It was the first time she had seen a man with such a sharp, imposing aura and coldly handsome features.
"Ouch—" Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a sting on her fingertip—she had accidentally cut herself.
Before she could react, the man had already strode over, taking her hand in his. His voice was deep as he said, "Let me see."
Si Nian felt her hand grow warm, his rough, calloused fingers enveloping her soft, pale ones. Instantly, her face flushed.
"You don’t mind, do you?" His low voice rumbled.
"What?" Before Si Nian could process his words, he brought her finger to his lips.
Her mind buzzed, her entire body stiffening in shock.
"Mmm..." The warmth of his mouth drew a soft whimper from her, her face burning crimson from neck to hairline.
Oh my god! What is this man doing?!
Hearing her delicate gasp, Zhou Yueshen’s eyes darkened, his breathing growing heavier.
He released her hand and strode out of the room, returning moments later with a bottle of ointment and a bandage.
His expression was calm and composed, which only made Si Nian feel even more embarrassed.
It seemed she had overthought things—maybe Zhou Yueshen had acted purely out of instinct, without any ulterior meaning.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Zhou Yueshen clearly had experience with minor wounds, efficiently dressing the cut in no time.
Staring at her bandaged finger, Si Nian flexed it stiffly.
Zhou Yueshen stood up. "Go sit outside for a bit. I’ll handle the rest."
"You know how to cook?" Si Nian shifted her gaze from her finger to the man.
Zhou Yueshen gave a slight nod, his voice cool. "Yes."
Si Nian had assumed he was always busy with work and never stepped into the kitchen.
But then again, it wasn’t unusual for a man to know how to cook. She nodded. "Alright, then. Could you cut these potatoes into chunks and add them to the stew with the ribs? And this vegetable just needs to be washed."
"We’ll have hotpot later. The broth might be a bit bland, so I’ll mix some chili sauce."
Zhou Yueshen swiftly chopped the potatoes as instructed and added them to the rib stew. Meanwhile, Si Nian rummaged through the cupboard for a small bowl. Realizing they were out of salt, she spotted a new pack on a higher shelf. Standing on her tiptoes, she reached for it—only for a tall figure to suddenly loom behind her, effortlessly retrieving the salt she couldn’t reach.
They stood so close that she could feel the warmth of his body against her back. Heat rushed to her face again, her cheeks flushing a shade deeper than the evening sunset.
The two worked quietly in the kitchen, dividing tasks between them.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Si Nian found it hard to breathe steadily. Keeping her eyes down, she mindlessly adjusted the seasonings, grasping for small talk.
"Have you been busy lately?"
Zhou Yueshen paused while gathering firewood, turning to look at her. His sharp profile was the kind that would make any woman’s heart race. "Not particularly. Why?"
Si Nian hesitated. "Do you know where the Lin Family lives? I’ve been here for a while now, and my birth parents might not know how I’m doing. I’d like to visit them."
Zhou Yueshen considered this before nodding. "You should. The Lin Family lives in the neighboring Lin Family Village—it’s not far."
"I’ll make arrangements at the farm tomorrow, and we can leave by noon."
Si Nian wasn’t familiar with the Lin Family, but the novel’s plot had mentioned them.
After learning she was their biological daughter, they had visited multiple times, only to be turned away by the original owner of this body.
In the story, after being forced into this marriage, the original Si Nian had blamed Lin Sisi and her birth parents for her misery, harboring deep resentment. Even when they came to see her, she refused to meet them.
In the end, she pushed them away completely, until they finally gave up on her.
Meanwhile, Lin Sisi not only won the affection of the Si Family but also gained plenty of benefits from her adoptive parents.
Since the novel didn’t delve into the Lin Family’s details, Si Nian wasn’t entirely sure about their circumstances.
Her reason for visiting wasn’t just to see what they were like—she also wanted to clarify the matter of the 3,000-yuan dowry.
According to the novel, they had tried to see the original Si Nian multiple times, suggesting they cared.
But if they cared, why hadn’t they returned the dowry?
And why had they let her marry someone against her will?
Something about this didn’t sit right with her.
She nodded. "Alright."
When they carried the rib stew out to the dining table, the children were still seated there, untouched plates of braised ribs in front of them.
Si Nian blinked. "Why aren’t you eating?"
Zhou Yuehan swallowed hard. "We were waiting for you and Dad."
Si Nian smiled. "Silly kids. Go get your bowls."
Zhou Yuehan’s face reddened before he quickly patted his cheeks, schooling his expression and darting into the kitchen like a little whirlwind.
The two boys scooped rice into their bowls, Zhou Yuehan pressing down spoonful after spoonful until his bowl couldn’t hold another grain before finally digging in.
The first bite of braised ribs nearly made him swallow his tongue. Each mouthful of meat and rice, glazed with savory sauce, was pure bliss—utterly addictive.
The way the kids couldn’t stop eating was proof enough of Si Nian’s cooking skills.
Next door, Shitou was practically drooling. After inhaling the aroma a few times, he abruptly stood. "Granny, I wanna go play with Yaoyao!"
Aunt Zhang shot him a glare. "What are you doing, barging into someone’s house at night? You think they don’t know you’re just there to mooch food? Eat your dinner and go to bed."
She plopped a piece of crispy pork crackling into his bowl.
Even as she scolded him, Aunt Zhang sighed. The Zhou household’s cooking smelled so good it wasn’t just the kids—even she was getting cravings.
Shitou listlessly poked at the crackling in his bowl, his appetite gone.
Ever since tasting the meals made by Si Nian’s aunt, his grandmother’s cooking just didn’t compare.
He had no idea when he’d get to eat like that again.
"Ugh..." Shitou propped his chin on his hand and sighed dramatically.
Since they were heading back to the Lin Family Village, Si Nian woke up early.
She gave Yaoyao a bath, dressed her in fresh clothes, and tied her hair into cute little pigtails adorned with pretty clips. After filling Da Huang’s bowl with leftovers, she waited for Zhou Yueshen to return so they could leave.
Zhou Yueshen had left at four in the morning. Now, at eight, there was still time.
To pass the moments, Si Nian prepared a bottle of milk for Yaoyao—both hydrating and nutritious.
Children grew fast, and in just a few days, Yaoyao already looked chubbier.
Dressed in the new little dress Si Nian had bought, she looked even more stylish than city kids.
The way she clutched her milk bottle was downright adorable.
When Zhou Yueshen returned, this was the scene that greeted him: Yaoyao sitting on the bed, contentedly drinking her milk, while Si Nian stood in front of the wardrobe mirror, adjusting her earrings.
She wore casual clothes and fitted jeans—modest, yet they accentuated her curves beautifully. From the side, her waist was slender, her legs long, her wavy hair tied up high with a few loose strands framing her face.
