Becoming the Cannon Fodder Wife of Crazy and Powerful Official - Chapter 20

The man’s eyes fluttered open, his gaze hazy as he struggled to focus.

In the dim, flickering candlelight, he saw a young woman with cheeks like peach blossoms. Her sparkling, liquid-bright eyes were full of curiosity and appraisal as she crouched before him—a petite, slender figure that appeared both delicate and charming.

Xin Yueying, “What’s your name?”

Xin Yueying had read the entire book, yet by the end, she still hadn’t remembered the male lead’s name.

The man opened his mouth but made no sound. After a brief pause, he finally spoke, “I am Xie Asheng.”

“Xie Asheng?!”

“Xie Asheng.”

Xin Yueying recalled—this was the pseudonym the man used in the early stages. But as for his real name and identity, she truly had no idea.

She studied him sideways, noting that he was indeed quite handsome. High nose bridge, deep-set eyes, round and bright as lychees, skin sun-kissed to a warm wheat tone.

If Shen Qingqi could be compared to a piece of translucent, fragile cold jade, then this man was like a spirited, untamable wild horse.

Xie Asheng asked, “Miss, was it you who saved me?”

“Yes and no.” Xin Yueying crouched before him, gesturing with her small hands, “First, you were saved by a young woman. Then, her father forbade her from saving you, so I ended up being the one who rescued you.”

Xie Asheng looked at her in confusion, “It’s that complicated?”

“Yes, you’re quite lucky to be alive.” She mused to herself—first, he’d been thrown out by the Song family, then tossed down by Huo Qi, and later dragged into the hall by Shen Qingqi. After all that turmoil, and without even having been treated by Crippled Ma, he had woken up on his own.

What tenacious vitality!!!

Xie Asheng shifted, bracing himself against the wall as he stood up.

Look at that, just look—so resilient! He stood up on his own. Who knows how many days it had been since he’d eaten? Yet he stood without dizziness or blurred vision. It was nothing short of a miracle of life.

“Are you hungry?” Xin Yueying asked, gazing at him intently.

Xie Asheng touched his stomach and smiled sheepishly, “I am a little hungry.”

“I’ll get you some food.”

The leftovers from last night would go bad anyway.

Xin Yueying went to the kitchen and lifted the lid of the pot. A low fire still smoldered in the stove, keeping the food inside warm.

She brought all the dishes to the table. “Eat up.”

Xie Asheng walked over, sat on the chair, and began to eat.

Xin Yueying glanced at the sky outside. She had no idea what time it was—Shen Qingqi still hadn’t returned. He had taken the donkey cart out, and she worried that something might have happened.

She stood up, thinking of going to look for him, but then sat back down.

Huo Qi had gone out—probably to find him.

Besides, there was a stranger in the house, and silver was stored in the cabinet. What if this guy took the money and vanished, only to run into Meng Ruxin later? If they hit it off and he gave her silver to Meng Ruxin, Xin Yueying would be furious.

She sat back down and watched Xie Asheng. “Is the food to your liking?”

“It’s delicious.” Xie Asheng grabbed a chicken leg with his hands and stuffed it into his mouth.

Tsk, tsk.

Shen Qingqi would never eat like that—always refined, always dignified, never even lowering his head slightly while eating. Not like this one, devouring food like a starving ghost.

“Miss, how long was I unconscious?” He looked back toward the outside. “And where is this?”

“I’m not sure how long you were out.” Since he hadn’t been entirely honest with her, she saw no reason to be fully candid with him either. “This is Niujiashan.”

“Niujiashan?” He paused, looking up at Xin Yueying.

She nodded.

Xie Asheng’s eyes suddenly shifted, as if remembering something. He put down the chicken leg and rummaged through his clothes with greasy hands.

Ugh, does he have no sense of hygiene

Xin Yueying watched him with disgust.

She turned to fetch a cloth for him to wipe his hands, but before she could speak, Xie Asheng suddenly stood up.

The dishes on the table rattled, startling Xin Yueying.

“What… what are you doing…?”

His face had paled slightly, and his round eyes darted nervously.

Perhaps realizing his reaction was excessive, he forced an awkward smile at Xin Yueying.

“……”

Xin Yueying looked up at him and could only offer a kind smile in return.

Just then, Shen Qingqi returned with the donkey cart.

From a distance, Shen Qingqi’s hand tightened around the whip.

If he remembered correctly, he had never seen Xin Yueying smile at him like that.

That little fox had grinned at him many times—sometimes smirking, sometimes fawning, gloating, sometimes scheming. But never with such simple, harmless warmth.

Narrowing his eyes, he focused on what she held in her hand.

A handkerchief? For him to wipe his hands?

How amusing.

She’d never offered him a handkerchief.

His expression darkened as his gaze shifted to the stranger’s back.