Chapter 3 : Lingquan Space

Not sure if it was her imagination, but Su Ranran seemed to catch a faint, indescribable fragrance in the air. It turned out that the scene she had seen in her dream wasn’t an illusion after all.  

In her previous life, as she hovered on the brink of death, she had vaguely sensed the jade bracelet on her wrist emitting a burning light. In that hazy moment, she saw the light swirl around her before settling into the inside of her wrist.  

So, it was the jade pendant that brought her back?  

Curious, Su Ranran reached out to touch the red mole on her wrist.  

The instant her fingers brushed against it, she felt a wave of dizziness. Before she could process what was happening, the scene in front of her transformed. Her eyes widened in surprise at the sudden change.  

What just happened?  

Looking around, she found herself surrounded by a breathtaking, picturesque landscape. A crystal-clear spring flowed gently in the center, with faint wisps of mist rising from its surface. On one side of the spring stood several unfamiliar fruit trees, while on the other side grew some unknown… weeds? In the distance, golden fields of rice and wheat stretched out, reaching all the way to the base of a mountain.  

Su Ranran instinctively felt that the fields didn’t end there.  

Although she couldn’t see it with her eyes, she sensed the presence of animals in the mountains and forests, as well as countless plants, some familiar, others entirely unknown.  

By comparison, the weeds and fruit trees near the spring seemed ordinary. Yet, inexplicably, Su Ranran felt that these plants were anything but simple.  

For now, she couldn’t discern anything special about the weeds, but the fruit trees, laden with bright red fruit, were undeniably enticing. The red fruits glowed like the finest jade, their sweet, tempting aroma noticeable even from a few steps away.  

Thinking of the legendary space that Li Xueqiu had in her dream, Su Ranran focused her mind.  

In an instant, a red fruit appeared in her hand.  

Su Ranran: …  

Was this the legendary space?  

But why was hers so different from Li Xueqiu’s?  

Li Xueqiu’s space resembled a giant supermarket warehouse filled with various goods. That was why she had been able to amass wealth so quickly during a time of material scarcity.  

Having experienced rebirth, Su Ranran remained calm about the fact that she now had her own space.  What intrigued her most was the clear sense of control she had over this world. Without hesitation, she bit into the fruit in her hand.  

As soon as her teeth sank into it, the fragrant, sweet juice burst in her mouth, and a refreshing coolness spread throughout her body. Almost instantly, Su Ranran felt invigorated, as if her entire being had been rejuvenated.  

Her previously uncomfortable stomach also felt noticeably better. Just as she reached out to pick another fruit, she heard footsteps outside the door.  

Startled by the sound, Su Ranran willed herself back, and the beautiful scenery before her was replaced by the familiar sight of her room.  

The door creaked open.  

Looking toward the noise, she saw a tall figure standing in the doorway, holding a bowl in his hand.  

Seeing him, memories of the dream flooded back into her mind.  

In the dream, even in middle age, this powerful and imposing man had gently escorted her into the hospital. Blinking away the memory, Su Ranran felt her eyes grow misty again.  

So, in her previous life, they had been together. If not for Li Xueqiu’s schemes, how could she have been frightened off by that second-rate scoundrel?  

She still didn’t know how she had married him in her first life, but it was certainly not the disgraceful, shunned way she had in her past.  

Would anyone be able to tell her what a normal marriage should truly be like?  

“Does your stomach hurt again?”  

The man at the door stepped to the bed in just two strides, still holding the bowl in his hand. Seeing the concern etched on his face, Su Ranran held back the sting in her eyes, smiled softly, and shook her head.  

“I’m fine now.”  

Yesterday, she had fainted from hunger. In her dazed state, she vaguely remembered the man feeding her glucose water and some soup. She had woken up briefly in the evening, eaten, and then fallen asleep again. It wasn’t until she ate the fruit earlier that she felt significantly better.  

Hearing her reassurance, Shen He studied her thin, pale face intently. Only after confirming that her complexion was indeed better than the day before did he give a small nod.  

“Eat some porridge first,” he said, reaching out to help her sit up, clearly intending to feed her.  

Su Ranran: …  

“I want to take a bath first,” she said, lowering her gaze.  

She had been too weak the day before to even think about bathing. While she didn’t smell bad, the hot and sticky weather had left her feeling uncomfortable, even repulsed by herself.  

Shen He glanced at the delicate, pale hand fidgeting with the hem of her clothes and felt an odd stir in his chest.  

The memory of her weak, groggy state from the day before flashed in his mind, her soft murmurs as he fed her water. His gaze softened without him realizing it.  

After a pause, he said, “I’ll boil water for you.”  

Su Ranran didn’t refuse and nodded in agreement.  

Her delicate features, paired with the thinness from not eating much in recent days, made her eyes appear even larger. Her obedient nod gave her an air of vulnerability, like a pitiful yet endearing kitten.  

Shen He quickly averted his gaze, turned around, and left the room.  

As soon as the door closed behind him, Su Ranran couldn’t wait to explore her space again. Unlike Li Xueqiu’s space, hers could be entered physically, and the items within it could also be controlled with just her thoughts.  

The realization that she had access to such an incredible power filled her with both surprise and joy.  

But after a moment of excitement, she calmed down. Such a miraculous gift had to be used cautiously.  

Not everyone would be as gullible as the Li family, who blindly believed every word their daughter or sister said.  

In her previous life, Li Xueqiu had casually pulled out things like potato chips and shower gel, items that clearly didn’t belong to that time and place and the Li family never questioned it.  

It wasn’t just them, even the rest of the team seemed unfazed.  

Despite the team’s poverty, where meat was a rare luxury enjoyed only a few times a year, Li Xueqiu frequently ate meat, and no one appeared suspicious.  

Even more absurdly, she often shared the meat with both familiar and unfamiliar people, yet no one batted an eye.  

Thinking back to the peculiarities of her previous life, Su Ranran frowned slightly.  

Was the entire Qiaotou Brigade somehow bewitched by Li Xueqiu?  

Otherwise, how could they all turn a blind eye to such blatant inconsistencies as though under a spell?  

Unable to make sense of it, Su Ranran set the thought aside for the time being. She decided to prioritize restoring her health first and then figure out the mystery surrounding Li Xueqiu.  

Unlike Li Xueqiu, she didn’t plan to recklessly exploit her space. She had no confidence in having such inexplicable luck. With that in mind, she stopped experimenting with her space and got up to find some clothes, intending to take a bath.  

It was late June, almost July, and the Qiaotou Brigade, being in the south, was enduring the hottest time of the year.  

The weather was not only scorching but also oppressively humid. Given the conditions, it was clear that heavy rains were imminent.  

As she recalled the devastating floods from her past life, Su Ranran’s brow furrowed again.