Lin Qinghuan only slowly lifted herself up when she could no longer hear footsteps.

It was terrifying! Lin Qinghuan thought she had encountered bad people or some kind of ghost. It was a close call, but thankfully, it was a false alarm.

Lin Qinghuan stood up, picked up the bag, and walked cautiously toward home.

As Lin Qinghuan entered the village and gazed at the dim lights, her anxious heart gradually calmed down.

"Lin Qinghuan." A familiar voice rang out from the shadows.

Lin Qinghuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw Qin Zhen walking towards her from the darkness.

"Qin Zhen," Lin Qinghuan called out.

Qin Zhen walked over to Lin Qinghuan's side, looked at her disheveled appearance, and asked with concern, "Why are you so late coming home?"

Lin Qinghuan's eyes reddened. This was the first person to care about her since she came into this world.

Lin Qinghuan said, "I was picking wild ginseng on the mountain and didn't pay attention to the time."

Qin Zhen heard Lin Qinghuan's hoarse voice, probably from fear and crying, and his heart couldn't help but ache slightly.

Qin Zhen said softly, "Lin Qinghuan, don't come back like that next time, it's not safe."

Hearing Qin Zhen's concerned words, Lin Qinghuan's pent-up sadness and fear suddenly erupted. Tears welled up in her eyes, and in a blink, they streamed down her cheeks.

Hearing Lin Qinghuan's sobs, Qin Zhen hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Did someone bully you?"

Lin Qinghuan sobbed as she said, "No one bullied me. I came back from the mountain alone in the dark, and I was scared."

Qin Zhen sighed and said, "Don't cry. Since you're so timid, don't come home so late next time. Besides, what if a young lady like you encounters bad people?"

Lin Qinghuan said softly, "I will definitely pay attention to the time next time and go home earlier."

Qin Zhen frowned and asked, "Didn't anyone from your family come out to look for you?"

Lin Qinghuan replied softly, "My family doesn't like me. They treat me like a servant. They don't care whether I live or die."

Qin Zhen felt a tightness in her chest, and with anger on her face, she said, "If they don't like you, you shouldn't like them either."

Lin Qinghuan looked at Qin Zhen in surprise, not expecting him to say such a thing. However, Lin Qinghuan felt that he was right. If the Lin family didn't like her, why should she try to please them?

Qin Zhen looked at Lin Qinghuan, her bright, star-like eyes shining like stars in the sky.

"I'll take you back," Qin Zhen said.

Lin Qinghuan nodded and said softly, "Thank you, Qin Zhen."

Qin Zhen said, "No need to thank me, it was just a small favor."

Lin Qinghuan glanced at Qin Zhen gratefully. She and Qin Zhen had only met by chance, but Qin Zhen cared about her so much, which touched Lin Qinghuan deeply. A warm feeling welled up in her heart.

Lin Qinghuan and Qin Zhen walked side by side. Qin Zhen noticed that Lin Qinghuan was limping and hurriedly asked, "Qinghuan, what's wrong with your foot?"

Lin Qinghuan smiled indifferently and said, "It was too dark, I couldn't see the road clearly, so I fell twice and scraped my knees."

A wave of bitterness washed over Qin Zhen. He wanted to check Lin Qinghuan's wounds, but since men and women shouldn't touch each other, he had to give up.

"Qinghuan, I'll take you to the village's barefoot doctor so he can check your wound. Otherwise, it'll be troublesome if it gets infected."

Lin Qinghuan smiled and said, "I know medicine myself, and wild ginseng happens to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. When I get home, I'll crush the wild ginseng and apply it to the wound."

Qin Zhen looked at Lin Qinghuan in surprise and asked, "You know medicine?"

Lin Qinghuan humbly replied, "I read medical books in my spare time, so I know a little bit about medicine. I can treat some minor illnesses and pains."

Qin Zhen said with relief, "Qinghuan, it's good that you have some medical skills. You don't have to worry about having no one to take care of you when you're sick."

Lin Qinghuan gave a soft "hmm" and said, "That's what I think too. If no one cares or loves me, I'll love myself. If I get sick, I can dig up some herbs to take home and brew medicine myself. If I fall and hurt myself, I can get up and find herbs to apply myself."

Qin Zhen gently patted Lin Qinghuan's head and said, "You are very strong."

Lin Qinghuan nodded and said, "I want to live well. I must be strong. You don't need to pity me. I don't need anyone's pity."

Qin Zhen sighed, "Qing Huan, I don't pity you."

Qin Zhen just felt sorry for Lin Qinghuan.

Qin Zhen, recalling Lin Qinghuan's family situation, asked curiously, "Qinghuan, why do your family members like Lin Piaoxue so much, yet treat you so cruelly?"