The Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Heroine in the Old Abusive Article - Chapter 12

Couldn’t she be more tactful? Why must she be so…

Wen Jin’an closed her eyes. A full afternoon had passed since the last pheromone-based soothing. The peach wine scent in her body had faded considerably, and the faint pheromone in the air was far from enough to satisfy a Kunze in her Rainfall Period.

Should I really wake her?

As Wen Jin’an struggled to suppress her physical discomfort, Qin Yang rolled over, making a soft smacking sound. Her voice murmured, “These roses smell so good…”

Wen Jin’an’s face flushed crimson. She slowly opened her eyes, her expression unreadable.

After a long moment, she spoke softly, “Are you asleep?”

“Hmm?” Qin Yang mumbled, groggily opening her eyes. Her sleep was always light, and her concern for Wen Jin’an’s well-being made her wake at the slightest sound.

The faint peach wine scent in the air vanished instantly, as if summoned by its master.

Wen Jin’an’s brow furrowed in displeasure.

Qin Yang sat up. The rose fragrance in the room wasn’t strong, leaving her uncertain. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?”

Unwell?

Wen Jin’an pressed her lips together.

She was feeling somewhat uncomfortable, but she could have endured it. Yet, after tasting the crisp, sweet Peach Wine, she found herself unwilling to bear it any longer, though she refused to admit it.

Seeing her prolonged silence, Qin Yang’s heart jolted with alarm. Her hazy mind instantly cleared. Is she running a fever again?

She hurriedly rose and moved to the bedside, asking gently, “Do you need Pheromone soothing again?”

The blunt question flushed Wen Jin’an’s face crimson. Under the cover of night, she turned her head away.

How am I supposed to answer that?

Couldn’t she be more tactful? Why be so direct?

“Don’t just stay silent,” Qin Yang urged, her anxiety growing. Are you in a lot of pain?

Suddenly, an idea struck her.

Pheromone soothing was an intimate act in the ABO world.

The Female Lead’s reaction must mean she was embarrassed.

Realizing this deeper meaning, Qin Yang simply sat on the edge of the bed and took Wen Jin’an’s hand.

Wen Jin’an stiffened, trying to pull back, but her hand remained trapped. Stared at intently by the person before her, with nowhere to hide, she closed her eyes and, abandoning all pretense, blurted out, “I’m feeling a little uncomfortable.”

Just as I thought.

Without another word, Qin Yang reached out and pressed her hand against Wen Jin’an’s lower back. With a startled gasp, Wen Jin’an was pulled into her arms.

Wen Jin’an found herself completely enveloped in Qin Yang’s soft, fragrant embrace.

She hadn’t expected Qin Yang to be so brazenly shameless, clearly using the guise of comfort to take advantage of her. She struggled fiercely to break free, but her body refused to cooperate, leaving her limp and helpless in Qin Yang’s arms.

Regret for her earlier decision already gnawed at her.

That level of fever was bearable; she had endured it before. But this time, she had no desire to endure it.

Qin Yang shifted Wen Jin’an into a more comfortable position, leaning back against the bed frame. She had already soothed her once at noon, and while still not entirely proficient, she had grasped the basic technique.

Qin Yang lowered her gaze, her eyes settling on the gland at the nape of Wen Jin’an’s neck. Due to the Rainfall Period, the gland was slightly swollen, surrounded by a faint red halo.

Qin Yang’s breath hitched. A Kunze’s gland held a fatal allure for Qianyuan.

She hadn’t realized this body possessed not only astonishing physical strength but also such keen vision, allowing her to see as clearly as day even in the dim moonlight.

Suppressing her inner turmoil, she slowly closed her eyes. Concerned that Wen Jin’an’s body might be overwhelmed, she initially released only a small amount of pheromones, leaving a faint scent of Peach Wine lingering in the air.

Refreshing and subtly sweet.

Wen Jin’an leaned slightly closer to the Peach Wine, the delicate rose scent gradually enveloped by the sweet peach aroma. Soon, the peach sweetness alone could no longer satisfy her.

Wen Jin’an hummed softly in dissatisfaction, her body twisting restlessly.

Qin Yang’s muscles tensed, forcing her to release more of the scent.

Only then did Wen Jin’an stop squirming. But before long, the Peach Wine scent in the air began to fade again.

