Chapter 742 - 613: Who Is the Real Target?

Yi Xiaoling and Mo Qianlan simultaneously directed their gaze towards the entrance, where a neatly-dressed, clean-cut young man entered the vegetable shed.

"Hmm... you’re right, fluorescent lights can indeed promote the growth of crops, but our main issue now is temperature. By the way, who are you?"

Yi Xiaoling looked at the young man with some confusion, feeling quite unfamiliar with this person.

Wang Zhetao scratched his head a bit awkwardly, nodded to Mo Qianlan beside him, and said, "My name is Wang Zhetao, I’m a survivor who arrived on the mountain a few days ago. My dad is Wang Guangjun, and we’re staying at Wangshan Inn. There’s no outside mission today, so Brother Su asked me to help with the farm work."

After speaking, Wang Zhetao let out a hearty laugh.

"Oh, I’ve heard about you and Uncle Wang."

Yi Xiaoling suddenly recalled that she had heard about him during a chat, and couldn’t help but scrutinize Wang Zhetao.

It must be said, she hadn’t seen such a clean-cut guy for a long time. Not only was he dressed neatly, but his face was fresh and clean, and most importantly, even his hair was groomed. He looked very sunny and cheerful overall.

"Hello."

Mo Qianlan gave a faint smile as a greeting, then promptly returned to her tasks.

Like Yi Xiaoling, Mo Qianlan also found Wang Zhetao bright and clean. Not exactly handsome, but certainly surpassing most males in the camp. However, she wasn’t interested in Wang Zhetao because she remembered her mother’s remarks about outside missions, which included Wang Zhetao, and the evaluation wasn’t particularly good...

The most crucial point was that she already knew about the past between her mom and Wang Zhetao’s dad.

As a daughter, she dearly hoped for her mom’s happiness, but her acceptance of the Wang Family was, well, just average.

Wang Zhetao sensed that Yi Xiaoling and Mo Qianlan were not overly enthusiastic, but it didn’t bother him. He rolled up his sleeves spiritedly and said, "You both seem like agricultural experts. I only have theoretical knowledge. If you need me to do any tasks, just instruct me. If I don’t know how, please teach me. I learn quickly."

Yi Xiaoling and Mo Qianlan exchanged a glance. There was certainly farm work to be done, but they didn’t particularly want Wang Zhetao to do it, as he didn’t seem the type who’d fit in with the task.

The two of them had aprons, sleeve covers, gloves, and boots all in place, with stains from the pigsty still on their bodies. In contrast, Wang Zhetao was impeccably clean, like he was dressed for a party rather than farming in a vegetable shed.

Who could believe he wasn’t up to something?

"Hmm... do you know how to pollinate cucumber vines?"

Yet Yi Xiaoling didn’t try to dissuade Wang Zhetao. After all, the leader had sent him to help with the farm work, it wouldn’t be appropriate to just send him away...

As for professional farming tasks, Wang Zhetao was naturally clueless, but with Yi Xiaoling’s assistance, he quickly got the hang of it, as it didn’t require much technical skill: just plunging the flowers on the cucumber vines into a solution with persistence and patience.

This solution was concocted by Ma Changshou, although he had now left his role as an agricultural consultant and moved to West Camp Village for a river reconstruction project.

"Sister Xiaoling, not only are you skilled, but you teach people so well too. Is there anything that can stump you... am I doing this right?"

Wang Zhetao managed to compliment Yi Xiaoling while working.

Meanwhile, Mo Qianlan was busy elsewhere, but she could clearly hear their conversation in the quiet environment, causing her to smile strangely.

Such a clever young girl, she understood a lot; she instantly grasped Wang Zhetao’s intentions — he was trying to woo her sister!

After a torrent of flattering praise, Yi Xiaoling did get a bit dizzy, yet she quickly snapped out of it, knowing this guy was smooth-talking with ulterior motives.

Her life was very stable now; the person by her side was exceptionally strong, and even when considering other options, she already had goals, leaving no spare room. Facing Wang Zhetao’s advances, she simply nodded with a smile, "Well, as long as you’ve learned."

With that said, she patted some dust off her hands and called out to Mo Qianlan working in the field, "Lanlan, keep busy here, I’m going to check on the fruit trees and fish pond."

Mo Qianlan was weeding and fertilizing the vegetables. Upon hearing Yi Xiaoling’s words, she nodded without a second thought, "Okay, Sister Xiaoling, you go ahead."

