Sheng Xia surveyed the four bare walls of her dilapidated little shack and lay back on the kang, feeling a profound sense of existential dread.
The moment she opened her eyes, she had transmigrated into a novel, and before she even had a chance to digest the situation, she was forced into battle like a seasoned soldier.
Coupled with the intense, physical collision she had experienced with a man early that morning, Sheng Xia was utterly exhausted right now.
She felt practically wrecked.
Fortunately, she was quick-witted enough to hide the stained bedsheets in advance.
She had also splashed water over the bedding to fake the symptoms of sweat from a high fever.
That was how she had managed to muddle her way through.
Just as Sheng Xia was about to let out a sigh of relief, a monumental thought struck her!
She had just… probably not used any contraception, right?!
Her body in this lifetime was only eighteen years old, and it was the 1970s.
If she got pregnant, it could literally cost her her life!
Startled into a jolt of pure adrenaline, Sheng Xia quickly fetched some water to wash up and changed her clothes.
Taking advantage of the moment, she caught her reflection in the mirror to examine the face of her new body.
A palm-sized face, a hibiscus complexion, cherry-red lips that rivaled the snow, and two thick, glossy braids.
Beneath a pair of crescent-shaped brows, her water-like eyes shimmered with fluid light, exuding an enchanting, alluring charm.
Holy crap!
Sheng Xia drew in a sharp breath.
Clutching her fluttering chest, she was so excited she was nearly moved to tears.
She was gorgeous!
How could anyone in this world be this insanely pretty?!
Too bad she was slated to lose her life within the first few chapters.
Recalling her own bleak, tragic fate, Sheng Xia’s expression shifted in an instant, and she walked outside with a deadpan face.
Don’t panic, allow me to resuscitate myself first.
By this time, the other educated youths had all returned to the fields to continue their work.
After all, watching drama could never compare to earning work points.
Sheng Xia made her way to the village medical station without any obstruction.
“Comrade, what seems to be the trouble?”
Sheng Xia wrapped the headscarf tighter around her head and lowered her voice. “Do you have any contraceptive pills?”
The doctor lifted his eyelids, looked at Sheng Xia, and remained silent.
Sheng Xia explained, “Well, you know how family planning is pushed these days! My household already has a daughter and a son, and if I get pregnant again, my husband’s job will be on the line. So you see…”
A light bulb went off in the doctor’s head. “Ah, I see. You’re quite politically conscious, Comrade. However, we don’t carry contraceptive pills here in the township; you’d have to go all the way to the county seat, and they aren’t cheap either.”
“Ah?”
“Actually, you could just have a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine filled; it’s more effective than contraceptive pills. If all else fails, it’s not too late to get an abortion once you’re actually pregnant.”
It wasn’t that the doctor was being callous.
It was simply that family planning was enforced with an iron fist these days.
Plus, as an OB/GYN doctor, his days were spent doing nothing but delivering babies or performing terminations.
Seeing it constantly meant he was practically numb to it.
Sheng Xia’s face instantly fell.
She murmured a soft “thank you” and turned to leave.
Right as she took two steps, she collided with someone.
Still preoccupied with thoughts of birth control pills, Sheng Xia didn’t even raise her head and instinctively blurted out an apology.
“I’m sorry!”
“What are you doing here?”
The voice sounded somewhat familiar.
Sheng Xia raised her head, looked at the person standing before her, and took a couple of seconds to process who it was.
“Jiang Han?”
Wait, she was wrapped up this thoroughly—how on earth did he still recognize her?
Seeing those rippling, water-filled eyes brimming with shock and disbelief, Jiang Han couldn’t help a soft chuckle.
How could he possibly fail to recognize her?
After all, they had just…
At the memory of that indescribably intoxicating flavor, coupled with the softness and tenderness that had melted into his very bones, Jiang Han felt a sudden surge of turbulence in his heart.
Feeling somewhat awkward, he looked away, not daring to meet her gaze.
Though he was panicking wildly on the inside, on the surface he appeared more detached and restrained than anyone.
“Why did you come to the medical station?”
“You tell me!”
Jiang Han wouldn’t have asked if he hadn’t, but the moment he did, Sheng Xia felt a wave of depression wash over her.
Knowing this wasn’t the place to talk, Sheng Xia grabbed Jiang Han and started walking.
Jiang Han only felt his palm enveloped by a soft warmth.
