The flesh cushion beneath her began to move, and Tian Jing, lying on it, found herself suddenly wide awake.
With sleep gone, her mind began to race, delving into the memories of the original host's past life. Now, it seemed, those memories were too far removed from her current relationship with Li Zhengguo to be of any use. As for her ten days with Li Min, there was nothing to learn from there either, and her interactions with Li Mu would surely be different now that she was here.
Therefore, she decided, she could afford to be a bit more casual during her few years at the Li family's. There was nothing she truly needed to be cautious about, so why trouble herself?
The steady movement of the back, the powerful strides – something felt amiss. That's right, it was *too* steady. "Li Zhengguo."
The back beneath her stiffened. "Call me Zhengguo, or Zhengguo Ge."
"I'm not used to calling people 'Ge'."
"Then call me Zhengguo."
Tian Jing felt the vibration of his voice through his back. "Zhengguo, your leg?"
Li Zhengguo's back stiffened further. "It's a pretense. My mother and sister don't know."
He thought to himself: I've only told you. You're the one I can trust, right? After all, everything is different this time.
"Oh," Tian Jing patted the back beneath her. "It's too hard, not good for sleeping."
His back relaxed. "Aren't you angry? Don't you have any questions for me?"
"No," Tian Jing relaxed her body, comfortably lying on the flesh cushion. "Everyone has their secrets. I hate prying, so in the future, don't pry into my affairs either. Let's give each other personal space, alright?"
No! Li Zhengguo wanted to refuse outright, but he worried about ruining the hard-won peace they had achieved. "Alright."
Her agreement was swift, and Tian Jing found it pleasant. She wanted to discuss her plans with him, but thinking of his leg and how he'd concealed it even from his family, she figured he must have secrets.
Still, some things needed to be said in advance. "Zhengguo, I'm only 18."
"Mm, I know."
"I agreed to the exchange marriage to leave the Tian family."
"Mm, I know."
"Don't interrupt," Tian Jing patted his back, which tensed slightly again. "In a few more years, I plan to leave here. So, I think it's necessary to make things clear with you beforehand."
"You're already 25, and now you've reached the point of an exchange marriage, which means finding a wife is too difficult for you. But I won't be staying here long-term. If you meet a woman who suits you, actively pursue her. I won't have any objections and can even help you financially."
"If you don't meet anyone, I'll leave you some money when I go, so you and your sister won't feel like you've lost out on this exchange marriage."
His body stiffened so much he could barely move his legs at her words. "Tiantian, wherever you go, I will follow."
Is this his way of saying he can't let go? Could it be that Li Zhengguo from her past life fell for the original host at first sight, which is why he indulged her rampant behavior at the Li family's?
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. What should she do? She wasn't the original host. "Put me down. I'll walk myself."
"No!" Li Zhengguo continued walking forward. This time, he would never let go. "There are still more than ten li to go. You'll arrive after a nap."
This was a stubborn ox. It seemed she needed to state her position clearly. "Li Zhengguo."
"Call me Zhengguo."
Heh, damn it all. You've already fallen for this body at first sight and are subtly trying to manipulate me?
"I'm sorry, I don't like calling people that. After all, we're strangers. Even after calling you a few times, it felt awkward. How about I call you Comrade Li?"
"That's acceptable." Comrade, who shares the same ideals. He liked that.
"Comrade Li, I don't like being forced. At the same time, I want to be serious and state my attitude: agreeing to the exchange marriage was the most convenient and quickest way for me to leave the Tian family. I won't be staying here for long."
"Whether you follow me or not is your freedom, and whether I accept you is my freedom. So, don't try to force me into submission with strong-arm tactics, and don't think of using this exchange marriage to tie me down. My life is mine to control."
A long silence followed, then a low voice finally emerged. "Alright, I'll listen to you."
The ambiguous answer left Tian Jing feeling helpless. She closed her eyes, deciding to let things take their course. If all else failed, she could resort to force.
However, having someone willing to do her bidding was good. At least things at the Li family's would be easier. She would likely need to rely on him many times in the future, so she wouldn't hesitate to use him.
The thick-skinned Tian Jing accepted Li Zhengguo's indulgence, born from his first-sight infatuation with this body. Besides, this body had been hers for a few days now. He was infatuated with her body; she wouldn't feel guilty.
After convincing herself, sleepiness crept back in. Tian Jing, sinking into slumber, failed to notice that the back beneath her had become slightly flatter, the rocking motion almost imperceptible.
And beneath her, two warm hands, fingers interlaced, held her body so it wouldn't slide down even an inch.
Li Zhengguo, secretly performing this small gesture, showed nothing on his face, but the tips of his ears were burning red.
Tian Jing woke up amidst the jolting. Feeling the uneven motion beneath her, she hadn't even figured out why he had suddenly become lame again when she heard laughter.
"Zhengguo, you went out and came back with a big girl? Not bad."
"Mm, she's my wife."
Tian Jing heard the muffled voice from the flesh cushion beneath her.
Those words seemed to stir up a thousand ripples.
The chatter around them intensified, and Tian Jing clearly heard two voices.
"This cripple Li actually found a wife?" Woman A's voice.
"Isn't it? If this girl is truly Zhengguo's wife, then the Li family must have accumulated great virtue over generations. Look how pretty this girl is!" Woman B's voice.
"She is quite pretty, but I wonder if she can hold onto him?" Woman A's voice.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Woman B's voice.
Tian Jing immediately felt many eyes on her face. The voices of those two women had been loud, and their praise was certainly not genuine.
Following that, Tian Jing felt another gaze, filled with malice and disgust, locked onto her face. Then, a piercing male voice rang out.
"Li the cripple, you're not being fair. We advocate for freedom in relationships and autonomy in marriage nowadays. Selling marriages is unacceptable."
"Er Laizi, which eye of yours saw that this is a sale marriage? And which eye of yours saw that this isn't free love, a voluntary marriage?"
The muffled voice beneath her seemed to carry a sense of urgency and nervousness.
"I saw it with both my eyes. This young girl is so pretty, and she looks only fifteen or sixteen years old, still underage, isn't she? If this isn't coercion, then what is?"
The muffled voice didn't respond again.
Tian Jing secretly sighed. Was Li Zhengguo too concerned about this body to say anything?
She kept her eyes closed. She detested the gossip from those people, but she wasn't a pushover to be manipulated by anyone. More than that, she hated the gaze that lingered on her face and body.
Er Laizi, she thought, had a significant connection with the original host.
"Comrade Li Zhengguo, at what age does one become an adult?"