Chapter 213: A Heartwarming Moment

Standing there in a daze for a long while, Masa also stayed with her in a trance until Xiyi and Xigu returned.

Sha Yi saw them each carrying a bucket-like container originally used for filtering salt, and their movements suggested the buckets were quite heavy.

Masa was more excited than her, letting out a cry before rushing over.

Xiyi lifted his head, his gaze settling on her. Their eyes met, and a tender smile curled at the corners of his lips, his entire being warm and gentle under the midday sun.

They must have returned with a full haul—otherwise, given Xiyi’s straightforward nature, he would have looked apologetic from afar. But now, he was clearly happy.

Realizing Xiyi and Xigu were bringing the two buckets over, Sha Yi didn’t move, simply waiting where she stood. Masa, however, was beside herself with excitement, tugging at the wooden bucket rim while chattering incessantly, her joy utterly unrestrained.

Sha Yi was in high spirits too, though she wasn’t sure what Masa had spotted.

Only when Xiyi and Xigu drew closer did she notice that the two wooden buckets were filled with impressively large shrimp.

These shrimp indeed matched Xigu’s earlier description. Though different from the ones she and Xiyi had eaten by the big river, their shells appeared much softer, and their size was hardly smaller. Comparatively, these new shrimp likely tasted even better, both in preparation and flavor.

What surprised her was how they had managed to catch so many in such cold weather. Both buckets were nearly full—an astonishing haul.

Seeing her astonishment, Xigu, who was holding one of the buckets, grinned and straightforwardly answered her unspoken question: “Maybe because we went hunting last night, and Masa didn’t venture into deeper waters. Today, Xiyi swam far out, holding his breath underwater to catch them. There’s probably still plenty down there.”

Xigu’s words only deepened Sha Yi’s shock—not because of the sheer number of shrimp, but because of the phrase “holding his breath underwater.”

At the moment, Xiyi was completely bare, wearing only a loincloth around his waist as he did in summer and the rainy season. Even that was soaked, while the fur clothes and pants he had worn earlier had been stripped off and were now being carried by Xigu.

His body was still damp. When she reached out to touch his arm, she felt a chill unlike the rainy season—this cold was biting, almost piercing. She couldn’t fathom what had driven him to do this.

Instinctively, she looked up at him, only for him to smile at her again.

His deep, beautiful eyes crinkled into crescents, the warm brown irises glowing softly. Lips curved, he gently stroked her hair. After a few silent seconds, he suddenly withdrew his hand and began rummaging through the bucket of shrimp.

Sha Yi let out a small noise of concern, worried the shrimp’s large pincers might pinch him, but he paid no mind, casually sifting through until he pulled something out and presented it to her.

It was a rather irregularly shaped, large spherical object, gleaming with a silvery-white luster. Its surface bore faint, uneven grooves, and the edges were slightly jagged, as if eroded.

It resembled a freshwater pearl but was far from the refined pearls of the modern era—its quality was much rougher. Yet, it gave her an oddly familiar sense of nostalgia.

Xiyi and the others might not recognize what this was, nor did they likely have much inclination for adornment. But that didn’t stop him from wanting to give her something he deemed beautiful.

Like this flawed pearl—perhaps he had never seen one before and thought this silvery-white, oversized grain was exceptionally pretty, so he brought it back for her.

She saw the eager hope in his eyes.

Compared to bone ornaments, such a find was rare and precious in this ancient era. So, she unhesitatingly accepted it, making sure to flash him a genuinely delighted smile.

Truthfully, she *was* happy.

As a modern woman with a romantic soul, her relationship with Xiyi had lacked any semblance of ceremony or romance. Even their token of affection had been nothing more than a piece of fur. Now, receiving this from him felt almost equivalent to a diamond ring in her heart.

Even if the pearl’s quality was lacking, it didn’t dampen her joy. If anything, it deepened their bond.

So, she didn’t hold back her emotions.

Xiyi was visibly pleased by her reaction. Every time she was happy, his mood lifted—this time was no exception.

Once she tucked the large pearl into her pocket, Xiyi reached out to ruffle her hair again but hesitated, reluctantly withdrawing his hand.

