Even though one had claimed ownership and the other had clarified her feelings, nothing much changed in their interactions. They still occasionally bickered as before—one moment flaring up in anger, and the next, perhaps, getting coaxed into some playful banter or even a whispered secret.
Mei Lin eventually realized that Murong Jing He was truly her nemesis, someone who could neither make her entirely angry nor entirely happy. As for Wei Lao'er, who had once sent Liu Pozi to propose marriage on his behalf, she assumed he would naturally back off after understanding the situation, so she soon forgot about him. The frost had already arrived, and winter was approaching quickly, but neither of them had prepared proper winter clothing yet. Mei Lin had to intensify her hunting efforts, not only to trade for food but also to make some warm clothes for the winter, and perhaps even get two new cotton quilts.
She usually left before dawn and returned by noon, partly to care for Murong Jing He—helping him turn over, providing food and drink, and attending to his needs—and partly to drink a hot medicinal soup to keep herself from passing out from pain, as had happened before in the mountains or on the road.
Since she was only out for half a day, if the weather seemed clear, she would leave the window slightly open so that Murong Jing He wouldn’t get too bored. The villagers were simple folk who rarely locked their doors unless they were going far away, so Mei Lin would just latch the wooden gate lightly. From outside the fence, one could see the entire courtyard and also spot Murong Jing He half-lying by the main house's window.
What Mei Lin didn’t expect was that after she left that day, an uninvited guest would arrive at her doorstep.
The weather wasn’t particularly cold, yet Wei Lao'er stood outside the wooden gate with his hands tucked inside his sleeves, pacing back and forth for a long time. It wasn’t until he saw someone passing by on the road in the distance that he hurriedly pushed open the gate, which wasn’t securely fastened, slipped inside, and quickly closed it behind him.
He was very nervous, his breath visible in the air. His anxiety doubled when he saw Murong Jing He through the window.
"You... Lin family brother... are you alone?" Feeling the cold gaze of Murong Jing He on him, he instinctively shoved his hands back into his sleeves and hunched over as he edged closer to the window, his eyes darting nervously around the courtyard. He knew Mei Lin wasn’t home—he had purposely chosen this time to visit—but he couldn’t help wishing he might see her after all.
Murong Jing He’s killing intent surged again, but he masked it with a warm smile.
"Yes. As you can see, with my condition, I can’t go anywhere. It’s hard on the woman of the house..." he said with a bitter tone. He seemed to welcome this uninvited visitor warmly, but he didn’t invite him inside to sit. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to play along more convincingly, but the man’s body odor was unbearable, and he didn’t want to subject Mei Lin to cleaning the bedding again.
Fortunately, Wei Lao'er was too nervous to notice this omission. Even if he had noticed, he wouldn’t have cared—just like Murong Jing He, he didn’t want to be in the same enclosed space with him, as the pressure was overwhelming.
They exchanged small talk, with Wei Lao'er praising the neatness of the house one moment and then expressing his envy and desire when speaking about Mei Lin. His words made Murong Jing He’s blood boil. If he weren’t paralyzed, he would have already dragged Wei Lao'er to the outhouse for a thorough cleaning. But at that moment, all he could do was endure, and the more he suppressed his rage, the more his smile seemed warm and inviting.
"I understand your intentions, Brother Wei," Murong Jing He suddenly said, feeling nauseated as the words left his mouth.
Wei Lao'er, who had been babbling on, suddenly fell silent. His small eyes bulged, revealing the bloodshot veins and the yellow crust in the corners, his puffed cheeks making him look like a toad.
Murong Jing He silently cursed him, but outwardly he forced a bitter smile. "It’s just that the woman of the house is quite stubborn. It makes things difficult..."
Sensing that Murong Jing He wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea, Wei Lao'er perked up, eager to seize the opportunity. He thought that if he could win over this man, Mei Lin would have no choice but to agree. However, his clumsy words only further infuriated Murong Jing He.
"Hah! As long as you, Brother Lin, agree, what can a woman say? She’ll have to listen to you. I mean, look at you, Brother Lin—lying in bed all day while the little lady is out running around. She’s such a beauty; what if..."
Murong Jing He’s smile faltered, but he didn’t show his anger. He clenched his fist tightly beneath the blanket, gripping it so hard that the pain in his palm didn’t make him loosen his grip.
"Besides, you... probably can’t do that, right? The little lady is in her prime..." Wei Lao'er’s voice grew more obscene as he continued, completely unaware that his words were sealing his fate.
"Good... good..." Murong Jing He gritted his teeth, repeating the word several times, no longer willing to prolong the conversation.
Wei Lao'er paused, his face lighting up with surprise. "So, Brother Lin, you’re agreeing?"
"Good... very good..." Murong Jing He repeated, a faint smile on his face. "Of course, it’s a great thing. I have no objections. But..." He glanced at the short, lecherous man outside the window, whose face was filled with joy, and then continued, "But just because I agree doesn’t mean it’s settled. The woman of the house is quite headstrong. If you can’t win her favor, you won’t get anywhere near her."
Wei Lao'er wasn’t entirely stupid. Hearing this, he quickly asked how he could win the little lady’s favor.
"She loves the Snow Red Rouge from Qibao Zhai in the city, but it’s quite expensive. I’m afraid you wouldn’t be willing to spend that much." Murong Jing He said indifferently. After a pause, he added, "If you bring her that Snow Red Rouge, she might be so happy that she won’t even want a dowry." Wei Lao'er, intent on marrying Mei Lin as soon as possible, eagerly agreed and confirmed the details twice, learning that only Qibao Zhai sold the Snow Red Rouge, before hurrying off.
As Murong Jing He watched him disappear from the courtyard, his expression gradually turned cold.
"How dare he covet my woman? He’s asking for death!"
Three days later, the village was abuzz with news of Wei Lao'er’s death. They said that while seeking shelter from the rain under a cliff, he was crushed by a falling rock, his body so mangled that it was nearly unrecognizable. His family, including his parents and brothers, grieved deeply. But when they remembered that Wei Lao'er had previously asked Liu Pozi to propose to Mei Lin, and that Murong Jing He was paralyzed, they connected the two incidents and blamed Mei Lin, accusing her of being cursed and bringing misfortune to men.
Mei Lin was bewildered by the accusations, unaware that the day after Wei Lao'er left for the city, someone had secretly visited her and Murong Jing He’s home.
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