The Farm Girl and the Executioner (Rebirth) 113

Chapter 113: Leg Pain in the Middle of the Night

After lunch, the workers were busy on the foundation, some laying bricks, some scooping mud, and a few were doing carpentry.

With the sound of horse hooves from the entrance of the valley, a few of the workers also smiled. “Miss Shuang is back.”

Jiang Huaizhen was planing a tenon and mortise on a piece of wood, her head lowered, her expression blank.

It wasn’t until a while later that Lin Shuang appeared at the other end of the new foundation and called out, “Huaizhen.”

Jiang Huaizhen looked over and saw that although she had a smile on her face, it seemed a little forced. She put down her tools and walked toward her.

Just as she reached Lin Shuang, she was grabbed by the arm and pulled into their room.

After they entered the door, she closed it with a slam and turned to hug her.

The wisp of gloom that had been in Jiang Huaizhen’s heart was like a bubble of water that had popped and was gone. She sighed softly, wrapped her arms around her waist, and asked, “What’s wrong? Did that one surnamed Qin bully you?”

Lin Shuang didn’t speak and just hugged her shoulder tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Qin Chong’s hypocritical face was still flashing in her mind, and his disgusting proposal was still echoing in her ears. Just like those people in her past life, they had lightly pushed her into a pit of fire.

She suddenly felt that it was extremely absurd and even wanted to laugh out loud.

These people, these animals, what made them think that she would repeat the same mistakes?

In her past life, she had been sold into the Qin residence like a piece of goods by Lin Mancang and his wife, and had been treated as a pawn by Old Madam Qin, to be moved around at will. At that time, she had indeed been powerless to resist.

But now?

She was no longer a lamb to be slaughtered, but a hunter who could stand on her own. How dare Qin Chong? How dare he use that condescending tone to suggest that she be a concubine again?

These people, for their own benefit, had disregarded her wishes and had forcibly pushed her into their main field, and in the end, had created one tragic end after another for her.

What was even more ridiculous was that he actually thought this was “cooperation”? That it was “mutually beneficial”? As if she, Lin Shuang, should be grateful and accept this “opportunity”?

Anger churned in her chest, so much so that her throat tightened.

These people had never seen her as a person, not in the past, and not now.

Jiang Huaizhen’s warm body temperature came through her clothes, but Lin Shuang suddenly shivered.

She didn’t dare to imagine what Huaizhen would think if she knew about her unbearable past, that she had been a concubine and had been sent to be married to a dead person.

How could this not make her angry?

How could Jiang Huaizhen know what she was thinking? Although she was a little dissatisfied that that one surnamed Qin was always looking for Lin Shuang, and she was also puzzled by Lin Shuang’s attitude toward him, what did it matter? As long as Lin Shuang showed a wronged expression and burrowed into her arms, she would not care about anything else.

She finally let go of her hand, held her face, and asked, “If you don’t tell me anything, how can I stand up for you?”

Only then did Lin Shuang speak, her voice angry. “Don’t see that person anymore.”

Jiang Huaizhen couldn’t have been happier that Lin Shuang would no longer meet with that one surnamed Qin. Although they had only met twice, and she had not even seen what that one surnamed Qin looked like, every time, it had made her feel uneasy, afraid that there would be a rift between her and Lin Shuang because of this person.

Although they were now as intimate as they could be, she was still afraid in her heart, afraid that Lin Shuang would suddenly leave her.

At this moment, she finally understood her mother’s state of mind back then, why she had been so crazed when she had discovered her father’s betrayal, and why she had wanted to kill him at all costs.

Jiang Huaizhen couldn’t imagine what her reaction would be if Lin Shuang left. Just the thought of it was as painful as having her fingernails pulled out, and even that pain was not as painful as losing her.

She replied, “Alright. If he sends someone again, I’ll chase them all out.”

Only then was Lin Shuang satisfied, and her hand, which was wrapped around her neck, tightened.