Sha Yi couldn’t help but laugh.

He was still as cautious as ever.

In the past, he’d either worried about transferring dampness to her or feared dirtying her with grime. Even when she initiated contact, he’d deliberately avoid her.

From these habits, it seemed he still remembered how she’d once recoiled from the snake blood on him. Since then, out of care, sensitivity, and sheer adoration, he’d maintained this habit—neither good nor bad—always mindful of her comfort.

Now, her heart ached a little for him.

Perhaps, as the saying goes, no one is perfect—everyone has flaws. She knew her own shortcomings and how long it had taken her to work on them. Though friction was inevitable, looking back on how she’d treated Xiyi initially, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt on his behalf.

She wasn’t exactly the epitome of kindness, yet Xiyi had accepted and embraced all of her.

So, she swiftly reached out, intercepting his retreating rough hand mid-air.

The action startled Xiyi. Reflexively, he leaned down to scrutinize her, as if checking for any discomfort.

Sha Yi smiled at him.

This exchange felt like a callback to their early days, when they couldn’t communicate. But after living together for so long, from silence to fluency, they’d developed an unspoken understanding. A glance, a gesture—each was enough to elicit a knowing smile.

At this, Xiyi relaxed, reassured.

But as Sha Yi eyed his bronzed, muscular chest, she remembered he was still bare. She stretched out her arms, wanting to hug him and share her warmth.

Unexpectedly, he abruptly dropped the bucket, gripping her arms instead. Though his hold was gentle, his refusal was firm—he wouldn’t let her embrace him, nor would he allow her body to press against his.

Old habits die hard.

Sha Yi was torn between laughter and exasperation, her heart aching even more. Unfortunately, she was now pregnant—inexperienced and cautious, she didn’t dare act recklessly as she had in the old cave dwelling, where she’d stubbornly clung to him regardless.

After a moment’s thought, she puckered her lips and gave him a pitiful look, hoping to sway him.

She was confident her acting deserved full marks.

Because the moment she made that face, Xiyi’s expression crumpled into distress, his hands fumbling anxiously before finally releasing her.

Freed from his grip, Sha Yi immediately stood on tiptoe, wrapping her arms around his neck with a triumphant grin.

Her little tricks always worked on Xiyi.

She felt that with just one expression, she could make him leap from one extreme to another. Whether she was sincere or not, he always reacted with genuine concern—never pausing to question, always falling for it.

She was, without a doubt, his weakness.

Once again outmaneuvered, Xiyi sighed in resignation but didn’t resist. Instead, he let her have her way, even giving her free rein to do as she pleased.

Nestled against him, Sha Yi spotted Xigu standing behind Xiyi, watching them with an unabashedly cheeky grin.

She didn’t feel the slightest discomfort.

This wasn’t like the early days anymore. After spending so much time with them, she’d grown thick-skinned. Even being affectionate with Xiyi in front of others no longer fazed her—it was just habit now.

So, after that glance, she completely ignored Xigu, tightening her arms around Xiyi’s neck instead.

Perhaps the height difference between them was too great. Xiyi, who had bent slightly to accommodate her hug, seemed to struggle as she clung tighter. Suddenly, he crouched lower, lifting her by the thighs in one smooth motion.

This embrace was entirely different from a month ago—he was careful not to touch her belly at all!

Sha Yi froze for a second, touched by his thoughtfulness. Yet even through her clothes, she could feel the chill radiating from his body—so intense it made her shiver involuntarily.

Immediately, she didn’t dare let him stand any longer. Patting his shoulder, she urged, “Xiyi, let’s leave these things here for now. We should go back and get you dressed. The temperature’s dropped so much lately—standing around like this isn’t worth catching a cold over…”

Before she could finish, Xigu chimed in from behind, handing over the fur clothes: “Right, it’s even colder than last winter. Hurry back and warm up. I’ll handle the shrimp.”

Gratitude swelled in Sha Yi’s chest, but Xiyi didn’t give her a chance to speak. With a nod at Xigu, he set off without delay, obediently following her instructions.