After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

The mountain forest after the rain had an earthy smell, mixed with the fragrance of rotting leaves and pine needles.

The fire in the cave had long since gone out, leaving only a pile of grayish-white embers.

Lin Qingqing was awakened by the cold.

Although the military overcoat was thick, it was only one piece, covering the top but not the bottom.

She moved her legs in a daze, and a tingling, numb sensation instantly shot up her spine, especially her lower back, which felt as if it had been crushed by something heavy all night, sore and weak, and she couldn't muster any strength at all.

She groaned and struggled to open her eyelids.

The cave was empty.

In that instant, the panic in her heart overwhelmed her physical discomfort. She sat up abruptly, her military coat slipping halfway down, letting in a gust of cold wind that made her shiver.

"woke up?"

A deep sound came from the cave entrance.

Backlit, Qin Lie's tall figure stood there, holding two freshly cleaned wild rabbits, still dripping blood.

He changed back into the black vest he had worn yesterday, which was soaked through. It was probably half-dry now because of his high body temperature, clinging tightly to his body and outlining his well-defined muscles.

Lin Qingqing instinctively gripped the collar of her coat and curled herself up into a ball.

Last night's blush-inducing and heart-pounding images kept replaying in my mind: his burning hands, his heavy breathing, and those words, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Her cheeks burned, and she dared not look at his face, only staring at his muddy canvas shoes.

"Hmm... I'm awake." His voice was very hoarse.

Qin Lie casually tossed the rabbit on the ground and strode over.

As he drew closer, that intense sense of oppression returned. Lin Qingqing instinctively shrank back, her back pressing against the cold stone wall.

Qin Lie paused, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

"What are you hiding from?" he said irritably, with the irritability typical of someone who's just woken up early. "Am I a tiger? Do you think I can eat you?"

Lin Qingqing bit her lip and remained silent.

He didn't eat people, but the way he acted last night was even more frightening than if he had eaten people.

Qin Lie didn't waste any words with her, and took something out of his pocket and handed it to her: "Eat it while it's hot."

It's a roasted sweet potato.

The skin was somewhat charred, but it emitted a rich, sweet aroma. In this desolate wilderness, I have no idea where he got it from.

Lin Qingqing was indeed hungry, and her stomach growled at just the right moment. She blushed and reached out to take it, her fingertips accidentally brushing against his palm.

His palms were rough and dry, with a scorching heat.

Lin Qingqing recoiled as if burned, quickly pulling her hand back and taking small bites of the sweet potato. The sweet potato was very hot, and she blew on it as she ate, her cheeks bulging out like a hamster eating.

Qin Lie watched from the side.

He took out the half-pack of cigarettes from his pocket, wanted to smoke it, but after glancing at her eyes, which were red from the smoke, he put the cigarettes back in his pocket.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

He crouched down, bringing his eyes level with hers.

This posture made him appear less aggressive, but his dark eyes remained incredibly penetrating. His gaze swept over her face, finally settling on the part of her neck that was mostly hidden by the collar of her military overcoat.

There was a red mark there, its corner faintly visible.

Qin Lie's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes darkened.

Lin Qingqing noticed his gaze, her sweet potato-eating motion froze, and she subconsciously pulled her collar up, trying to cover herself up more.

"What are you covering up for?" Qin Lie sneered, reaching out to grab her wrist. "Take your hand off."

"B-Big brother..." Lin Qingqing panicked, unsure whether to swallow or spit out the sweet potato in her mouth. "No..."

Qin Lie ignored her resistance and pulled her hand away with a little force.

He moved closer and ran his rough fingertips over the red mark.

I bit too hard last night.

That skin was already delicate and white as tofu, but now the ring of teeth marks was tinged with purplish-red, standing out starkly against the snow-white neck, exuding a cruel beauty.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, his voice hoarse as if it contained grit.

Lin Qingqing trembled, and her eyes instantly reddened.

pain.

Why doesn't it hurt?

It felt burning hot, like it had been branded with a hot iron.

But she didn't dare say anything, and could only sniffle and shake her head in grievance.

Looking at her pitiful expression, Qin Lie felt that restless feeling resurface. He withdrew his hand, stood up, and looked down at her: "After you finish eating, tidy up and let's go down the mountain."

"oh."

Lin Qingqing quickly swallowed the last bite of sweet potato and hurriedly straightened her clothes.

Her clothes were dried in the oven yesterday, but they were wrinkled and covered in mud. Especially her shirt, two buttons were missing, and no matter how much she pulled, she couldn't hide what was underneath.

She was so anxious that sweat beaded on her forehead, and the more anxious she became, the more confused she became.

Qin Lie couldn't stand it anymore and threw the military overcoat back at her head: "Wear it."

"It's too big..." Lin Qingqing muttered softly.

Wearing these clothes makes walking difficult; the hem drags on the ground, covered in mud.

"Then stay naked." Qin Lie replied irritably, turning and walking out of the cave. "I'll wait for you outside, hurry up."

