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Bonus chapter! Thank you to JustSomeOne for the donation! ^^
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He didn't say "can't" but "not enough" instead.
Anyone could understand what Miao Ciyu meant by those words. If he wanted his help, there would have to be more in return.
The villagers weren’t the least bit surprised. In Miao Village, the highest status had never belonged to the village chief—it was the two overseers who held real power.
The idea that a single "Brother Ciyu" could make an overseer work in the fields was absurd. Before today, none of them could have imagined it.
Yet when it came to the village chief’s son, it made perfect sense. If they were in Miao Ciyu’s place, they, too, would have been willing to help just for that sweet, pleading "Brother."
The boy was so spoiled—the kind of delicate creature who ought to be cradled in someone’s palms and pampered endlessly.
Suddenly, the villagers understood why the chief had kept him locked away at home. And they bitterly regretted never visiting the chief’s house before.
If they’d built a good relationship with the chief… could they have been candidates for the boy’s hand?
But it was too late now. Deliberately ignoring the issue of gender, some villagers clenched the herbs in their hands, faces twisting with envy toward the unnamed suitor who would soon arrive.
Ruan Qing had no idea what the villagers were thinking—nor did he see their distorted expressions, as they kept their heads bowed. After Miao Ciyu’s refusal, he glared at him, flushed with humiliation like a spurned lover.
"What do you mean by that?"
Miao Ciyu didn’t answer. Instead, he tilted his chin toward a shaded spot nearby and walked over unhurriedly—clearly signaling for Ruan Qing to follow.
The early summer sun was harsh, and prolonged exposure was uncomfortable. Ruan Qing’s skin was too delicate; even just sitting at the edge of the field had left it faintly pink.
He didn’t refuse and trailed after Miao Ciyu.
Under the tree, the air was cool, with an occasional breeze brushing pleasantly against his skin.
The moment they reached the shade, Miao Ciyu turned abruptly, seizing Ruan Qing’s wrist and pulling him forward—trapping him between the tree and himself.
He loomed over the boy, his gaze heavy with unspoken pressure.
"Kiss me, and I’ll help you."
Ruan Qing had been too stunned to react at first, but those words lit a fire in him. He wrenched his hand free, fury blazing in his eyes.
"You—you fieldhand! How dare you?! Are you mocking me?! Don’t think you’re special just because you know how to dig dirt!"
The live-stream audience immediately erupted with comments, egging on the scene.
[Yeah, yeah, so what if you can work? What really matters in life is having a fiancée! Who do you think you are? Once my wife’s future spouse shows up, you won’t even rank as "brother"!]
[It’s an honor to help our wife out, so don’t get cocky. Calling you "brother" is already a favor—you actually expect a kiss? Dream on! You and that guy next door deserve each other. Go sit at the dogs’ table where you belong.]
[I’ll admit he’s kinda hot, but acting this arrogant is unacceptable. How dare some random man lust after our wife? Wife! Reject him!]
Though Ruan Qing’s tone was biting, Miao Ciyu didn’t seem angered. Yet the thought that the boy’s refusal might stem from loyalty to his "fiancée" made his eyes darken imperceptibly.
Fiancée…
Miao Ciyu had initially planned to demand he reject those matchmaking candidates outright—but the arrangements were part of the boy’s mother’s dying wishes. With her body still lying in the funeral hall, defying her was near impossible.
So he’d settled for a kiss instead.
And now, before even meeting the so-called fiancée, the boy was already "preserving his virtue" for them.
Pathetic.
Suppressing the violence simmering in his chest, Miao Ciyu looked down at him and spoke coolly:
"Your fiancée’s probably weaker than you. Can they work the fields for you? Do their chores? Even support you?"
The answer was obvious: no.
If anything, marrying them might mean doing their share of labor too—something the original owner would’ve found intolerable.
With his mother, the family’s pillar, gone, surviving alone was hard enough. Supporting a wife—one forced on him by a deathbed demand—was unthinkable.
Had the original owner stood here, he might’ve caved.
His mother had spoiled him rotten: no strength, no skills, no ability to farm or even cook. Merely feeding himself was a struggle.
Ruan Qing’s face twisted, conflict flashing across his delicate features. The choice was agonizing.
Kissing a man wasn’t just about this once. It’d set a precedent—first one kiss, then another, until all boundaries crumbled.
Miao Ciyu seemed to understand this as well. He didn’t pressure Ruan Qing, instead standing silently in place, waiting for him to make his choice.
Miao Ciyu was tall—nearly 190 cm—so much so that his figure completely obscured Ruan Qing’s, blocking him from view from behind.
Ruan Qing leaned against the tree, lips pressed tightly together. After hesitating for almost a full minute, he finally squeezed his eyes shut, steeled himself, and rose onto his tiptoes to press a kiss toward Miao Ciyu’s cheek.
But his lips met empty air.
