At the sight of Lu Zhanye on the bed, she flinched noticeably, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes unconsciously.
“Wantang?” Su Wanrou spoke first, her tone gentle yet carrying a subtle, scrutinizing edge. “What brings you to the clinic so early? Did you get hurt somewhere?”
Su Wantang kept her head lowered and spoke softly. “No… it’s just that last night I went to the back mountain to gather herbs, and I fell down accidentally. Scratched my hand a little…”
She held up her right hand, where indeed several fresh marks from scrapes were visible on the back.
Dr. Li saw no reason to doubt her. “Come here and let me take a look.”
Su Wantang shuffled forward slowly, never once daring to look directly at Lu Zhanye on the bed. Yet his gaze remained fixed on her the entire time—from her timid, hesitant steps to her slightly trembling fingers.
The fingers holding the strand of hair tightened slowly.
“Last night…” he spoke suddenly, his voice rough and husky. “You went to the back mountain?”
Su Wantang’s whole body stiffened, and the medicine bottle in her hand nearly slipped and fell to the floor. She lifted her head in a panic, meeting Lu Zhanye’s deep, unfathomable eyes, her heartbeat racing as if it would burst right out of her chest.
“I… I…” She stammered, tears starting to swirl in her eyes.
Su Wanrou immediately stepped forward, positioning herself between the two of them, and spoke in a soothing tone to smooth things over. “Comrade Lu, my sister is very timid. Don’t frighten her. Wantang really did go to the back mountain last night. She got lost and only found her way back just before dawn. Mother even scolded her for it.”
She spoke with such natural ease, exactly as if she had witnessed the events herself.
But Lu Zhanye’s gaze passed over Su Wanrou’s shoulder and remained fixed on Su Wantang’s face. He saw her pale lips trembling, the tears clinging to her eyelashes, and her fingers unconsciously touching the wound on the back of her hand.
And… that faint scent on her body—soap pod mixed with herbal notes.
Exactly the same as the scent on that strand of hair.
“Is that so.” Lu Zhanye slowly leaned back against the headboard and closed his eyes. “Then perhaps I remembered incorrectly.”
Even so, his fingers never loosened their grip on that strand of hair.
Su Wanrou stared at the hair peeking out between his fingers, then glanced back at Su Wantang, who stood with her head bowed, not daring to speak. A cold, ruthless glint flashed briefly in her eyes.
She knew Lu Zhanye had grown suspicious.
That strand of hair was like a thorn driven into his heart. And Su Wantang’s sudden appearance had only poured oil over that thorn.
No.
She absolutely could not let the two of them be alone together.
Su Wanrou took a deep breath and restored her gentle, graceful smile. “Wantang, now that you’ve got your medicine, you should head back quickly. Mother is waiting for you at home for breakfast.”
It was a polite dismissal, yet one that allowed no refusal.
Su Wantang felt as if she had been granted a reprieve. She lowered her head and hurried outside. Just as she reached the doorway, for no reason she could explain, she turned back to look.
On the bed, Lu Zhanye had opened his eyes again.
Those deep brown irises were watching her quietly. There was no trace of the wildness or desire from the night before in his gaze—only a profound, searching scrutiny, as if he intended to see right through her.
Su Wantang’s heart clenched. She pushed the door open and fled as fast as she could.
The sound of her footsteps faded away outside the courtyard.
Silence returned to the clinic. Dr. Li had gone to the front room to prepare medications, leaving only Lu Zhanye and Su Wanrou in the inner chamber.
Silence filled the air.
After a long while, Lu Zhanye slowly raised his hand and held the strand of hair up before his eyes. Morning sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a soft glow over the fine strands.
“Comrade Su,” he said, his voice calm and flat. “Your sister… how old is she?”
Alarm bells went off in Su Wanrou’s mind, yet her expression remained gentle and composed. “She just turned eighteen. Why do you ask, Comrade Lu?”
“Nothing in particular.” Lu Zhanye wound the hair around his finger, once, then again. “It’s just that… she seems younger than her actual age.”
“Wantang has been frail and sickly since she was a child, and she has a timid nature. She really does look younger than she is,” Su Wanrou said casually. “Everyone in the village says she’s like a child who hasn’t finished growing up yet.”
