Chapter 15

The setting sun dipped below the horizon, and the wild grass swayed in the evening breeze, carrying a trace of residual warmth, as if celebrating the arrival of night.

Bai Jiaojiao leaned against the man’s neck, occasionally glancing at the surrounding scenery, then tilting her head to observe his expression. But as if afraid of being caught, she quickly averted her gaze.

Several times, she wanted to speak about the roadside views, but upon remembering that she was with the big villain Xiao Zhou, she silently closed her mouth again—though she couldn’t quite keep it shut.

“Xiao Zhou, this area is so pretty.”

The man’s footsteps paused slightly. He asked, “Even with a dog, it still looks good?”

Thinking of the dog that had chased her earlier that afternoon, Bai Jiaojiao instinctively shrank her neck, then quickly nodded. “Of course it still looks good. I’m just afraid of other people’s dogs. If I settled down here, I’d want to raise one of my own—one that only protects me and barks loudly at everyone else.”

Xiao Zhou lightly curled his lips. “Worth considering.”

“Mhm.”

Bai Jiaojiao remembered that they might get divorced soon. By then, she could find a small village to live in quietly and raise a dog—sounds relaxing.

That evening, Xiao’s father cooked quite a few dishes, and although they tasted good, they weren’t as good as Xiao Zhou’s cooking. After eating until she was about 70% full, Bai Jiaojiao put down her chopsticks and went to sort out the medicinal herbs.

After preparing a dose for Xiao’s father, she also brewed one for Xiao Zhou to help with his head injury.

“Jiaojiao is so skilled—even knows how to treat illnesses,” Xiao’s father said with a smile. “Xiao Zhou, you have to cherish your wife.”

Xiao Zhou drank his medicine and nodded seriously. “Definitely.”

Bai Jiaojiao then brought out some acupuncture needles she had bought in the city.

“Dad, I’ll give you an acupuncture session later—guaranteed to get your blood flowing and boost your health.”

“Good, good,” Xiao’s father agreed cheerfully. He had many ailments but didn’t want to go to the hospital. Now that his daughter-in-law was helping, he was overjoyed.

Xiao’s mother sat nearby and sneakily took a sip of her husband’s medicine, only to instantly scrunch her face in disgust, gagging for a long while. Bai Jiaojiao quickly handed her a candy, which finally made her feel better.

After the acupuncture and preparing the next day’s medicine for both Xiao Zhou and his father, Bai Jiaojiao looked at the remaining herbs and decided to make them into small pills. They fit perfectly into two small bottles, and her eyes sparkled—these would be her ticket to future fortune.

At that moment, little Xiao Yueyue hadn’t gone to sleep yet and was lying on the bed staring at the ceiling.

“Tonight, big sister will tell you the story of Snow White,” Bai Jiaojiao said. She didn’t like calling herself “sister-in-law” in front of Xiao Yueyue—she figured they’d be divorced sooner or later.

Right as she finished the story, the little girl closed her eyes—as if she had only been waiting to hear the ending.

Bai Jiaojiao felt it must have been a coincidence. Drawing an autistic child out of their own world was extremely difficult. All she could do was try her best.

If Xiao Yueyue could get better, maybe once Xiao Zhou had the means to bring her to the city, she could find the right doctor.

Just as she was thinking this, the door opened. Xiao Zhou had just finished washing up and was drying his hair with a towel. He said casually, “Come back to our room.”

Bai Jiaojiao: “?”

Remembering what she’d agreed to earlier in the day, she hesitated for a long time before trying to resist. “Didn’t you remember anything about your past today?”

“No.”

That explains it!

“Then why were you so cold to me today?” she asked, curious.

Xiao Zhou: “I was in a bad mood.”

Bai Jiaojiao thought to herself, Hope you’re always in a bad mood!

Wait, no—maybe just a bit better than terrible. In the original novel, once the villain was in a bad mood later on, he would unleash extreme SM-level punishment on the original female lead—truly horrible suffering.

“I’m also… in a bad mood right now,” Xiao Zhou added.

Bai Jiaojiao’s small body shuddered. “Wh–why?”

The man bent down, leaned closer, but his expression turned serious. “Why didn’t I get acupuncture?”

Bai Jiaojiao replied, “Because you’re young, and your body is super healthy. If you hadn’t lost your memory, you wouldn’t even need to take medicine.”

The coldness on Xiao Zhou’s face faded. “My body is indeed super healthy.”

Verified by his wife—even if he didn’t have any memories.

Watching her make the bed, all sorts of chaotic thoughts filled his mind. His ears turned red. The irritation he’d felt earlier when he heard her talk about giving him to someone else faded instantly—he just wanted to hold her down and not let go.