Wen Jin’an frowned slightly, her eyes glazed over as she instinctively reached up to clasp Qin Yang’s neck, drawing closer to the source of the Peach Wine.

Qin Yang’s heart leaped in alarm, her entire body rigid as Wen Jin’an’s cool lips pressed firmly against her gland.

How could the Female Lead be so…

So proactive!

Qin Yang felt like she was about to explode, her fingers clenching tightly around the blanket.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her gland. Wen Jin’an had bitten down, her mouth drinking in the continuous flow of Peach Wine.

After what felt like an eternity, the small, animalistic Kunze finally released her grip, collapsing limply against Qin Yang’s shoulder.

When there was no reaction after a long moment, Qin Yang cautiously turned her head. The young woman had fallen asleep, her pale cheeks now flushed with a faint blush. With her guard down, she looked soft and docile, like a well-behaved child.

After all, she was still just an eighteen-year-old girl. In Qin Yang’s original world, girls her age would still be in school, carefree and without a worry in the world.

Meanwhile, the Female Lead was forced to endure the torment inflicted by the Original Host’s family.

Thinking of this, Qin Yang felt a pang of heartache and gently laid Wen Jin’an on the bed.

The obedient Kunze’s bangs were already soaked with sweat, clinging to her cheeks. Qin Yang carefully peeled them back, revealing a delicate, ethereal face.

Wen Jin’an’s brows furrowed slightly as she unconsciously nuzzled her cheek against Qin Yang’s palm.

Qin Yang’s heart felt like it had been scratched by tiny claws, leaving a ticklish sensation.

Certain that Wen Jin’an’s closeness stemmed solely from a Kunze in Rainfall Period’s dependence on Qianyuan pheromones, Qin Yang dared not dwell on it. She tucked Wen Jin’an under the covers.

As she rose to leave, her vision went black, and she nearly collapsed.

After a long moment of recovery, Qin Yang realized the girl had nearly drained her pheromones dry. Her legs still felt weak, and her stomach, having received little food that evening, began to rumble loudly at the inopportune moment.

This body was far too easily starved.

Qin Yang staggered slowly to the straw mat, retrieved some meat from her spatial storage, and ate it until her strength returned somewhat.

She hadn’t anticipated that comforting someone would require so much energy. It seemed that from now on, not only would the Female Lead need nourishment, but she would too.

The next day.

Qin Yang was awakened by the commotion outside. Listening carefully, she realized the courtyard was filled not only with the voices of the Qin family but also two unfamiliar voices, all arguing loudly.

She instinctively glanced toward the bed. Wen Jin’an was already awake, looking back at her. Their eyes met.

The scene from the previous night flashed through Qin Yang’s mind, unbidden. She cleared her throat awkwardly and touched her nose. “You rest. I’ll go see what’s happening.”

Without waiting for Wen Jin’an’s response, she stood up, opened the door, and stepped outside. The entire Qin family, except for her and Wen Jin’an, was present, along with two other people. The man appeared to be in his forties or fifties, his clothes patched repeatedly. The woman, likely his wife, stood with her hands on her hips, locked in a standoff with Qin Youcai.

Qin Youcai hung his head, silent. Even the usually fiery Liu Yue’e stood quietly to the side, forcing a smile.

Qin Yang approached Qin Zhao and whispered, “What’s going on?”

“We borrowed grain from Eldest Uncle’s family last year and haven’t repaid it,” Qin Zhao replied. “They’ve come to collect.”

Qin Yang nodded. The novel had mentioned the Qin family’s habit of borrowing grain from relatives, eventually exhausting their goodwill. Now, relatives avoided them. She sighed inwardly, realizing breakfast would likely be delayed again.

“Nothing to do today. Shall we go hunting in the mountains?” Qin Yang asked.

“Mm,” Qin Zhao nodded.

“Alright, I’ll go tell Jin’an and leave right away. The earlier we go, the more we might catch,” Qin Yang said.

She had no interest in the Qin Family’s petty squabbles. Her current priorities were winning the Female Lead’s favor to save her own life and earning money to leave the Qin Family as soon as possible. Everything else was irrelevant.

With that, she turned to head back inside.

“Fourth Elder, wait,” Qin Youcai suddenly called out, stopping her in her tracks.

Qin Yang paused, surprised.

