The noise of concern from Mother Xie outside and the man’s suppressed, heavy breathing beside her mixed together—one inside, one outside. Caught between them, Lin Zhixia felt the last thread of her rationality snap completely.

“Thump. Thump.”

Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it might burst out of her chest.

She didn’t know how much time had passed. By the end, she felt completely drenched in sweat, numb and unable to feel anything properly.

The man finally stopped.

He pulled her into his arms gently, his eyes filled with a satisfied, almost indulgent expression. His usual cold aura had been replaced by a sense of pleasure.

Lin Zhixia felt both angry and embarrassed, but at that point she no longer even had the strength to be angry.

Even though she hadn’t done any physical exertion, she felt as if she had just finished a long, exhausting run. Her whole body was drained, her consciousness hazy, her eyelids barely able to stay open.

She forced herself to stay awake for a moment, but her mind grew more and more unfocused until she eventually drifted off completely.

She had no memory of what happened afterward. It all felt like floating in clouds—neither fully up nor down.

She slept until noon the next day before finally waking up, exhausted.

Subconsciously, she lifted her hand to rub her eyes, but the moment she moved, her right arm felt weak and sore.

“Hiss…”

She couldn’t help but draw in a breath from the discomfort.

“You’re awake?”

A low, gentle voice came from beside her.

Lin Zhixia turned her head. Xie Jingheng was sitting against the bed, wearing a white shirt buttoned all the way to the top.

He was reading a book, his entire presence calm and restrained, exuding a cold, abstinent aura. His face looked so perfect it seemed almost unreal.

After a few seconds of daze, she suddenly remembered what happened last night and immediately snapped awake, glaring at him.

Where was the abstinent man? He was clearly a wolf in sheep’s clothing!

Xie Jingheng noticed the anger in her eyes and felt an itch in his heart, as if a kitten had just scratched him lightly. A faint smile appeared in his eyes.

Afraid she would notice and get even angrier, he cleared his throat and asked,

“Anywhere feeling uncomfortable?”

Hearing that only made her even more furious.

Her hands were so sore she could barely move them, and now he was asking?

She gritted her teeth and snapped,

“Where do you think?! I can’t even use my hands properly! They hurt so much when I move them! The skin on my palms feels like it’s going to be rubbed raw!”

“Hmph, why couldn’t you be faster?! Why did it have to take so long?!”

She blurted it out in anger without thinking.

The moment she finished speaking, she realized what she had said—and her face immediately turned red.

“Sorry,” Xie Jingheng admitted obediently.

But being “fast” was impossible. Absolutely impossible. No man would willingly be fast.

And besides—if he had really been fast, would she have been satisfied?

He glanced at her reddened ears, as delicate as ripe cherries. Thinking of the softness he had accidentally touched with his lips last night, like cotton candy, his throat moved slightly.

Taking a deep breath, he looked away and said in a slightly hoarse voice,

“I’ll help you massage it.”

As he spoke, his warm hand took hers and began gently kneading her fingers.

Somehow, his technique actually made her feel much better.

Even the pout on her lips gradually softened.

After lunch, Xie Jingheng and Father Xie went out again to buy necessities for their upcoming relocation to the countryside. Lin Zhixia also didn’t stay idle and followed out shortly after.

Today was the day the black market opened once every five days.

Originally, she had planned to go early in the morning to buy supplies, but she had been delayed until noon…

Because of what happened with Xie Jingheng.

The black market only opened once every five days. If she missed this opportunity, the next time it opened they would already be in the countryside. There would be no more chances.

So even though it was already late and there might not be many goods left, she had no choice but to try her luck.

Before going, she had to disguise herself.

After all, speculation and private trade were strictly controlled at this time, and buyers were also monitored.

After leaving the Xie house, Lin Zhixia found a quiet alley. From her shoulder bag—and using it as cover—she took out a hat and a scarf from her space.

She wrapped her head completely, leaving only her eyes exposed. Not a single strand of hair could be seen.

Even her own mother might not recognize her.

Her caution was not unnecessary.

When she arrived, the alley was already quite, with only five or six people left carrying baskets, occasionally opening a corner of cloth to show their goods to potential buyers.

Lin Zhixia was no exception.

As soon as she entered, a middle-aged woman nearby approached her.

“Sister, do you want eggs? Fresh free-range eggs from home-raised chickens, fed with our own rice bran. Very nutritious.”

Seeing her large pregnant belly, the woman added with a smile,

“You’re so far along. You’ll definitely need eggs after giving birth for postpartum recovery. I can give you a discount.”

Lin Zhixia’s eyes lit up slightly.

Eggs were a scarce commodity in this era, especially rural free-range eggs.

Whether for postpartum recovery or daily nutrition, they were very useful.

Her expression remained calm as she asked,

“How many do you have? And how much?”

“I’ve got about sixty. If you take all of them, I’ll sell them at two cents each,” the woman said after thinking.

“That’s 10 yuan and 5 cents in total. I’ll take them all!” Lin Zhixia replied decisively.

“Sister, don’t haggle with me. You know the price of rural eggs. I’m already giving you a good deal because you’re pregnant.”

Lin Zhixia remained firm and pointed toward the entrance of the alley.

“Look, there are already very few people coming to buy at this time.”

“Even if someone wants eggs, they won’t buy this many at once. If I weren’t pregnant and needed them for postpartum recovery, I wouldn’t spend this much at once either.”

“I sincerely want them. Please sell them to me at this price. If you come again next time, I’ll continue buying from you.”

Seeing the woman’s expression soften but still hesitate, Lin Zhixia delivered her final bargaining move…