“Sister Lan, I'm so sorry for making you laugh.”
Liu Jingyi turned her head to look at Sister Lan, her face returning to that soft and harmless appearance, tinged with apology.
Sister Lan waved her hand, her gaze toward Liu Jingyi carrying a hint of scrutiny, but nothing more.
“It’s nothing, nothing. Every family has one or two oddballs! But Jingyi, you really made Sister Lan see you in a new light today! It was so satisfying!”
Sister Lan paused, taking Liu Jingyi’s hand and moving aside, lowering her voice: “Jingyi, you feel satisfied now, but will your stepmother come looking for you?”
Sister Lan and Liu Jingyi weren't newly acquainted, and since the place was small, they knew about the Liu Family's affairs.
“Sister Lan, don't worry, I can cope.” Liu Jingyi smiled sweetly. “I’ve been out for a while today, so I’ll head back now. When the handkerchief is embroidered, I’ll show it to you first!”
“Alright, then take care on your way.”
“I know, thank you, Sister Lan.”
After leaving the State-run Department Store, Liu Jingyi went straight Home.
However, as soon as Liu Jingyi entered the house, her stomach started to hurt.
She knew her period had arrived.
She had originally been hopeful that after coming here, her Dysmenorrhea would cease to exist, but reality told her she had overthought things.
She intended to boil some hot water, but the pain was so intense she couldn't straighten up, so she curled up on the Sofa instead.
Liu Jingyi’s skin was naturally fair, and at this moment, her face was even paler, with cold sweat beading on her forehead.
Liu Jingyi was in so much pain she lacked the strength to even open her mouth to speak, her vision blurring and darkening.
Liu Jingyi was hurting so much right now that she felt like she was about to die.
Fortunately, Leng Yunting returned, bringing the food he had gotten from the Canteen into the room, and then he saw the person curled up on the Sofa.
Her features were delicate and weak, looking pitiful.
Liu Jingyi hadn't intended to cry, but the moment she saw Leng Yunting, the tears wouldn't stop.
“Leng Yunting, my stomach hurts.”
Liu Jingyi’s voice was faint, like a mosquito's whine, laced with uncontrollable sobs and fragility.
Cold sweat soaked the wisps of hair on her forehead, clinging to her pale face; the entire person looked like a fledgling bird battered by a storm, trembling as she huddled on the Sofa.
Although the Original Body was frail, her Body was relatively sound and had never suffered from Dysmenorrhea. Coupled with the fact that their relationship hadn't been very good previously, Leng Yunting didn't realize that Liu Jingyi’s period had arrived.
His heart suddenly sank. He put down what he was holding and rushed to Liu Jingyi’s side almost instantly, kneeling in front of her.
The cold sweat on her forehead and her icy hands, which he could touch, made his brow furrow deeply.
“Where does it hurt? How does it hurt?”
Leng Yunting’s voice held a tension he hadn't even noticed himself. He tried to help her up, but she recoiled by curling up even tighter.
“Stom…stomach…so cold…”
Liu Jingyi’s vision darkened from the pain, and her words were incoherent. She only felt as if her lower abdomen was being fiercely gripped by a cold hand, repeatedly twisted, the throbbing pain spreading all the way to her lower back, making her legs too weak to use.
The physiological tears were completely uncontrollable, which made Leng Yunting’s heart clench even more.
“Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you to the infirmary right now.”
Leng Yunting reached out to lift her into his arms.
“No… don’t go!”
Liu Jingyi used all her strength to grab his lapel; her fingers were icy cold. “It’s… it’s that time…”
Leng Yunting’s movement paused, and he instantly understood.
He wasn't completely ignorant, but he had never seen Liu Jingyi react this violently.
Seeing her now, looking as if she might faint from the pain, the unfamiliar emotion of "heartache" surged within Leng Yunting, overwhelming his initial panic.
There was no need to go to the infirmary. He first got up to fetch a cup of hot water and fed it to her, then rubbed his palms together until they were warm, using his warm palms to massage her stomach.
Liu Jingyi felt much better afterward, and her complexion was not as ashen as before.
Leng Yunting carried her back to the Bedroom and let her lie down properly.
He himself went out to the neighbor’s place because there was no brown sugar at home. Leng Yunting took his ration ticket and exchanged it with Auntie Li for a pound of brown sugar.
He boiled water, and the scalding hot water dissolved the deep red syrup, filling the air with a rich, sweet fragrance.
Liu Jingyi actually disliked drinking brown sugar water. When Leng Yunting brought the bowl in, she silently hid her face in the blanket and pretended to be asleep.
Leng Yunting placed the bowl on the Cabinet beside them, then pulled out Liu Jingyi, who was hiding under the covers, and made her lean against his chest.
Her Body was still icy cold and trembling slightly.
“Drink something warm to warm up.”
Leng Yunting’s voice was deep. He brought the bowl close to her lips, steadying her back with his other hand.
Liu Jingyi smelled it and turned her face away. “I don’t want to drink it.”
Her slightly less pale face was puffed out, clearly displeased.
So spoiled.
Leng Yunting was usually the one being coaxed by others; when had he ever had to coax someone else?
Although Leng Yunting appeared easygoing on the surface, those who knew him understood that he was fundamentally very domineering; what he said was final, and he absolutely did not allow others to defy him.
Especially Liu Jingyi.
This possessiveness increased exponentially when directed at her, particularly this changed Liu Jingyi.
The Original Body didn't seem to have much possessiveness either; she was just a responsibility to him.
But the current Liu Jingyi seemed different to him.
Leng Yunting wanted her to be obedient and well-behaved; even if she were just a doll, a spoiled one, it didn't matter.
In public, Leng Yunting appeared proper, but with Liu Jingyi, those morbid kinks were fully exposed.
Especially when Liu Jingyi was in bed, looking at him with tear-filled eyes, begging for mercy, it inexplicably made him want to torment her even more.
Looking at the person in his arms now, he directly pinched her chin: “I’ll feed you.”
Liu Jingyi truly wanted to drag the man in front of her out and beat him up.
She was already so uncomfortable lying in bed; couldn't he be a little gentler with her?
As expected, he didn't like her at all; his gentleness was reserved for the novel's Female Protagonist, his so-called Fiancée, Bai Yiyao.
Liu Jingyi hadn't intended to cry, but she was naturally prone to tears, the type who couldn't bear the slightest grievance.
On top of that, with her period arriving, she was already very sensitive, and because she was in this terrible place where no one cared for her, she missed her parents and missed An An.
Tears fell, drop by drop, onto Leng Yunting’s hand.
“Go away, go away, I don’t want you to feed me!” Liu Jingyi pushed Leng Yunting away through her tears.
When Liu Jingyi pushed him away, Leng Yunting fell Silent for a moment. Hearing her say she didn't want him, his expression changed, and he gripped her hand tighter, saying coldly, “If you don’t want me to feed you, then who do you want?”