After lunch, Ran didn't continue studying. Instead, she went with Simeon to the village chief's house.
"You mean you want to find about ten strong men from our village to help you build a house?" The village chief was surprised. Just over a month ago, Ran had only just arrived in the village as a refugee. Now she could afford to build a house?
"Yes. The weather will turn cold soon, and my thatched hut can't keep out the cold. I've saved up some silver from hunting and gathering herbs, so I want to build the house before the ground freezes. That way I won't have to suffer through the winter."
Ran never treated herself poorly. She knew clearly that building a house now might make some people jealous, but she wasn't afraid. If anyone had a problem with it, they could come find her.
She wasn't someone who would show mercy. "Alright. Since you've asked, I'll go help you ask around." The village chief stood up and went out.
"Thank you, village chief." Ran smiled sweetly and stood up to follow him. Simeon stopped her. When she looked at him in confusion, he said, "Didn't Master Chen say he's starting construction early tomorrow?"
"You should pack up this afternoon and come stay at my place for a few days." Even though there wasn't much to pack in her hut, to avoid delaying tomorrow's work, the hut had to be torn down and cleaned up this afternoon. His reminder made Ran realize she wouldn't have anywhere to stay after the hut was demolished.
She quietly looked up at Simeon and found him looking at her too. Their eyes met, and they both quickly looked away like they had been shocked. Ran felt her heart pounding wildly.
"I... I don't think that's necessary. I..." She had just started to speak when Simeon's face turned cold. He had been calm before, but now he looked angry.
He stared at her, his voice icy: "I'm leaving for the academy tomorrow. This room will be empty anyway. And besides here, where else could you stay?"
"If you don't want to, I won't force you." He turned and went back into his room. Ran really had no other place to go. The villagers were all regular folks with crowded households.
No one had a spare room to lend her. Thinking of Simeon's suddenly cold expression just now, Ran felt she had handled it badly. After all, he was only worried she wouldn't have a place to stay.
That's why he offered. How could she reject him? She turned to look at his tightly shut door, pressed her lips together, then walked over and knocked.
"Simeon, I was wrong just now. Don't be mad, okay?" She knocked for a while but got no response. Ran felt she had truly upset him this time.
She knocked twice more. Feeling guilty, her voice softened even more. "It was my fault earlier. I didn't understand your kindness. I'm sorry."
"Don't be mad, alright?" Inside, Simeon's face was dark. He felt like he had meddled too much, and now she didn't even appreciate his kindness.
If it weren't for pity, he wouldn't have offered. Letting a man like him, who others looked down on, share his room with her? He hadn't looked down on her, but she had looked down on him.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. But he wasn't even sure whether he was mad at her or himself. Just as he was stewing, he heard the knocking again.
Then came Ran's soft voice. He hadn't expected her to apologize. Don't be fooled by Ran's delicate appearance.
She looked easy to bully, but Simeon had seen her carry a two-hundred-pound wild boar down the mountain. That was when he started to take an interest in her.
He was surprised that Ran came to coax him so quickly. Yes, in his eyes, Ran was clearly trying to coax him. He couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
Just as he was about to speak, he heard her soft voice outside the door again. He immediately got up and opened the door, looking at Ran standing outside. His expression returned to a gentle one.
Ran peeked at him a few times and, seeing that he really wasn't angry anymore, she secretly let out a breath of relief. She kept trying to convince herself that the situation was special right now. In everyone's eyes, she was a man, so it was perfectly fine for her to catch him.
As for the future, Ran glanced at him and quickly looked away, pretending nothing happened. But her flushed cheeks and pounding heart gave her away. She had to admit, he was the most outstanding and handsome man she'd met since coming to this world.
Not only was he good-looking and tall, but he also carried a scholarly air about him. He was like a noble gentleman standing out in the chaos. It was hard not to look at him.
If he didn't already like someone, then in the future, when the time was right, she would find a chance to tell him the truth about who she was. If he was willing, she would be willing too. Not to marry him, but to marry as the groom.
She had never wanted to reveal she was a woman before, but that didn't mean she would hide it forever. She didn't plan to live alone for her whole life. With the abilities she had now, she believed very few people in this world could hurt her.
But if he didn't like her, she wouldn't pester him. "You're still staring. Hurry up and pack your things." He had long noticed her gaze.
He turned and gave her a quick glare before stepping out of the room. He didn't say anything else, but the smile on his face showed how good his mood was. "Oh, okay."
Realizing he was in a good mood, Ran quickly followed behind him, closing the door as she went. Then she happily caught up to him. Now that her feelings were clear, Ran also felt much lighter.
She walked beside him, chatting nonstop. She looked full of energy. "When is your exam next year?"
"What do you plan to do after the exam?" Although her questions were ordinary, he patiently answered each one. He showed no signs of annoyance at all.
The thatched hut Ran had been living in was the one she built when she first arrived. She hadn't expected it would be torn down so soon. She didn't have many belongings.
There were two rough cotton quilts she used to decorate her bed. There were some pots and bowls she used every day. There was also a bit of coarse grain she used to fool people.
Since there wasn't much, she and he moved everything out quickly. Once they finished moving, Caleb brought over some strong men found by the village chief. They came to help build the new house.
Together they quickly tore down the weak hut. They cleaned up the area. It was as if the thatched house had never existed at all.
Even men who usually disliked gossip couldn't help gathering. They quietly chatted when they saw how neatly the place had been cleared. Their voices stayed low, but the curiosity spread quickly.