At the same time, a loud splash echoed—the sound of something heavy hitting water.
Ruan Qing blinked open his eyes in confusion, only to see Miao Ciyu sprawled in the muddy field a short distance away.
And standing beside him now was another man.
Miao Linyuan retracted his foot, hands tucked casually into his pockets as he looked down at Miao Ciyu in the field. A smile curled on his lips—one that was unmistakably mocking.
"Whoops? That wasn’t on purpose~"
"Brother Ciyu~ You okay~?"
His voice was drawn out, dripping with sarcasm, clearly meant to provoke.
Miao Ciyu’s expression darkened as he shot Miao Linyuan a glare. Pushing himself up from the field, his clothes were completely stained with mud, his hair damp from the splashed water—his entire appearance utterly disheveled.
The spot where he’d fallen was part of the villagers’ medicinal herb field. The villager in charge of that section didn’t dare say a word, even though the freshly planted herbs had been crushed.
Those nearby even shuffled farther away, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire of the two men’s anger.
Disputes between Overseers were never something ordinary villagers could interfere in.
Miao Linyuan let out a derisive snort at Miao Ciyu’s stony silence, his contempt barely concealed.
"Didn’t expect Brother Ciyu to be so helpful—actually willing to do someone else’s work. How come you’ve never offered to help me?"
Miao Ciyu ignored him entirely. Slowly, he stepped back onto the ridge, pulling off his soaked shirt to wring out the water.
Despite his disheveled state, his movements still carried an innate grace—like a fallen nobleman, dignified even in ruin.
And his physique was undeniably impressive: a tall, sturdy frame, broad shoulders, and well-defined abs that exuded raw strength—the kind of build that would make any man envious.
Even the kind Ruan Qing had always dreamed of having.
But his own body was weak, exhausted after just a few steps, let alone capable of building muscle.
Unconsciously, Ruan Qing’s gaze lingered for a second too long—though he quickly averted his eyes before anyone else noticed.
But Miao Linyuan, standing closest to him, caught it immediately.
His pupils chilled.
Before, he’d never found Miao Ciyu particularly irritating.
Now, though?
Now, he couldn’t stand the sight of him.
He suppressed the hostility in his eyes and turned to Ruan Qing with a faint smile. "No matter how decent some people pretend to be, they’re still just opportunists taking advantage of others. Don’t you agree?"
Ruan Qing glanced at Miao Ciyu, whose expression had darkened at Miao Linyuan’s words, then at Miao Linyuan’s mocking face—and nodded in agreement.
Encouraged by this response, Miao Linyuan’s grin widened as he looked at Miao Ciyu, whose face grew even colder.
"See that? Did you really think helping out once would make you a good person?"
"You managed to survive in Miao Village. Did you honestly believe that makes you any better?"
He turned back to Ruan Qing, as if seeking further validation. "Right?"
Ruan Qing really didn’t want to answer. He had no intention of drawing the conflict toward himself, but under Miao Linyuan’s gaze, he had no choice but to stay in character.
The original owner never missed a chance to badmouth anyone from Miao Village—especially after Miao Ciyu had made such a demand.
Just because the original owner would compromise didn’t mean he’d do so happily.
"That’s right. No one in Miao Village is any good." Ruan Qing spoke as if he’d found a kindred spirit, his voice laced with disgust and disdain.
Miao Linyuan’s smile faltered. "...Well, not all of them."
He actually agreed—Miao Village was full of rotten people—but for some reason, hearing it now felt... off.
Just as he was about to backtrack, a phone suddenly rang.
Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling.
Everyone turned to Ruan Qing. The sound was coming from him—it was his phone.
Miao Village had no outside signal. Calls couldn’t be made or received unless both parties were within the village boundaries.
But the villagers were cold and distant, rarely calling each other. Phones were practically useless here.
Which meant—the only people who’d call the boy were his so-called "blind dates," who were due to arrive soon.
Miao Linyuan’s smile vanished, his eyes turning icy. Even Miao Ciyu, usually so impassive, wasn’t unaffected.
As for Ruan Qing—he froze.
He’d deliberately avoided mentioning the suitors, even steering conversations away from the topic, precisely because he feared these men would simply eliminate his so-called "prospects."
But just then, the phone rang.
Ruan Qing's eyelashes fluttered slightly. Without hesitation, he rejected the call—only for it to ring again immediately.
"Go on, answer it."
Miao Linyuan had long lost any desire to explain himself. With a lifted chin and an amused smirk, he teased, "Who knows? Maybe it's your little wife calling."
Ignoring his taunt, Ruan Qing moved to decline the call again—but before he could, the phone was snatched from his hand.
Miao Linyuan glanced at the caller ID, and his grin widened.
"Well, well. So it is."
Though he was smiling, his eyes were icy, his tone laced with something unsettling that sent a chill down the spine.
