hearing this, the man’s figure stiffened.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded, then realized how dark it was and that he might not see her clearly, so added, “Yes, absolutely sure.”

She could not go back to the Xu family.

“Why the cowshed?”

“Because right now... I don’t want to go back to my so-called home.”

She couldn’t reveal all her flaws to a stranger, even though he had just helped her.

The man said nothing more and quickened his pace.

Xia Xiaoyu almost couldn’t keep up and instinctively clutched her crossbody bag tightly.

Her money and acceptance letter were in that bag, while her clothes and belongings were all in the man’s hands.

The night wind blew cold, and she hugged her arms, then asked, “Do you think that person from just now is in danger?”

The man didn’t stop walking and asked indifferently, “You’re worried about him?”

“I’m not worried about him,” she confessed. “I’m worried something might happen to him and it would cause trouble for you.”

“Trouble?”

“Do you really think a scoundrel who bullies women can threaten anyone else?”

Xia Xiaoyu was momentarily stumped but persisted, “I’m just worried you’ll get caught up in trouble because of me.”

The man didn’t reply. The two fell silent as they reached the cowshed.

Stepping into the enclosure, a distinct smell filled the air.

“Are you really sure you want to stay here tonight?”

The man looked back at her.

By the flickering kerosene lamp, Xia Xiaoyu finally saw him clearly: a close-cropped hairstyle, high nose bridge, and strikingly handsome features.

But the dim light only added a cold edge to his already imposing presence.

“Yes. I have nowhere else to go. The old village head said there’s a room here.”

The man said nothing, placing the items on a patched low stool.

“There is a room, but are you sure you want to stay there?”

From his expression, Xia Xiaoyu sensed it was no ordinary room.

Following his gaze, she realized the so-called small room was usually used to store cattle fodder.

Approaching it, she found only three walls—no door—and a pile of weeds inside.

If she slept here tonight, would anyone find her tomorrow?

“This is ridiculous. Are there any other rooms?”

The man replied softly, “There’s another room.”

Her heart leapt with hope, silently praying the old village head wasn’t too unreasonable.

But the man added, “That other room is where I live.”

“What? You live here? Why have I never seen you in the village?” Xia Xiaoyu’s surprise made her voice rise several degrees.

The previously somewhat harmonious atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

She didn’t understand why the man’s expression changed so abruptly.

Had she asked too many questions? Did he not want to answer?

His presence was so overwhelming she dared not provoke him, so she said, “Then I’ll take the small room.”

In her heart, she thought the old village head probably didn’t know anyone lived here, which was why he pointed her to this place.

But this place was truly indescribable.

If only she had refused the village head’s offer from the start.