Chapter 17
Household? (Part 2 of the Contract)
Household?
The man never expected that she would actually ask for such a thing. His cold heart felt a strange, tingling unfamiliarity, though he didnât understand where this sensation came from.
He reached into his chest, pulled out a stack of silver notes, and tossed them in front of Su Lianyi.
Lianyi had only thought of taking some money as travel expenses for a potential future escape. She never expected him to bring so much.
With her limited knowledge of history, she knew that silver notes were issued only when there was too much silverâmeaning that one silver note was worth more than a pile of coins. So this whole stack of notesâŚ
âAlso, you canât slack off just because I gave you money. You still have to farm properly as usual.â
Although Su Lianyiâs heart leapt with joy, her expression remained unreadable, even serious.
Farming was something he would do diligently regardless; it was part of his disguise.
But some things feel different when done proactively versus being ordered to do them, especially when ordered by someone everyone considers foolish.
The man shot her an angry glare.
âThis money is for your protection, but you canât use it for everyday food or clothing. If you get careless and expose us, it wonât be my fault.â
Feeling the thick stack of silver notes in her hands, Lianyi had a clear understanding.
In the modern world, she was born into a well-off family, smoothly entered university, completed her masterâs degree, and stayed at the university hospital. Life had been smooth, never lacking money, and she had never known what it felt like to want for it.
But after yesterdayâs near-starvation experience, she finally realized the importance of money.
âYou donât have to tell me that!â
The manâs voice was low and vicious.
âWhatâs your name?â Lianyi asked calmly, as if she hadnât noticed his anger. âDonât tell me your real name. Iâm not planning to become a corpse yet. Give me a pseudonym or something. If youâre too lazy to think of one, Iâll just call you Big Tiger.â
The man froze. âYun.â Somehow, he blurted out his name, then immediately regretted it. How could he reveal his identity so easily? IfâŚ
Su Lianyi nodded. âGot it, Big Tiger.â
ââŚâ
Lianyi noticed his speechlessness. âI know your name is Yun, but outside, Iâll still call you Big Tiger, just to be safe. Although itâs a crude name, as the saying goes, a humble name is easier to live with.â
ââŚThen why did you even ask? Pointless!â
âHow will we sleep tonight?â She put away the money, sat down across from Big Tiger, and asked seriously, without the slightest shyness or awkwardness.
âYou sleep in the bed. Iâll sleep in the kitchen.â
Lianyi smiled, appreciating his gentlemanly manner. âThen Iâll trouble you for a few nights. But you canât keep sleeping in the kitchen forever. This room is quite big. How about we make a slight layout change and build a wall in the middle? Iâll draw a plan for you later.â
ââŚâ Big Tiger was speechless. At first, he thought she was merely negotiating, but soon realized she was giving orders. And her tone was practiced and authoritative, as if she gave orders regularly.
âAny other questions?â
âNo.â Big Tiger didnât want to argue with a woman. He stood and left the room, dragging a straw mat from the warehouse in the yard, laying it down in the kitchen, and preparing to sleep casually.
The kitchen was a separate small house. Even though the original owner was lazy and rarely cooked, there was still some lingering smoke and grease.
Lianyi watched Big Tiger from afar. She had a feeling: this man couldnât be a bad person. Even though he sometimes exuded a violent aura, if he were truly an evil criminal, how could he have such principles?
She grabbed a quilt from the cupboard and walked into the kitchen. Big Tiger was lying with his back to her. He had nothing under him except the straw mat, and a brick served as a makeshift pillow.
Had he always lived like this?
Big Tiger didnât sleep. He sensed her presence behind him and raised his guard. If she had any ill intent, he would kill her without hesitation.
Lianyi hugged the quilt, intending to cover him, but quickly realized the act would be too ambiguous, so she just tossed the quilt at him.
Big Tiger was shocked. Was Su Lianyi really ambushing him?
The man, who had seemed asleep, suddenly rolled over, flinging the quilt aside. His tall figure moved like lightning, instantly appearing in front of Lianyi. His iron-like hand grabbed her by the neck.
Lianyi had no time to scold him. She stepped back quickly, tilted her head, and raised her arms to block him.
âAre you crazy?!â Su Lianyi, usually calm, couldnât help shouting. Cold sweat ran down her back. Blocking Big Tigerâs arm hurt. This man had gone for a kill! Fortunately, she reacted in time. Without some self-defense skill, she would have been dead.
Big Tiger didnât expect this plump woman to react so quickly. He pulled the arm he had grabbed inward. Lianyi felt an unstoppable force push her forward.
The tiger doesnât show his teeth, and you really think Iâm a sick cat! Lianyi, instead of resisting, used the momentum to kick him.
Big Tiger quickly shook off her arm to free himself.
Su Lianyiâs plump body flew through the air as if weightless, landing heavily in the yard. It was her first time being hit like this in her lifeâcompletely different from her martial arts sparring experiences.
âBig Tiger, stop being crazy! Canât you just speak normally?â She rolled up and shouted at him as he charged.
âYou really have a ghost!â Big Tigerâs voice was low but ominous.
Lianyi immediately understood. âA ghost? Or even demonic energy? I saw you living too harshly in the kitchen and brought you the quilt. Open your blind eyes and seeâdoes it contain poison or hidden weapons? Would I really try to kill a living person with a quilt? Ridiculous!â
Big Tiger paused. The sensation just now⌠was indeed only a soft quilt, nothing else.
He was also a man of pride. Even though he knew he had wronged her, he couldnât lower his face. âYou donât need to worry about it.â His tone calmed a lot.
âFine, fine. Iâm just being a busybody.â Only after the danger passed did she feel the pain in her back. She rubbed it wearily. âI gave you the quilt. Do what you want. If I ever meddle in your affairs again, Iâll take your surname!â She limped into the room.
Immediately after came a deafening slam of the door.
Su Lianyi swore she had never sworn so much in her life. If she didnât curse today, she wouldnât have been able to vent her anger.
Outside, Big Tiger stared blankly at her back. He had wronged her. He knew it and wanted to apologize, but he couldnât bring himself to. It wasnât just prideâhe had never interacted with women directly.
He grew up in the military, never had contact with women, and now, to hide his identity better, he had become Su Lianyiâs âmarried-in son-in-law.â Being disliked and bullied by the plump woman didnât bother him at first, but now that Su Lianyi was friendly, he felt more awkward by the day. What was he to do?
