Chapter 12: Chunjiu Town

The unfamiliar warmth of the man seemed to seep through her skin, and Ye Rui felt as if her fingertips were burning, aflame with a scorching heat.

She quickly withdrew her hand and, as if to disguise it, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Yet, thinking back to that brief touch, Ye Rui couldn’t help but steal a glance at Huo Fang in embarrassment.

He calmly ate the two mints in his hand, his brows and eyes serene as he drove, seemingly unaware of the fleeting closeness when their fingertips met.

At that thought, Ye Rui blinked, her chest rising and falling softly as she let out a breath of relief.

After enjoying the mint, her spirits lifted considerably. She leaned toward the window again, resuming her gaze over the mountain scenery outside.

Earlier, when she felt unwell, everything seemed dizzy and uncomfortable, leaving her no mind for the view. But now, as she looked again, the lush green mountains beneath the clear blue sky and white clouds appeared stunning in every way.

Unconsciously, a smile graced Ye Rui’s lips, revealing the delicate, sweet dimples on her cheeks, gentle and lovely.

Huo Fang, gripping the steering wheel, caught sight of the faint curve of her lips beside him. His eyes darkened slightly, and he too smiled quietly.

In the front seats of the SUV, the “eldest cousin” drove while the “younger cousin-in-law” admired the scenery, remaining silent.

But in the back, Xu Xiaoni and Zhou Qingyuan whispered incessantly.

Xu Xiaoni, known for her boldness, wouldn’t have dared otherwise to know about Zhou Qingyuan’s fiancée. Despite being nearly married, he was still entangled with her.

Now, taking advantage of Ye Rui sitting in the front passenger seat and unlikely to notice, Xu Xiaoni pressed half her body against Zhou Qingyuan’s, like a sticky plaster.

Zhou Qingyuan looked flustered and tried to push her away, but Xu Xiaoni only smiled and intensified her embrace, looping her arm around his neck and teasingly asking, “Qingyuan, has Sister Rui ever hugged you like this?”

Zhou Qingyuan shot her a sharp glance and gritted his teeth, whispering, “Stop with this nonsense. Put your arm down!”

Though Zhou Qingyuan’s appearance was fair and refined, when he frowned, he could be quite intimidating.

Yet Xu Xiaoni was undeterred, exaggerating her tone as she continued, “You’re engaged, but haven’t hugged? Haven’t even held hands?”

Zhou Qingyuan frowned deeply, drawn in by her words, “Of course, I’ve held Sister Rui’s hand.”

Xu Xiaoni smiled, “Looks like just holding hands, but no hugs.”

Zhou Qingyuan’s expression soured, and he didn’t reply.

Though he and his fiancée were officially a couple who cared for each other, she was shy, and the closest they had been was holding hands—nothing more.

Meanwhile, Xu Xiaoni chattered on, inching closer into Zhou Qingyuan’s arms, “Qingyuan, come hug me. Feel if my body is soft, touch if my heart’s fluttering.”

The SUV was spacious, and as long as the front seats didn’t turn around, they wouldn’t notice the backseat stirrings. Zhou Qingyuan fixed his gaze on the leather seat beside Ye Rui.

Her figure was well concealed by the seat, invisible to him, yet Xu Xiaoni clung to him unmistakably.

Swallowing hard, a flicker of inner struggle crossed his face. Then, tempted by the provocation, he took a deep breath and pulled Xu Xiaoni into his embrace.

Xu Xiaoni’s face lit up with triumph as she whispered near his ear, “Qingyuan, if you marry Sister Rui, will you still hold me like this?”

Zhou Qingyuan’s expression darkened, and he warned in a low voice, “Nothing happened between us. After I marry Sister Rui, don’t come near me again!”

Throughout Chunjiu Town and the surrounding ten or so miles, no one could compare to Ye Rui’s striking beauty.

So having such a fresh and lovely girl as his wife made Zhou Qingyuan immensely proud. He could never look favorably upon other women and certainly wouldn’t tolerate any disruption to his marriage with Ye Rui.

His entanglement with Xu Xiaoni was purely a momentary lapse.

Previously, she had come to the family clinic under the pretext of seeking treatment and clung to him. After some encounters, Zhou Qingyuan had hugged and held her a few times.

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Now, with his wedding looming, Zhou Qingyuan was determined to sever all ties.

He would never allow Xu Xiaoni to interfere with his marriage.

After he finished speaking, Xu Xiaoni, anticipating his intentions, immediately turned cold and pretended not to know him.

Her eyes rolled, she bit her lip in frustration, but her words were carefully chosen:

“Don’t worry, Qingyuan. If you marry Sister Rui, I’ll send you a big gift. How could I still pester you then?”

Hearing this, Zhou Qingyuan nodded in satisfaction.

However, the two in the back thought their quiet chatter and closeness would go unnoticed.

But as the car smoothly rounded a bend on the mountain road, Huo Fang glanced at the rearview mirror with a dark gaze and narrowed his eyes expressionlessly.

