Volume One, Chapter 10: A Flurry of Strikes—Who Can Withstand Them?

“What are you shouting for? Aren’t you ashamed?”
“Sister-in-law, hello!”
Huang Zhiyao blushed as she coquettishly addressed Chen Yang.
But when Li Cheng shouted so loudly, her face instantly went pale with fright.
“Hurry up and disappear, now!”
Chen Yang was nearly driven mad by this brat, cursing that he hadn’t kicked him far enough earlier.
Does he have no sense at all? When big brother is courting, shouldn’t the little brother vanish automatically?
“Got it, Brother Yang. I’ll keep watch for you, but you have to be quick. If anyone comes, I’ll shout.”
Damn it!
Chen Yang was exasperated. Could this girl also be someone who had been reborn? Otherwise, how could she have such advanced ideas?
Even this brilliant strategy for outdoor combat had been thought up by her.
After another swift kick to her backside, she finally disappeared completely.
Meanwhile, Huang Zhiyao and Chen Yang found themselves in an awkward silence.
“Um, you haven’t eaten yet, right? I stewed a catfish. Try some.”
Chen Yang broke the silence first. Though he had little experience in love in his previous life, he had witnessed plenty of sycophantic behavior.
So, he decided to lower himself and play the devoted admirer in front of Huang Zhiyao.
After all, being doting towards one’s own wife was nothing shameful.
What mattered most was being able to carry Huang Zhiyao into the Chen family with great honor; everything else was trivial.
“Chen Yang, you don’t have to go to so much trouble. We have food here too.”
Huang Zhiyao seemed shy, avoiding Chen Yang’s gaze.
Even when speaking, she kept her head down, nervously twisting the edge of her clothes.
She had never been in love before and didn’t know what it felt like.
But this man held her body now, and facing him stirred feelings she couldn’t quite explain.
“Have you eaten well as a sent-down youth? You need to replenish your strength properly. Besides, what’s so hard about cooking for your own wife? Come on, let’s eat.”
With that, Chen Yang reached to take Huang Zhiyao’s hand, but she shyly dodged, her cheeks flushed.
Helplessly, Chen Yang walked ahead while Huang Zhiyao followed behind, blushing.
They sat down under a tree by the nearby riverbank.
Carefully, Chen Yang pulled out an aluminum lunchbox wrapped in a cloth bag—insulated containers weren’t available in this era yet.
Fortunately, the journey hadn’t been long, so the food hadn’t cooled.
“Zhiyao, please eat.”
When they were together, Chen Yang felt awkward calling her “wife.”

“Th-thank you!”
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s whimper.
Coupled with her flushed, delicate face, she was irresistibly adorable.
After being reborn, Chen Yang couldn’t understand why he had rejected her in their previous life.
His mind must have been faulty; no normal person would have acted that way.
“Would you like to eat some too? I can’t finish it all myself.”
Opening the lunchbox, Huang Zhiyao blushed and asked Chen Yang.
“I already ate at home. You’ve worked all day and must be exhausted. Finish it all quickly.”
He was so domineering!
Yet strangely, she didn’t mind at all.
Had her impression of him changed after their intimate encounter?
At that moment, Huang Zhiyao’s heart was in turmoil; she couldn’t even understand what exactly she was feeling towards Chen Yang.
But soon, the aroma of catfish stewed with eggplant brought her back to reality.
In this lean era, there was no time for pretenses.
She picked up her spoon and began to savor Chen Yang’s cooking.
Chen Yang was no boastful cook; he was truly chef-level.
In his past life, he was extremely particular about food, spending nearly all his earnings on it.
This dedication honed his culinary skills to a level that could easily surpass those of chefs in state-run restaurants.
Chen Yang simply watched Huang Zhiyao eat, realizing that watching a beauty enjoy a meal was a pleasure in itself.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when Huang Zhiyao finished the entire meal and let out a satisfied burp.
When she looked up, she met Chen Yang’s eyes—dark and cold like stars in the night.
“Oh!”
She gasped, the catfish with eggplant was so delicious she had forgotten someone was sitting right in front of her.
What should she do?
She must have been quite rude while eating so heartily.
Would Chen Yang think poorly of her? Why couldn’t she have been more reserved?
Huang Zhiyao regretted it deeply. Given another chance, she wouldn’t behave that way.
She didn’t even realize that her heart was already starting to care for the man who had taken her first time by “improper means.”
“Zhiyao, you are truly beautiful!”
Chen Yang’s words came straight from the heart, not simply flattery to win her favor.
Previously, Chen Yang’s desire to be with Huang Zhiyao was born from guilt over the past.
But now, after this dinner, he was completely smitten.
Beautiful!
Absolutely stunning!
Not even the trendiest singers or movie stars could compare to Huang Zhiyao.
“Beautiful? What nonsense! That’s so embarrassing.”
Huang Zhiyao’s face turned even redder as she spoke.
Why were his eyes so bright? It felt as if he could see right through her soul.
If he knew she was starting to like him, how would he think of her?
Ah!
It was all because she had been too engrossed in eating earlier, or else this wouldn’t have happened.
“Zhiyao, in my heart, you are the most beautiful. No one can compare.”
Faced with Chen Yang’s tender gaze, Huang Zhiyao lowered her head again.
Oh no, she was falling for him.
These few loving words seemed to have more impact than any drink.
“I know you chose to marry a second-rate guy like me because you had no other choice. For that, I can only say I’m sorry.
But rest assured, Zhiyao, I will spend my entire life making up for that mistake. I will make you the happiest woman in the world.
By this time tomorrow, I will bring the betrothal gifts, along with Wang Chuan and the most authoritative members of the Chen family, to formally propose and proudly bring you home as my wife.
Rain lashes the pear blossoms behind closed doors, forgetting youth, misplacing youth.
Who can I share these joyful moments with? Under the flowers and moonlight, my soul aches.
Worry gathers in furrowed brows all day, a thousand tears, ten thousand tears.
At dawn I watch the sky, at dusk I watch the clouds—whether walking or sitting, I think of you.”
Feeling the atmosphere had been perfectly set, Chen Yang concluded with Tang Yin’s “A Cut of Plum Blossoms: Rain Lashes the Pear Blossoms Behind Closed Doors,” hoping for a stirring effect.
“Wow!”
Huang Zhiyao threw herself into Chen Yang’s arms and burst into tears.
See? The effect was exactly as intended.
Chen Yang openly embraced the weeping Huang Zhiyao, knowing this was precisely when she needed comfort.