“A child,” Lu Zhanye repeated the word, a faint, enigmatic smile touching the corner of his lips.
He curled his fingers around the hair and closed his eyes again.
“I’m tired. I’d like to rest a while longer.”
It was a clear signal for her to leave.
Su Wanrou gritted her teeth and forced a smile. “Then please rest well, Comrade Lu. I’ll be just outside. Call me anytime if you need anything.”
She turned and walked out of the inner room, closing the door softly behind her.
The moment the door shut, the smile vanished from her face, replaced by a cold, dark expression.
Su Wantang…
So you really did come after all.
In my previous life, you stole Zhao Jianguo away from me. In this life, do you still want to take Lu Zhanye from me?
Don’t even dream of it.
Su Wanrou stared at the closed door, her nails digging deep into her own palm.
Inside the room, Lu Zhanye slowly opened his hand.
The strand of hair lay quietly in his palm, shimmering with a dark, raven-black luster in the soft light filtering through the paper windows.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
That scent still lingered in the air—soap pod mixed with herbs, bitter yet carrying a hint of sweetness.
Exactly the same as the scent that had clung to the trembling, weeping girl deep inside the haystack last night.
And that red mole on the side of her neck.
And her soft, broken sobs.
And those last words: “I’m sorry.”
“Su Wantang…” Lu Zhanye whispered the name, his fingertips brushing gently over the hair in his palm.
Outside the window, the autumn wind rustled through the treetops, sending dry leaves fluttering down.
Beyond the clinic’s courtyard wall, Su Wantang leaned against the earthen wall and slowly slid down until she was sitting on the ground.
She covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking silently.
The way Lu Zhanye had looked at her earlier… had he realized something? That strand of hair… had it been hers?
And her sister…
Su Wantang remembered the look Su Wanrou had given her when she stood between them—an expression that seemed protective, yet carried a clear warning. A chill ran down her spine.
She knew her sister would never let her go now.
…
Autumn deepened, and a thin morning mist hung over the river outside Su Village.
Su Wantang squatted on the blue stone slabs by the river, clutching a handful of freshly washed wild vegetables, when suddenly her stomach churned violently.
She bent over, bitter fluids rising sharply up her throat. This was the third time already that morning.
The mist was damp and cold, yet fine beads of sweat broke out across her forehead. Her fingers gripped the edge of the stone slab so tightly her knuckles turned white. Once the wave of nausea passed, Su Wantang panted for breath and lifted her head, looking at the pale, gaunt face reflected in the water.
It had been a month.
Exactly one month had passed since that chaotic night on the threshing ground.
Remaining Life Points: 27 days, 14 hours.
Pregnancy Status Confirmed: Embryo has successfully implanted.
Congratulations, Host, you have entered the gestation period! Reward Issued: Access to Supplies Exchange (daily limit: 0.5 kg grain ration coupons) has been unlocked.
When the cold mechanical voice of the system had echoed in her mind, Su Wantang had been chopping firewood behind her house. The axe in her hand had clattered to the ground, striking her foot and leaving it bruised and swollen for three days.
It was true.
That child… had truly come into being.
Throughout this past month, Su Wantang had lived like a startled bird. She dared not go near the clinic—even though the system popped up daily with updates telling her that Lu Zhanye’s wounds had mostly healed, and that in a few days he would be leaving Su Village to return to his unit.
She also dared not meet her sister Su Wanrou’s eyes. Every time their gazes crossed, Su Wantang could feel the cold scrutiny hidden beneath Su Wanrou’s gentle smile, sharp as needles pricking into her skin.
What tormented her most were the early symptoms of pregnancy.
At first, it was just constant fatigue. She had told her mother it was only the sluggishness that came with autumn. Later, the smell of cooking oil would make her nauseous; she claimed she had a weak stomach. But this morning, this uncontrollable retching…
“Wantang?”
A soft, gentle voice came from behind her, light as willow catkins brushing past her ear, yet it made Su Wantang freeze completely.
She hurriedly grabbed her basket of wild vegetables and tried to stand up, but her legs had fallen asleep from squatting too long. She stumbled and nearly fell headlong into the river.
A hand reached out and caught her just in time.