SDIWD - Chapter 128
Chapter 128
The dinner Hua Mu made was clearly more exquisite and sumptuous than Bai Zhen's. There was blue crab served two ways, steamed turbot with scallion oil, seaweed stewed in coconut oil, and cassava pasta with mushroom sauce accompanied by a vegetable salad. Bai Zhen had a large appetite, so Hua Mu also baked some breadfruit for her to ensure she had more than enough to eat.
After nightfall, the two of them usually went to bed early. Although they had candles and torches, such lighting wasn't suitable for delicate work, and there was nothing so important that it had to be done at night. It was better to engage in activities that didn't require much eyesight.
Because they had to clear land for a vegetable garden the next day, they didn't fool around for long that night.
They rose early the next morning. After breakfast, they dressed, grabbed a hoe and a sickle, and headed out.
They chose a spot not far from the water source, where both irrigation and drainage would be convenient.
Bai Zhen first marked out the perimeter of the garden, a square plot of roughly twenty square meters. Any smaller and they wouldn't be able to plant much; any larger, and she worried it would be too troublesome for Hua Mu to manage.
After clearing the weeds, tilling the soil, and plowing the land, they still needed to fertilize it.
The soil in a tropical rainforest wasn't actually very fertile. Because of the short life cycles of the plants, the nutrients from decaying flora and fauna were quickly absorbed back into the soil.
Hua Mu had experience growing flowers and herbs, but when it came to fertilizer, she mostly just recognized brands. Now, she really didn't know what to do. Fortunately, Bai Zhen was experienced and quickly solved her problem.
"The oil-seed cakes from when we pressed oil were buried in a pit to ferment. They should be ready to use now. We can mix them with wood ash as a base fertilizer."
Although Hua Mu herself didn't often use natural materials, her best friend Catherine was a complete naturalist who even made her own fertilizer, so she had heard a few things about it.
"I've heard of wood ash, but can oil-seed cakes be used as fertilizer too? Ah… I've also heard that excrement can be…"
"That needs to be composted, and we don't have time for that now. Besides, it smells awful. I think it's best if you, Miss…"
"Yes, yes, I think so too!"
Even if it wasn't someone else's waste, Hua Mu still couldn't accept it. Hard work was fine, dirty work was barely tolerable, but smelly work was just…
"I'll go carry the fertilizer over then. You should rest for a bit, Miss."
"Oh, just go. I know what to do."
The soil still contained some weeds and roots. Hua Mu squatted down, carefully tilling the earth with a small rake. Whenever she encountered an earthworm, she would rebury it. She moved backward in her squatting position and, not paying attention, stepped into a freshly dug hole to the side, her foot instantly twisting.
"Ouch!"
With the rake in her hand, she couldn't react in time and fell flat, getting covered in dirt.
Bai Zhen was just returning with the fertilizer and saw her fall. Horrified, she dropped her load and sprinted over.
Just as Hua Mu was about to sit up, her vision blurred, and her body was suddenly lifted into the air.
"Miss, are you alright?"
The Sentinel was truly as fast as lightning, giving her no time to react.
"How did you get back so quickly?" Hua Mu lifted her foot. She didn't feel any pain, but the shoe, made from the upper of Bai Zhen's boot, now had a hole in the top. When she wiggled her toe, it poked right out. "Hahaha, my shoe just tore."
She found it rather comical, but the Sentinel's eyes were red. She held Hua Mu and walked back without a word.
Hua Mu grew anxious. "Hey, why are we going back? I'm fine. Let's finish the work today so we can go gather some seeds and seedlings tomorrow and get them planted."
"I'll take care of it. You get some rest."
Thinking Bai Zhen didn't believe her, Hua Mu twisted her ankle to prove her point. "I'm really fine, see? It's not bruised or swollen."
But this time, Bai Zhen wouldn't listen to anything. She silently carried her back to the house. She didn't put Hua Mu down, but held her close as she leaned against the headboard, patting her shoulder gently and kissing her forehead soothingly, as if she had suffered some terrible injustice.
Hua Mu gradually sensed that something was wrong with her. "Bai Zhen, what's the matter?" she asked cautiously.
Bai Zhen didn't know what was wrong with her either. Seeing Hua Mu fall, seeing her completely unconcerned about being covered in dirt, seeing her laugh at a torn shoe—it all made her heart ache with sorrow.
In her eyes, Hua Mu had always been that pure and lovely little girl, the elegant and noble Young Lady, a cherished child of fortune, the moon around which all stars revolved.
If she could, she would rather Hua Mu never know the hardships of the world.
Enduring hardship was certainly a fine quality, but as the crown princess, why did she have to experience such things?
She was willing to hold her high forever, to let her walk on clouds and be draped in iridescent light, never to fall into the mortal world.
"Miss…"
Oh my, her voice was trembling. It was no big deal, just a torn shoe.
"It's alright, we can just patch it up. And I have another pair. At worst, I can wear them like Crocs. Those are very fashionable, and they're more comfortable in the heat."
"Mmm…"
Although the Sentinel agreed, her actions didn't change in the slightest. Like a mother leopard protecting her cub, she held Hua Mu in her arms, kissing and nuzzling her.
Isn't this a bit too clingy?
Hua Mu's heart ached with a tender softness, and she found herself growing sentimental as well.
"I'm fine, Bai Zhen. Don't be sad."
