Chapter 3

Seeing the child keeping quiet, Willow simply turned around and half squatted down, "Climb up, I'll carry you." A struggle appeared on Jason's face. Willow threatened him, "If you don't come, I will leave. It's midnight, and there might be lonely ghosts wandering around here. Are you sure you want to stay here alone?" As if to echo her words, a gust of wind blew, making all the millet sway, making a whispering noise. In this still night, it seemed particularly creepy. Jason's small body trembled with fear, finally hesitating before laying on Willow's back. "But, what about him?" Hearing the child's shaky voice, Willow glanced at the unconscious man and hooked her mouth, "Don't worry, he won't die!" He won't die but lying bare-chested in the millet field on this cool early summer night, she couldn't guarantee he wouldn't catch a cold, develop a fever, or be covered in mosquito bites. The vile lover of the body's original owner was named Caleb Collin. His appearance was decent, but in the original owner's memory, he was not as handsome as Aiden. The reason why the original owner got involved with him was because Caleb was the son of the production team leader in the Collin family's village next door. His family was very well off, and he himself was a high school student. As for the original owner's looks and figure, they were ranked among the top in miles around. When the original owner flaunted around the village, Caleb had his eyes on her beauty. Later, when the original owner was caught by Aiden mistreating Jason, in her panic and confusion she sought a lifeline and ended up with Caleb. In Original Willow's view, a man of Caleb's stature would definitely not consider marrying her. But she was an available woman he could take advantage of. That's why he arranged to meet her in this sorghum field in the middle of the night, showing his disgusting intentions. Only she, that naive fool, would believe that if Caleb took her body, he would certainly marry her. Willow thought bitterly of this awful beginning and found it hard to resist a sigh. She no longer felt welcome in Nicholson's house. Aiden would be sure to drive her out after returning from the military. Her birth family, even more so, would no longer offered her sanctuary. In the 21st century, it wouldn't have mattered if she had been divorced, she could survive and do well on her own. But this was the 70s! A time where one needed grain stamps to buy grain, meat stamps for meat, and a referral letter to stay at an inn. She feared that she’d be deemed suspicious and arrested before even leaving Five Gates Village. Willow heaved a despairing sigh, she had to figure out a way to stay. In a flurry of hurried movements, she made it back to the Nicholson's house before dawn. The Shen's house was a tea brick-tiled house, facing east to west with four rooms in total. Additionally, there was a main hall and a kitchen. Willow Swan and Aidens room was at the far west. Upon entering the room, a heavy stench of mold and foul odors assaulted their senses. With a strong will, Willow managed to reach the bed and lay down the child she had been carrying. “Go to sleep first. We can deal with everything in the morning," she said. During their journey, she had felt the small head of Jason nodding off on her shoulder, clearly exhausted to the limit. At this moment, she too felt an intense headache and just wanted to rest. Was all this just a dream? Maybe when she woke up, she would return to her old world. The night deepened. In a house filled with the scent of mold and bad odors, Willow slept restlessly, feeling as though her whole body was on fire. Thirst began to claw her throat. She wanted water, she needed to drink! If she couldn't get water, she was going to die of thirst. Groggily, Willow raised her hand, touching her forehead. It seemed she had developed a fever. Just at that moment, a drop of icy liquid slid from her finger down to her nose tip. Then, with the gentlest roll, it slipped between her lips and teeth. So sweet! So refreshing! It was just like the hottest days of summer, when a giant piece of chilled watermelon would make every pore in your body open up. The burning heat and throbbing pain of a parched throat disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye. Willow's eyebrows relaxed, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled into a satisfied smile, and she seemed to have fallen into a fluffy, sweet dream. That is, until... Cock-a-doodle-doo! A rooster’s crow abruptly jolted Willow from her dream. She leapt up from the bed, sitting there perplexed as she gazed around her, unable to distinguish the reality. Until the memories of the previous night came flooding back. So, this was not a dream after all! She really couldn't go back anymore. Willow showed a bitter smile and let out a soft sigh. Just then, a low moan was heard at her ear. Jason's little face was flushed red. His mouth was slightly open, and a painful moan unconsciously escaped his throat. "Jason? Jason, do you have a fever?!"