Peaceful Farm Life Chapter 4 - 4 4 Are We..._1

Niu Er failed to grasp the deeper meaning behind An Jing's words. All he noticed was her playful grin, which sent a shiver down his spine and filled him with a desire to depart swiftly.

"You must be bewitched," Niu Er shot An Jing a stern look. He then turned to Xiao Changyi, inquiring, "Changyi, are you coming or not? If you're not, then I'm off."

Xiao Changyi offered no response.

"Fine, I'm done with you!" Annoyed, Niu Er hoisted the carrying pole onto his shoulder, gathered the firewood, and departed.

An Jing playfully rested her arms on her chest, gesturing with her chin in the direction Niu Er had gone. "Your friend has left, aren't you leaving too?"

Instead of answering her question, Xiao Changyi's gaze fell upon her injured right foot as he asked calmly, "Does it pain you?"

An Jing, initially surprised, then curved her lips into a smile. "It does."

Without hesitation, Xiao Changyi turned his back to her, knelt down, and said, "Allow me to carry you down."

An Jing was taken aback once more. She glanced at the lengthy descent ahead and mused that it would likely be dark by the time she reached the bottom if she hobbled down. "Are you certain about this?"

Xiao Changyi remained kneeling, his unspoken stance conveying a clear affirmation.

Before mounting Xiao Changyi's back, An Jing retrieved the wood-chopping knife that Lin Anjing had dropped earlier. As for the bundle of chopped wood, An Jing had no intention of taking it.

Grasping the knife, An Jing readily climbed onto Xiao Changyi's back.

Xiao Changyi picked up the bamboo basket that had been placed nearby. Apart from the thick hemp rope used to haul An Jing up, it was empty.

He had arrived just as An Jing's cries for help reached his ears, prompting him to investigate the situation, whereupon he encountered Niu Er, who had also heard the commotion.

"Hold this," Xiao Changyi instructed, passing the bamboo basket back to her.

Recognizing that holding items would impede Xiao Changyi's ability to carry her, An Jing dutifully accepted the basket, even placing the wood-chopping knife inside.

To prevent herself from toppling off, An Jing embraced his neck with one arm.

"Does this count as intimate contact?" An Jing inquired with a lighthearted chuckle.

Xiao Changyi, who had just stood upright, faltered for a moment. He remained silent, intending to retrieve the bundle of firewood Lin Anjing had chopped to bring down the mountain.

"I don't need that wood," An Jing quickly interjected. It wasn't due to concern about burdening Xiao Changyi, but rather because Lin Anjing had met his demise by falling into a trap related to that wood. The thought of it unnerved her, and she wanted no part of it.

Observing An Jing's nonchalant dismissal of the wood, as if the bundle held no significance to her, Xiao Changyi withdrew his hand and proceeded to carry her down the mountain.

Xiao Changyi's back was broad, and An Jing, resting upon it, experienced no jarring movements. A peculiar thought surfaced within her: perhaps being carried by this man for a lifetime wouldn't be so unbearable.

"If I were to simply cling to you like this, what would you do..." An Jing sighed plaintively, her intention clearly to tease and perhaps flirt with Xiao Changyi.

She discovered that provoking Xiao Changyi brought a sense of contentment to both her body and mind.

Xiao Changyi maintained his silence.

"Or, perhaps you should just marry me?" An Jing continued to test him, her words growing increasingly audacious.

"Alright."

An Jing hadn't anticipated Xiao Changyi would speak, let alone agree so readily. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly laughed, "I was just joking; please don't take it to heart."

Xiao Changyi fell silent once more.

"...You truly are a man of few words." However, she found this trait rather appealing. She disliked men who were overly talkative.

Xiao Changyi continued his quiet demeanor.

An Jing gazed upwards at the sky before a thought struck her. "Right, Niu Er addressed you as Changyi. What is your surname?"

"Xiao."