Chapter 2: Punish You or Punish Me

She died young from overwork staying up late, with no time to mourn her short life that ended at twenty, and the moment she opened her eyes she discovered she had transmigrated and been reborn.

... Well, at least this could be considered fortunate.

Lin Manzhi thought optimistically, especially after just discovering that her consciousness now contained an extra space.

Great!

The little farm she had been playing in the game before her death also came over with her.

Upon arriving in this book world, her panicked and uneasy heart instantly calmed.

Lin Manzhi's thoughts moved, not caring about the dangerous Mo Lie still beside her, she eagerly entered her own farm.

Lin Manzhi had a feeling that the things she planted in her space farm could be taken and used in reality.

In a beastfolk world where most people lack clothing and food, this is a huge safeguard, very important.

The girl sitting on the bed had vacant eyes, staring fixedly at a point in the void like a statue; in fact, Lin Manzhi found herself in a rural field.

The first thing she did after opening her eyes was to look around.

What met her eyes was a vast expanse of farmland; not far off stood a green mountain, and a small stream wound down from its base, flowing through the hundred mu of good farmland.

South of the mountain lay a vast green plain, her arranged pasture; to the north were rolling low hills, the orchard and various tree‑planting zones.

Turning back, behind her stood a small white‑wall, gray‑tile building; its room layout and furnishings were all things she had crafted in the game by spending much time and effort chopping wood, and inside everything was available, extremely comfortable.

This farm simulates a realistic countryside scene, allowing one to build a homestead, plant crops and earn money; the game's produce can be sold at the little shop, and the currency earned can be spent in the mall to buy needed items.

It awakened the innate love for farming buried in her bones; she, who loved farming, had played for five years and had only just reached the highest level.

But!

Now what met her eyes was a expanse of gray‑white; the area could not be entered, only a patch of fresh yellow soil under her feet was usable, and looking up she saw the pumpkins she had planted were gone, the little shop's balance was 10.

After five years of hard work, she saw the fruits of her labor reduced to zero.

Lin Manzhi felt like a bolt from the blue.

Damn it, that was the realm I had painstakingly built day and night, my second home, and now everything is—gone!

She clutched her chest, feeling her heart bleed; everything would have to start from scratch, she was a veteran player without a newcomer's gift pack.

Though heartbroken, Lin Manzhi was only struck down for a moment before she quickly pulled herself together.

No matter what, the crops planted on this land yield in one day what would take ten elsewhere, and after ten harvests they can still be upgraded; let's take it slow.

Lin Manzhi skillfully bought a pack of lettuce seeds in the mall, just enough to fill a plot, and it exactly exhausted all her balance.

Fortunately, lettuce grows in just over twenty days, and harvesting it in the space takes only a little over two days.

She forced herself to finish planting, then Lin Manzhi returned to reality, utterly exhausted, collapsing onto the bed, and turning her head she met a handsome face.

Hiss!

Lin Manzhi sucked in a breath of cold air, frowning as she recalled that the original owner's final plot had this handsome young man killing her, and now the two of them lay on the same bed……

Never mind, never mind.

Whatever it is, we can talk about it after I wake up tomorrow.

Her mind was so fatigued she could barely stay awake; she closed her eyes and instantly fell asleep.

……

Mo Lie had already awakened.

A unfamiliar female scent appeared at the tip of his nose, the fresh rain‑after grass aroma was completely non‑aggressive and even eased the intense pain in his body somewhat.

Female pheromone?

Yet his body instinctively tensed all over, as if encountering a ferocious herd of exotic beasts, raising his alertness to the utmost.

Since there was no chance of improvement, he must have been completely abandoned by his family and forcibly thrown to a certain female to be married to her.

Mo Lie's heart jolted, and he opened his eyes silently.

He saw his Wife Master's small face half‑buried in the blanket, her long black curls spread behind her head, brows tightly knit, breathing a little rapid as if she were still angry even in her sleep.

It was as if a fierce beast were staring at him; a chill ran over his body, and the sleeping Lin Manzhi, sensing something, turned over to lie flat, then blinked open her eyes in a daze.

She turned her head with sleepy gaze, their eyes met, and those deep‑sea‑blue irises narrowed slightly.

Lin Manzhi stared at those handsome eyes, entranced, finding them even more beautiful than sapphires.

The young man then lowered his lashes, long eyelashes casting a shadow on his pale skin, hiding the expression in his eyes.

Mo Lie then pushed himself up from the bed, went to Lin Manzhi's side, and knelt: "Wife Master, please forgive me for getting up late; I didn't prepare breakfast for you."

He wore a black robe with a matching belt that cinched his waist tightly, making him look strong and vigorous; despite his downcast gaze and kneeling posture, his spine was straight and powerful, showing no sign of weakness or pain.

It seemed like the beast husband I had snatched away.

Um……

He is also the major villain from the original story; Mo Lie fell from a height into desperation, then encountered a toxic female, turning him mad like a violent, blood‑thirsty beast.

Lin Manzhi recalled her miserable start after transmigrating into the book, took a few deep breaths, and forced herself to accept that she would soon have to face the bond with the transmigrated major villain.

Her gaze remained fixed on Mo Lie, and Mo Lie felt a chill in his heart.

The other party was forced to accept a worthless beast husband, so of course she would resent him, and she knew exactly what scolding or beating she would face later.

It was merely the Wife Master's punishment to vent her anger.

Mo Lie's fingertips tensed slightly, stray black hairs fell onto his forehead, covering those eyes filled with dead‑still blue.

Although he is now in such a wretched state, enduring the Wife Master's punishment is not impossible.

Anyway, not being favored by the Wife Master always ends like this.

Mo Lie did not lift his gaze, slowly exhaled, lowered his eyes to dispel the coldness within, then with one hand removed his black upper garment, revealing his sturdy upper body, and proceeded to kneel, bowing his head to the ground.

His voice remained cold and calm: "It is Mo Lie who has displeased the Wife Master; I accept whatever punishment she decrees."

Lin Manzhi blinked blankly: "What? Punishment?"

Mo Lie's expression unchanged, his voice flat: "Do you want me to bring you a knife or a staff?"

After he finished saying that, he went straight to Lin Manzhi's side on his knees, took a few steps, stretched his hand forward without changing expression, pulled out an iron whip wrapped with thorns from the bedside next to her, and with both hands presented it to the Wife Master.

Lin Manzhi wasn't joking; her whole body instantly broke out in gooseflesh from head to toe.

She came from modern times; her favorite pastime is reading novels and playing games—who would enjoy playing something abusive?

This iron whip—how can it be used on an injured person?

I've never gotten into a fight with anyone in modern times; you bring up this demand—is this punishing you or punishing me?

Lin Manzhi sprang up from the bed, her eyes filled with panic.

She sat stiffly on the bed, not daring to reach out to take it; Mo Lie lowered his gaze, also not daring to move; they faced each other, one seated, one kneeling.