But his wife was blissfully unaware of what his words implied. She placed a blanket between them right down the middle of the bed.

Bai Jiaojiao, with her serious but unthreatening expression, said, “Even though I agreed to sleep with you, we each stay on our side. If you cross the line, I’ll sleep with Yueyue instead, and you’re not allowed to threaten me again.”

Xiao Zhou looked aggrieved. He’d spent all day thinking about just wanting to hold his wife to sleep.

But he also knew, given the situation, that this was already the best he could hope for. If he pushed too hard, she might just go back to trying to pawn him off on someone else.

“Okay.”

Bai Jiaojiao had been walking mountain roads all day and was exhausted. She didn’t care what the big villain did anymore. The moment she hit the bed, she fell asleep.

Once he heard her steady breathing, Xiao Zhou knew she was truly asleep. He couldn’t help but reach out, remove the blanket between them, and pull her into his arms.

It was fine. He’d restore everything before she woke up in the morning. Over the past few nights, Xiao Zhou had learned that Bai Jiaojiao was a very deep sleeper.

Winter nights were cold. Bai Jiaojiao, who had struggled to warm up all night, instinctively clung to the heat source that moved closer. She found a cozy spot, nestled in, and even snuggled a bit.

Xiao Zhou felt a fire shoot straight down to a dangerous place. He instantly regretted holding his wife—way too hard to endure.

But then he looked down at her peaceful sleeping face and breathed in her unique scent. It was worth it.

His wife had said that once he regained his memory, she wouldn’t reject him anymore.

…

When Bai Jiaojiao woke up, the first thing she did was check the blanket—to make sure it was still properly in place between them. Her clothes were neat, too. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

Today, there was a market in the neighboring village. Since Xiao Zhou and his father had just arrived unexpectedly, Xiao’s father thought they needed to buy a few things. Bai Jiaojiao had never been to a 1970s-style market and wanted to experience it.

She specially changed into a dress she’d bought at a mall—a fitted mini dress that made her legs look long. It had a great cut and cost eighty yuan, which was equivalent to several months of a regular household’s income. In the 1970s, it absolutely counted as a luxury item—only someone like Xiao Zhou, a military pilot, could afford it.

Bai Jiaojiao didn’t want to settle for clothes she didn’t like. Once she divorced the villain, she could open a traditional Chinese medicine clinic and live just fine.

As she was lost in thought, a jacket was suddenly draped over her. Xiao Zhou said, “Put on more. It’s cold.”

“I don’t want it—it doesn’t match. Wearing a jacket over this ruins the whole look,” Bai Jiaojiao refused.

The man lowered his head and kissed her cheek. Bai Jiaojiao’s eyes widened. “You…”

Xiao Zhou savored the soft, delicate feel and looked at her flushed lips, eyes dark. “Be good. Next time, I won’t stop at your cheek.”

In the end, Bai Jiaojiao gave in and put on the unfashionable fuzzy coat. Her body was warm, but her heart felt cold.

Xiao Yueyue went with them to the market. Bai Jiaojiao volunteered to take care of her—she liked the little girl. She even styled her hair into two cute buns.

Even though Xiao Yueyue’s face stayed blank, with the double buns, she still looked especially festive and adorable.

But once outside, the little one clung tightly to Xiao Zhou the whole time—leaving Bai Jiaojiao feeling betrayed.

“Yueyue, am I not pretty enough? What’s so great about hugging a man? He’s all hard and stiff,” she pouted.

The little one blinked, seemingly not understanding what she meant.

Xiao Zhou clenched his teeth. Wasn’t it you who hugged me all night without the slightest complaint? Such a hypocrite…

Bai Jiaojiao was just joking. Of course an autistic child would gravitate toward the person who had been kindest to them—that person now was the future ultimate villain, Xiao Zhou.

Xiao Yueyue clearly feared strangers and clung to Xiao Zhou, peeking timidly at the crowds.

Xiao Zhou, still amnesiac, held his five-year-old sister stiffly, afraid of using too much force, and looked to Bai Jiaojiao for help.

“Haha, Xiao Zhou, you used to take care of her all the time. Maybe looking after her now will jog your memory!” Bai Jiaojiao laughed.

Xiao’s mother wandered off the moment they reached the crowded market. She loved looking at everything—though she never touched or bought anything, just curious. Xiao’s father followed her, leaving the two young adults to watch the kid.

Xiao Zhou gave in. He realized he didn’t dislike his little sister—in fact, he felt a strange closeness to her.

Still, it didn’t compare to the feeling Bai Jiaojiao gave him.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, he looked up—and didn’t see the figure he expected to see in his line of sight.

His brain instantly plunged into pure panic.