Fu Yunxi fetched two buckets of water and spent over half an hour bathing, nearly scrubbing his skin raw.
He finally finished cleaning himself up just in time for lunch.
He really was exhausted.
He Jianing smiled gently.
"Yunxi, thanks for your hard work. Have some more food."
"Huh?"
Lu Ye sniffed.
"What's that smell?"
Fu Yunxi went rigid.
Jin Tiancheng's hand paused too, and he silently sniffed.
Okay, it really did stink.
After cleaning a pigsty all morning, with the poor bathing facilities in the countryside, there was no way they could get rid of every trace of the smell.
As a top alpha, Lu Ye also had a sense of smell to rival a police dog's...
He stood up and followed his nose all the way to Fu Yunxi's side.
Fu Yunxi lowered his head even farther, almost burying his entire face in his bowl, and started shoveling down his food noticeably faster.
Lu Ye pinched his nose in distaste, returned to his seat, and quietly shifted his chair closer to Xie Lin.
Smelling his wife's pheromones was still more reassuring.
After lunch, the director waved a hand: they would rest for half an hour, then form new groups that afternoon.
Lu Ye's eyes instantly lit up. He grabbed Xie Lin and headed for Auntie Zhang's house.
"Hey? What are you doing? My stuff's over there-"
"We'll get it later."
Jin Tiancheng, who had just turned to head back, paused, then changed direction without a word and followed them.
Wu Xinyou glanced at him, her voice chilly.
"You can't break up the Lu Lin ship. Give it up."
Jin Tiancheng glanced at him, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Absolutely. Anyone who tries to break up Lu Lin will have to answer to me."
Lu Ye was