I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 21

Lin Muwan pursed her lips, lowered her head, and avoided the burning gaze across from her. She picked up the small piece of meat. Today’s meat tasted different from usual; the aroma was exceptionally rich.

She had never smelled this kind of scent before.

It wasn’t that the smell was unpleasant—it was fragrant and tempting—but it was slightly pungent, making her want to sneeze.

Under Jiang Zhou’s gaze, she took a small bite. Her mouth instantly felt fiery hot, and in just a moment, her face flushed crimson.

It was so spicy that she couldn’t help but cough.

Jiang Zhou quickly passed the water to her, urging her to take a drink.

Lin Muwan recovered slightly, then lifted her head again. The corners of her eyes were slightly red, her nose was red, and her eyes were brimming with moisture. Compared to when she had been crying earlier, the current Lin Muwan was absolutely adorable.

She also looked a little pitiful.

Jiang Zhou’s heart began to beat like a drum. She cleared her throat: “Are you feeling better?”

She pushed the water in her hand closer to Lin Muwan. “Drink some more.”

Lin Muwan didn’t refuse, picking up the water and drinking the entire cup. Only then did the fiery sensation in her mouth subside a little.

“Alright, we won’t eat this dish. I put a little too much chili in this one. I’ll use less next time,” Jiang Zhou said, moving the spicy stir-fried rabbit to the side. She then picked up a piece of green vegetable and placed it in Lin Muwan’s bowl.

Lin Muwan lowered her head and bit into the green vegetable.

The corners of Jiang Zhou’s mouth curled up. She felt an unprecedented sense of contentment. The person she liked was right in front of her, eating the food she cooked and drinking the water she offered. This feeling was wonderful.

It would be even better if Lin Muwan liked her too.

Since hearing what her cheap mother had said, her entire mindset had changed, especially when facing Lin Muwan. She used to be so careful, afraid of revealing feelings that shouldn’t be there. Now, it was like walking down a long, secluded path that suddenly opened up. That wonderful feeling was beyond words.

Throughout the meal, Jiang Zhou stole glances at Lin Muwan for as long as she ate.

“Wife.”

“Hmm?”

Lin Muwan frowned slightly. Although she felt a bit uncomfortable with Jiang Zhou constantly sneaking glances at her, she wasn’t truly bothered.

She kept feeling that it wasn’t much different from those scoundrels.

However, she didn’t say anything and quietly finished her meal.

“Leave that, don’t move,” Jiang Zhou quickly took the bowl from her hand. “Go feed Zhouzhou; I’ll wash this bowl.”

Lin Muwan pursed her lips. She hadn’t had much of an appetite, but she had forced herself to eat half a bowl of rice in front of Jiang Zhou, and now her stomach felt a wave of discomfort.

She nodded, her eyes meeting Jiang Zhou’s. She watched for a while. Ever since this person arrived, she had taken over all the chores and was attentive to her in every matter.

This period was the most comfortable she had lived since her father’s misfortune.

If she were to mention her mother’s situation to that person now, would she help?

Lin Muwan was still uncertain. She pursed her lips, and her eyes felt a sting of sadness. She and her mother were exiled here by the government. Madam Jiang had spent one thousand taels of silver to buy her.

Where would Jiang Zhou get so much money? Furthermore, even if she had the money, would Jiang Zhou be willing to help her mother?

She suddenly thought of Jiang Zhou secretly hiding money today, and her heart sank further. The fact that Jiang Zhou would act that way for fifty taels proved that she wouldn’t help her.

She bit her lower lip, went to the kitchen, and returned with a small half-bowl of raw meat. When Zhouzhou saw the meat, it happily circled her, continuously making ‘yingying’ sounds.

After about ten days, Zhouzhou had grown significantly from its original palm size. It had also gotten much fatter, round and plump, like a little grey meatball.

Lin Muwan reached out and touched its head. The soft little head rubbed back and forth against her palm.

For a moment, it made her forget many of her worries.

“It seems to have gotten fatter again,” Jiang Zhou said, returning after washing the dishes. Seeing the woman and the fox playing happily, she couldn’t help but feel jealous of Zhouzhou.

She actually had a day where she envied a pet, wishing she was that little fox.

“Mm,” Lin Muwan responded softly, withdrew her hand, and the smile on her face faded, replaced by an inherent chill around her.

