Chapter 2: Engaging in a Little Bit of Intimacy

Inside the kitchen.

“Really, my parents can’t even buy some meat to treat us? After today, I’ll make sure Chen Fan is completely under my control. There will be plenty of good days ahead—why be so stingy now?”

Looking at the basket filled with greens, potatoes, and eggplants, Su Xue complained, her thoughts drifting back to the days before the holidays.

Ever since Chen Fan fell for her, whenever school was in session, he’d bring her food every day like a loyal dog.

If she craved something, a little coaxing or a feigned pout was enough for Chen Fan to fulfill her wishes without hesitation. He’d often bring snacks to satisfy her cravings.

But as soon as weekends or holidays arrived, Su Xue was stuck eating plain vegetables, dry and flavorless. When she craved a treat, all she could have was a glass of plain water.

“Forget it, no use complaining. Once Chen Fan accepts the surprise I have for him tonight, everything he has will be mine, and what’s mine remains mine. The whole family will be supported by Chen Fan’s household. He won’t ever escape my grasp,” Su Xue comforted herself inwardly, already looking forward to a life of financial ease thanks to Chen Fan.

Whatever she wanted, Chen Fan would grant her today because of the surprise.

Just then, Chen Fan entered the kitchen and laughed coldly at Su Xue’s back.

In the previous life, this figure would have stirred his fantasies endlessly, but now it only filled him with cold disdain.

Still, Chen Fan stepped forward casually and smiled, “Xue, I’m free anyway. Let me help you pick the vegetables. I often help my mom at home.”

Su Xue noticed Chen Fan staring blankly at the basket of vegetables.

She put on a pitiful expression, her large, watery eyes revealing vulnerability, and said in a choked voice, “Sorry, Chen Fan, you know our family’s situation. Although it’s all vegetables, don’t worry—I’ll borrow some eggs and cured meat from the neighbors later. I hope you won’t mind.”

“Xue, we’re still growing. How can you eat just these things? I brought some money when I came out. It’s still early; let’s go to the county town and buy some groceries. You’ve finished your snacks anyway, so I’ll pick some up for you while we’re there.”

Seeing Chen Fan’s tender, caring expression, Su Xue silently chuckled.

Sure enough, whenever she played the pitiful card, Chen Fan couldn’t help but feel sorry for her and spend money on her.

“Alright, wash up quickly. When we get to town, I’ll buy you whatever you want,” Chen Fan said, bending down to carefully tuck a stray lock of hair behind Su Xue’s ear, full of tenderness.

Su Xue was about to refuse but stopped mid-sentence.

Her surprise for Chen Fan was planned for the evening; it was still only two in the afternoon, so it wouldn’t interfere with him buying snacks now.

Before long, Chen Fan mounted his old school bike and pedaled hard, carrying Su Xue toward the county town of Liangyuan.

Su Xue’s home wasn’t in the county town but in Xinran Village, two kilometers south of the town.

From sophomore to junior year, Chen Fan, come rain or shine, had faithfully delivered boarder Su Xue home every Friday and picked her up every Sunday.

Thus, he was familiar with the route from Su Xue’s home to the county town.

Over ten minutes later.

Outside the entrance of the county town’s agricultural market.

Chen Fan pushed his bike, walking side by side with Su Xue, chatting and laughing as they entered the market.

But in a corner near the gate, at a shoe repair stall, a young man stared blankly at the two.

Watching Su Xue’s radiant smile, how she tugged at Chen Fan’s sleeve from time to time, wiped sweat from his brow, and how Chen Fan held her hand...

The young man’s eyes reddened in disbelief. He suddenly jumped up from his stool.

The customer sitting opposite, startled, snapped, “Are you crazy? Just fix shoes quietly. Suddenly standing up like that—you scared the hell out of me! You still want to get paid for fixing shoes?”

Snapping back to reality, the young man hurriedly bent down to apologize, fighting back tears as he sat down to continue repairing shoes.

