Chapter 32: She actually likes women!

Watching the two figures disappear into the scattered raindrops, Cao Wen had only one question in his mind: Did she just blush?

Yes, she had indeed blushed.

Cao Wen could doubt many things, but how could he question the gaze of a former sniper?

Having known Xu Duoyan for so long, he had seen her happy, angry, sad—it was as if he had witnessed all her emotions.

But this was the first time he had ever seen her blush!

What did blushing mean?

Of course, it meant embarrassment!

Why embarrassed?

Cao Wen’s mind raced.

Embarrassment stems from feelings of shame and shyness, which then cause the face to flush.

Now, relating this to the specific event: Qiao Family’s Fourth had linked arms with Xu Duoyan, and she felt either shame or shyness.

So which was it—shame or shyness?

Cao Wen tried to reconstruct Xu Duoyan’s state of mind at that moment: Qiao Family’s Fourth was fresh-faced and lively, the village beauty.

Xu Duoyan, seeing such a pretty and clever girl, naturally felt envious and thought herself inferior, hence feeling shame.

But why would Xu Duoyan feel shame?

She and Qiao Family’s Fourth were completely different types, and she herself was equally, if not more, attractive.

Where would shame come from?

No.

Cao Wen pressed his lips together, so shame was impossible.

That meant she was…shy?

Imagine a big guy suddenly hooking his arm around Cao Wen’s shoulder saying, “Thanks for the umbrella.”

He would probably just smile and say, “You’re welcome, be careful on the road.”

Who would blush from something so normal?

If Xu Duoyan had linked arms with him like that, he would have ignored it.

Why would Xu Duoyan blush when she linked arms with him?

That must mean…if you extended this logic, then it meant…

Thinking of this, Cao Wen suddenly widened his eyes.

Thunder cracked like a bolt to his head, exploding with a boom inside his brain.

For a moment, it felt as if something heavy had fallen to the ground.

Cao Wen looked closely—not rain hitting the ground, but his heart shattering like raindrops.

He leaned against the door railing, biting his lip.

Xu Duoyan actually liked women!

No wonder she never glanced at those handsome and flirtatious scholars outside the Shuyuan gate, focusing only on business;

No wonder she showed no reaction when she saw him shirtless, only thinking about washing clothes;

No wonder she always volunteered happily to husk the grain.

He didn’t even realize when she had given away the hairpin he had gifted her—a borrowed flower to present someone else!

It was obvious she already had someone in her heart!

Cao Wen felt his whole head swimming as if the rain had just poured harder and blurred his thoughts.

He couldn’t form a single coherent response.

This was too dramatic.

Too much drama.

If only he could change, learn from it—how could he?

How could one learn or change this?

When Xu Duoyan saw Qiao Family’s Fourth safely home, the rain had already grown heavier outside.

He took down his umbrella under the eaves, shook off the rain, and reopened it on one side.

“You’re back. Didn’t get caught in the rain, right?”

Lu Lingbi was making a fan under the eaves.

Xu Duoyan shook her head.

“It’s windy with the rain. Mother, come inside and work.”

“It’s nothing. The weather was stuffy earlier, so a bit of breeze outside is good.”

Xu Duoyan nodded. Seeing no one in the main room, he asked, “Where’s Cao Wen? With this heavy rain, did he go to the Market?”

“No, he didn’t go out. Seems like he went back to his room.”

Hearing this, Xu Duoyan relaxed and stepped inside, only to find Cao Wen’s door tightly shut.

His brow furrowed. It was still daytime—why close the door?

He brewed some tea in the main room and waited, but Cao Wen did not open the door.

If he was just changing clothes, he should be out by now.

Could he be sleeping?

But knowing Cao Wen’s habits—he rarely napped and was usually full of energy—how could he still be resting this early?

He wondered if Cao Wen was upset about Qiao Family’s Fourth.

Thinking this made his heart heavy.

