After the lunch break ended, they had to continue going up the mountain to cut pig grass.
The afternoon sun was even more scorching. Worried about getting tanned, Lin Wanwan not only applied sunscreen but also wrapped a silk scarf around her face, revealing only a pair of charming peach blossom eyes.
Beneath her eye was a black tear mole that appeared especially prominent at the moment.
As soon as she arrived at the place where she had cut pig grass that morning, a sharp pain struck her chest. That uncomfortable feeling, as though something heavy was pressing down on her heart, returned once again.
No way?
Lin Wanwan staggered slightly, her face turning pale as she raised a hand to clutch her chest.
The aftereffects of transmigration hadn’t disappeared?
Was this some kind of joke?
“What’s wrong with you?”
Yingzi had just turned around to say that she was going elsewhere to cut grass. Seeing the pale-faced girl behind her, she frowned.
Lin Wanwan waved her hand.
“N-Nothing. Maybe I walked a little too fast. I’ll… I’ll be fine after resting for a bit.”
Yingzi nodded.
“Oh. Then have a good rest.”
After speaking, she carried her basket and sickle and headed in another direction.
Xu Wen cared even less whether anything had happened to her. Rolling her eyes and curling her lips, she sarcastically remarked,
“Who are you pretending to be delicate for all day long?”
Although she felt terrible, Lin Wanwan absolutely refused to lose a war of words.
She let out a light scoff.
“For people to see. Just not for you.”
Xu Wen’s face turned green with anger as she stormed off indignantly.
Xu Wen was just that sort of person—she had to be verbally slapped down before she felt satisfied.
Thinking this, Lin Wanwan slowly shuffled forward and sat down in a shaded spot, breathing lightly as beads of fragrant sweat covered her skin.
What exactly was going on?
Why had the aftereffects disappeared only to come back again?
Could this thing be intermittent, good one moment and bad the next?
Irritated, she tugged at a handful of grass beside her.
It looked like she wouldn’t be able to work that afternoon.
Actually, whether she worked or not didn’t matter. The main problem was that this suffocating, sore feeling was simply too uncomfortable.
She felt sickly and weak, panting after every couple of steps.
Who could endure that?
How annoying.
Lin Wanwan sighed and scooted backward until she could lean against the tree trunk behind her.
As she rested, the soreness throughout her body became even more noticeable.
She had cut pig grass all morning and carried the basket back and forth over quite a distance. Her feet were already very uncomfortable.
Since no one was around, she simply removed her shoes and socks.
Her fair, delicate feet had been rubbed raw all morning, and the soles were red.
Wuwuwu…
At this rate, she would definitely develop blisters that night.
It hurt so much.
In her previous life, she had accumulated good deeds and never done anything particularly bad.
Why had she ended up suffering such retribution?
Wuwuwu…
Lin Wanwan’s eyes gradually reddened.
She felt terribly wronged.
Damn that god of transmigration!!
When Lu Ye came down the mountain, this was the scene that greeted him.
The girl sat beneath the shade of a tree with a face full of grievance. While tugging at the grass beside her, she sniffled and wiped away tears.
Her eyes were red.
Her rosy little lips were pouted high.
She looked both pitiful and adorable.
Lu Ye couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
After glancing at the completely empty basket not far from her, he thought to himself that the Educated Youth from the city truly was a pampered young lady.
Doing a little work had reduced her to such a state.
Carrying the wild pheasant he had caught, he was about to continue down the mountain when a startled cry suddenly came from nearby.
Before his mind reacted, his feet had already honestly changed direction.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Lu Ye looked down at the stiff-bodied girl from above.
His voice was distant and cold.
With tears still in her eyes, Lin Wanwan raised her head.
Her lips trembled as she pointed behind her neck.
“I-I have a bug on the back of my neck! A bug fell on me! Wuwuwuwu!!”
Just moments ago, she had felt something itchy on her neck.
It was as though something was wriggling there.
When she reached up to touch it, she felt a soft, squirming creature.
A bug.
A soft bug.
A soft bug wriggling on her neck!!!
From her neck to her arms, Lin Wanwan instantly went numb.
Her entire body froze.
She wished she could simply die on the spot.
“…”
Lu Ye stepped closer until he stood beside her.
Lowering himself slightly, he narrowed his eyes and looked over.
The girl had lowered her head slightly, exposing her fair and slender swan-like neck.
A green caterpillar, about four or five centimeters long, was wriggling around on the back of her neck. Judging by its movements, it was about to crawl into her clothing.
The bright green insect contrasted sharply with her fair, delicate skin.
Lu Ye reached out and picked up the caterpillar.
His warm fingertips brushed against the girl’s cool, tender skin.
His fingers trembled slightly.
He almost failed to hold onto the little bug.
The two stood very close.
Close enough that Lu Ye caught a rich fragrance lingering around her.
It hovered at the tip of his nose, seeming as though it wanted to follow his breath straight into his heart.
Instinctively, he swallowed.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
“It’s gone.”
His voice came out hoarse as he stood upright.
He casually flicked the bug away and his eyes darkened slightly.
“The bug is gone.”
After receiving no response for quite some time, he lowered his gaze in confusion.
His eyes met Lin Wanwan’s bright, dazzling ones.
There was something strange about her gaze.
It was as though she were examining some precious treasure.
Direct.
Unconcealed.
Ordinarily, Lu Ye would have hated being stared at in such a manner.
Yet her gaze seemed to carry invisible hooks.
Wherever it landed, that part of him felt slightly numb.
His brows knitted tightly together.
The corners of his narrow eyes tilted upward, making him look both fierce and roguish.
In a muffled voice, he asked,
“What are you looking at?”
Even his tone sounded fierce, as though he were interrogating her.
“Mm, nothing.”
Lin Wanwan revealed a harmless smile.
Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and her voice was soft and sweet.
“What’s that? A chicken? A wild pheasant?”
Lu Ye gave a short nod.
“Mm.”
“Wow, you’re amazing. You actually managed to catch a wild pheasant~”
Lin Wanwan praised him with complete sincerity.
Lu Ye’s expression barely changed.
Indifferently, he replied,
“I set a trap. They’re easy to catch. It’s nothing impressive.”
Lin Wanwan disagreed.
“That’s still impressive. Some people set traps and still can’t catch anything.”
“…”
The praise left Lu Ye feeling somewhat at a loss.
His gaze shifted away from Lin Wanwan’s face.
His thin lips pressed into a straight line.
He didn’t know what to say.
Lin Wanwan also remained silent.
Her large eyes blinked repeatedly as she pondered something.
Just now, when the man in front of her had helped remove the bug, his fingers had touched her skin.
At that moment, a very obvious warm current had spread from the point of contact throughout her entire body.
The uncomfortable feeling in her chest had instantly vanished!
It felt as though she were soaking in a hot spring.
Warm and comfortable.
Even her energy and strength had recovered considerably.
This suddenly reminded her that the previous time her discomfort had disappeared was also when this man had grabbed her—well, not grabbed her, supported her.
Could physical contact with a man eliminate the discomfort in her body?
That didn’t seem right either.
It wasn’t as though she had never come into contact with men before.
Surely Father Lin and Brother Lin counted as men?
That meant there was only one possibility.
Only physical contact with the man standing before her could eliminate the aftereffects of transmigration!
Good heavens.
Could it be that this man had been some kind of miraculous elixir in his previous life?