Chapter 12

Cui Shan froze for a moment and said, “This subordinate will investigate right away.”

Lu Chongjin remained where he was, his thoughts drifting further and further away.

Since yesterday, she had already begun to show some unusual signs.

She had suddenly learned how to drive. Judging by how skillful she was behind the wheel yesterday, it would be hard to believe she hadn’t been driving for several years.

And then there were the two baskets of melons she sold yesterday. Normally, the meals for both of them always came from the neighbors next door, who cooked and delivered them in fixed portions.

It was impossible for her to suddenly have two extra baskets of melons to sell. The entire matter reeked of strangeness from beginning to end.

That night, after washing up, Tang Yajun crawled into bed and had a good night’s sleep.

The next morning, she decided to do some investigating first.

Yesterday’s incident had been too risky—she was afraid of drawing suspicion.

She went to fetch the bicycle she had left in the alley and, when riding past the factory gates, overheard a crowd chattering.

“Those melons yesterday were delicious. Too bad you guys didn’t get any. I wonder if that seller will come again today.”

“You still dare to buy? Didn’t you see last night how someone was already asking around about that melon-seller? Maybe they’re planning to catch her secretly and drag her off for punishment.”

Hearing this, Tang Yajun’s expression stiffened. She pedaled harder and vanished down the alley.

So someone had actually been looking into her yesterday. No matter who it was, she couldn’t risk doing this business again for now.

With all the restrictions in place, trying to build a business single-handedly was nearly impossible.

She decided it was better to bide her time, conserve her strength, and wait for the individual economy to be allowed to flourish. By her reckoning, that day wasn’t too far off.

Madam Lu, Wen Mulan, called her over to ask about Lu Chongjin’s recovery in the past few days.

Only then did Tang Yajun remember the nonsense she had spouted the other day.

She reassured Wen Mulan that Lu Chongjin’s health was no longer an issue and promised she would take good care of him.

Wen Mulan was pleased, thinking her daughter-in-law had become far more sensible and well-mannered than before.

On her way back, Tang Yajun ran into Lu Chongjin’s elder sister, Lu Zhongyun.

She was the only member of the Lu family whom the original Tang Yajun hadn’t disliked.

Lu Zhongyun had a gentle, composed nature, and she always spoke softly and kindly.

Tang Yajun greeted her, “Second Sister.”

Lu Zhongyun nodded in response and pulled her into conversation.

“I heard you asked Zhongjin to take something to your elder brother for you? How is he doing?” she asked hesitantly.

Tang Yajun immediately picked up on a whiff of gossip.

In the original’s memories, there was nothing about her elder brother and Lu Zhongyun.

She answered truthfully, “Yes, but I haven’t heard back yet. I don’t know if he received it.”

“Your elder brother has it tough, being sent to such a harsh place.” As Lu Zhongyun spoke, her expression grew wistful, recalling that man who had always treated her with distant coldness.

Tang Yajun smiled and said, “As soon as I hear from him, I’ll tell you right away.”

Lu Zhongyun pulled herself out of her memories, her smile tinged with sorrow.

This only made Tang Yajun even more curious.

She was like a fish already lured by bait on a hook—desperate to know how sweet that morsel might taste.

After the two parted, Tang Yajun felt something was wrong on her walk home. She tightened her legs together and hurried back to the courtyard—her period had come.

She thought little of it, shut the door to her room, and fetched two packs of sanitary pads from the dormitory inside her space.

Following her usual routine, she drank some hot water and lay down on the bed.

Later, she was woken by pain, a dull throbbing in her lower abdomen that came in relentless waves.

Within moments she was drenched in sweat from the pain.

She glanced around. The room was empty.

She rubbed her fingertips together, picturing the doorway to her space, intending to retrieve a vial of pain-relief serum.

But nothing happened. She forced herself to try several more times—still no response.

Lying listlessly on the bed, she analyzed why the space wouldn’t open.

According to the research they’d done in the beginning, the space was closely tied to the user’s physical condition.

Her body was too weak now, triggering the space’s self-protection mechanism. It had shut itself off.

That had to be it. Tang Yajun sighed quietly.

When she woke again, she felt a warm touch against her forehead.

Her belly was icy cold, so she instinctively grabbed that source of heat and pressed it to her abdomen.

The persistent ache was instantly soothed by the warmth, and she felt a bit of relief.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw the person before her.

Lu Chongjin asked with concern, “How did you end up like this?”

Tang Yajun shifted closer to him, her body chilled to the bone, finding comfort only by staying near him.

He stretched out his long arm and pulled her into his embrace.

Seeing how much pain she was in, he swallowed down all the questions he had been about to ask.

Tang Yajun soon drifted back into a feverish sleep.

The next morning, Lu Chongjin gently woke her. On the bedside table sat breakfast and a bowl of medicine.

“Drink the medicine first—it will ease your pain,” he said.

Tang Yajun remembered what Doctor Hu had told her before—her body had been weakened by cold and had developed lingering problems.

The original owner’s body was too frail. She would have to nurse it carefully.

Forcing herself upright, she took the bowl, tested the temperature, and downed the bitter brew in one go.

Leaning back against the bed, her whole body felt limp and aching, as if she were sinking into quicksand—soft and powerless.

Lu Chongjin placed a newly filled hot-water bottle on her stomach.

The tight frown on her brow eased a little, and she unconsciously nestled closer to him.

People always seemed more fragile when sick.

Lu Chongjin froze for a moment, then wrapped his arms around her.

“Don’t you have things to do today?” she asked.

“Mm.” He nodded slightly, without another word.

“You should go. I’ll be fine—just need to endure it a bit longer.”

“I’m not going. I’ll stay with you. Nothing else matters.”

“Alright.” Her voice softened, almost breathless.

Her sweet, warm breath brushed against his neck, making his whole body tense.

Sensing his reaction, she lifted her head from his neck and looked at him.

The tips of his ears flushed red, betraying his unease.

He spoon-fed her warm porridge.

She hadn’t eaten since the previous evening, and finished half the bowl in one go.

After he left, she felt much better and tried rubbing her fingers together again. This time, the door to the space slowly opened.

She scrambled inside, drank a vial of the pain-relief serum, and immediately felt full of energy again.

Humming a little tune, she went for a shower, and to be safe, grabbed another vial before stepping out.

When Lu Chongjin returned home, he went straight to check on her, only to find the room empty.

He searched the neighboring courtyard but couldn’t find her either.

Back at their own yard, he finally spotted Tang Yajun lounging under the shade tree in a deck chair.

She was wearing light-colored clothes, her long black hair cascading beneath her, her breathing soft and shallow as though she had dozed off.

The sound of the wheelchair rolling over the stone slabs roused her.

Tang Yajun opened her eyes sleepily, glanced at him, and smiled. “You’re back?”

“Mm.” He answered and wheeled himself closer, draping the thin blanket over her lap, a strange calm settling in his heart.

Tang Yajun sat up and reached out to touch his leg.

Lu Chongjin couldn’t avoid it in time and let out a muffled groan.