She was fine just a moment ago, wasn’t she?

Did I say something wrong?

Jiang Zhou habitually scratched her eyebrows, her mouth opening and closing, but she couldn’t utter a sound for a long time, trying to figure out what to say to ease the atmosphere.

Lin Muwan didn’t give her a chance. After giving the meat to Zhouzhou, she got up to go wash and clean, and after returning, she went straight to bed.

The entire process was so chilly, leaving Jiang Zhou completely bewildered.

She wanted to find something to talk about, but the words were choked back before she could speak.

Jiang Zhou lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, waiting and waiting!

Until a shallow breathing sound reached her ears. After waiting a while longer, Lin Muwan still hadn’t moved closer as she usually did.

What is going on?

She turned her head, sighed softly in her heart, and turned onto her side. Just as she was about to reach out and pull Lin Muwan into her arms, the person beside her suddenly opened her eyes. Their eyes met. In the darkness, illuminated by the silver moonlight, the expression on each other’s faces was clearly visible

Jiang Zhou’s eyes widened, and her embracing posture froze mid-air. She swallowed, tried to pull a smile for a long time, and her mouth opened and closed, but not a single word came out.

What should I do?

I was caught red-handed.

No.

She wasn’t…

Lin Muwan’s entire face was cold.

It’s over, I can’t explain this now.

She deeply regretted leaving the window so wide open. Lin Muwan’s expression at that moment—her face suddenly turning cold, as if she wanted to kill her—was clearly visible right in front of her.

Jiang Zhou felt wronged. She was only trying to hug her to comfort her because she was unhappy.

The way Lin Muwan looked at her made it seem like she was a shameless villain taking advantage of someone.

She wanted to explain.

She didn’t, she wasn’t—

Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, a warm body pressed against her, and a hot breath hit her neck. Jiang Zhou’s body stiffened; she didn’t dare to move.

She let Lin Muwan hold her.

What should I do?

Should I hug her back?

Help! Although she hugged Lin Muwan every night, that was after they were asleep. This was the first time while being awake.

Jiang Zhou felt her heart pounding uncontrollably in her chest, ready to leap out of her throat at any moment.

The air around her was getting thinner and thinner.

I’m going to die!

She calmed herself slightly and said in a hoarse voice, “Wife…”

The only response was the person in her arms hugging tighter. Lin Muwan’s softness pressed tightly against her; the sensation was clearer than the time she was drunk.

Jiang Zhou swallowed, and her breathing grew heavy. Who could resist this? She wasn’t Liu Xiahui.

Jiang Zhou couldn’t resist and hugged her back. She lowered her head, kissing her on the forehead, eyes, nose, and then finally stopping at her lips, beginning to explore and taste them deeply.

The soft texture was incomparable to any delicacy she had ever tasted—sweet, a sweetness that went straight to her heart.

The person in front of her chest trembled slightly, forced to endure, and her hands gripped Jiang Zhou’s back tightly, the strength slowly tightening.

Until a sob reached her ears. Jiang Zhou felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her, and she instantly sobered up.

Lin Muwan lay on her chest, her body trembling, her loose, black hair covering half her face.

The front of her chest was soaked.

She was crying.

Jiang Zhou’s heart tightened, and she inwardly cursed herself for being an animal. “I’m, I’m sorry, I, I, I didn’t…”

Explain what?

That she didn’t mean it?

She clearly just couldn’t control herself. “Don’t cry anymore. I know I was wrong.”

“I’m sorry.”

“As long as you stop crying, I’ll do anything you want.”

“I promise.”

“If it’s really not okay, you can kiss me back.”

“No, no.”

“You can hit me too.”

Jiang Zhou kept soothing her. After a long while, the person in her arms stopped crying and pulled out of the embrace. Her face was hidden by her black hair, and Jiang Zhou couldn’t see her expression, but she was certain Lin Muwan’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment before she quietly turned her back.

“Wife…”

After a long pause, Jiang Zhou pouted, showing a wronged expression, like a pitiful dog.

It really wasn’t that her self-control was poor; it was Lin Muwan’s fatal attraction to her.

It wasn’t that no one had confessed to her before—both men and women had—and there were people who fit her aesthetic criteria, but she felt nothing for anyone, so she had simply stayed single.