She stroked Bai Zhen's cheeks and ears, touching the warm corners of her eyes, trying to soothe her guilt and heartache.
"Miss…"
Hua Mu felt helpless. She decided to let Bai Zhen do as she pleased, lying limply in her arms like a log.
"Alright, I've rested enough now, haven't I?"
The Sentinel got her way and, emboldened, pushed her luck. She kicked off her shoes, carried Hua Mu onto the bed, and held her, her hands roaming everywhere.
Hua Mu was getting turned on by her touch, but the other woman's demeanor wasn't the least bit lewd or erotic, leaving her with no outlet for her arousal. She could only let out a few soft moans now and then.
They stayed nestled together all morning. Waking up early had been for nothing.
"Bai Zhen, isn't it time for lunch?"
They had eaten breakfast early, and as Hua Mu was being held to the point of drowsiness, her stomach began to rumble.
"Mmm."
"Then I'll go…"
"Miss, I'll go."
The Sentinel's tone was resolute. Seeing that she was as skittish as a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring, Hua Mu decided to go along with her for now.
"Alright, you go then."
Bai Zhen took quite a while to cook this time. Hua Mu lay in bed with nothing to do. After her stomach rumbled for the third time, she really couldn't take it anymore and was about to get up to see what was taking so long. But just as she sat up, before her feet even touched the floor, the Sentinel entered with a tray laden with dishes.
It was a feast that could rival their New Year's meal.
"Miss!"
Seeing her about to get out of bed, Bai Zhen quickly set down the tray and rushed over, her face etched with anxiety.
"I was just getting ready to eat."
Without a word, Bai Zhen picked her up. "I'll carry you."
Fine. It wasn't the first time, anyway. She didn't mind being served.
The Sentinel eagerly fed her, bringing food to her lips the moment she swallowed. Hua Mu didn't get a moment's rest until her stomach was completely round.
"Ugh, I'm r-really full!"
This wasn't raising a pig; it was force-feeding a duck.
Still not reassured, Bai Zhen felt her round belly and finally let her be.
"Miss, would you like to take a nap?"
"No, I want to go for a walk to help my digestion."
"Then I'll carry you."
???
If she was being carried, could it still be called a walk for digestion?
Hua Mu felt that Bai Zhen was being excessively anxious, but looking at her moist eyes and the reddish tip of her nose, she couldn't bring herself to say no.
Bai Zhen really must dote on her to the bone, right? To get this worked up over such a small thing. She had a rough idea of the reason for this sudden behavior, and the Sentinel's heartfelt affection filled her with a bittersweet feeling.
There was no harm in humoring her for a little while. Hua Mu quickly compromised.
"Forget it, no walk then. You can rub my stomach for me."
Rubbing her stomach was good. Bai Zhen was more than happy to help her digest her food.
Although Hua Mu's appetite had grown considerably, it was rare for her to be this stuffed. Looking at her little belly, one might think she was pregnant.
Bai Zhen's hands were large, and when she gently placed one on Hua Mu's stomach, it almost covered it completely.
"Mmm…"
Though the Sentinel was strong, she was also very meticulous. Her movements were gentle and her technique skilled, and soon Hua Mu was humming in comfort.
Eat, sleep, sleep, eat, with entertainment in between—who wouldn't want to live such a divine life?
Sigh, this is nice, this is nice, this is… not nice at all!
Hua Mu went along with Bai Zhen, and this went on for half a month. She suddenly realized that she hadn't accomplished a single thing these past days. She had just been clinging to Bai Zhen, being waited on hand and foot. Her waist had gotten thicker, and not even their nightly battles could slim her down!
This was terrifying! If Bai Zhen weren't so honest, she might have thought she was a rival in love trying to fatten her up to make her unattractive!
She had to refuse this woman. Today. Right now. The moment she got out of bed!
"Miss, breakfast is ready."
Bai Zhen carried the breakfast into the room, bringing it right to the bedside, poised to feed her.
Hua Mu shot up, but in her haste, she twisted her still-sore back and let out a yelp, "Ouch!"
"Miss, are you alright?"
Bai Zhen anxiously set down the tray and moved to hold her, but Hua Mu quickly pushed her away.
"Miss?"
"I'm fine!" Hua Mu rubbed her lower back, her confidence wavering slightly. "I'm eating by myself today. After I'm done, I'm going to check on the vegetable garden. It's been half a month, and I still don't even know what it looks like!"
"Miss, don't worry, the garden is doing very well. The scallions this morning were picked from there."
Hua Mu pouted. "What do you mean, 'very well'? It's not well at all! That's my garden, and the scallions are already ready to eat, but I haven't even seen it yet?"
"Then after you finish breakfast, I'll carry you there."
"No carrying, and no feeding! It's been so long, even a broken bone would have healed by now!"
The Sentinel looked at her mournfully, her eyes red.
Hua Mu dreaded seeing this sentimental expression. She patted Bai Zhen's shoulder forcefully and said in a deliberately hearty tone, "Sentinel Bai Zhen, we in the Tower are strong and brave warriors. Why are you acting like such a delicate maiden? My injury is healed—in fact, I was never injured to begin with. Aren't you worrying a little too much?"
Bai Zhen took a deep breath and said, her voice trembling on the verge of tears, "But… Miss, your shoe still isn't fixed."
Good heavens, could this Sentinel be pregnant? Why were her mood swings so intense?
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