After a long silence between them, he cleared his throat. "Don't worry. I'll take care of that woman," he said firmly. "And you did the right thing by not paying her. I'll handle this matter myself."
Qin Lian nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "Alright."
Without another word, Xu Yinchen stood and walked over to the shattered bowl on the floor. He crouched down and began carefully picking up the larger pieces.
Qin Lian watched him for a moment before asking, "What are you doing?"
"Cleaning it up," he replied, not looking up. "After this, I'll head back to the farm. I left in the middle of work."
She raised her brows. "You don't have to do that. I can clean it myself later."
"You're hurt," he said flatly, still focused on the task. "Also, you shouldn't exert yourself too much for the next few days. Your injury hasn't healed yet." He looked up at the white bandage on her head.
Qin Lian then realized that she was still hurt and the wound hadn't healed yet. She pursed her lips and nodded.
Seems like she was taking her health a little too lightly, working since the moment she arrived in this house.
But the way he reminded her, with that quiet concern in his voice... it made something warm unfurl in her chest.
She'd spent years working herself to the bone, with calloused hands and sleepless nights, with no one noticing or caring when she was exhausted or hurt.
She'd learned not to expect anything from anyone. Not even her boyfriend. And here was this man, who barely knew her, paying attention to details she'd long stopped acknowledging herself.
"I'll be more careful," she said softly, her voice carrying a genuine promise.
Xu Yinchen glanced up at her briefly, his eyes meeting hers for just a moment before he returned to cleaning.
He quickly picked up the broken bowl pieces, sweeping up even the smallest shards and disposing of them carefully. Once the floor was clean, he washed his hands and turned back to her.
"Are you hungry?" Qin Lian asked, seeing him preparing to leave.
Xu Yinchen paused, caught off guard by the question. Only then did he realize it was nearly lunchtime, and he hadn't even had breakfast yet. "It's alright. I can have something at the farm."
"That won't do. It's already lunchtime. You should eat before you go. There are still some noodles left from this morning in the kitchen," she continued. "I won't be able to cook lunch today since it's almost that time anyway, and we only ate a while ago. Why don't you have some noodles before you head back?"
He stared at her, completely taken aback.
For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. He'd been eating out every day—cold, tasteless food from street vendors or whatever Wen Zian brought him at the farm.
He couldn't even remember the last time he had a proper, warm meal at home.
Last night's dinner had been the first proper meal in a long time, and this morning's breakfast... even though he hadn't eaten it, when he stepped into the house, the lingering aroma had made his stomach twist with longing.
But he couldn't let himself get used to it.
What if she changed her mind? What if she decided this life was too hard and wanted to return to the city? He couldn't become dependent on something that might disappear soon.
He hesitated too long.
"Are you really that busy?" Qin Lian's voice broke through his thoughts. "If you don't have time to sit and eat, I can pack the noodles for you instead. Take some buns too."
She shifted slightly, preparing to stand. "If you give me a few minutes, I can cook something fresh for you to take—"
"I'll eat," he said quickly, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them. "I'm...not that busy."
Qin Lian smiled, clearly pleased. She started to stand, but before she could move, Xu Yinchen was already on his feet.
"Sit," he said firmly, gently pressing her shoulder back down. "I'll get my food. No need for you to move."
"But—"
"You're hurt," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Just stay here and rest."
She opened her mouth to protest, then closed it, a smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, alright. I'll sit."
"The noodles I cooked this morning need to be assembled separately. Heat up the broth again and pour it over the cooked noodles. You can also add some boiled eggs. There are chopped scallions, chili sauce, vinegar, and soy sauce in the kitchen as well."
"If it's too much for you, I can help—" She tried to stand up and serve him, but he shot her a glare and cut her off.
"I can manage. You just stay seated."
"Oh… okay." She had no choice but to sit back down.
Just as Xu Yinchen turned to leave, he heard her softly clear her throat. It was subtle, but he noticed her voice had grown slightly hoarse from speaking so much.
It seemed she had been too nervous earlier when that woman came to the house. She had comforted the children, but she must have been frightened as well by something like this.
Without saying anything, he disappeared into the kitchen.
A few moments later, he returned carrying a steaming bowl of noodles on a tray in one hand and a glass of water in the other.
He set the bowl on the table, then walked over and handed her the glass.
Qin Lian took it without thinking, but the moment her fingers wrapped around it, she froze.
It was warm.
Not hot, but pleasantly warm, like it had been gently heated.
She looked up at him, confused. "Who gives someone warm water in the middle of summer?"
Xu Yinchen met her gaze, his expression as calm and steady as ever. "Cold water isn't good for women," he said matter-of-factly. "That's why I warmed it slightly."
For a moment, Qin Lian could only stare at him, completely speechless.
She had expected him to know nothing about women. After all, he is just a former soldier, stern and reserved, now a pig farmer used to a hard life.
But this? This kind of thoughtfulness?
Her chest tightened unexpectedly, a strange warmth spreading through her that had nothing to do with the water in her hands.
In her past life, she had never experienced this. Chen Zhihao had never once asked if she was tired, never noticed when she skipped meals, never cared about such small things.
Not even when she was on her period, sick, or rushed to the emergency room, he would be busy playing games with his friends, too preoccupied to even pick up her calls.
She used to wonder if all men were like that, indifferent, and had tried to endure it. But now she could see that not all men were like that.
The man in front of her, someone she had only just met, was showing more consideration in two days than her ex-boyfriend had in three years.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice quieter than she intended.
Xu Yinchen gave a short nod, then turned back to his noodles, sitting down at the table as if nothing unusual had happened.
Qin Lian watched him for a moment longer, still processing.
In the novel, Xu Yinchen had been described as cold, distant, and emotionally unavailable, a man hardened by loss and responsibility, incapable of warmth.
But the man sitting in front of her now?
He was nothing like that.
Yes, he was quiet. Reserved. But underneath that stoic exterior was a gentleness she hadn't expected.
The way he carried her away from the broken glass without a second thought. The way he insisted on cleaning up so she wouldn't have to. The way he noticed her injury and reminded her to rest. The way he warmed her water, because he thought it would be better for her.
Who said Xu Yinchen was as cold as stone?
She took a small sip of the warm water, her gaze lingering on him as he ate in silence.
Maybe the novel had gotten it wrong.
Or maybe... she was seeing a side of him that no one else had bothered to notice.
Either way, she found herself smiling softly into her glass.
This man was full of surprises.