CHAPTER 98: CHAPTER 97: HE CHEN PANICS BIG TIME

He Chen had already started working. His coat was heavy and he took it off, placing it to the side. He was wearing only a thin gray sweater on his upper body.

One long leg was pressed against the thick tree trunk, both hands holding the saw. When he worked, He Chen’s immense strength was fully on display, wild and bold.

Gao Huifang was hiding behind the bushes watching him.

From her viewpoint, she could see the muscles on He Chen’s arms tense as he exerted himself, lifting the fabric of the sweater, and his thigh stretching tight, filling the pants with solid muscles. He was filled with the beauty of strength from top to bottom.

Just looking at this scene made Gao Huifang’s heart involuntarily surge with indescribable feelings. She looked down at her own relatively clean clothes, tidied them up a bit, and then, with a flushed face, summoned the courage to walk out.

"He Chen..."

Her hands were clasped in front of her, a bit embarrassed as she looked at the man in front of her. Now face-to-face, thinking she would express her true feelings, Gao Huifang instead lost her previous aloofness and appeared quite shy.

He Chen was focused when sawing the tree. Hearing someone call his name, he thought it might be an acquaintance passing by. He took a moment to glance over.

"...Who are you?"

It’s truly understandable that He Chen couldn’t recognize Gao Huifang.

Although He Chen hadn’t remembered her face before, if Gao Huifang still dressed as before, he might feel a bit familiar. Now, he found the woman in front of him completely unfamiliar.

Looking at her, Gao Huifang no longer had the intentionally propped-up arrogance she once had, appearing very down-to-earth, no different from the women in the village.

Moreover, the clothes she wore were very old, some edges of the padded jacket even had small holes, showing white cotton, and her pants were dingy as if not properly cleaned. She even wasn’t wearing boots on her feet, just regular shoes.

Based on He Chen’s initial impression, the woman standing awkwardly in front of him seemed like a wife from a less well-off household. He thought perhaps some man had a matter with him but wasn’t available, so he sent his wife to ask him.

So he temporarily paused his work, asking curiously.

"Are you someone’s wife? What’s your business with me?"

Although this woman looked a bit shy and embarrassed, He Chen didn’t think much of it. He completely assumed she was sent by someone to ask for help, feeling awkward because she didn’t know him.

Gao Huifang obviously did not expect He Chen to not recognize her at all; his attitude and gaze were absolutely no different from talking to a stranger.

Her heart ached. Gao Huifang clenched her hands, unable to resist stepping forward, trying to get closer to He Chen.

"He Chen, don’t you remember me? Why don’t you remember me again? I’ve waited for you for a month..."

She had difficulty accepting this reality, tears suddenly streaming down as she stood crying sadly in front of He Chen.

"I’m Gao Huifang, we’ve met before, worked together in the field. When floods hit the village, it was your cloth that saved me. When I fell into a trap, you rescued me, how could you forget me... boo hoo..."

Gao Huifang’s crying was sporadic and pitiful.

But after listening, He Chen, apart from realizing she was that educated youth, felt nothing else.

He even frowned, disagreeing with her words.

"Comrade, I remember who you are, but your words are truly incorrect."

"I’ve told you before, the one who saved you educated youths during the flood was my wife, you shouldn’t thank the wrong person. Later when you fell into the trap, I only handed you a bamboo stick, don’t misunderstand."

"We have no relationship whatsoever, please don’t spread words recklessly. I have no obligation to remember you."

To He Chen, the woman in front of him was completely a passerby, so he didn’t understand her words or actions at all.

"Moreover, I warned you last time that the mountain is dangerous, don’t run up by yourself. Last time, you suffered a big loss on the mountain, are you really indifferent?"

A woman’s chastity is integral, He Chen didn’t need to say how important it is. Everyone knows that for women in this era, it’s nearly equivalent to life itself.

This woman was bullied by Liu Tiejun on the mountain, then brought back home and confined for several days, yet she still didn’t learn, and came again.

He Chen found it incredibly inconceivable.

"It’s not like that..."

"He Chen, it’s not like that..."

Gao Huifang was eager and tearfully explaining.

She didn’t want He Chen to think she was someone who didn’t care about chastity, but didn’t know how to express it, so she could only start from the beginning.

"He Chen, I went up the mountain to find you that day! I didn’t expect to fall into the trap, I didn’t know there was a trap there..."

"I just... I just wanted to be closer to you, wanted to talk to you..."

"I like you, He Chen, you’re the only one in my heart. Even when you left me on the mountain that day, I didn’t blame you, I only blamed my bad luck, I wasn’t wrong, I didn’t want to be harmed by Liu Tiejun... boo hoo hoo..."

Gao Huifang cried more sorrowfully, with tears and snot, crying and explaining while trying to reach out to grab He Chen’s arm.

He Chen hadn’t yet reacted to this abrupt confession and was startled by her movement. He swiftly threw down the saw, taking several big steps back, his speech carrying a warning tone.

"Comrade, don’t come over!"

"Men and women don’t touch without distinction, and I have a wife, don’t speak recklessly! I have no thoughts about you, I don’t know you at all!"

His face showed terror, with no excitement or bashfulness from being confessed to, but rather cold sweat down his back from Gao Huifang’s approaching actions.

Despite He Chen’s words, Gao Huifang continued walking towards him, and He Chen, in panic, pointed to the ground in front of her, shouting.

"Comrade! Stand there and don’t move!"

"Speak properly, don’t come closer! If my wife misunderstands, she’ll be upset and angry. I only have her in my heart, don’t come over!"

He was nearly unable to speak, in a flurry and almost ready to bolt, but he promised Ye Manman to make a bathing tub, didn’t want to leave tools on the mountain unattended, and needed to take them home.

And this woman obviously followed him here; even if he escapes this time, he might not be able to escape the next. Today, he had to make this clear.

Otherwise, if Ye Manman sees it next time, misunderstands, and gets angry, he wouldn’t know how to appease her. This was something he was most inept at, he had to avoid making Manman unhappy!

"I won’t!"

Gao Huifang seemed stimulated by He Chen’s words. She couldn’t believe He Chen truly felt nothing for her, otherwise, why fear her approach?

Surely he feared losing control; saying his heart was only for his wife must be false!

No man can truly remain unmoved when another woman approaches when they’re alone!

Gao Huifang not only ignored He Chen’s warning but suddenly sped up and rushed at him.