Could it be that Cao Wen had feelings for Qiao Family’s Fourth?

A pure-hearted and kind young lady like Qiao Family’s Fourth was certainly attractive to men.

Cao Wen had said he wouldn’t settle down for two years to save money first—could it be that he felt unworthy of Qiao Family’s Fourth under his current conditions?

After thinking it over, he couldn’t come up with an answer.

Xu Duoyan couldn’t sit still inside, so she went to knock on Cao Wen’s door.

At the sound of the knock, Cao Wen jumped up from the bed.

He knew it was her without needing to ask but hesitated before responding through the door, “What’s up?”

After a moment’s pause, he slapped himself in the face mentally.

What was he waiting for?

Xu Duoyan wouldn’t say much.

He was about to get up when the unlatched door creaked open a crack, and Xu Duoyan poked her head inside.

“Resting?”

“Ah, it started raining, so I thought I’d come in and wait a bit.”

Cao Wen glanced at her wet clothes, intending to ask if she had gotten drenched, but the sourness in his chest overwhelmed his words, and he said instead, “Is Miss Qiao safely home?”

Xu Duoyan pursed her lips and nodded.

“As long as you see her home safe, you don’t have to worry anymore.”

Xu Duoyan felt a pang of bitterness at this and frowned.

Sure enough, that brat was upset because he hadn’t gone to see Qiao Family’s Fourth off.

He was upset too, a wave of disappointment washing over him.

After a long silence, he looked at Cao Wen.

“Miss Qiao is a very good girl—pretty and charming, lively and clever. Right?”

He actually complimented her right in front of him!

Cao Wen’s expression remained unchanged, but he ground his molars quietly.

He responded sarcastically, “Yes, very likeable. Such a girl, surely all men and women would like her.”

Xu Duoyan raised an eyebrow and stared at Cao Wen for a moment before asking, “Is that so? Then would you hate men?”

“I’m a man—why would I hate men?”

Xu Duoyan’s hand at her side clenched slightly without thinking, then she carefully and slowly asked, “Then…would you like men?”

Cao Wen’s eyes widened, his brow tightened. What kind of question was this?

He stared hard at Xu Duoyan, trying to read something familiar from her beautiful face but realized he had never truly understood her.

So, just because she liked women, it was fine, but he wasn’t allowed to like women?

Did she want him to like men instead?

His chest heaved noticeably.

Great, he’d just discovered that Xu Duoyan’s thoughts were really twisted!

“Why do you ask? Do you want me to live with men?”

Xu Duoyan looked at his scowling face, opened her mouth, and suddenly felt as if she had become mute, something caught in her throat.

No matter how hard she tried, no words would come out.

She narrowed her eyes, trying to hide the disappointment inside.

Cao Wen’s answer and reaction had already given her the truth.

Though she had long expected this, hearing it spoken aloud still made her feel as if everything was collapsing around her.

“Sorry.”

The door gently closed.

Cao Wen saw the person outside turn around, making the last gesture at him.

For a moment, his heart felt heavy.

Why apologize all of a sudden?

He sat on the edge of the bed, frowning deeply.

Had he spoken too harshly?

There was nothing wrong with liking someone—even if she liked women, that was fine too. He was just… unsure how to respond.

But he hadn’t even said much just now.

Cao Wen’s frustration deepened.

He couldn’t understand how things had come to this.

The rain didn’t last long—about the time it takes for incense to burn.

By afternoon, the clouds dispersed and the sun came out.

Seeing the clear sky, Cao Wen decided to take their mountain goods to the Market.

He noticed Xu Duoyan had already packed everything neatly.

After rain, it wasn’t convenient to go into the Mountain, and there was nothing else to do at home.

Feeling a bit awkward, Cao Wen asked, “How about we go to the Market together?”

Xu Duoyan didn’t object, only nodding expressionlessly.

Having sold Huajiao a few times and made regular customers, they delivered the goods directly, and the buyers paid promptly.

