Chapter 3: Sheng Zexi, Jumping in Through the Window!

Gu Jianing, who had been sleeping deeply, was suddenly awakened by waves of pain in her stomach.

Sweat beaded on her forehead from the pain. Still a little dazed, she glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall not far away, and suddenly remembered—it was the first day of her period.

""Gu Jianing, are you an idiot? It's your period today, and you actually chose to jump into a river in the middle of winter. No wonder you're infertile, no wonder your stomach hurts."" Gu Jianing muttered to herself, cursing under her breath.

Her period was always very regular, but the first day was always painful. Now, after jumping into the river and getting soaked in cold water, no wonder the pain was so intense.

By the time she struggled to put on a sanitary pad and crawled back into bed, she was so weak she could barely move.

She looked up. The door was closed. Her family, not wanting to disturb her rest, hadn't come in.

What should she do?

""System, do you have any painkillers?""

[Host, your current points are zero. You can't exchange for anything yet. You need to complete the newbie task before the system shop unlocks.]

[Hmm? Host, maybe you won't need painkillers after all.]

Gu Jianing curled up under the covers, clutching her stomach, her face pale as paper.

It hurt. It hurt so much.

With pain like this, there was no way she could bear it without painkillers.

She was in so much pain, she didn't even notice the noise coming from the window.

By the time she realized, the window had already been opened from the outside, and a man agilely jumped in.

""Does your stomach hurt?"" A deep, familiar voice sounded. Gu Jianing looked up to see the man half-squatting by her bed, brows furrowed, eyes full of concern.

That familiar face made Gu Jianing freeze for a moment. The next second, her eyes turned red.

It was Sheng Zexi!

He—how did he get here?

Seeing that Gu Jianing didn't answer, Sheng Zexi assumed her pain was severe. He stood up and took something out of a bag.

Only then did Gu Jianing notice he was carrying things.

The next moment, Sheng Zexi set down a thermos, pulled a chair over to the bedside, and sat down. He stretched out his right hand to her, revealing a white pill in his palm.

""Take this painkiller first, then have some sweet wine eggs.""

In this era, painkillers and other Western medicines were rare. Sheng Zexi had gone through a lot to get this one.

Gu Jianing was stunned. No wonder the system said she didn't need to exchange for painkillers—Sheng Zexi had brought her one.

Her stomach hurt so much she couldn't think straight. She quickly swallowed the pill.

Sheng Zexi opened the thermos. A sweet, boozy aroma wafted out. Maybe because of the brown sugar, the liquid was tinged brown, with a poached egg floating in it, surrounded by red dates and goji berries.

""I bought this from someone near the county hospital. They said it helps relieve girls' pain and nourishes the blood, dispels cold.""

Gu Jianing looked up at him, a little surprised. ""How did you know about my... you know?""

Sheng Zexi lowered his eyes, a little embarrassed. ""When I was staying at your house before, I found out by accident."" Actually, it was because one day Gu Jianing looked unwell and secretly washed her underclothes. He guessed, and for some reason, he remembered the date.

After the matchmaker left today, he had planned to come straight to the Gu house, but then he remembered the date, so he turned around and went to the county to buy these things.

""You probably don't have much strength. Let me feed you."" Sheng Zexi wrapped Gu Jianing in the quilt, propping her up and tucking a pillow behind her back.

As he leaned in, Gu Jianing caught a whiff of the fresh, grassy scent on him. But in the next instant, he pulled away.

Sheng Zexi sat back down, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to Gu Jianing's lips.

Gu Jianing drank it. The temperature was just right—warm but not scalding, sweet and comforting.

Thinking about what Sheng Zexi said about dispelling cold, Gu Jianing realized he must have heard about her jumping into the river today.

But he still came, remembered her period, and brought her painkillers and sweet wine eggs.

Sheng Zexi was actually so good to her. Why hadn't she seen it before?

Thinking of her previous life, Gu Jianing couldn't hold back. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over.

""Sheng Zexi, why are you so good to me?"" The girl pouted, sniffled, and asked in a soft, choked voice.

Her sudden tears left Sheng Zexi at a loss. Hearing her question, he seemed to think of something, and couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.

He curled his lips in a mocking smile. ""What, you don't want me to be good to you? Want that Wen Zhiqing to treat you well instead? Too bad, you jumped into the river and that pretty boy didn't even show up.""

""Gu Jianing, are you really out of your mind? Jumping into a river in the middle of winter for a man—you're like the God of Longevity trying to hang himself, just can't wait to die.""

""I always knew you were dumb, but now I see you're really something else.""

Gu Jianing glared at him, her teary almond eyes flashing with anger. ""If I'm so dumb, why do you still want to see me? Still want to marry me?""

Sheng Zexi choked, tongue running over his back teeth. Why was this girl so infuriating?

After a few seconds, he let out a low, helpless laugh. ""Yeah, I've been bewitched by you.""

Because of his stepmother, Sheng Zexi had always been wary of women. But somehow, after he ended up staying at the Gu house while recovering from an injury, all his attention was drawn to Gu Jianing.

He knew she was spoiled and willful, lazy and not fond of studying—not exactly clever.

But he just couldn't help himself. Not only was he captivated, he actually fell for her.

Why? Sheng Zexi couldn't say.

Maybe it was because, when he was feeling down about missing his mother's memorial, she was the only one who noticed and taught him to fold paper cranes. She said, ""If you write your wish on it and set it afloat on the river, the departed will see it.""

She said, ""Death isn't the end. As long as we remember, the person lives on in our hearts.""

Or maybe it was when she found out it was his birthday, she convinced her mother to make him longevity noodles.

She said, ""I can't make noodles, but my mom's are great. Since you're living with us, we'll celebrate your birthday together. Eat longevity noodles and you'll live a long, healthy life.""

No one knew, after his mother died, he'd never had longevity noodles again.

No one saw how, as he ate them, his eyes reddened and his hands trembled.

Love comes without warning, and once it starts, it goes deep.

He knew she jumped into the river for another man, but he still agreed to the matchmaking, bought things, and came running, clinging to a sliver of hope.

""I'm so good to you, but if you're still thinking about that pretty boy...""

Sheng Zexi started to say, but before he could finish, Gu Jianing cut him off. ""You're right, he's not worth it. I shouldn't have done that for him. So, I've thought it over. I don't want him anymore. I'm willing to give us a try.""

Sheng Zexi froze, feeling like the girl's soft, sweet words in his ear weren't real.

Gu Jianing blinked, her fair little hand reaching out from under the covers to tug gently at his sleeve. ""Don't you want to?""

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