Stardew Valley’s Farming Master

Chapter 120: Eye Contact

To be fair, Haley’s figure was undeniably impressive, but that didn’t stop Leon from using it as ammunition for his teasing.

After all, wrapped up so tightly, who could tell whether she had the goods or not? All it took was pretending not to know and making a jab about her lack of curves, and the effect was guaranteed to sting.

Sure enough, when Haley saw Leon’s little gesture and the cold smirk on his lips, her eyes went wide with anger. She was just about to throw open the window and demand an explanation when Leon slipped away, heading quickly toward the front yard. He was already planning to hop on his bike and make his escape.

But as soon as he reached the gate, he saw Emily standing next to his bike, holding a pair of slippers.

“I think I know why you didn’t want to come inside. You were worried about dirtying the carpet and floor, right? So I got you a pair of slippers. Now you can change shoes and come in.”

Hearing that, Leon sighed helplessly. “A girl with such sharp observation skills can be pretty intimidating for men, you know.”

“But a man who’s considerate enough to think about others will always catch a girl’s attention,” Emily countered.

“That’s just basic manners for any adult, isn’t it?” Leon replied.

“But acting like that makes it seem like we’re strangers. We’re good friends, aren’t we? And I hate men who go back on their word.” Emily’s gaze stayed locked on him as she set the slippers down and naturally opened the front door.

“As much as I’d love to linger here, I don’t think your sister would be too thrilled to have me over for breakfast,” Leon said, thinking back to his recent provocation toward Haley.“Thrilled? Of course she’s thrilled.”

To his surprise, the moment Emily finished speaking, Haley appeared in the living room just behind the door, gritting her teeth as she addressed him.

Haley had already changed into a lovely dress, though there were still wrinkles in the fabric, and her hair was damp, clearly showing she’d rushed to get dressed and come downstairs.

“Looks like Haley’s happy to see you too. So, what are you worried about? Come in and sit. After all, you made the effort to come help—I can’t just let you leave empty-handed.”

Emily was puzzled as to why her image-conscious sister would appear in front of Leon without tidying her hair or smoothing her clothes. Still, since Haley’s words seemed to ease Leon’s hesitation, Emily didn’t dwell on it.

“In that case, I can only say… sorry for the intrusion.”

From behind Emily, Haley fixed Leon with an intense glare that all but said, If you walk out that door, I’ll tell. Leon could guess well enough what she meant: if she exaggerated her story about him seeing her in the backyard, his reputation might go down the drain. With no choice, he reluctantly removed his sneakers under her watchful eyes.

In both sisters’ presence, Leon slipped on the slippers and stepped into the villa.

“Emily, you take care of Leon. I need to dry my hair.” Relieved that she’d successfully stopped him from leaving, Haley suddenly remembered her own disheveled state. After tossing out that line, she darted back upstairs.

“She’s always in such a rush—don’t mind her. She may seem hard to get along with, but Haley’s actually got a good personality,” Emily said, looking embarrassed as her sister vanished.

“Mm.” Leon simply nodded, not wanting to linger on the subject. Following Emily’s lead, he headed toward the dining room on the right side of the hall.

“Take a seat and rest a bit. I need to re-fry the bacon. Cold bacon’s no good.” After settling him at the table, Emily disappeared into the kitchen.

Since it was his first visit here, Leon didn’t feel comfortable wandering around. Out of respect for his hosts, he stayed seated at the dining table.

Before long, the sizzling aroma of frying bacon drifted from the kitchen, rich and savory. Leon couldn’t help but lift his head toward it.

He’d only had a piece of bread that morning, and after running around all this time, he was starting to feel hungry.

Just as his attention was fixed on the kitchen door, the smell of bacon was suddenly replaced by the heady scent of rose perfume. Before he could even turn around, Haley’s sharp voice came from behind him.

“Leon, what did that hand gesture mean earlier?”

“Nothing special,” Leon replied casually. “I was just reminding you not to have a wardrobe malfunction.”

“And the smirk?” Haley pulled out a chair and sat right beside him, eyes narrowing.

“Maybe I was too tired from yesterday. Didn’t get enough rest. So my friendly smile came out looking a little stiff—you misunderstood.”

“Heh.” This time, it was Haley’s turn to smirk coldly.

She stood, giving him a slow once-over, her gaze lingering pointedly on his chest before speaking. “I thought your pecs were supposed to be impressive. Guess they’re just average.”

“Well, I’m just an ordinary farmer, not one of those gym hunks,” Leon said evenly.

Haley was itching with frustration at his unshakable calm. No matter how she probed, he offered no openings for a follow-up attack. In the end, she could only plop back into her seat, chin resting on her hands, glaring at him with open resentment.

Leon didn’t bother avoiding her stare. Dodging would only make him look guilty. Instead, he met her eyes squarely.

And truth be told, even without makeup, Haley’s skin was flawless—smooth, fine, with a healthy glow. Her features were already striking, and without cosmetics to hide them, she had a fresh, youthful charm.

Her intention had been to make him uncomfortable with her gaze, to force him into looking away so she could regain some pride after his earlier teasing. But Leon didn’t play by the rules. Meeting her eyes with open appreciation, he turned the tables.

Under his direct gaze, Haley felt her cheeks grow hotter, her heartbeat quicken, and an odd heat spread through her body. Even her breathing became unsteady.

At last, she had to turn her face away, breaking the connection to calm herself down.

Leon couldn’t help but chuckle the moment she looked away.

It was just like those moments back in school when a boy and girl locked eyes by accident, only to glance down quickly before the other noticed the blush creeping up their cheeks. Even without seeing her expression now, the thought still made his smile widen.

But Leon wasn’t just amused by Haley’s shyness—he was savoring his own victory.

After all, once you stop caring about saving face, you can remain undefeated in any situation.

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