With nothing else to buy, they prepared to return.

On the way, both fell into their own thoughts, barely exchanging words.

Cao Wen felt uneasy in this silence.

Counting the money from the mountain goods, they split it as usual.

Cao Wen fidgeted with the silver, trying to find an opportunity to talk to Xu Duoyan.

“Stop right there! If you run again, I’ll break your legs!”

Before Cao Wen could finish counting, someone suddenly shoved his lower back hard.

He didn’t fall, but the person slid off him and then grabbed his thigh.

“That’s my brother. He has money for you!”

Cao Wen quickly gripped the silver in his hand, didn’t even look down clearly, and reflexively kicked the person holding him away.

A dull thud followed.

Turning back, Cao Wen saw he had kicked none other than Zheng Kui.

Two men chasing Zheng Kui froze at the sight, puzzled but unwilling to take the chance to grab him.

“Zheng Kui, if you don’t pay back soon, don’t blame us if we come to your house.”

Zheng Kui lay on the ground, nearly flattened by Cao Wen’s kick.

He had sought Cao Wen out hoping his skills could help block the debt collectors, but instead, he got kicked.

Clutching his side, gasping for breath, he recklessly snarled at the two men, “Come and kill me if you want. Then you won’t get a penny back.”

Seeing Zheng Kui looking like a ghost, the two men were even more wary—especially of Cao Wen.

“We’ll give you three more days. If you don’t pay by then, you’ll be in big trouble!”

With that, the two glanced at Cao Wen and turned to leave quickly.

Cao Wen realized Zheng Kui must have borrowed money from a loan shark.

Now that debt collectors were after him, the punk wanted to use Cao Wen as a shield.

He’d once been arrogant, but now he was a marked man.

Feeling unlucky and wanting nothing to do with it, Cao Wen told Xu Duoyan, “Let’s go.”

Zheng Kui struggled up and saw the two walking side by side, looking so harmonious it made him angry.

His life had become a mess.

The small underlings lived better than him.

Thinking about being relentlessly chased for debt, feeling worthless even at the Qian Family estate, he suddenly grinned crazily and chased after them.

“You’re asking for death, huh!”

Seeing Zheng Kui follow them, Cao Wen instinctively pulled Xu Duoyan behind him for protection.

“You want me dead? What’s the matter—are you hiding something you’re afraid I’ll blab about?”

Wiping the dirt from his face, Zheng Kui stretched out his hand.

“Lend me some money, cousin. Maybe if I’m happy, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

He cast a meaningful glance at Xu Duoyan beside Cao Wen, then fixed his eyes on Cao Wen.

“Well? My good cousin?”

Cao Wen, seeing Zheng Kui’s hooligan look, didn’t hesitate and punched him twice to shut him up.

Zheng Kui didn’t expect Cao Wen to attack without warning and quickly covered his head, scurrying like a groundhog.

Realizing he couldn’t get money from Cao Wen, Zheng Kui didn’t want to let him off easily. While fleeing, he shouted loudly: “Xu Duoyan, you really think Cao Wen cares about you? It was me who lent him money to marry you! The condition was that you also serve me…”

Zheng Kui was silenced by someone pressing down his head before he finished.

Even so, Xu Duoyan caught some of the filthy words.

He slowly shifted his gaze from the crazed, laughing Zheng Kui to Cao Wen.

The panicked look in his eyes met Cao Wen’s, and Xu Duoyan’s heart sank.

Although from the start, he had thought Cao Wen wasn’t a good man and was often led astray by Zheng Kui, he had never imagined it was this bad.

Suddenly, Xu Duoyan found it hard to breathe.

He looked away quickly and hurried off, not even knowing what he was trying to avoid.

“Both of you!”

“Ha! This so-called marital love is nothing special.”

Zheng Kui laughed recklessly, satisfied with the outcome.

Cao Wen shook him off and kicked him in the back, then quickly ran after Xu Duoyan.