But Lin Muwan’s attraction to her was fatal, like a poppy—once addicted, there was no quitting. Especially after realizing the original owner had no feelings for Lin Muwan, the desire to possess her had long been stirring. Lin Muwan’s sudden embrace at night was undoubtedly the fuse that lit the firework.

In that moment, she couldn’t hold back and kissed her.

She regretted it deeply. If she had known, she would have tried to be a Liu Xiahui.

Just when she thought she wouldn’t get a response from Lin Muwan, a soft, faint voice came: “Let’s sleep now. We’ll talk about everything tomorrow.”

This was another heavy blow to Jiang Zhou’s heart.

How could she be so adorable? After shedding her cold exterior, she was simply soft and sweet.

“Oh, okay,” Jiang Zhou replied.

She looked at Lin Muwan’s back, feeling a little disappointed. She pursed her lips and forced herself to close her eyes and hurry to sleep, or she would start overthinking again.

“Hold me while we sleep. I’m a little cold.”

“What?”

Jiang Zhou’s eyes widened in disbelief, thinking she had misheard.

What did she just say?

“Nothing. Go to sleep.”

Wait,

Why is it ‘nothing’ again?

Jiang Zhou gritted her teeth, deciding to take the initiative. She reached out and pulled Lin Muwan, blanket and all, into her embrace, shamelessly saying, “It’s getting colder and colder. It’s warmer if we hug. Don’t worry, I’ll just hold you. I won’t do anything to you.”

After waiting a moment and seeing her not speak, she continued, “I’m so sleepy. I have to wake up early tomorrow. I’m going to sleep first. Good night.”

A ‘good night’ reserved only for lovers.

She said it because the thought came to her, whether Lin Muwan understood or not.

Perhaps she was truly tired after the commotion, and Jiang Zhou soon fell into a daze and drifted off to sleep.

However, she didn’t see that after she fell asleep, Lin Muwan withdrew from her embrace, looking lonely, and sat quietly on the bed for a long time.

Jiang Zhou thought that since Lin Muwan had asked to be held while sleeping last night, their relationship hadn’t exactly progressed by leaps and bounds, but at least there would be some change. Yet, when Lin Muwan woke up the next day, it was as if she had completely forgotten about last night’s events.

“Wife, yesterday…”

“It seems the fodder for the rabbit is running low.”

“Wife…”

Jiang Zhou’s eyes welled up with tears. She bit her lip, looking utterly wronged.

She repeatedly tried to bring it up, but the other person just wouldn’t engage.

“What are you standing here for this early in the morning?” Madam Jiang gave her a disdainful look. She woke up to see her daughter shamelessly clinging to Lin Muwan—a sight too embarrassing to watch. She, as a mother, was blushing for her. Of course, she couldn’t say it outright. Her daughter had finally started behaving better, so she would just pretend to be blind.

“Mom.”

“In a bit, I’m meeting the female butcher from the village head to go up the mountain and dig for wild vegetables. I’m leaving the household chores to you two.”

“Digging for wild vegetables?” Jiang Zhou was confused. Since when did her cheap mother know how to dig for wild vegetables?

As if knowing her question, Madam Jiang glanced at her. “What’s there to be surprised about? She invited me; how could I not go? We’re neighbors in the same village.”

“Oh,” Jiang Zhou nodded, a little confused.

“Alright, I’m heading out now.”

With that, she didn’t give Jiang Zhou another chance to speak. She waved her hand and walked toward the main gate, disappearing from sight in an instant.

Jiang Zhou scratched her head.

Doesn’t she need to bring a basket to dig for wild vegetables?

She looked at Lin Muwan with a bewildered expression, pointing toward Madam Jiang’s retreating back. “Wife, Mom…”

Lin Muwan pursed her lips, took a handful of green grass from the bamboo basket, and dropped it into the rabbit’s den.

“Hey, Wife,” Jiang Zhou tried to grab her hand. As their warmth met, Lin Muwan suddenly pulled her hand back, then realized what she had done, and looked up into Jiang Zhou’s eyes.

That was a purely instinctive reaction. Even though she knew the person in this body was no longer the original person, her fear of her was still deeply etched in her heart. She didn’t intentionally show it normally, but her body would subconsciously react the moment they got close.