Chapter 14: Welcome to the Farm

With a loud thud, Yan Sen tossed Qin Li's suitcase onto the tractor.

Qin Li's scalp prickled. Stay calm, she told herself. This isn't rudeness; it's... ruggedness.

Yan Sen climbed onto the towering driver's seat with a few swift motions. From his elevated perch, he looked down at her and asked, puzzled, "Why aren't you getting in?"

Why aren't I getting in? Qin Li looked up at the absurdly high tractor cab, her 5'5" frame feeling utterly inadequate. She replied with an awkward expression, "I'm too short. I can't reach."

Yan Sen's lips curved into a faint smirk, one that somehow made Qin Li's face heat up for no reason at all.

Get a grip, Qin Li. You've been through a divorce. You're no blushing teenager!

Without a word, Yan Sen hopped down from the tractor, walked around behind her, and placed his large, warm hands on her waist.

Startled by the sudden touch, Qin Li shrieked, "W-what are you doing?!"

His low, slightly mocking voice came from just behind her ear, "What does it look like? Helping you up."

Her face turned an even deeper shade of red. She wasn't sure what to feel—embarrassed by their unexpected closeness or worried that her weight might be too much for him to handle.

But Yan Sen didn't seem to think twice. With the ease of lifting a sack of grain, he hoisted her up and plopped her into the tractor's cab, as though she were no heavier than a bag of rice.

Qin Li glanced at his muscled arms. Yeah... definitely overthinking that one, she thought, sheepishly adjusting her skirt.

As Yan Sen walked back around to his side, the owner of a nearby Hummer approached, frowning. Apparently, the tractor had taken up two parking spots, and the man wasn't thrilled about it.

"What's a tractor even doing in a city parking lot? Shouldn't it stay in the fields?" he grumbled loudly, circling his vehicle to inspect for scratches.

Yan Sen didn't respond. He climbed into the cab, closed the door, and revved the engine. The tractor roared to life, belching a puff of exhaust directly at the complaining man.

The Hummer owner coughed and waved his arms, glaring at them as the tractor lumbered out of the lot with a deafening thud-thud-thud.

Yan Sen was not a talkative driver. He stared straight ahead, hands steady on the wheel, his face set in an impenetrable expression. The only sound inside the cab was the relentless rumbling of the engine.

Qin Li turned her gaze toward the window, catching a glimpse of his reflection in the glass. His profile was as chiseled as a classical sculpture—high-bridged nose, deep-set eyes, and a jawline sharp enough to cut glass. He was the epitome of a stereotypical Germanic man, though for some reason, he reminded her uncomfortably of certain WWII documentaries.

As if sensing her gaze, Yan Sen glanced her way.

Caught in the act, Qin Li quickly averted her eyes, pretending to admire the scenery outside.

After about thirty minutes, Yan Sen steered off the highway onto a narrow country road. They had entered the foothills of the Alps. The asphalt lane was barely wide enough for two cars to pass, and the tractor took up more than its fair share, commanding the road like a king surveying his domain.

Despite the unconventional mode of transportation, Qin Li couldn't deny that the surroundings were stunning. Rolling meadows, picturesque farms, and jagged mountain peaks framed the horizon like a postcard. She took out her phone and snapped a few photos, momentarily forgetting her nerves.

But then, the sound of blaring car horns interrupted her reverie.

Looking into the side mirror, she saw a long line of cars trailing behind them—stretching back as far as the eye could see.

"Um... we're causing a traffic jam," she ventured, hesitantly.

"I know," Yan Sen replied calmly.

"Maybe... you could go a little faster?"

"Can't," he said without looking at her. "The speed limit for tractors on this road is fifty kilometers per hour."

"Then... what do we do?"

Yan Sen shrugged nonchalantly. "Deal with it."

Qin Li opened her mouth, then closed it. This guy is seriously unbothered by the idea of enraging half the drivers in the countryside.

Thankfully, the other drivers seemed more patient than she expected. While the occasional horn blared, no one rolled down their window to hurl insults or throw fists.

After what felt like a lifetime of crawling at a turtle's pace over one hill after another, they finally arrived at their destination. The farmhouse stood at the foot of the Alps, a massive three-story wooden structure with a steeply pitched roof and a sprawling yard. Though far from the city, the stunning views of surrounding mountains and lakes made it a paradise on earth.

Yan Sen casually parked the tractor in an open space, jumped down, and started walking toward the house.

Still sitting in the tractor cab, Qin Li watched him in disbelief. Is he seriously going to leave me up here?

Flustered, she threw open the door and shouted at his retreating back, "Hey, aren't you going to help me down? Where's your gentlemanly manners?"

Without turning around, Yan Sen waved dismissively. "I'm not a gentleman; I'm a farmer. You're here to become a farmer's wife, not a noblewoman. So… get down on your own."

His unapologetic tone left Qin Li speechless.

Her face burned as she muttered under her breath, "What kind of spell was I under to agree to this ridiculous blind date?"

With no other option, Qin Li clambered down the high cab by herself. She managed to drag her suitcase out of the tractor's storage area with great effort, nearly smashing her foot in the process.

Determined not to be abandoned, she hurried after Yan Sen, catching up just as he stopped next to a sleek black Mercedes-Benz.

Qin Li blinked. The contrast couldn't have been starker: the mud-caked pitchforks and hoes he pulled from the trunk seemed absurdly out of place with the luxurious car.

"Wait a minute," she said, catching her breath. "You have a car. Why didn't you just drive it here instead of using a tractor?"

Yan Sen replied matter-of-factly, "I was working in the fields. Didn't feel like switching vehicles."

Qin Li stared at him, utterly flabbergasted.

After a pause, she cautiously asked, "Did someone... force you into this blind date?"

Yan Sen stopped abruptly, and Qin Li, unable to stop in time, bumped right into his broad, solid back.

Turning to face her, his blue eyes narrowing slightly, he asked, "Why would you think that?"

Rubbing her nose—which had borne the brunt of the impact—she explained, "Because your attitude says you're being dragged into this against your will."

He smirked faintly. "Sorry, this is just how I am. You'll get to know me better… assuming there's a future for us."

The words were blunt, even awkward, but not illogical.

As they approached the farmhouse, Qin Li noticed it was divided into two distinct parts. The front half was a grand villa, while the back half housed a cattle barn.

Yan Sen dumped his tools onto the ground, fished a key out of his pocket, and opened the front door.

Qin Li lingered outside, peering in. The interior was unlit, and the dim light filtering through the windows revealed old-fashioned furniture and a slightly musty smell that hinted at its age. It felt eerie.

She hesitated, unsure whether to follow him in.

Yan Sen, evidently unconcerned, disappeared deeper into the house, leaving her standing there in the chilly twilight.

Though it was early spring, the lack of sunshine made the evening bitterly cold. I can't just stand here all night, she thought. Finally, steeling herself, she stepped inside.

No sooner had she crossed the threshold than a shadow darted toward her head, startling her so badly that she stumbled backward. Her elbow struck a nearby shelf, sending something tumbling to the ground with a loud crash.

Heart pounding, she looked down and saw two porcelain cats lying on the floor. They seemed cheap and unremarkable, and she sighed in relief.

But before she could recover, a cold breath hissed behind her.

"Oh no," came a voice, dripping with mockery. "You're in trouble now. That's a priceless antique from the Middle Ages!"