With a slight sound, Yi Xiaoling pushed the door open and left the vegetable shed.

While serious about pollinating the cucumber vines, Wang Zhetao brightened up when he heard the door. His gaze instinctively drifted towards the figure amongst the green leaves in the field.

The silence didn’t last beyond two minutes, as Wang Zhetao casually remarked, "Little Sister Xiaolan, I remember you’re Aunt Tan’s daughter, right?"

Mo Qianlan, caught in her work, was momentarily stunned by his words, then nodded, "Yes."

"Sigh, we’re really in the same boat."

Suddenly, Wang Zhetao sighed profoundly, his tone heavy with sorrow.

Mo Qianlan felt a bit baffled, turning her head towards the figure among the cucumber vines, unwilling to speak but curiosity impelled her, "Why are we in the same boat?"

"After the disaster hit, my dad saved me at all costs, Aunt Tan braved hardships to rescue you; we’re both poor souls waiting to be saved. Doesn’t that make us kindred spirits?"

His sorrowful tone, paired with a deep voice, conveyed a sense of hopelessness yet finding a soulmate.

With anyone else in the camp, Wang Zhetao’s words would stir little sentiment. If faced with someone more robust, like Zheng Xinyu or Zhang Ya, they might even give him a talking-to.

But for Mo Qianlan, Wang Zhetao’s words reawakened memories of the Jinyuan Mall’s unbearable past, recalling her grandfather who died in the mall, and instantly her eyes reddened.

Right then, a packet of tissues appeared near her eye.

"Xiaolan, you’re very strong. I admire you greatly."

Wang Zhetao passionately affirmed her with piercing eyes.

If Zhang Su were present, he’d definitely give Wang Zhetao a thumbs-up because the speech and expression were spot-on, showcasing a seasoned charmer!

Simplistic consolations like "Don’t be sad," "Things will get better," "You have to be strong" were pale in comparison. The emotional value provided by those phrases barely held one-tenth the impact of Wang Zhetao’s praise and affirmation!

Valid praise, paired with recognition and affirmation, along with an innocent gaze, can create a monumental breach in one’s psychological defenses!

"I have my own tissue, thank you."

Yet Mo Qianlan wasn’t swayed, firmly rejecting Wang Zhetao’s gesture, removing her gloves and pulling out some tissue from her pocket.

Earlier, she was just about to accept the offered tissues — a seemingly trivial act — but it could sow a seed in the heart, ready to grow uncontrollably when mature.

Swiftly retracting the tissues without a hint of hesitation, Wang Zhetao nonchalantly accepted, "Though you know about my dad and Aunt Tan’s relationship, hmm... I think we shouldn’t seem too distant, how about calling you my sister then? However, as your older brother, in the camp, I’m lacking in strength and status. At most, I can help weed and pluck grass."

Saying so, Wang Zhetao casually pulled out a clump of weeds from the field and threw them aside, seamlessly blending performance with genuine emotions.

Mo Qianlan lowered her gaze to Wang Zhetao. Suddenly, Lu Yubo’s figure flared up in her mind, causing her face to pale.

Not endowed with rich romantic experience, but having watched numerous literary and film works, she understood what contrasting a partner with someone else meant.

"No, it’s not appropriate, it’s easy to be misunderstood!"

Mo Qianlan decisively turned down Wang Zhetao’s suggestion, sensing something amiss. Wasn’t this guy targeting Yi Xiaoling?

Her mother’s love life was not her concern, nor she had the right to intervene. However, her personal romantic life had to be self-directed. She was very fond of Lu Yubo, and enjoyed happiness together, unwilling to let anyone disrupt.

Wang Zhetao rose, curious, "I’m six or seven years older than you. If — I’m simply speculating — my dad and your mom were together, wouldn’t I be your brother? What’s there to misunderstand?"

Mo Qianlan was momentarily at a loss for words. His argument seemed sound indeed — a stepfather’s son would count as a brother...

But she felt resistant, although realizing, if that day indeed came, she’d eventually have to call him brother else her mom would be troubled. Feeling weary, she reluctantly said, "Fine, I’ll call you Brother Xiaotao then."

"All right, you call me Brother Xiaotao, and I’ll call you Little Sister Xiaolan. So, Little Sister Xiaolan, is there any farm work you need me to help with today?"

Wang Zhetao unanimously pointed towards the vegetable field, looking as if he was genuinely busy with farming, with his demeanor suggesting, ’I truly am working on farm tasks!’