Chapter 36: Trading One Rabbit for Another

When Ye Qiu returned to his cabin, he found Xiao Wu sitting at the table in the main hall.

Having just finished her bath, she looked like a delicate porcelain doll—slender brows, large expressive eyes, and long, damp hair cascading over her shoulders. Resting her chin on her hands, she gazed at the doorway, waiting for Ye Qiu to return.

Hearing movement outside, Xiao Wu immediately stood up. Just as she was about to step forward, she paused, pouted at the doorway, and complained, "Ye Qiu, why did you take so long? My stomach is completely empty!"

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes at the little rabbit, who had completely reverted to her usual self after a bath. "I went to the village entrance to bring food to Tang San."

Thud!

He set down two meal boxes on the table and pushed one toward Xiao Wu.

"Here, eat up."

"Thanks, Ye Qiu!"

Xiao Wu happily thanked him and eagerly opened the meal box.

The next moment, her expression changed drastically, and she let out a startled scream.

"Ah—! Ye Qiu! H-How could you?!"

"Ugh, so noisy! Do you need to warm up your mouth before eating?" Ye Qiu frowned and knocked Xiao Wu on the head before turning to look at the meal box.

Inside was a plump, juicy rabbit leg.

"Ye Qiu~! Why is there rabbit meat?"

Xiao Wu clutched her head, her face full of distress and grievance.

"It's just a rabbit leg. You see it all over the streets and markets. What's the big deal?" Ye Qiu rolled his eyes and pushed his own meal toward her. "Fine, eat mine instead."

As he spoke, he opened his own meal box.

Xiao Wu only took one glance before looking even more heartbroken. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she wailed, "Ah! Xiao Wu doesn't want to eat this either!"

"Hm?"

Ye Qiu frowned and looked into his own meal box, immediately understanding the issue. Besides the rabbit leg, there was also a spicy rabbit head.

Shaking his head helplessly, he sighed, "Forget it. You better not eat then. Just have some carrots instead."

Xiao Wu propped herself on the table, inching closer to Ye Qiu with a pitiful expression, pleading, "Ye Qiu, how about… we just throw this meal away?"

"Throw it away? That'd be a waste! The rabbit would've died for nothing," Ye Qiu frowned, embodying the virtue of frugality.

"But… but…"

Xiao Wu hesitated, then quickly ran to Ye Qiu's side, gently tugging at his sleeve. "I-I'll compensate you."

Ye Qiu glanced at her sideways, unconvinced. "Compensate me? You already owe me a lot of money. What do you have to offer?"

"I-I can…"

Xiao Wu bit her lip, hesitating as she looked at Ye Qiu's youthful face.

"Alright, alright."

Ye Qiu didn't want to argue anymore. Eating was the priority. Without lifting his head, he simply picked out the rabbit meat with his chopsticks. "I won't throw the meal away, but I won't eat the rabbit meat either."

"Ah—"

Xiao Wu's large, bright eyes widened in surprise before flashing with joy.

Ye Qiu turned to look at her.

"Happy now?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Xiao Wu nodded enthusiastically, her lips curving into a shy smile. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then… I'll compensate you now."

"Compensate? With what?"

Ye Qiu raised his head, puzzled by the strange behavior of the little rabbit.

Just as he looked up, his dark eyes trembled in shock.

A warm, soft sensation pressed against his lips, carrying a hint of sweetness.

The little rabbit before him blushed furiously, her delicate eyes shimmering, long lashes fluttering. Her soft pink ears twitched, and her lips trembled slightly as her ears and neck turned an alluring shade of red.

Smack!

Ye Qiu snapped out of his daze and instinctively pushed her away.

"Ah!"

Xiao Wu stumbled backward, nearly falling to the ground.

"You stupid rabbit! W-What do you think you're doing?!"

Ye Qiu's youthful face flushed red. Being the initiator and the recipient were two completely different experiences—he had never expected Xiao Wu to "compensate" him in this way!

"I-I thought you'd like it…"

Xiao Wu lifted her chin slightly, her eyes filled with confusion and embarrassment. She bit her lip, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.

"Who told you that?! I think you're the one who likes it! Otherwise, why would you do this out of nowhere?"

Ye Qiu wiped his lips and stared at Xiao Wu with a complicated expression. Even if he did like it, now was definitely not the time—it felt way too childish and absurd!

"You… you're making things up! I don't—!"

Xiao Wu stomped her foot, her face as red as a tomato. It was as if he had seen through her thoughts, and she was left speechless. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she huffed, "Hmph! Stupid Ye Qiu! If you don't like it, then fine! Either way, I already compensated you!"

With that, she stomped into the bedroom connected to the hall.

The room felt a bit empty—her bed, still damp from her bath, had been moved outside to dry. With no other option, she settled onto a chair.

Clutching her burning cheeks, she pouted, furrowed her brows, and muttered curses under her breath. She had gathered so much courage, only for it to end like this.

Her crimson eyes dimmed slightly, her lips moving as if lost in thought, worry flickering in her gaze.

Does he dislike me…?

Meanwhile, Ye Qiu wiped his lips again, watching Xiao Wu storm off. He sat back down and, for some reason, a small, satisfied smile crept onto his face.

—

Some time later, as Ye Qiu was finishing his meal, Xiao Wu finally rubbed her stomach, feeling the pangs of hunger.

She glanced around the room before standing up and stepping hesitantly toward the doorway.

"Ye Qiu… where did you put the carrots? I'm hungry…"

Ye Qiu casually pointed to a cloth bag hanging on the wall. "Over there. Take it yourself."

Xiao Wu retrieved the bag, pulled out a carrot, washed it in the water basin, and returned to her seat.

As she passed Ye Qiu, she stole a quick glance at him. Seeing that he was almost done eating, she quickly averted her gaze and sat back down.

Just as she took her seat, Ye Qiu stood up, grabbed the two empty meal boxes, and walked toward the door.

Xiao Wu pursed her lips, puzzled.

Watching him leave, she lowered her gaze, holding the carrot in both hands. Opening her small mouth, she took a delicate bite, the crisp sound filling the silent room.

But as she chewed, she found herself glancing toward the door, her thoughts wandering.

When Ye Qiu returned after washing the meal boxes, he noticed Xiao Wu's gaze shifting away awkwardly, her face slightly flushed.

"?"

Ye Qiu gave her a strange look before sitting back at the table. "Why do you keep staring at me? Do you have something to say?"

"I wasn't staring at you! Don't flatter yourself." Xiao Wu bit into her carrot in small, deliberate nibbles, huffing under her breath.

Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow.

"So, you do have something to say?"

Silence. Only the crisp sound of her biting into the carrot.

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes impatiently and knocked on the table.

Knock, knock!

"Well? If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, I'm leaving."

"…Ye Qiu," Xiao Wu finally murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She kept her head down, nibbling at her carrot. "Will you… ever leave me behind?"