Hot.
So hot.
Drugged and delirious, Xie Jiaojiao twisted her slender waist, rubbing herself all over Jiang Ye, lighting little fires everywhere.
The moment he entered the room, locked the door, and saw Xie Jiaojiao, Jiang Ye knew he'd been tricked. His brother Jiang Zhu wasn't in trouble at all—he'd been set up.
Realizing this, a glint of cold anger flashed in Jiang Ye's eyes.
His large, well-defined hand gripped Xie Jiaojiao's waist, trying to pull her off him. But her waist was so slim it felt like he could wrap one hand around it. For a split second, he was dazed, his gaze darkening.
In that moment of distraction, the desperate and aroused Xie Jiaojiao writhed like a snake and slipped out of his grasp. She wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her soft, candy-pink lips toward his.
But due to the height difference, she accidentally kissed his Adam's apple instead, making Jiang Ye let out a low curse.
"F**k."
He gripped her waist again, forcefully pulling her unruly body away. His voice was hoarse as he growled, "Xie Jiaojiao, take a good look. Do you even know who I am?"
This time, Jiang Ye used more force. Xie Jiaojiao frowned in pain, her delicate brows knitting, her flushed face scrunching up. A hint of clarity flickered in her dazed eyes.
Jiang Ye clicked his tongue. So delicate. He eased his grip slightly, but his face remained fierce as he leaned in close and snarled, "I'm not that pretty-boy you like."
Xie Jiaojiao's mind was still foggy, but deep down, she knew—she didn't want some soft, weak scholar.
With her misty eyes, she took a long look at the man in front of her. His gaze was fierce like a wild wolf's, his skin bronze, and he was strong enough to lift her into the air—
All signs pointed to one thing: this was a real man.
"I don't want a pretty boy. I want you."
Even if it made no sense, she declared it with confidence.
Jiang Ye chuckled. "You asked for it."
He wasn't a good man—far from it. And he certainly wasn't the saintly type who could sit still while a soft, sweet beauty begged for him. If she was throwing herself into his arms saying she wanted only him, what kind of man would he be if he held back?
Inside the rundown cottage, the man's low growls and the woman's breathy moans intertwined, forming a melody of forbidden passion.
Outside the door, Jiang Xiu, who had been eavesdropping, blushed at the sounds. Guilt briefly flickered across her face, but it was quickly replaced by the satisfaction of a successful scheme.
Don't blame me, Xie Jiaojiao. Who told you to keep clinging to Brother Yu?
Anyone who dared compete with her for Brother Yu was her enemy.
Besides, Jiang Ye may not have the best background, but at least he could earn full work points and was good at chores. Taking care of someone like Xie Jiaojiao—who couldn't lift a bucket or carry a load—was no problem. So really, she hadn't ruined her life.
Thinking this, Jiang Xiu let go of the last trace of guilt.
Seeing her plan succeed, she didn't stick around to listen further. Instead, she turned and ran down the main path where the others were finishing work.
"Something's wrong!"
"Something bad happened!"
"Xiu'er, catch your breath and talk slowly. What happened?"
"It's... it's Comrade Xie..."
"What about Comrade Xie? Speak up, girl! Don't leave us hanging!"
"She... she went into the abandoned house on the edge of the village with Jiang Ye. And I heard... strange sounds." Jiang Xiu stammered, then added with feigned concern, "Auntie, do you think something might've happened to them?"
"Something happened?" one of the older women scoffed knowingly. "Sounds to me like they're up to something indecent."
Liu Niannian's heart leapt with joy hearing people throw dirt on Xie Jiaojiao's name, but she put on a face of righteous fury and immediately jumped to her cousin's defense.
"I won't let you talk about Jiaojiao like that!"
"She's not some two-timing tramp!"
"That Jiang Ye is just a rough country boy with the worst kind of background. There's no way Jiaojiao would mess around with someone like him.
"She's always liked Comrade Su. That Jiang Ye must've had evil intentions when he saw how pretty my cousin is—he kidnapped her and tried to take advantage of her!"
Although Liu Niannian was supposedly defending Xie Jiaojiao, her words painted an even worse picture—she indirectly confirmed that Jiaojiao was alone with two men, currently locked up with Jiang Ye.
Jiang Ye's grandfather used to be a landlord (reworded for sensitivity), so the family was already disliked in the village. But regardless, he was still a villager of Jiangjia Village.
Compared to these delicate, trouble-making city youth, the villagers were naturally going to take Jiang Ye's side.
Liu Niannian's words made it sound like she thought villagers were inferior, that they bullied educated city girls. That rubbed everyone the wrong way.
"Comrade Liu, what do you mean by that? What's wrong with us country folk?"
"Jiang Ye may look rough and have a poor background, but at least he earns full work points. How's that not better than that weakling Comrade Su who works all day and only earns three?"
"Exactly! My little Erwa is only five and already earns three points. That grown man can't even do as much as a child. He should be ashamed!"
"Besides, your cousin might look all innocent, but who knows what she's like behind closed doors? With a face like that, she's practically a seductress. Who's to say she didn't seduce Jiang Ye first?" grumbled Wang Laidi.
Her own man had been enchanted by Comrade Xie. He stared at her every day during work.
She didn't know what it was about Xie Jiaojiao—maybe her flirty face, or maybe those full curves and that waist slimmer than a reed.
Ever since then, her man had transformed—he came home every night full of energy and passion, but he always muttered Xie Jiaojiao's name in the middle of it.
That made Wang Laidi both pleased and furious. She gritted her teeth in anger at the woman who had caused it all.
"You... you all..." Liu Niannian clutched her chest, her breathing ragged—clearly enraged. But deep down, she was eager for them to rush over and catch them in the act.
Wasn't Xie Jiaojiao supposed to be delicate?
Didn't she always favor cultured men?
Wasn't she pampered by the Xie family like a precious jewel, never allowed to suffer even a little?
Liu Niannian would see her married off to the most vulgar, lowly, and fearsome man. Only then could she pay back ten years of being ignored and treated like nothing.
Lowering her gaze to hide the hatred in her eyes, Liu Niannian blinked away her tears. Yet she still stubbornly said, "No matter what, Jiaojiao would never do something like that."
Even if she was afraid and upset, she still insisted on defending her cousin. That image—like a delicate white flower, standing tall despite wind and rain—stabbed straight into Su Yu's heart.
"Well, whether she did or not... let's go see for ourselves."
Someone in the crowd suddenly spoke up, and the suggestion instantly gained traction. Without hesitation, the villagers began striding briskly toward the abandoned house, eager to catch them in the act.
Watching the crowd march off in such a dramatic display, Liu Niannian lowered her gaze, a sly glint flashing through her eyes.
That fool Jiang Xiu had done well—she hadn't disappointed her.