37: Notes from a Paranoid Educated Youth 6

He gritted his teeth fiercely, then suddenly grabbed Wen Ci's shoulders and pushed her away from him.

"Since you're awake, go back to sleep."

His voice was as cold as ice, exceptionally clear in the darkness.

Wen Ci was pushed back, her back hitting the military belt, causing a slight ache. She blinked, her eyes still glistening with tears, looking particularly wronged in the moonlight.

"Captain Zhou..." she called softly, her voice still carrying the soft, sweet quality of someone who had just been crying.

But Zhou Linchuan had already turned his back, his spine, clad only in a single shirt, rigid and straight, like a hard, cold wall.

"Shut up."

He showed no mercy.

Wen Ci stared at his back, secretly biting her lip.

He pushed her so hard.

She rubbed her aching shoulder, a flash of annoyance in her eyes.

She was still too impatient.

She should have continued to pretend to sleep.

If she had pretended to sleep, she might have been able to snuggle a bit longer, letting him get used to her warmth and scent.

But it didn't matter...

Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the corner of the quilt, a cunning curve forming on her lips.

She'd have more experience next time.

She'd have to make her nightmare act more convincing, preferably shaking more violently and shedding more tears.

Let's see if he could still be so heartless as to push her away.

Zhou Linchuan listened to the rustling sounds behind him, a vein throbbing in his temple.

He had, of course, already guessed what she was up to.

That little liar, her acting was terribly clumsy, yet he... he actually almost softened.

He closed his eyes in irritation, but in the darkness, the sensations became even clearer.

Her body temperature when she pressed against him.

The faint sweet scent from her hair.

The damp warmth of her tears soaking his shirt.

...It was maddening.

He was a man.

A man in his prime.

After an experience like that, he hadn't slept well all night.

As soon as dawn broke, Zhou Linchuan was already fully dressed and standing by the stove, starting a fire.

Wen Ci rubbed her eyes and sat up on the kang, a few strands of her disheveled hair sticking up, making her look soft and harmless.

"Captain Zhou, good morning..." Her voice was still thick with sleep, the end of her words drawn out slightly, like a whine.

Zhou Linchuan didn't turn his head, saying coldly, "If you're awake, go fetch water and wash your face."

Wen Ci blinked, her gaze falling on the iron pot on the stove.

A pot of thin porridge, and next to it, two perfectly roasted sweet potatoes.

Her eyes lit up. She immediately threw off the quilt and got off the kang, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, she let out a soft "Hiss."

"What's wrong?" Zhou Linchuan frowned and turned around.

Wen Ci looked up pitifully, "My... my foot seems to have gone numb."

Zhou Linchuan stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly strode over, scooped her up in his arms, and placed her directly on a small stool next to the water vat.

"Don't waste time." His tone was stern, but he casually put the gourd ladle into her hand.

Wen Ci secretly smiled, her lips pursed.

It seemed her "nightmare tactic" last night had some effect after all.

As soon as breakfast was over, the production team's whistle blew.

"All members assemble! Prepare for work!"

Wen Ci's face turned pale.

She also had to go to labor reform today.

The original owner's pampered body, let alone working in the fields, would get winded after just a few steps.

If she really went to work in the fields, who knew how winded she would become.

At that point, she would only be an embarrassment.

Zhou Linchuan glanced at her, then suddenly took a straw hat from the cabinet and placed it on her head.

"Follow me," he said in a low voice, "Don't run off."

Wen Ci's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded, "Okay!"

But before they could leave, Lin Hongying, along with several other female educated youths, blocked the doorway.

"Captain Zhou, the Revolutionary Committee just issued a notice."

Lin Hongying smiled gently, but her eyes, like venomous snakes, fixated on Wen Ci.

Especially when she saw the straw hat on Wen Ci's head, her heart felt even more constricted and uncomfortable.

That was Zhou Linchuan's belonging.

He always hated it when others touched his things.

Why was he so special to Wen Ci?

"Comrade Wen Ci's reform cannot be special. Today, she must go to the farthest Xishan Gully to reclaim land."

Zhou Linchuan's eyes turned cold, "There are wild boars in Xishan Gully."

"That's why she needs good reform, isn't it?" Lin Hongying shoved a shovel into Wen Ci's hand, her fingernails sharply digging into Wen Ci's palm. "Don't you agree, Comrade Wen Ci?"

Wen Ci knew this was the original female lead.

The reincarnated original female lead.

Didn't she say she wanted to stay away from the male lead? Why was she now coming to Zhou Linchuan and showing such hostility towards her?

She was here to help her achieve her wish.

Wen Ci winced in pain, but still looked up and smiled at Zhou Linchuan, "It's okay, I can do it."

As she spoke, she deliberately swung the shovel in her hand, and it "accidentally" slipped, hitting Lin Hongying's foot.

"Ah! I'm sorry!" Wen Ci exclaimed, reaching out to help, but then "tripped" over nothing, falling forward and knocking Lin Hongying to the ground.

Just as she herself was about to fall, Zhou Linchuan grabbed Wen Ci by the collar, pulling her back, and coldly watched Lin Hongying, who was grimacing in pain on the ground.

"Sister Hongying, are you okay?" The other female educated youths quickly rushed to help her up.

Lin Hongying's face was pale, both embarrassed and furious.

"Since Comrade Lin is so enthusiastic, why don't you go to Xishan Gully together?"

Zhou Linchuan was unmoved. He lowered his gaze to the shovel Wen Ci was still holding, then turned to the scorekeeper and said, "Today, Wen Ci and I are a team. Her work points will be recorded under her name."

Under everyone's shocked gaze, he directly shouldered Wen Ci's shovel and pulled her towards Xishan.

Wen Ci jogged to keep up, secretly reaching out and hooking her pinky finger with his, "Captain Zhou, you're so kind..."

Zhou Linchuan shook off her hand, but his ears were a little red, "Shut up, watch your step."

Wen Ci smiled brightly and obediently, following behind him, her voice soft, "Okay, Captain Zhou."

Meanwhile, Lin Hongying, still standing rooted to the spot, was utterly stunned and disbelieving. She stared intently at the retreating figures of Zhou Linchuan and Wen Ci, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms.

"Wen. Ci."

She squeezed the two words through gritted teeth, trembling all over.

Zhou Linchuan had always been a solitary figure, but now, he had a little tail following him.

And he allowed it.

Lin Hongying was furious. Zhou Linchuan should have liked her! Why was he being so good to Wen Ci now?!

That bitch!

She had deliberately bumped into her just now!

Zhou Linchuan clearly saw it, yet he still publicly protected that capitalist young lady!

In her previous life, he clearly hated Wen Ci's delicate ways the most!

The female educated youths next to them exchanged glances, also somewhat disbelieving, "Why is Captain Zhou so good to Wen Ci? Did something happen between them last night?"

"That's right, I just saw Wen Ci come out of Captain Zhou's room, so..."

The group clicked their tongues, not daring to think further, and quickly went to work.

The daytime tasks were heavy, and they wanted to finish early to rest early.