Like a pool of spring water washing over him, soaking through him, melting his heart until it turned completely mushy.
Once they reached a secluded spot devoid of people, Sheng Xia finally released his hand and spoke with a heartbroken tone: “What do you think I came here for?”
For Jiang Han, whose hand had just been let go, there was an indescribable sense of loss in the pit of his stomach.
Hearing her question, he asked instinctively, “Are you sick?”
“Sick your daddy’s head! I came to buy contraceptive pills!”
“Contraceptive pills?”
“We only slept together this morning and you’ve already forgotten?! I’m only sixteen years old! Do you want me to give birth before marriage? Who knew the medical station wouldn’t even carry them—I have to go all the way to the county hospital.”
Sheng Xia waited for a long while, but Jiang Han didn’t say a word.
A cold shiver ran through her heart.
What is he playing at? Is he trying to take advantage of the situation and get a free wife out of me?
That wasn’t entirely impossible!
This was the 1970s, after all.
Even though Jiang Han was an outsider in Wang Village, he was highly regarded by the village chief because of his exceptional work ethic.
If she really got pregnant a month from now, and Jiang Han took the opportunity to blow the whistle, there was no guarantee the villagers wouldn’t forcibly coerce her into marrying him.
At this thought, Sheng Xia’s eyes filled with sharp vigilance.
Reading her thoughts, Jiang Han felt a mix of helplessness and an inexplicable trace of disappointment.
He said in a deep voice, “Don’t worry, I’ll go buy them.”
Sheng Xia finally let out a breath of relief. “Thank you.”
“It’s only right.”
“Then you’d better hurry, otherwise if we miss the window, the contraceptive pills won’t work anymore.”
“Alright, I’m going right now.” Jiang Han paused. “Then you…”
“I’m heading back to the educated youth point first.”
With that, Sheng Xia gave a wave and walked off.
She had no idea that after she left, Jiang Han stood there watching her retreating figure for a long, long time.
It wasn’t until that graceful silhouette completely vanished from sight that he finally turned and headed toward the county town.
The moment Sheng Xia stepped back into the educated youth point, she ran headfirst into Zhou Zexi, who was rushing back in a hurry.
“Sheng Xia.”
“Zhou Zexi?”
She took a couple of seconds to scan her memories before recognizing who he was.
As the male protagonist, Zhou Zexi possessed an elegant, handsome appearance, carrying an air of aloof, aristocratic coldness.
Even down in the countryside, he couldn’t mask the innate arrogance and pride radiating from his bones.
“I heard you were sick?”
Zhou Zexi’s tone was casual, but deep within his eyes lurked an unreadable trace of worry—though Sheng Xia failed to notice it.
“Did you take your medicine? Did you go see a doctor?”
“Thanks for your concern, I’m already much better.”
Zhou Zexi opened his mouth as if he wanted to say more, hesitating.
“Is there something else?” The alienation in Sheng Xia’s tone was glaringly obvious.
Zhou Zexi pressed his thin lips together and gave a slight shake of his head.
“Then I’m going back to my room.”
Without waiting for Zhou Zexi to respond, she slipped away.
The original owner might have harbored a desperate, fawning infatuation for Zhou Zexi, but she certainly didn’t.
Besides, today’s entire fiasco had happened precisely because the original owner kept pestering Zhou Zexi, which ultimately provoked the female lead and led to her being framed by the lackey.
Given all that, Sheng Xia—having transmigrated into this world—was definitely going to keep a wide berth from these main characters.
Yet, as she thought about it… if she was here, where had the original owner gone?
Had she transmigrated elsewhere like her, or had she already kicked the bucket?
And what about her own body back in the real world? Was she dead or alive?
Sheng Xia looked up at the shabby wooden beams overhead and let out a sigh.
Even if she really was dead back there, nobody would probably mourn her anyway!
Except for that cousin of hers—no blood relation, but closer to her than a real sister…
Lost in her thoughts, Sheng Xia gradually drifted off to sleep.
She didn’t wake up until late in the afternoon, just as the workday was drawing to a close.
Crawling out of the kang, she intended to whip up something to eat.
The moment she opened her door, she saw Zhou Zexi standing right outside, holding a bowl.
His other hand was frozen mid-air, clearly in the middle of knocking.
“Does something matter?”
Zhou Zexi gave a light cough. “I brought you some food.”
“You? Brought me food?”
Sheng Xia thought she must have misheard.