Lin Qingqing had no choice but to roll up her sleeves several times, lift the hem, and follow him out.

The rain has stopped outside, but the roads are still difficult to travel on.

The original dirt road had turned into a mud pit, and every step you took was a slushy mess. Water droplets still clung to the leaves of the surrounding trees, and when the wind blew, they tumbled down and landed on your neck with a cool, refreshing sensation.

Qin Lie walked ahead, carrying a huge military pack on his back and two rabbits in his hands, yet he walked very steadily.

Lin Qingqing couldn't handle it.

She followed behind, her shoes caked in mud, feeling as heavy as lead. After a few steps, her foot slipped, and she tumbled to the side.

"ah--"

The expected pain did not come.

A strong, large hand steadily supported her elbow.

Qin Lie turned around at some point and lifted her up with one hand, as if she were a chick.

"Can't you watch where you're going?" he scolded, frowning, but his hand didn't loosen its grip.

Lin Qingqing, still shaken, gasped, "The road...the road was so slippery..."

Qin Lie didn't speak. He looked down at her mud-covered cloth shoes and then at the steep mountain path ahead.

He suddenly squatted down: "Get on."

Lin Qingqing was stunned: "Huh?"

"I'll carry you." Qin Lie turned around and urged impatiently, "Don't dawdle. You'll have to walk this road yourself; you won't be able to get down before dark."

"No, no need!" Lin Qingqing waved her hands repeatedly in fright, "I can walk by myself, really!"

Should I make him carry it?

How close would you have to be?

The awkwardness from last night hadn't subsided, and now she felt extremely uncomfortable whenever she was near him.

Qin Lie didn't waste any words. He stood up, stretched out his long arm, grabbed her waist, lifted her up, and then turned her around.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Qingqing was already lying on his broad back.

"Qin Lie! Put me down!" she cried anxiously, patting his shoulder.

"If you move again, I'll throw you into a ditch."

Qin Lie supported her knees with both hands, bounced her up a bit, and strode forward.

The man's body was as hard as a rock, and it was not comfortable to lie on his back, but he walked very steadily, and even when walking on the muddy mountain road, his body did not sway at all.

Lin Qingqing struggled twice but couldn't break free, so she could only resign herself to lying on his back.

To maintain her balance, she had to wrap her arms around his neck.

With this hug, the two got even closer.

Through the thin fabric of his clothes, she could clearly feel the muscles in his back rising and falling with his movements, as well as the constant heat emanating from him.

The tip of my nose was filled with his scent.

The smell of sweat, tobacco, and that indescribable, masculine pheromone.

Lin Qingqing's heart was pounding, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck, not daring to move.

Halfway up the mountain, there is a pool of spring water.

Qin Lie put her down: "Wash your face."

Lin Qingqing then realized that her face was covered in mud, making her look like a little kitten. Embarrassed, she quickly squatted down by the puddle and splashed water on her face.

The icy mountain spring water jolted her awake, clearing her mind considerably.

She wiped her face with a handkerchief and was about to get up when her gaze inadvertently swept across the water.

Her reflection was mirrored on the calm water.

Although somewhat blurry, the purplish-red mark on the neck was clearly visible.

The location is too tricky.

It's right above the collarbone, at the edge of the collar. It will be exposed with the slightest movement.

If someone sees this...

Lin Qingqing's mind went blank, and her face turned deathly pale instantly.

In those days, widows were always surrounded by gossip. If she returned to the village with such a mark on her face, she'd be the subject of much criticism within half a day.

She frantically tugged at her collar, trying to cover the mark. But the collar of her army coat was wide, and the buttons on her shirt underneath were missing; she couldn't hide it no matter what she did.

The more you try to cover it up, the more obvious it becomes.

"What's wrong?"

After Qin Lie finished cleaning the mud off his hands, he walked over and saw her struggling with her collar. He raised an eyebrow.

Lin Qingqing, like a startled rabbit, suddenly covered her neck, her eyes darting around: "N-nothing... I'm just a little cold."

Qin Lie's gaze lingered on her hand covering her neck for two seconds before he suddenly reached out and pulled her hand away.

The purplish-red hickey was exposed to the air once again.

After all that friction along the way, the color seemed to have deepened, like a red plum blossom blooming in the snow, dazzlingly beautiful.

"What are you covering up?" he asked.

Lin Qingqing's eyes welled up with tears as she cried out, "Someone will see us... Qin Lie, if someone sees us, I'm finished..."

Her voice was trembling, and it sounded like she was crying.

She had experienced firsthand how venomous the women in the village could be.

Seeing her panicked state, Qin Lie's possessiveness not only didn't subside, but burned even brighter.

He stepped forward and forced her back against a large tree trunk.

The distance between the two instantly shrank to the point where they could hear each other's breaths.

"So what if I saw it?" Qin Lie stared into her eyes and said, enunciating each word clearly, "You're my woman, what's wrong with me touching you?"

