In the end, Fu Qianqian couldn’t bring herself to shamelessly ask for another bowl and left in embarrassment.
As she walked away, she was still savoring the lingering aroma of the noodles, the taste unforgettable on her lips and tongue.
She used to think Si Nian had nothing going for her except her beauty.
But after Si Nian left, she suddenly realized that this seemingly unremarkable sister was actually quite impressive.
Far better than that Si Sisi or whatever her name was.
Meanwhile, Si Nian had already arrived at the farm with food in hand.
She came early today, and everyone was still working, not yet on their lunch break.
The other wives hadn’t arrived yet either.
Si Nian walked toward Zhou Yueshen’s office. The door was slightly ajar but not closed.
She knocked, and a voice immediately responded—though it wasn’t Zhou Yueshen’s.
Yu Dong stood up quickly when he saw her. "Sis, here to bring the boss lunch?"
Si Nian wasn’t familiar with Yu Dong, but judging by his relationship with Zhou Yueshen, she assumed they were partners.
"Yes, is he not here?" she asked, puzzled.
"Last night, the night watchman didn’t secure the gate properly, and some piglets escaped. We spent the whole morning rounding them up. The boss is furious—you should go check on him."
Yu Dong shrank his neck at the thought of Zhou Yueshen’s temper.
Thankfully, he had been out on business these past few days and wasn’t at the farm, or else even a bystander like him would’ve gotten an earful.
The boss had already been swamped lately, waking up at dawn every day to slaughter pigs and deliver goods.
Now this mess had happened—no wonder he was angry.
The real trouble wasn’t just the escaped piglets, but the fact that some villagers had taken them and refused to return them, claiming the animals as their own.
For the farm, this was a significant loss.
Night watch wasn’t just about preventing theft—it was also about avoiding emergencies like this.
Si Nian was stunned. Something like this had happened?
A pang of guilt struck her. These past few days, Zhou Yueshen had been taking her to the Lin Family, eating up his usual work time.
He had always dedicated himself entirely to his job before.
That he could spare time for her now was already a thoughtful gesture.
Because of the incident with Li Mingjun, their relationship had soured, and now he had no choice but to handle deliveries himself…
Her heart ached for him.
"Where is he? I’ll go see him."
Yu Dong quickly pointed her in the right direction.
The area was covered by a shed, with a stove and a large iron pot embedded in the ground. A faint metallic scent of blood hung in the air—this was the slaughtering site.
Zhou Yueshen had chosen a good location for the farm. A stream ran behind it, making water easily accessible, so the entrance was always kept clean.
As she approached, she saw a row of burly men standing with their heads bowed, looking like scolded children.
Zhou Yueshen’s expression was calm, but his voice was low and icy.
Just his presence alone was enough to make everyone hold their breath.
Someone spotted Si Nian and immediately shot her a pleading look.
A quick-witted worker spoke up, "Sis is here."
Zhou Yueshen’s stern expression faltered. He turned and saw Si Nian standing at a distance, hesitant to come closer.
His dark eyes narrowed slightly before he dismissed the men for lunch and walked toward her.
The group exhaled in relief, casting grateful glances at Si Nian.
She felt awkward—she hadn’t meant to interrupt, only to observe from afar.
She hadn’t expected someone to call her out.
"Why are you here?" Zhou Yueshen’s voice was deep.
Maybe it was the harsh sunlight, but his skin seemed even darker today.
His sharp brows and tense expression made him look intimidating.
"I brought you food. Yu Dong said you were here."
She frowned. "He told me what happened. Is everything alright?"
Zhou Yueshen nodded slightly. "Nothing major. A few still haven’t been recovered."
Pork was expensive these days, and even piglets were worth a fair amount.
Many villagers raised pigs to sell, and a full-grown hog could fetch a good price by year’s end.
If someone took a piglet, chances were they wouldn’t give it back willingly.
"You should eat first. I made bone broth noodles—they’ll get too thick if they sit too long."
Zhou Yueshen nodded. "Alright."
They returned to the office, where Yu Dong had already left.
When Si Nian opened the lunchbox, the noodles had thickened a little, but the aroma was still rich.
Luckily, she had packed the broth separately, just in case.
Zhou Yueshen wiped his sweat with a towel and sat down.
He had barely taken two bites when Yu Dong’s voice boomed from outside, "Boss, everything’s loaded. When are we heading out?"
Si Nian paused and looked at Zhou Yueshen.
He met her gaze and explained, "There’s an urgent delivery this afternoon. I might be back late—don’t wait for me for dinner."
With that, he finished the noodles in a few mouthfuls, drank the remaining broth, and downed a bottle of water before standing to leave.
Si Nian rose as well. As he took two steps, she called out, "Zhou Yueshen."
He stopped and turned, his voice low. "What is it?"
Her voice softened with concern. "Drive carefully, and make sure to rest."
These past few days, he had been arriving at the farm by 3 or 4 a.m. and returning late at night, barely getting three or four hours of sleep.
She was worried.
Even the strongest body couldn’t endure this forever.
She took two steps closer. "I’ll ask my mother to hurry my brother back."
Zhou Yueshen paused, studying her eyes for a moment. His grip on the door loosened before he suddenly turned and strode back to her, shutting the door behind him.
Si Nian’s heart raced.
She looked up, about to speak, when Zhou Yueshen captured her lips in a kiss.
She gasped in surprise, trying to pull away, but his large hand cradled the back of her neck, forcing her to meet him.
When he finally broke away, his voice was rough. "Don’t look at me like that next time."
It made him reluctant to leave.
Her lips glistened, still dazed, as his thumb brushed the delicate skin of her throat, sending shivers through her.
She lifted her gaze to meet his darkened eyes, heavy with desire.
In that moment, Si Nian was lost too.
He had never said he loved her, but his actions spoke volumes.
Maybe he wasn’t good with words, but the way he touched her told her everything.
Her mind went blank. Ignoring his warning look, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.
Zhou Yueshen’s eyes darkened, and he kissed her again, his tongue claiming hers like a fish weaving through water.
His rough hand still held her neck, tilting her head back as he deepened the kiss, until a soft moan escaped her—completely forgetting they were still in the office.