He lowered his head and whispered to himself, “Xue, didn’t you tell me this week you were going out with your parents to visit relatives? Why are you with Chen Fan? Why did you lie to me? Have you really gotten together with him?”

Meanwhile, Chen Fan, entering the market, had quietly been observing the shoe repair stall.

Seeing the young man getting hassled by customers, a slow smile curled at the corners of Chen Fan’s mouth, a satisfaction he couldn’t describe blossoming in his heart.

This young man was none other than Zhao Qinghe, Su Xue’s childhood friend who grew up with her in the same village.

In truth, Chen Fan’s hatred for Zhao Qinghe was no less than his for Su Xue.

In the previous decade, from high school through university to working life, Su Xue had been secretly supporting Zhao Qinghe with Chen Fan’s money.

When Chen Fan’s family fortune was taken by Su Xue, it was Zhao Qinghe who had been scheming behind the scenes.

On their wedding night, Zhao Qinghe even deliberately sent Chen Fan photos and videos from their bed, mocking Chen Fan for worshipping a goddess for ten years only to end up groveling at Zhao Qinghe’s feet.

Could a person really do such a thing?

As for why Su Xue hadn’t noticed Zhao Qinghe at the shoe stall, it was because the stall belonged to Zhao Qinghe’s stepfather.

Zhao Qinghe’s biological father had gone to work in another province a few years ago and had disappeared without a trace. His mother remarried in the county town, and they relocated there, leaving Xinran Village behind.

His stepfather was a shoe repairman—a profession Zhao Qinghe found shameful.

So Zhao Qinghe never mentioned his stepfather to anyone.

Not even Su Xue, nor their classmates or teachers, knew about the shoe repair stall or the stepfather.

Except for Chen Fan, who had been reborn with full knowledge.

Today, Chen Fan deliberately brought Su Xue to the county town, making sure Zhao Qinghe saw them so intimately close.

Beyond wanting to provoke Zhao Qinghe and collect some early interest, Chen Fan had other intentions.

About ten minutes later.

Chen Fan and Su Xue walked out of the market together again.

The previously empty bike now carried two pounds of pork, a cleaned fish, a bag of eggs, and a bag of snacks bought wholesale.

As Chen Fan pedaled away, Su Xue shyly hugged his waist.

Zhao Qinghe at the shoe stall lost all control.

Ignoring the customers’ curses and his stepfather’s shouting, he mounted his old bike and immediately gave chase.

But Zhao Qinghe didn’t catch up directly; he followed them stealthily from behind.

He wasn’t yet sure if Su Xue and Chen Fan were truly a couple, so he dared not confront them rashly.

Ahead.

Su Xue gently held Chen Fan and shyly asked, “Chen Fan, what should we do tonight? What shall we play? Have you decided?”

Chen Fan chuckled, squeezed Su Xue’s soft hand, and said, “I’ve thought it through. After dark, we’ll cuddle up in bed reading novels and comics, or play a grown-up game—mouth to mouth, heh heh...”

“Oh, you’re so bad!” Su Xue blushed, pinching the soft flesh at Chen Fan’s waist and resting her head against his back. “As long as you stay with me until dawn tonight, whatever you want to do, I’ll agree!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely stay with you until dawn.”

Hearing Chen Fan’s mischievous laugh, a flicker of disdain crossed Su Xue’s eyes.

But she held back her disgust, continuing to tease Chen Fan with her half-suggestive words.

Because after tonight, Chen Fan would be completely under her control. No matter how much she hated him now, she had to endure.

Once she had him on a leash, she planned to take her revenge one by one.

What Su Xue didn’t yet know was that her childhood friend Zhao Qinghe was still sneaking behind them.

Watching her playfully joke and laugh with Chen Fan, Zhao Qinghe was so furious he struggled to breathe, his face twisted with rage.

But Chen Fan, who had long noticed Zhao Qinghe, wore a devious smile of a plan coming to fruition...