MTLNOVEL Chapter 407: Two Worlds
After taking care of the kids, Hua Jin returned to the mountain, hiding her accomplishments and fame.
Once she entered the valley, it felt like a completely different world. Hua Jin couldn't help but marvel again at her father's good fortune. The luck he had with gambling on stones was certainly not a fluke, and even finding the salt lake—if only she could find a metal mine as well, preferably iron, copper, silver, and a gold mine, it would be just too perfect.
Walking along while dreaming, Hua Jin's eyes narrowed with delight until she had a traffic accident, hitting someone, with the sharp pain in her nose making her eyes water instantly.
Immediately displeased, she looked up and shouted, "Who is it? Why don't you watch where you're going?"
The villain complains first, ugh, takes the initiative.
Luckily, her nicely prominent nose was the real deal; in her world later on it would inevitably get crooked.
Speaking of which, this chest was really hard. She wasn't watching the road, and the other person wasn't either. Hua Jin narrowed her eyes dangerously at the person she collided with and the hands that supported her body.
Then she froze for a moment. How come it's him!
What was he doing at the valley entrance at this time?
"Hua Jin, are you okay? It's all my fault. I thought you saw me, so I didn't dodge. Did it hurt when you hit me?" Luo Song held Hua Jin's arm and looked at her nervously.
Unfortunately, the girl raised her head too slowly, and when he saw Hua Jin's face, with her red nose, he felt a pang in his heart. But when he met Hua Jin's dangerous eyes and saw where she was looking—at his hands—Luo Song quickly let go, unable to resist holding and re-gripping his palms, feeling the residual warmth of that moment.
Earlier, in his haste, he hadn't considered the differences between men and women.
"Hua... Hua Jin," Luo Song looked at Hua Jin in a flustered manner, his complexion slightly flushed. Fortunately, after years of weathering, his skin was no longer as delicate as before, not exactly suntanned, but not showing a blush easily.
"Luo Song, is it you..." Hua Jin touched her sore nose and gave him a dissatisfied sideways glance, completely unaware of Luo Song's nervousness.
The complaint-filled glance made Luo Song's face feel even hotter, and his heart rate involuntarily sped up. Although Hua Jin's face was somewhat sallow, every frown and smile struck him as unique.
"It's my fault, hurting you with the impact." Feeling the acceleration of his heartbeat, he gave Hua Jin a deep look, took a deep breath to calm the feeling, and returned to normal, his eyes shining as he looked at Hua Jin.
"Forget it, forget it, it wasn't on purpose," Hua Jin waved her hand, acting very magnanimous.
Besides, Luo Song had already apologized. Continuing to complain might seem unreasonable, especially since it wasn't entirely his fault.
This magnanimous scene made the guards Hua Zhuang and Wang Dadao's mouths twitch uncontrollably. When Hua Jin turned around, they quickly twisted their heads together pretending to chat.
"Ah... I heard you had a nightmare last night..."
"Yeah... yeah... you don't know..."
But the pair of eyes sneaking glances in this direction felt very much like 'no silver in this place for three thousand taels.'
Hua Jin: "..."
Luo Song noticed Hua Jin didn't blame him and felt relieved.
"By the way, Luo Song, why are you here?" Hua Jin reacted and gave him a puzzled look.
It's almost noon; shouldn't he be at home?
The temperature in the valley was still relatively normal, but it's still hot!
Hua Jin looked up at the sun peeking through the clouds, the giant fireball hanging high, relentlessly baking the earth.
"Oh, haha... I was just strolling around..." Luo Song's eyes flashed a hint of falsehood as he laughed it off.
It wouldn't be right to tell Hua Jin he was here just to try his luck, and ever since she left the valley, he would come to try his luck every morning and afternoon.
Didn't you notice Hua Zhuang and Wang Dadao sneakily smirking when Luo Song finished talking?
This guy comes here every day, his gaze practically fixed on the gate, and eagerly welcomes Hua Jin, his intentions couldn't be more obvious, yet Hua Jin hasn't thought much about it.
Just strolling, walking up to the valley entrance, what kind of hobby is that? Hua Jin gave Luo Song an odd look but didn't think too much about it.
At the moment, she was just eager to return home to surprise her parents and grandparents. They hadn't seen her in so long; they must miss her very, very much.
"Alright then, I won't disturb you any further, Luo Song. I'll head home first." Hua Jin flashed a smile and gestured in the direction of the inner valley, quickening her pace.
Luo Song: "..."
The helplessness in his gaze flickered as he quickly stepped forward to follow, "All set then, I'll go with you."
"Ah... okay," Hua Jin squinted at Luo Song, still finding it somewhat strange.
Seeing Hua Jin's puzzled gaze, Luo Song returned a broad smile and joined her side, "Let's go."
Though a bit slow, Luo Song was confident that this girl would eventually notice, as long as she remained unattached. Then he would have a chance.
As for what his grandfather said about being brave, of course, he wanted to, but feared it might have the opposite effect. After all, Hua Jin was never an ordinary girl, and at this point, she wasn't ready. If he spoke up too soon, she might outright reject him. His goal now was to let her gradually get used to him, let Grandpa Hua, Grandma Hua, aunts, and uncles see his good qualities.
Hua Jin glanced at Luo Song and nodded, thinking to herself what a strange guy he was. But anticipating she would soon arrive home made her happy again. However, with this guy tagging along, she wouldn't speed up. At this thought, a hint of helplessness flashed in Hua Jin's eyes.
Oh well, Hua Jin still had a pretty good tolerance for someone who had helped her family, especially the guy before her, a warm-hearted handsome man who, truthfully, was quite pleasing to the eye.
Though slow, they quickly returned to the inner valley. The lunchtime seemed to bring everyone home for their meals, as she hadn't run into anyone along the way, leading to a trace of disappointment in Luo Song's eyes.
It was rare to be able to walk alone with Hua Jin; how come the village's aunts, uncles, and especially that gossiping wife were nowhere to be seen?
With this lingering sense of regret, Luo Song followed Hua Jin all the way to the Hua family door.
"Aren't you going home?" she asked, noticing his constant presence as she walked. Well, he was used to enjoying meals at her home, but Hua Jin couldn't help but roll her eyes internally.
Would he try to grab a meal at her place again today? He was usually perceptive enough. She had just returned home; having someone else around would hinder her family's interactions.
Hua Jin gave him a peculiar look.
Catching her gaze, Luo Song suddenly realized, "Ha... came this way by accident. Going home, going home."
He stepped back a few paces, smiled his most charming smile at Hua Jin, then walked away with frequent glances back, that reluctant expression making Hua Jin's mouth twitch.
Thinking inwardly, was it really just over not eating at her place? Just look at that reluctant expression.
Well, blame Grandma and Mom for cooking too well, making this guy reluctant to leave, not fond of his own home's food. It's almost like the Hua house has become Luo Song's second home.
And truth be told, the guy had quite thick skin.