Chapter 408: Seventies: The Mature Husband 8

The two children immediately took the duck legs and began gnawing on them.

But the next moment, they both stopped and held the duck legs out toward Xue Xingtong's mouth. “Big Brother, you eat too.”

“Big Brother doesn't eat duck legs. You two eat them. I'm going out for a while. After you finish, salt the pork.” Xue Xingtong instructed them.

“Mm!”

Then Xue Xingtong walked toward his room.

He picked up a brick from underneath the bed and took out an iron box hidden inside. He counted more than a dozen small-denomination bills.

Then he wrapped the bills in a handkerchief, put them in his pocket, and left the house.

……

Since the weather had turned colder, there was less work to be done. So after Tang Wan returned from Xue Xingtong's house, she had nothing much to do.

Just then, Little Cutie said, “Host, the villain seems to have come looking for you!”

“Hm?” Tang Wan's eyes lit up.

She hurriedly left Li Cheng's house.

If other people saw Tongtong coming to look for her, they would definitely point fingers and gossip about him.

……

Not long after Tang Wan went outside, she saw Xue Xingtong's figure.

Despite the freezing November weather, he was still wearing nothing more than a thin jacket and worn-out straw sandals. When he saw her, he quickened his pace and hurried over to Tang Wan, though his expression looked extremely grim.

Tang Wan stared at him blankly.

Then she saw Xue Xingtong take a handkerchief from his pocket and hold it out to her. His tone was somewhat stiff.

“This is the money for the things you brought. I only set your bone for you. I don't deserve such a generous thank-you gift.”

Seeing his dark eyes stubbornly fixed on her, Tang Wan suddenly felt a little ache in her nose.

Although she had indeed bought those things with the intention of getting closer to him, she had genuinely just wanted to take the opportunity to improve his life a little out of her own selfish feelings.

But now it seemed that he was quite opposed to her doing this.

The money he was holding was probably almost a year's worth of food for the three siblings, wasn't it?

After a moment, Tang Wan raised her eyes and looked into Xue Xingtong's eyes, saying hoarsely, “I won't take it. To you, you only set my bone, but to me, you saved my life. Even giving myself to you in return wouldn't be too much.”

The moment she said this, Xue Xingtong's mind went completely blank.

Had studying made her stupid? How could she possibly have such thoughts?

But why? Why could he see hurt and grievance in her eyes, along with a trace of concern for him?

Xue Xingtong's mind was in chaos, while his right hand remained extended, holding out the cloth-wrapped money.

……

At this moment, Tang Wan reached out and pushed his right hand away.

“Besides, my life is very precious. You helped me, so no matter how I thank you, it wouldn't be too much. Take the money back. I'm going home first!” Tang Wan said expressionlessly.

With that, she turned around and walked toward Li Cheng's house.

Seeing this, Xue Xingtong slowly lowered his right hand to his side, his dark, deep eyes staring straight at the spot where she disappeared around the corner of the wall.

Only then did he tighten his grip on the cloth bundle and turn around, returning home against the cold wind.

And in his heart, he silently and firmly etched that figure into his memory.

If you don't want money, then I'll repay you in another way.

……

As for Tang Wan, the moment she turned around, she heard Little Cutie's affection-level notification.

This time, Xue Xingtong's affection level shot up to 79.

But Tang Wan wasn't happy at all. She was even somewhat dejected.

Because she suddenly realized that what she had done this time seemed to have hurt Xue Xingtong's self-respect.

In this era when clothing and food were in short supply, a roast duck and two pounds of meat were things she could easily afford. But to Xue Xingtong, it seemed to have turned into an act of pity?