Her attachment also made Jiang Huaizhen feel much more relieved. She lifted Lin Shuang’s hips and placed her on her lap, her nose rubbing against her earlobe as she said softly, “We’re not going anywhere these few days. Just stay at home with me, okay?”

Lin Shuang nodded, lowered her head, and kissed her.

Jiang Huaizhen opened her mouth to receive her, and they had a solid, wet kiss.

After a long time, she finally let her go, reached out to tidy her hair, which had been messed up by the wind while she was riding, and her fingertips greedily caressed her flushed cheek, her eyes full of affection.

Lin Shuang’s emotions finally stabilized. She took her hand, brought it to her mouth, and kissed it, then obediently snuggled back into her neck.

That night.

The two of them washed up and went to bed as usual. Lin Shuang was in no mood today, and the two of them did nothing.

It wasn’t until the middle of the night that Jiang Huaizhen was suddenly woken by a scream. She quickly got up and found that Lin Shuang, who was beside her, was curled up, hugging her knees and trembling all over. She quickly hugged her tightly.

“Lin Shuang… wake up. Where are you uncomfortable?”

“Or are you having a nightmare?”

Lin Shuang, in a half-asleep state, suddenly dreamed of being underground with a corpse lying beside her. She only felt a sharp pain in her knees, so painful that tears streamed down her face.

She vaguely remembered that she had been reborn. She had a lover, and Huaizhen was protecting her very well. She shouldn’t be in so much pain.

But it really hurt.

Her eyes couldn’t open, and she only heard Jiang Huaizhen’s familiar voice in her ear. She kept shaking her head and said intermittently, “…It hurts, Huaizhen, it hurts so much…”

“Where does it hurt?” Jiang Huaizhen hugged her, reached out to rub her back, and then her stomach. “Does your abdomen hurt?”

“No… it’s my knees that hurt…”

These words fell into her ears, and Jiang Huaizhen was as if struck by lightning.

Her consciousness was suddenly pulled back to the dream she had had a few days ago, that strange dream. In the dream, Lin Shuang’s two legs were in a twisted position. She had lifted her skirt, and her knees were seeping with pus and blood, extremely tragic.

She trembled all over, picked her up, sat on the bed, held her back with one hand, and pulled her into her embrace. Her other hand trembled as she reached for Lin Shuang’s knees.

They were solid, and there was nothing unusual, nor was there any feeling of bleeding or dampness.

But Lin Shuang was still crying in her arms that it hurt.

She could only hug her and coax her softly, “Your knees are fine. I’ll just rub them for you, and it will be better, okay?”

Lin Shuang hugged her neck and sobbed softly.

Hearing her cry, and thinking of her haggard and broken appearance in that dream, Jiang Huaizhen’s heart was about to break.

She lowered her head, kissed her forehead, kissed her lips, and coaxed her in detail.

“Is it still hurting a lot? How about we go to the city and find Doctor Xue?”

At this time, Lin Shuang’s consciousness finally returned a little. She realized that she had had a nightmare. It must have been because she had met Qin Chong and the two Qin children today, and under the psychological effect, she had brought the state of mind of her past life into reality.

Her knees should be fine. The pain was just an illusion.

She shook her head. “I’m not going. I’m not going to see a doctor.”

“Then what if something happens…”

“I don’t want to see a doctor,” Lin Shuang cried again.

Jiang Huaizhen quickly reached out to wipe her tears and said softly, “Alright, alright. Shuang’er doesn’t want to see a doctor. We won’t go and see a doctor.”

Hearing her doting tone, Lin Shuang’s tears burst again and streamed down her face.

Jiang Huaizhen lowered her head and kissed her forehead, her eyes, and kissed away her tears, bit by bit. “Is it still hurting a lot?”

“A little better…” Lin Shuang sniffed.

A little better, that meant it still hurt.

The body in her arms was still trembling. Jiang Huaizhen could only comfort her, “Then how about I carry you and walk around the room? Will it be more comfortable if I carry you?”

