DLGSW 07

Chapter 7 

When Zhou Yao returned, it was already very late. The village lay in complete silence, broken only occasionally by a sharp bark of a dog in the distance before quickly sinking back into stillness.

After parting ways with Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao, he walked alone down the narrow path home.

He moved quickly along the ridges of the fields. As he neared his house, a warm, dim yellow light suddenly came into view from the courtyard direction—soft, steady, and strangely piercing through the darkness.

Zhou Yao raised a brow and quickened his pace.

He pushed open the courtyard gate and, at a glance, saw a small, fragile figure curled up beneath the eaves.

She sat on a low stool, arms wrapped around her knees. The lower half of her face was hidden in her arms, leaving only a pair of pretty eyes exposed—dull and listless, as if she had been drained of energy.

“What are you doing sitting here?” Zhou Yao paused slightly, genuinely taken aback.

He had thought Wen Yue only left the light on for him. He hadn’t expected her to still be awake—clearly waiting outside for him.

“…Huh? I was waiting for you,” Wen Yue replied slowly, as if just waking from a daze. She lifted her eyes toward him, her voice soft and dragging. “Why are you back so late? I’ve been waiting forever.”

Zhou Yao’s gaze flickered. He let out a faint snort.

“Who told you to wait for me?”

“Zhou Yao, is your mouth made of stone? Why is it so hard?” Wen Yue looked at him seriously, then pouted. “If you’re not grateful, fine—but you don’t have to be so mean to me. I thought you’d come back for dinner. How was I supposed to know you’d be this late?”

At the sight of her sitting there waiting, something in Zhou Yao still stirred faintly.

Ever since his grandmother passed away, no one had waited for him at home. No one had left a light on for him either.

But Zhou Yao was not the type to show anything on his face.

He glanced down at her, expression cold as ever. “Did you eat dinner?”

“Of course I did,” Wen Yue answered matter-of-factly. “If I didn’t, I’d starve to death.”

Then she added brightly, “But I saved you a bowl of noodles. Do you want them? Handmade noodles—I made them myself, with two fried eggs. They’re amazing.”

She lifted her thumb proudly, smiling.

Zhou Yao looked at her face. “Alright.”

Wen Yue stood up. “But you’re washing the dishes yourself. And bring out two eggs.”

“Got it.”

While Wen Yue went toward the kitchen, Zhou Yao stepped inside her room, placed the things he was carrying on the table, then casually hooked a key with his pinky and went next door to fetch eggs.

Only when he reached the door did he realize it wasn’t locked.

He opened the cabinet and took the eggs.

But as he was about to close it, something felt off.

He opened it again, narrowed his eyes, and looked carefully.

Rice cakes and walnut cookies were mostly gone. White rabbit candies and malted milk powder had been opened. The flour was nearly empty. The cured pork was gone.

Only the eggs had barely been touched.

“……”

So this girl… actually had quite an appetite.

He closed the cabinet thoughtfully and went to the kitchen with the eggs.

“Don’t eat too many snacks,” he said lazily. “Eat proper meals if you want to gain weight.”

“…Huh?” Wen Yue paused while pouring water into the pot. “What snacks?”

Her expression looked completely genuine.

Zhou Yao asked, “Did you forget to lock the door this afternoon?”

Wen Yue thought for a moment. “I think so. Sister Li Nianqiu came over to chat, and I forgot. I even took a nap inside… Did something go missing?”

Zhou Yao nodded. “Yeah.”

A brief, awkward silence fell.

“I’m sorry,” Wen Yue said quickly, guilt flashing across her face. “It’s my fault. I was careless.”

“It’s not entirely your fault,” Zhou Yao said flatly. “Thieves are hard to guard against.”

His tone was colder than before.

“I’ll handle it.”

He turned, grabbed the firewood knife leaning behind the door, and walked out.

Wen Yue: “?”

What is he going to do?

Curiosity pushed her to quickly stuff firewood into the stove, then she ran to the doorway and peeked outside.

In the pitch-black night, Zhou Yao stood tall—over 1.8 meters, his presence heavy and oppressive. The dim light from the courtyard couldn’t reach him, leaving his expression hidden in shadow.

Then—

He raised the firewood knife.

And slammed it hard into the wooden door of the room where Lin Cui and Zhou Jianghai lived.

Wood splintered and flew.

The sound was deafening in the silent night.

Wen Yue flinched violently.

…That intense?!

The dull, heavy thud of the blade echoed again and again. Even the dead asleep would’ve woken up.

Soon, a light flicked on inside.

A sharp, irritated voice rang out.

“Who is it? Are you tearing the house down?!”

A string of curses followed.

Wen Yue thought: yeah… that’s basically accurate.

Zhou Jianghai opened the door, his honest-looking face already carrying anger—until he saw the knife in Zhou Yao’s hand.

His expression instantly froze.

“D-don’t do anything rash, nephew. Let’s talk this out…”

Zhou Yao didn’t bother with words.

“Tell Lin Fang to bring it out.”

“What thing?” Zhou Jianghai looked confused—then turned and barked inside, “What did you take from him?! Hurry up and return it!”

Rustling came from inside.

Lin Fang quickly got dressed and stepped out, forcing herself to hold steady under Zhou Yao’s gaze.

“I didn’t take anything! Don’t accuse me!”

But her voice was clearly guilty.

Zhou Yao knew exactly what kind of person she was.

He pushed Zhou Jianghai aside and walked straight in.

Tall, silent, and cold—his presence filled the room. No one dared stop him.

Lin Fang panicked instantly. “What are you doing?! Don’t mess around—killing is illegal!”

Zhou Yao didn’t even look at her.

He walked straight to the locked cabinet, raised the firewood knife, and brought it down.

The lock snapped off instantly.

He kicked it aside and opened the cabinet.

Inside, he calmly gathered everything: cured pork, rice cakes, walnut cookies, white rabbit candies, malted milk powder, and even the remaining flour.

Lin Fang only reacted then. “That flour is ours!”

“I only took half a piece of pork!” she screamed. “Put my stuff down!”

But Zhou Jianghai had already turned on her.

“Are we really short on this stuff? You’re stealing from your nephew and still have the nerve?!”

Lin Fang started crying and screaming, and the couple erupted into chaos, shouting and fighting each other.

Zhou Yao watched coldly, then turned to leave with everything in his arms.

At the door, he paused.

“Next time,” he said flatly, “it won’t end this easily.”

Back in the kitchen, Wen Yue poked her head out, eyes bright.

“Zhou Yao, you were so cool just now,” she said, giving him a thumbs-up. “So manly!”

Zhou Yao frowned. “Manly?”

Wen Yue quickly explained, “It means strong, handsome, very masculine—like a real man! I’m praising you!”

Zhou Yao narrowed his eyes, studying her.

“You’re not being sarcastic?”

“No!” Wen Yue leaned closer, eyes wide and sincere.

After a moment, seeing no fear or disgust in her gaze, the tension in his brow eased slightly.

“Alright,” he said. “I’ll take your word for it.”

Then, as if nothing had happened, he asked, “Where’s my noodles?”

Wen Yue immediately brightened and handed them over.

“Here! Try it!”

The noodles steamed under the hot oil and garlic, the fragrance sharp and appetizing.

Zhou Yao ate in large mouthfuls, clearly satisfied.

“Oh right,” he said between bites. “I bought soap too. And some other things. They’re in your room. Go take a look.”

Wen Yue’s eyes lit up.

“Really? I’m going now!”