The Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Heroine in the Old Abusive Article - Chapter 27

If she slept on the floor, she’d definitely catch a cold by morning. In this ancient era where even a common cold could be fatal, she had no intention of dying from such a trivial illness. As a modern person, she’d be the laughingstock of history.

This absolutely cannot happen!

Qin Yang pursed her lips, blinked her eyes, and gave Wen Jin’an a pitiful look.

Wen Jin’an frowned, her heart tightening as she stared back.

Is she going to…?

She clasped her hands together, glanced at the floor, and hesitated.

The night was indeed cold, and the floor was bare. Even with a Qianyuan’s robust constitution, sleeping on the floor would be unbearable. But letting her sleep in the bed was…

Though she knew Qin Yang had likely abandoned her plan to sell herself and had genuinely improved recently, the thought of sharing a bed made Wen Jin’an’s eyes darken. She closed them.

Fine.

After all, they were still wives. Sleeping together was perfectly normal.

“Sleep in the bed,” Wen Jin’an said softly.

Huh?

Qin Yang’s eyes lit up. The Female Lead had just told her to sleep in the bed, and she hadn’t even said anything yet.

Does this change in the Female Lead mean my life is spared?

A surge of excitement coursed through her.

Qin Yang blurted out, “I’m a very still sleeper. I don’t toss and turn, grind my teeth, or snore.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Jin’an’s expression shifted, and she suddenly regretted her moment of weakness. Why did I let my guard down? This person doesn’t seem so innocent after all.

Without hesitation, Qin Yang threw back the covers, turned her back to Wen Jin’an, and lay down.

She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. For the past few days, she’d been sleeping on prickly, uncomfortable straw. How nice it is to sleep in a bed again—even if it’s not as luxurious as my old one.

Qin Yang obediently closed her eyes.

Wen Jin’an watched her, biting her lip. Seeing Qin Yang curled up on one side of the bed, taking up minimal space and behaving so obediently, reminded her of Xiao Bai. She let out a soft sigh of relief.

Memories of the past few days flashed through her mind, leaving her feeling dazed. Wen Jin’an lay back, staring at the low ceiling. Even with the tattered bed curtains torn down by her companion, moonlight still couldn’t penetrate the darkness.

Everything was shrouded in shadow.

Wen Jin’an closed her eyes, a sense of uncertainty creeping into her heart. After she leaves, where will I go?

After a long while, feeling restless, Wen Jin’an opened her eyes again and turned her head. In the dim light, she could only make out the blurry outline of the person beside her. Qin Yang seemed to be sleeping deeply, her breathing long and even. She looked even more docile when asleep.

Has she truly changed, or is she just pretending?

Wen Jin’an sighed softly.

Why am I thinking so much? What does it matter to me whether she’s good or bad?

She had initially thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep with Qin Yang beside her, but she had eventually drifted off.

Later that night, Wen Jin’an woke up feeling overheated, as if she were trapped in a furnace. A heavy weight pressed down on her. Opening her eyes, she saw Qin Yang had her in a tight embrace, her arms and legs draped over Wen Jin’an’s body, her face buried in the crook of Wen Jin’an’s neck. Qin Yang’s warm breath tickled her skin, carrying a damp, itchy sensation. The blanket was pulled tightly over both of them.

How could I not be hot like this?

And what happened to sleeping properly?

Wen Jin’an frowned slightly and pushed Qin Yang’s arms and legs off her. Qin Yang grumbled and rolled over, creating some distance between them. A gap opened in the blanket, letting in a rush of cool air that gradually dispelled the stifling heat.

Just as Wen Jin’an closed her eyes again, Qin Yang rolled back over, her arm draping heavily across Wen Jin’an’s chest. The moment Wen Jin’an lifted Qin Yang’s arm, her leg followed, hooking over Wen Jin’an’s.

Wen Jin’an: !!!