Lin Shuang said, “Alright.”

Jiang Huaizhen then helped her to the side of the bed, lit the oil lamp, then got out of bed, bent down, and carried her on her back, walking around the room, bit by bit.

Lin Shuang was lying on her back. The three souls and six spirits that had been scared out of her seemed to have finally returned. Her whole body calmed down, and she tilted her head and leaned against her neck, no longer humming and hawing.

Hearing that her movements had quieted down, Jiang Huaizhen’s worried heart finally slowly settled.

Just then, Old Madam Jiang’s voice came from outside the door, “Girl, what’s wrong?”

Only then did Jiang Huaizhen realize that their commotion had been a little loud and had startled the old woman. She quickly said through the door, “Lin Shuang ran into something dirty when she was out today and just had a nightmare. She’s fine now. Grandma, you should go back to sleep.”

Old Madam Jiang hesitated for a moment and said, “I’ll go and burn a few sticks of incense. If she’s still not better tomorrow, we’ll go to the city and see a doctor.”

“I know, Grandma.”

With the sound of footsteps walking in that direction, the sound of a flint being struck soon came. It seemed that she was burning incense and paper outside, and she was also muttering.

Lin Shuang wrapped her arms around Jiang Huaizhen’s neck and, listening to the movement outside, her consciousness finally cleared completely.

“Huaizhen, my legs don’t hurt anymore,” she replied softly.

“They don’t hurt anymore. Then let’s walk a couple more rounds. You can get ready, and you’ll be able to fall asleep when I put you on the bed, okay?”

“Alright,” Lin Shuang replied obediently, closing her eyes and leaning against her.

Jiang Huaizhen carried her for another dozen or so rounds. After hearing the old woman go back to her room, she placed her on the bed, lifted her head, and placed it on the pillow, her movements so gentle as if she would break with a touch.

Lin Shuang took her hand. “You lie down too.”

Jiang Huaizhen lay down beside her as she was told and held her from the side.

“Huaizhen, call me Shuang’er again…”

Jiang Huaizhen took her hand, gave it a light kiss, and called out, “Shuang’er…”

“Whose Shuang’er?” Lin Shuang asked.

“Huaizhen’s Shuang’er,” Jiang Huaizhen said softly.

“Is it Huaizhen’s Shuang’er for a lifetime?”

“Yes. In my past life, this life, and the next, and the next… it will always be Huaizhen’s Shuang’er.”

Lin Shuang’s tears fell again. In her past life, she had dug up her grave and had taken good care of her. She must have also seen her as her Shuang’er. It was she who had failed her. Fortunately, in this life, they still had time.

She turned on her side and went to hug the woman before her.

Jiang Huaizhen hugged her and held her in her arms. “I’m always here. Go to sleep.”

Lin Shuang felt her unprecedented gentleness and was wrapped in the familiar warm aura from her body. She finally relaxed, rested her head on her shoulder, and after a while, she fell asleep again.

And Jiang Huaizhen, listening to her finally steady breathing, her tense body finally relaxed.

She lay on the bed, with her beloved woman in her arms, her eyes fixed on the roof, her eyes hot.

In this life, she had always been obsessed with being cared for, with being needed, and with not being abandoned. But she didn’t expect that someone would be even more afraid of being abandoned by her.

She didn’t know where Lin Shuang’s pain came from. Did she have a past life, or was she like her, having had a strange and bizarre dream?

But none of this was important. No matter what she had experienced in her dreams, in her past life, or in this life, she was just the Shuang’er who loved her with all her heart.

Even if she had really been forced to give up her life and leave her, there must have been a reason.

Jiang Huaizhen thought of her much older appearance in the dream, her broken legs, and her heart ached again.

It was she who had not protected her well in that world.

She lowered her head and kissed the girl in her arms.

In this life, no matter what, I will protect you and will not let you fall into such a lonely and helpless situation again.