The primitive man possessed astonishing brute strength, and Saina was no exception. With a gentle tug on her ankle, he effortlessly pulled her back into the water from the slope. Her silk gown was instantly soaked, and the front was smeared with mud.
Sha Yi was speechless. The spot where she had tumbled was deeper than expected. Though right beside him, she was much shorter, forcing her to tiptoe just to keep her chin above the water. Even then, she swayed unsteadily in the current.
Saina chuckled beside her. Without waiting for her to speak, he pulled her toward the shallower water near the riverbank, his dark eyes glinting with amusement.
Sha Yi felt he was toying with her like a cat with a mouse—regardless of her willingness, he seemed to relish it. The thought irritated her, and as soon as she steadied herself, she pushed his arm away.
Saina wasn’t angered. It was as if he had anticipated her reaction or grown accustomed to her defiance. Even as she shoved him away without courtesy, his face remained wreathed in smiles, his narrow eyes calm and unreadable, betraying no other emotion.
His smile never reached his eyes, and she truly couldn’t fathom him.
He wasn’t Xi Yi, and their relationship was nothing like hers with Xi Yi. He knew it, and so did she. Yet, he seemed determined to bridge the distance between them, persistently provoking her.
His nature wasn’t malicious—his intentions weren’t to trouble her—but his unpredictable temperament left her bewildered. Perhaps his upbringing had shaped him this way.
Regarding Saina, she sensed his environment must have been vastly different from Xi Yi’s. While Xi Yi was gentle and sincere, his heart was simple. Saina, however, was driven and obsessive in his pursuits—something she had noticed during his fights with Xi Yi. Time and again, she saw him fixated on results, disregarding the process, even if it meant paying a steep price.
Most often, he appeared playful and carefree, yet she had also glimpsed his brooding silence—two extremes that contrasted starkly.
To the uninformed, he might seem reckless and unrestrained. But she perceived a deeper, untamed arrogance within him—tempered only by a veneer of patience, or bluntly put, sheer willfulness.
It was this very nature that made him unyielding once he set his mind on something, just as he relentlessly pursued her. No matter how many clashes with Xi Yi, no matter how severe his injuries, his resolve never wavered.
But why did he fixate on her? She had done nothing to provoke him, nor had they ever been enemies.
After a long moment of contemplation, a sudden realization struck Sha Yi, startling her.
Could it be… he fancied her?
But was that even possible? By the aesthetic standards of primitive women, she was downright unattractive. Moreover, they had barely interacted. She couldn’t bring herself to believe it—except for one possibility: the scarcity of women in this era. If he sought her out of desperation, she could very well believe that!
In those fleeting moments, Sha Yi’s thoughts raced, leaving the man before her utterly perplexed. He waved a hand in front of her face, but when she showed no sign of acknowledging him, he turned away.
Sha Yi remained silent. Only as he turned did she notice the dried clothes she had been holding were now soaked again from their tumble in the water, the mud stains on her chest infuriating her further. But there was no helping it—she’d have to wash them again.
Mentally cursing his ancestors, she reluctantly scrubbed at the mud stains. Fortunately, the silk skirt wasn’t white, and the mud came off easily. She finished quickly.
When she turned back, Saina—who had previously turned away—had somehow returned, swiftly presenting her with a handful of plump, crimson fruits.
Sha Yi recognized them. These were the same fruits Masa had first given her, the ones Xi Yi later took her to gather. It was because of these fruits that she had first crossed paths with Saina—an unpleasant encounter, despite the fruit’s delicious taste.
Now, she couldn’t even look at them without distaste. Yet Saina seemed oblivious, puzzled by her refusal despite knowing she liked them. Just as he moved to force the fruits into her hands, a hoarse female voice shattered the prolonged silence between them.
Hearing the voice, Sha Yi’s heart leapt—it was Xigu calling her name. She must have returned, noticed her absence, and come searching. Perfect timing. With Xigu here, she might finally escape. Otherwise, who knew what Saina might do? And if Xi Yi found out, he’d surely be upset.
The last punishment was still fresh in her mind—she never wanted a repeat.
Meanwhile, Saina clearly heard Xigu’s voice too. His movement to hand her the fruits froze. When he looked down at her again, his eyes were inscrutable, his expression tinged with regret. Finally, he smiled, placing the fruits on a dry leaf by the shore.
Sha Yi was stunned. In her mind, he was the type to impose his will on others. Whatever his reason now, she found it hard to believe—but she wasn’t foolish enough to ask.
After setting the fruits down, Saina cast her one last glance before slipping into the water.
The surface rippled violently before gradually stilling.
Yet Sha Yi remained baffled. Given his earlier behavior, he feared no one. Why would he flee at the mere sound of Xigu’s voice?
Unable to make sense of it, she gave up and waded to the shallows, stepping onto a raised spot to climb ashore. Just then, Xigu pushed through the riverside foliage, emerging from the greenery.
Spotting Sha Yi by the river, Xigu brightened, waving and chattering excitedly. But as soon as she noticed the items on the bank, she strode over.
Sha Yi assumed Xigu intended to help carry the belongings, but the moment she reached the shore, her attention was instantly captured by the plump red fruits. Without hesitation, she grabbed one and took a hearty bite, smacking her lips as she ate.
Used to her bluntness, Sha Yi ignored her and focused on gathering her things. By the time everything was neatly packed, the fruits had vanished, leaving only the cores behind.
Glancing at the discarded seeds, Sha Yi suddenly recalled that the first time Saina had given her green fruits, Xigu had devoured those too. History had repeated itself—once again, they ended up in Xigu’s stomach. She wondered what Saina would think if he knew…
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