Qin Youcai sighed heavily. “The borrowed grain belongs to everyone. Now that your Eldest Uncle is here, we should pool our resources and repay him.”

What?!

A chill ran down Qin Yang’s spine. If she remembered correctly, the Qin Family hadn’t divided their assets yet, meaning all their earnings went straight into Liu Yue’e’s hands.

She didn’t know about the others, but the Original Host had been genuinely destitute, gambling away any money she got. How could there possibly be any savings? Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so anxious.

How could Qin Youcai even suggest this?

As expected, his words immediately stirred unrest among the others.

“Where are we supposed to get the money?” Zhao Chunhua demanded. “We hand over every penny we earn. Even the money Qin Yong made doing odd jobs in town last winter was taken by Mother.”

The mere mention of this infuriated her. It was bad enough that all the family’s earnings had to be given to Liu Yue’e for safekeeping, but even money earned outside the home had to be handed over.

Zhao Chunhua had once argued fiercely with Qin Yong over this, even taking their child back to her parents’ home for a while. It was only when Liu Yue’e, missing her grandson terribly, personally brought two baskets of eggs to Zhao Chunhua’s family that they finally returned.

Now, as the topic resurfaced, Qin Youcai’s weathered face flushed crimson. He glanced awkwardly at Qin Zhao. “Second Elder, how much money do you have? Can you contribute?”

Qin Zhao paused, then turned back into the house to retrieve a coarse cloth pouch. He handed it to his father. “I only have thirty wen here. It’s what Aunt Wang next door paid me for helping her pick apricots a few days ago.”

“Good,” Qin Youcai said, accepting the pouch. “Third Elder, Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder, you…”

Damn it!

Qin Yang’s expression remained impassive.

Qin Cheng and Qin Luo, relying on their Kunze status, never did any chores at home, let alone go out to work odd jobs.

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Qin Youcai understood immediately. He had raised five children, yet not a single one could be relied upon in a crisis. Gritting his teeth, he turned to Eldest Uncle Qin and said, “The rice harvest has just been brought in. I’ll have my eldest son pack some for you right away.”

This was his only option.

If word got out now, where would he ever show his face again?

Even Qin Youcai had his pride.

“Wait a minute,” Eldest Aunt Qin called out to Qin Yong. “Qin Youcai, the rice we lent you was already dried and ready to store. You’re trying to repay us with freshly harvested grain? Just drying and winnowing this rice will cost you several pounds in weight!”

“Well… this…” Qin Youcai was desperate to prevent them from spreading rumors and ruining his reputation. He hardened his resolve and forced a smile. “Eldest Sister-in-Law, you know our family’s situation. How about we wait until the rice is fully dried? I’ll personally deliver it to you then. What do you say?”

“That’s the only way,” Eldest Aunt Qin snapped. “Qin Youcai, times are hard for everyone. If you don’t repay us, I’ll tell the whole village you borrow grain and never return it. See who dares lend you anything after that!”

Qin Youcai nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Though the Eldest Uncle of the Qin Family disliked Qin Youcai, he was still his younger brother. With a sigh, he led his wife away.

As soon as they left, Qin Youcai’s dark, deeply wrinkled face darkened further. He crossed his arms behind his back and glanced at the others before fixing his gaze on Qin Luo. “Didn’t you say Patriarch Zhao in town has taken a fancy to you? Go ask when he plans to propose.”

Qin Luo froze, daring not to argue. She mumbled, “I’ll ask someone to inquire at Patriarch Zhao’s residence in town when I have time.”

“What ‘when you have time’?” Qin Youcai snapped. “Go ask today! When are you ever busy?”

Qin Luo lowered her head, her eyes darting to Liu Yue’e. Her pitiful demeanor tugged at Liu Yue’e’s heart. Torn between Qin Youcai’s command, which she dared not defy, and her precious daughter, she stammered, “This…”

For a moment, she was at a loss.

She turned to Qin Cheng. “Third Elder, you’re not getting any younger. Has Liu Dian mentioned when you’ll marry? We can’t keep dragging this out.”

At least Liu Dian was from the same village. If Third Elder married him, she could still visit him easily.

If Fifth Elder married into town, who knew how often they’d see her in a year? Besides, Qin Luo was still young; Liu Yue’e wanted to keep her home for a few more years. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.