CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: LOOK AT ME, DON’T TURN AWAY

And he hadn’t taken her up the mountain for a long time. Ye Manman even thought that the Sweet and Spicy Duck market was bad and the ducks couldn’t be sold...

Then where did his ducks come from?

Could it be that he even solved the supply problem?

"Could this be the true strength of a future tycoon?"

"He really is someone who doesn’t make a move easily but is astounding when he does."

Ye Manman flipped through the book, taking ages to finish even a page.

She couldn’t help but constantly think of He Chen rushing out before dawn every day to run around the town, and how clumsy he looked while choosing a bracelet.

Why is he so good to her without any complaints?

For the first time, Ye Manman pondered this question deeply.

To be honest, ever since she got into the book, she always subconsciously viewed herself as an outsider, seeing everyone here as just characters in a story.

So she didn’t care what anyone thought of her, acted willfully, and married He Chen thinking that he’d become a big shot by the story’s end, allowing her to effortlessly live her old life.

But Ye Manman wasn’t heartless. How He Chen treated her was something she unconsciously remembered.

Previously, being in a wealthy family surrounded by hired help, as long as she paid enough wages and benefits, she could do as she pleased with unlimited indulgence. Now, it’s different, yet she still received He Chen’s boundless indulgence.

Why is that?

Is it because she gave him her dowry to buy a car?

But he was good to her even before that...

Ye Manman couldn’t come up with an answer, so she gave up and continued focusing her time on studying and reading.

By noon, He Chen hurriedly rode back on a bicycle, bringing back a new set of clothes this time.

"Wif—"

Just as he entered the door, He Chen was ready to call Ye Manman "wife" as he’d rehearsed countless times on the road, but seeing her turn to look at him made him chicken out.

"Uh, I saw this outfit in town today and thought it’d suit you. You came here and haven’t added any new clothes, so I wanted to buy it for you."

"...Would you like to try it on?"

In his hand was a red dress with a shirt collar and a wide brown belt at the waist. Such color and style were rare to see in the countryside; Ye Manman certainly hadn’t seen anyone wearing it.

Most people wore blue, gray, or black, or those big white overcoats.

Last time she went to town, she didn’t see clothes in colors other than those. She didn’t expect new styles and colors would emerge so soon.

Ye Manman put down her pen, took the dress, held it in front of herself, and happily ran into the room.

"Then wait for me, I’ll try it on first."

He Chen was a bit worried that Ye Manman might not like such a bold color. However, at first glance, he thought she’d look great in it, so he couldn’t help but buy it.

The shop assistant kept promoting that this dress was the latest trend, the newest model, and the color was the purest red. Such bright colors were popular in big cities.

It seemed she liked it, so he felt relieved.

Then He Chen began pacing nervously in the main room, his hands in his pockets, constantly rubbing a small box inside.

He accidentally overheard people talking today about how it’s trendy in big cities for couples to wear wedding rings. Supposedly, when a girl wears a ring on her ring finger, everyone knows she’s married.

He immediately paid off some loans and rushed to where he bought the bracelet yesterday to buy a gold ring.

He wasn’t sure if Ye Manman would want to wear it...

He Chen was extremely nervous, his mind churning until the door suddenly opened.

People say that bright colors are hard to pull off, but Ye Manman’s fair and glowing skin made every bit exposed seem like it was shining in the vibrant red.

Her fair face was more delicate than flowers, and her youthful lips appeared even more luscious against the dress, her slender neck and arms were white and delicate.

Her waist, cinched by a brown belt, seemed unbelievably slim, as if it could be held with one hand, and her calves, long and smooth like lotus roots against the bright red backdrop...

Having never seen a sight like this, He Chen was stunned.

Not only did he forget the lines he’d practiced countless times, but his nose also uncontrollably let out a burst of hot air.

He thought he was just running a fever, feeling that his breath suddenly became too hot.

Ye Manman’s expression suddenly changed.

"He Chen, why are you having a nosebleed? Are you overworked or on fire?"

She frowned and stepped forward, but He Chen, like a startled big cat, almost jumped back a step.

Ye Manman’s outstretched hand paused, and anger gradually appeared on her face.

"What’s wrong, am I that ugly? Did I scare you?"

She was very upset. She felt the dress fit her well, twirling happily twice in the room, and hadn’t expected such a reaction from He Chen.

"No...no! I...I just—"

"Just..."

Before finishing, He Chen glanced down and caught a faint glimpse of a small part of her neckline, and another rush of warmth came from his nose.

He hurriedly covered his nose and ran out, yelling, "I’ll explain when I get back," before disappearing.

Ye Manman was speechless.

She looked down at her dress again. The dress had sleeves, just slightly shorter than regular sleeves. She’d only undone one button at the collar, and the skirt was long, reaching her knees.

She really couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

Am I ugly?

It’s quite pretty, right?

Why run away, seriously.

Ye Manman had never been in a relationship and hadn’t seen anyone truly get a nosebleed from seeing a beautiful woman. Everyone she’d seen appreciated beauty gracefully, not running at the sight of it, so she didn’t think in that direction at all.

Feeling a bit displeased, she went back to her room, changed out of the dress, and angrily crumpled it into a ball, throwing it into the corner of the bed.

Soon, He Chen returned, and only after washing his face and ensuring he wasn’t bleeding anymore did he run back home.

Seeing she’d changed back, he instinctively touched his nose and sighed with relief.

"You came back? Why not just stay out if you’re at it."

Ye Manman was very upset, and the consequences were serious.

Seeing her unhappy at the table, He Chen realized he’d actually upset her and immediately regretted it.

He shouldn’t have run out. There was water in the house, too—he should slap himself.

"I’m sorry, it’s just...you looked so beautiful, I didn’t dare to get close..."

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. You can hit me; it’s my fault."

He Chen confessed his mistake, squatting before her like a dog making a pitiful mistake, awkward and shy, regretting it deeply.

Ye Manman didn’t expect he thought she was so beautiful that he fled. Could someone really get a nosebleed from seeing a lovely woman?

Her anger dissipated instantly.

She even felt a trace of glee...

Seeing him still looking at her eagerly, Ye Manman cleared her throat, intentionally raising her chin like a proud big white cat.

"Since you know you’re wrong, I’ll reluctantly forgive you, but no more next time."

"Sure, absolutely no next time."

He Chen repeatedly promised, desperate to kneel and swear.

Ye Manman ignored him and cheerfully ran back to change into the new dress, as if she hadn’t just angrily thrown it into the corner of the bed.

With a childlike temperament, her temper comes quickly but disappears just as fast.

He Chen thanked his lucky stars she forgave him, not daring to carelessly glance at her again.

He just hurried into the kitchen to cook.

Ye Manman had a delightful meal, sensing keenly that He Chen was still dodging her gaze, making her feel it was crucial to improve his tolerance to beauties.

Otherwise, what if he got a nosebleed every time he saw a beautiful woman?

So she firmly grabbed He Chen’s big hand and made him sit at the table.

"Look at me."

"Don’t turn away."

"No excuses to run off, or I’ll be angry."