"I'm not..." Lin Qingqing retorted subconsciously.

"no?"

Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, his gaze dangerous. "Why didn't you say so last night when you were moaning in my arms?"

Lin Qingqing blushed so deeply she felt like she was about to bleed, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

"That...that was an accident..."

"No surprises here."

Qin Lie raised his hand, his rough fingertips once again touching the red mark, pressing it slightly.

Lin Qingqing shrank her neck in pain.

"Got it." He lowered his head, his lips almost touching her earlobe, his hot breath washing over her. "This is a stamp. Once it's stamped, you're mine. That way, those dogs in the village won't be eyeing you all the time."

That's domineering and unreasonable.

Lin Qingqing was stunned by his domineering manner, staring at him blankly, forgetting to react.

Qin Lie looked at her dazed expression, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. He released his grip and turned up the collar of her military coat to cover her up slightly, but not completely.

"Let's go."

He picked up the things on the ground again, turned around, and continued walking down the mountain.

Lin Qingqing touched her burning neck and looked at the man's broad back, her heart skipping a beat.

This man... how can he be so shameless?

……

Only the last stretch of road remained on the way down the mountain.

Lin Qingqing breathed a slight sigh of relief, and her steps became lighter.

However, just as the two turned a corner and were about to enter the bamboo forest, a noisy commotion suddenly came on the wind.

"Hey, Sun Erniang, how accurate is your information? Did Widow Lin really not return all night?"

"How could it be false? I got up in the middle of the night last night and saw with my own eyes that her room was completely dark, and the door wasn't even locked! In this heavy rain, she's probably hiding in some random guy's bed!"

The voice was shrill and piercing, with a hint of meanness.

It's Sun Erniang!

Lin Qingqing stopped abruptly, her face turning deathly pale.

What I feared most came to pass.

This bamboo forest is the only way into the mountains, and the path is so narrow that only two people can walk side by side.

Just then, several women carrying baskets were walking towards them along the bamboo path ahead. Leading them was Sun Erniang, who was wearing a floral jacket and red lipstick, and next to her was Wang Dazui, the village's notorious gossip.

As they walked, they cracked sunflower seeds, discussing the torrential rain of the previous night and the village's scandalous gossip with great enthusiasm.

"Tsk tsk, that young widow seems so proper on the surface, but she's a real flirt behind the scenes. If I were to catch her with some random guy..."

The sound was getting closer.

There are only a few dozen meters left; we could crash into each other right around the corner.

Lin Qingqing's whole body was stiff, and her hands and feet were ice cold.

She looked like this—her hair was disheveled, she was wrapped in a man's military overcoat, and there was an ambiguous red mark on her neck.

Qin Lie was right beside her, shirtless and covered in mud.

If Sun Erniang and her companions saw this, it would be like mud falling into their crotches—even if it wasn't excrement, it would still look like excrement.

Not only will her reputation be completely ruined, but Qin Lie will also be dragged into it.

"What should we do..." Lin Qingqing panicked and lost her composure. She subconsciously grabbed Qin Lie's arm, her nails digging into his flesh.

Qin Lie reacted extremely quickly.

The moment he heard the sound, his eyes sharpened, and he grabbed Lin Qingqing by the waist, lifted her up, and darted behind a huge rock nearby.

The rock was in a blind spot, with a thick shrub blocking its view.

But the space is extremely small.

The two could only cling tightly together.

Qin Lie leaned against the rock, and Lin Qingqing was pressed against his chest, her face buried in the crook of his neck.

"Shhh."

Qin Lie's large hand gripped the back of her head, signaling her to be quiet.

The footsteps grew closer.

"Huh? I think I heard some noise over here just now?" Wang Dazui's voice rang out, filled with doubt.

"What's that noise? A wild cat in heat, I suppose." Sun Erniang sneered. "Hurry up, hurry up, let's dig some bamboo shoots while the rain stops, or they'll all be gone."

As they spoke, they had already reached the large rock.

Anyone who tilts their head slightly to the side will be able to see the two people hiding behind.

Lin Qingqing held her breath in nervousness, her heart pounding in her throat. She bit her lip hard, her hands gripping the hem of Qin Lie's clothes tightly until her knuckles turned white.

Qin Lie looked down at the little woman trembling in his arms.

The pleasant milky scent emanating from her, mixed with the dampness after the rain, fermented in this small space.

He could feel her rapid heartbeat, pounding against his chest through the thin fabric of her clothes.

The sound of the women's footsteps was right next to my ear.

"Hey, look at these huge footprints on the ground!"

Suddenly, Sun Erniang exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone stopped in their tracks.

Lin Qingqing's heart jumped into her throat.

Those are the footprints Qin Lie just left!

"These footprints look like a man's?" Wang Dazui's voice was filled with excitement. "Could it be...?"

The footsteps moved two steps toward the large rock.

The sound of dead branches breaking underfoot could be clearly heard.