The Delicate Darling with Her Rough Man-Chapter 97 - 96: Not Alone

Li Hongmei had no interest in Yun Hao, and even less in Xu Wenwan. She didn’t bother to greet them, simply focusing on digging for mushrooms.

Down below, Yun Hao and Xu Wenwan hadn’t noticed Li Hongmei. They stood together, their faces tinged with excitement.

"Yun Hao..."

"Wen Wan..."

They spoke at the same time, then both fell silent. Their eyes met for a moment before they quickly looked away.

For once, Xu Wenwan seemed a little shy.

"Yun Hao, you go first!"

Yun Hao cleared his throat to break the awkward silence. "I wanted to ask... are you getting used to things at Village Chief Xu’s house?"

Yun Hao hadn’t paid much attention to the whole "swapped at birth" situation at Village Chief Xu’s home before. He’d heard a thing or two about it, but that was all.

But now that he knew Village Chief Xu’s daughter was Xu Wenwan, he naturally became concerned.

He had even made a point of asking Hu Ziqiang about it yesterday.

Hearing Yun Hao’s question, a flash of sorrow crossed Xu Wenwan’s eyes before she quickly masked it. She forced a smile and said, "I’m doing fine."

Yun Hao frowned. "Are they treating you poorly?"

Xu Wenwan shook her head. "No, they... they’re very good to me. It’s just... I’m not used to life here."

Yun Hao believed her.

Xu Wenwan’s adoptive family was well-off, and she had been pampered since she was a child. It was only natural that she wouldn’t be used to life here.

He hadn’t been used to it either when he was first sent down to the countryside. It took him a month before he started to adjust.

"That’s good to hear. If you ever have too much work and can’t handle it, just come find me. I’ll help you."

Xu Wenwan’s face instantly filled with gratitude.

Up above, picking mushrooms, Li Hongmei heard this and pouted, her face a mask of disdain.

’She couldn’t stand women who were prettier than her and knew how to put on an act.’

’Because that’s the kind men always like.’

’Why do men always fall for girls like Gu Jiaojiao and Xu Wenwan? What’s wrong with me? I’m pretty too, so why doesn’t anyone offer to help me with my work?’

Lost in her thoughts, she tugged too hard, and the mushroom in her hand tore apart.

Down below, Xu Wenwan and Yun Hao continued their conversation, which soon drifted to the topic of her adoptive parents.

"How is your father doing at the steel mill? What’s their attitude... about the situation?"

Xu Wenwan nodded. "They’re doing well. The factory is doing great, and my dad will likely be promoted to section chief soon."

"Even though they know I’m not their biological daughter, they’re still very good to me. When I left, they let me take all my things and even gave me some money. My dad was the one who drove me here."

A wave of nostalgia washed over Yun Hao as he listened. "I wonder how my parents are doing."

Xu Wenwan smiled and said.

"Your father and mother are doing well, but they miss you very much. Your dad got promoted—he’s the factory director now. And your mom is still in charge of the broadcast station; she’s a department head. Right before I left, she had just hired a few new people and was probably busy training them."

"Your mom also said that she found a job for you back then, but you refused and insisted on coming to the countryside. She said if you really wanted to, returning to the city would be a simple matter for you, wouldn’t it?"

The Yun family and Xu Wenwan’s adoptive family lived in the same residential compound and were next-door neighbors. Xu Wenwan was at the Yun family’s home so often that everyone used to joke she was their daughter.

She knew Yun Hao hadn’t been home in a long time and that exchanging letters was difficult, so she shared all the good news she could.

Yun Hao was thrilled to hear it all.

"That’s great."

"Wen Wan, thank you. I wouldn’t have known any of this if it weren’t for you."

Xu Wenwan shook her head shyly. "Yun Hao, I was so happy I’d be able to see you here at Qingshan Team. I was a little worried about coming, but seeing you here... I suddenly feel at ease."

"Having you here makes me feel like I’m not alone."

Yun Hao was deeply moved. They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts, and their families had even joked about them getting married one day.

’Looking at the ever-more-beautiful Xu Wenwan, he knew in his heart that he had feelings for her.’

Just then, the image of a bright, smiling face suddenly flashed through his mind, and Yun Hao jolted in surprise.

’Why on earth am I thinking about Gu Jiaojiao right now?!’