Her face flushed crimson, and she bit her lip, desperately wanting to kick this bastard off the bed. With great restraint, she pushed Qin Yang’s arm and leg back down.

The sky was already beginning to lighten. After all this commotion, Wen Jin’an had lost all desire to sleep. She frowned, staring blankly at the ceiling for a while before quietly getting up to leave the bed.

The next moment, darkness enveloped her as Qin Yang pulled her back, blanket and all, pressing her close and draping a leg across her abdomen.

Wen Jin’an: !!!

She twisted her head to see Qin Yang sleeping soundly, eyes closed.

This bastard!

Wen Jin’an closed her eyes briefly. How could anyone sleep so restlessly? If not for their current circumstances, she would have kicked Qin Yang off the bed long ago.

Wen Jin’an resigned herself to her fate.

After an unknown amount of time, she felt the weight on her body lift as Qin Yang rolled over in her sleep, turning her back to Wen Jin’an.

When Wen Jin’an looked again, Qin Yang was blinking groggily, rubbing her eyes as she sat up and glanced at Wen Jin’an. “Why are you awake so early? It’s still early—sleep a bit longer. I’m going out for some exercise.”

Qin Yang had always been a morning runner. Since transmigrating, she’d been too busy dealing with the Qin Family to find time for exercise. Now that she’d finally moved out, she was itching to get back into her routine.

“Exercise?”

Wen Jin’an glared at her, her beautiful brows furrowing slightly. This woman, who would rather lie down than stand, and sit rather than walk, was suddenly talking about exercise? Between this and all the other changes, it felt like she had become a completely different person.

Qin Yang stood up from the bed, stretched, and felt her whole body relax. She then did some leg stretches in the courtyard, ran a lap around the area, and returned just as Qin Zhao arrived to find her.

She suddenly remembered that Qin Zhao had asked her to save some of the roasted Jinchán from last night, promising to pick them up this morning.

Qin Zhao greeted her with a smile. He pulled out the lotus leaf-wrapped Jinchán from his chest and handed them over.

This man is so strange, she thought. He’ll finish these ten or so in no time. Why save them for the next day? Does he really think he’s a child savoring candy, taking a lick whenever he feels like it?

“I’m heading back into the mountains today. Want to come?” Qin Zhao asked.

After moving out of the Qin Family’s residence, the only food they had was the steamed buns and mantou from the Space. Since she had nothing else to do during the day, she might as well join Qin Zhao on a hunt. Her body required a lot of food, and the Female Lead also needed nourishment. Moreover, after observing for the past two days, she noticed that the White Raccoon Dog always resisted eating the steamed buns, but devoured meat eagerly.

Given this situation, they wouldn’t even be able to afford basic necessities if they didn’t start earning money soon.

Qin Yang nodded reluctantly.

Seeing her agreement, Qin Zhao tossed out a curt, “Meet at the foot of the mountain after breakfast,” and turned to leave.

Qin Yang rubbed her nose and went inside.

Meanwhile, after leaving Qin Yang, Qin Zhao took another path and arrived at two nearby mud-brick houses. She knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a petite figure.

Miao Zhiru froze at the sight of Qin Zhao, her expression flustered. Though she was no longer as afraid of Qin Zhao as before—this person only appeared fierce on the surface but was actually very kind—Miao Zhiru’s face flushed crimson as she murmured, “What brings you here?”

Ever since this Qianyuan had rescued her from Chen San, he would visit every few days, sometimes bringing fish, other times rabbit meat. He rarely spoke, simply delivering the food and leaving.

The two hadn’t had a proper conversation yet.

Seeing Qin Zhao’s silence, Miao Zhiru feared she was about to leave again. Her heart pounded with anxiety as her deer-like eyes gazed at Qin Zhao, timid and helpless.

“Here,” Qin Yang said coldly, shoving the golden cicada into Miao Zhiru’s hand before turning to leave.

Just as I thought.

