After reading through the seven village rules, everyone felt a bit troubled when it came to assigning rooms. Including Wan Qian, there were a total of seven people—four women and three men. To comply with the village rules, at least one person would have to spend the night alone.
Wan Qian rubbed her chin as she pondered this rule. If two people couldn't stay in the same room, what about married couples? Would have a third person present in the room when a couple is being intimate at night?
What a ridiculous feudal custom?! Wan Qian silently ridiculed the rule but decided to go along with the local customs without voicing her thoughts.
Hao Shijun studied the village rules for a moment before turning to look at Xie Jia and Wang Hui.
"I'll stay in a room with you two tonight," he said.
Xie Jia widened her eyes in surprise. Hao Shijun looked at her with a steady and righteous gaze. "I should be responsible for taking you all out," he explained.
Two punk-styled youths exchanged glances and then turned toward Fang Minglan. "Hey, beautiful, how about staying in the same room with us tonight?"
Fang Minglan clung to Wan Qian's arm, her gaze sweeping over them before pouting slightly.
"But I want to stay with this sister," she said in a sweet, coquettish tone. "How about one of you come over?"
Two youths instantly found themselves in a dilemma—neither of them wanted to be left alone.
"Why squeeze in together? I'll take a room by myself," Wan Qian said, not understanding why everyone insisted on cramming three people into one room.
"Oh dear…" Fang Minglan bit her lip lightly, casting a troubled glance at the two youths. "Then I'll stay alone too. As a girl, I'd feel scared staying with two men."
In the end, all four ended up taking separate rooms.
Fang Minglan pushed open the door to a room, stepped inside, and carefully inspected every corner.
The furnishings were simple and ordinary—a bed with a nightstand beside it, holding a small lamp. Near the window stood a desk with a thermos placed on top. In one corner, there was a washstand, though it lacked a basin or towels.
Fang Minglan tilted her head back to examine the ceiling beams. They were unusually high, and combined with the dim lighting, she couldn't see clearly what was up there.
She turned around and walked out, entering Wan Qian's room next door.
"Sisther Wan, can we swap rooms?" Fang Minglan came closer, wrapping her arm around Wan Qian's and swaying coquettishly.
Feeling the soft pressure against her arm, Wan Qian blushed a little, also feeling a hint of envy.
"Sure," she agreed without much hesitation.
Fang Minglan was momentarily stunned. "Aren't you going to ask why I want to switch?"
Was Wan Qian really that naive, or was she pretending to be? Or perhaps she was just completely unafraid? Fang Minglan's gaze darkened slightly as she recalled the rabbit Wan Qian had caught.
"Actually, even if you didn't ask, I was thinking of switching anyway," Wan Qian pointed to the brightly colored quilt on the bed, speaking with great sincerity. "The colors of this quilt are too chaotic; just looking at it makes it hard for me to sleep well."
The two of them swiftly exchanged rooms.
Wan Qian entered Fang Minglan's room and saw the pink quilt on the bed, feeling very satisfied in her heart. She turned around and immediately noticed Hao Shijun standing at the door of her room, looking up at the beam.
"Something wrong?" Wan Qian asked curiously.
Looking at the girl in front of him, Hao Shijun couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly. It was obvious that this girl didn't have much guile.
Though she acted impulsively, her thoughts were pure, exuding the kind of naïve. It was as if her entire being was labeled with the words: "Come deceive me, I'm easily tricked."
After years as a police officer, Hao Shijun trusted his ability to read people.
"Did she ask to switch rooms with you?" he questioned.
Wan Qian nodded lightly. "I didn't like the quilt in that room anyway, so I switched."
Hao Shijun's brows furrowed even deeper, nearly forming a crease between his eyes. He kindly advised her, "You should take a look at the other rooms."
But Wan Qian was unwilling. She liked the pink quilt. "No, no—this room is just fine!"
As Hao Shijun and Wan Qian were speaking, Fang Minglan approached, a gentle smile on her face. Casually, she asked, "What are you two talking about?"
Hao Shijun glanced at her without answering and turned to leave.
Fang Minglan didn't seem to mind his reaction. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and said to Wan Qian in an intimate tone, "I want to take a walk around the village. Would you like to join me?"
"A walk? Now?" Wan Qian was puzzled. Didn't that suited man say that the villagers wouldn't return until nightfall? What was there to see at this time?
Fang Minglan explained, "The 'Village Rules' are only half there—I want to go look for the missing half."
Wan Qian had no interest in these old-fashioned village rules, but from the look on Fang Minglan's face, it seemed she was quite intrigued by the village's customs.
"I want to rest for a bit, so I won't go. You go ahead," Wan Qian replied.
Fang Minglan looked a bit regretful but didn't linger—she turned and left without delay. However, she didn't go alone; she called along the two punk-styled youths.
"Since there aren't many villagers around at this time, it should be even safer than at night," Fang Minglan told the two young men. "I want to go out and search for the rest of the rules, but I'm a little scared. Can you come with me?"
She bit her lip lightly, her crimson lips like a delicate blooming flower. Her large, expressive eyes shimmered like rippling autumn waters, as if they could speak.
The two youths hesitated for only a moment before, thinking that what she said made sense.