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Chunjiu Town, nestled in a mountain hollow, lay far from the world, with little contact beyond. Villagers taking the bus to the city faced nearly three hours of travel.

Yet today, riding with Huo Fang, the journey to the county seat was greatly shortened, taking only about two hours.

The county was small, with a single bustling main commercial street housing two chain jewelry stores.

The black SUV stopped by the roadside near one of the gold shops. Huo Fang pulled out the keys, and several people got out.

Xu Xiaoni glanced at Ye Rui, her eyes flickering, then took the initiative to link her arm, smiling and saying quickly:

“Sister Rui, I’m in no hurry to buy clothes. Can I come with you to the shop to look at the wedding gold? I can help you pick out something.”

In Chunjiu Town, Ye Rui and Xu Xiaoni hardly interacted or spoke more than a few words. But this visit to the city, Xu Xiaoni was unusually warm and enthusiastic.

Perhaps the shadow of the woman Ye Rui saw last night by her fiancé’s side at Lotus Pond planted a small seed of unease in her heart.

Uncomfortable with Xu Xiaoni’s friendliness, Ye Rui frowned slightly.

She lifted her hand and gently removed Xu Xiaoni’s arm, replying politely and softly, “If you want to come along, of course you can.”

Then she pursed her lips and strode toward the jewelry store.

Xu Xiaoni stared at Ye Rui’s slender, graceful figure, gritting her teeth before quickly following.

Zhou Qingyuan watched the two women enter the store, his breath growing heavier, a subtle joy stirring in his heart.

After all, both women were connected to him in some way.

Smiling, Zhou Qingyuan said to Huo Fang, “Big brother, shall we go in too? I don’t even know what style of wedding gold Sister Rui will like.”

Huo Fang glanced at his cousin with a calm voice: “A man’s important qualities are responsibility and loyalty to family.”

Zhou Qingyuan’s expression stiffened.

Huo Fang’s tone was light but pointed: “You’re about to marry. I believe you understand this clearly.”

Though Huo Fang had just returned to Chunjiu Town the previous night, Zhou Qingyuan noticed his maturity and reserved nature; he didn’t waste words.

Huo Fang’s words made Zhou Qingyuan’s guilty conscience quake, and he hastily nodded in agreement.

“Big brother, I know, of course!”

Huo Fang’s sharp and cold expression revealed no extra emotion. Without another glance at Zhou Qingyuan, he strode directly into the gold shop.

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The gold shop had just opened that morning, with few customers. Only Ye Rui stood before the glass display case.

Xu Xiaoni, unable to contain herself, had gone to another counter, so they were not standing together.

The saleswoman attending Ye Rui was a middle-aged lady with a long face. Upon learning Ye Rui wanted to buy wedding gold, she enthusiastically began introducing the gold rings.

Looking at the bright and beautiful young woman before her, she smiled warmly and said, “Buying wedding gold is an important celebration. Has your fiancé come with you?”

Earlier outside the shop, Ye Rui had entered first to avoid lingering with Xu Xiaoni, neglecting to wait for her fiancé.

Now, hearing the saleswoman’s friendly words, she smiled, “He’s coming. He’ll be here shortly.”

Just then, turning toward the door, the saleswoman saw a tall man enter.

He was broad-shouldered, well-built, upright and strong.

An experienced saleswoman who had seen many men could immediately tell how powerful he was.

For a moment, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Then, glancing back at the young woman, a knowing smile played on her lips.

She hadn’t expected the delicate, fair-skinned beauty before her—the little white rabbit—to be so brave, able to handle this kind of man.

At the same time, the saleswoman admired her taste.

Unlike most young women today who preferred pale, refined men who were all show but no substance, this girl favored the robust, towering type.

The saleswoman smiled continuously, pursing her lips as she reminded, “Miss, your fiancé has arrived.”

Ye Rui nodded, assuming the saleswoman meant Zhou Qingyuan.

She lowered her eyes to the glass case, pointing at a rose-shaped gold ring on display. “I’d like to see this one.”

The saleswoman deftly opened the case, retrieved the rose gold ring, and pushed it toward Ye Rui, enthusiastically explaining:

“Nowadays, young women love this rose gold ring. It’s a classic, beautiful design with fine craftsmanship. Try it on.”

Ye Rui’s eyes curved in a gentle smile. She nodded and slipped the rose-shaped ring onto her finger.

Her fingers were slender and fair to begin with, and the rose gold ring only made them look more radiant.

The saleswoman praised, “Such lovely white hands! With this gold ring, just look how beautiful it is!”

Ye Rui knew saleswomen were skilled talkers, always generous with compliments.

She simply smiled in response.

When she felt her “fiancé” approach and stood beside her, she raised the hand wearing the rose ring and asked affectionately, “Do you like this ring?”

Huo Fang stood slightly behind her, his gaze lowered to her delicate white hand. He replied with a soft, “It’s beautiful.”