“Wait!” Miao Zhiru called out urgently, her voice trembling as she looked at Qin Yang.

Before Qin Zhao could respond, Miao Zhiru darted back into the house like a startled rabbit. Moments later, she reappeared, breathless, and thrust something into Qin Zhao’s hand.

Catching her breath, she declared, “This is for you. You can’t refuse it.” Her feigned assertiveness, delivered in a soft, sweet voice, sounded endearingly fierce to Qin Zhao’s ears.

Qin Zhao’s lips curved slightly as he glanced down at the small paper-wrapped bundle in his hand. He looked up at Miao Zhiru, his expression curious. “What’s this?”

“Don’t open it now,” Miao Zhiru replied. “Wait until you get back.”

Qin Zhao nodded and tucked the bundle into his inner pocket.

“Then… you…” Miao Zhiru bit her lip, lowering her gaze to her toes. Her ears flushed crimson before she even spoke. She stole a quick glance at Qin Zhao from the corner of her eye, then quickly averted her gaze.

Qin Zhao watched the little rabbit before her, utterly bewildered. She stared at Miao Zhiru’s burning-red ear tips, fearing the girl might spontaneously combust.

“Would you… like to come in for a while?” Miao Zhiru blurted out, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth.

She didn’t know if Qin Zhao would refuse. After all, in the eyes of others, she was a cursed star who had killed her husband on their wedding day. Even her own parents shunned her, and no one else dared approach her.

Yet Qin Zhao was the only one who had offered her help.

Gathering her courage, Miao Zhiru lifted her head again, her eyes brimming with hope as she gazed at Qin Zhao.

After a long silence, Miao Zhiru’s heart plummeted into an icy abyss. I was just being delusional, she thought. She probably despises me too. She’s only being kind out of pity…

Her eyes rimmed with red.

Seeing Miao Zhiru about to cry, Qin Zhao panicked and quickly explained, “I’m worried about what people will say, not that I don’t want to come in.”

Miao Zhiru’s status in the village was already precarious. Chen San’s persistent harassment had fueled gossip, and if she were seen entering Qin Zhao’s home, it would only invite more speculation. Qin Zhao didn’t care about the rumors, but Miao Zhiru, being a delicate Kunze female…

Just thinking about it made Qin Zhao’s heart ache.

“Really?” Miao Zhiru asked, stopping her tears and looking at Qin Zhao with her wet eyes.

Qin Zhao smiled helplessly. “Really. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Then… come in. I’m not scared anymore,” Miao Zhiru said, her tears turning into a smile.

Miao Zhiru’s mud house was small and low-ceilinged. Qin Zhao had to duck to enter. The main room contained only a worn square table and a long bench. Qin Zhao glanced around the room before sitting down on the bench.

“I’ll get you some water,” Miao Zhiru said.

Flustered, she hurried into the kitchen. Qin Zhao waited for a while, but she didn’t return. He got up and went into the kitchen, where he found Miao Zhiru standing by the water tank, her eyes red.

How could she have forgotten? The water tank was empty. Since spraining her ankle, she hadn’t been able to fetch water from the river. She’d been scraping by for the past few days. Even before her injury, she could only carry half a bucket at a time, and she felt like she was dying of exhaustion by the time the tank was half-full.

What was she going to do now?

Qin Zhao was waiting for water.

As she thought about it, her eyes began to water again.

“What’s wrong?” Qin Zhao asked urgently.

Why is she crying again so soon? Though he didn’t know what had happened, seeing Miao Zhiru’s helpless expression softened Qin Zhao’s heart.

How could there be such a delicate Kunze in the world?

Hmm?

Miao Zhiru finally noticed the Qianyuan behind her. She sniffled and whispered to Qin Zhao, “There’s no water left.”

So that’s it. Qin Zhao sighed in relief and glanced into the water tank. The bottom was completely dry, as if it had been empty for a day or two.

Qin Zhao frowned deeply. How has this Kunze been managing these past few days?