SDIWD - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
A simple toilet had been set up on the beach behind the reef, just high enough that the incoming waves couldn't flood it. A shallow, damp pit was dug in the sand, with two stones thoughtfully placed on either side to stand on.
It offered some cover, and the natural sound of the tide would mask any embarrassing noises. Under the circumstances, Hua Mu was reasonably satisfied.
Bai Zhen set her down and waited for instructions.
"Back up twenty meters—no, thirty—and don't come any closer."
Bai Zhen obediently retreated.
"Turn around. Don't look this way."
Bai Zhen immediately turned around.
Seeing her standing properly, Hua Mu called out again in a very soft voice.
"Bai Zhen."
Suspecting nothing, Bai Zhen asked loudly, "What are your orders, Miss?"
She could hear even when I spoke so softly! Sentinels were infuriating!
"Cover your ears!"
Bai Zhen wanted to tell Hua Mu that she could hear even with her ears covered. She hesitated for a moment, then, in a rare display of tact, chose to keep her mouth shut and obey the order.
With Bai Zhen taken care of, Hua Mu turned around, her worries returning. This was an unavoidable hurdle. For her, the psychological challenge of relieving herself in such an uncivilized manner was the hardest part.
The heavy leather boots were a bit cumbersome. She carefully stepped onto the stones but remained frozen for a long time, unable to squat down. In broad daylight, she, a noble lady, had to use the toilet with her bare bottom in the wilderness. This was simply… simply a humiliation.
With Bai Zhen by her side, Hua Mu hadn't felt a great sense of urgency since their misfortune. She had also deliberately distracted herself with wandering thoughts, successfully concealing the sorrow and panic suppressed within her heart.
But at this moment, her nose tingled, and she couldn't help but shed tears as a sense of grievance spread endlessly through her heart.
Not long ago, she had just celebrated her eighteenth birthday when her father began looking for potential fiancés for her, completely disregarding her opinion. Even her aunt, who had always doted on her, didn't take her side, which angered her so much that she ran away from home for three months.
But during those three months, no one came looking for her. Her father just assumed she was having a tantrum and would return once she cooled down. Later, they came for her because she was required to attend a diplomatic banquet. It was while fleeing their pursuit that she ended up stranded on this deserted island.
The Shipwreck Anomaly Zone. Even though she had never been here, its name was infamous. It was one of the most mysterious regions on their planet, a place even satellites couldn't photograph. Numerous ships and planes had crashed here. The militaries of various nations had classified all information about it, and only a few small magazines had published feature articles supposedly based on the accounts of survivors.
These features only added to the mystique of the Shipwreck Anomaly Zone.
Now she was here, where her calls to heaven and earth went unanswered. She might never be able to go back. If she was lucky, she might live for a few years like a savage. If she was unlucky, she might be eaten by some monster in a few days.
And even if she could survive, what joy would there be in such a life? With only an unromantic block of wood by her side, she would probably go mad before long.
Hua Mu thought sorrowfully for a while, then, while shedding tears, she lifted her skirt and gracefully squatted down. She tried her best to maintain some semblance of elegance, but her dress was too long and flowing, and Bai Zhen's jacket was too big for her. She had to use one hand to hold the hem of her dress and the jacket together in her arms.
Noble young ladies these days considered thinness beautiful. To present a dignified image of the royal family on television, Hua Mu had always been very careful about managing her figure.
The eighteen-year-old girl in the bloom of youth had a well-proportioned frame, long, slender legs, and skin so delicate it looked like it could be broken by a puff of air. Her figure was just a little frail.
With her other hand, she struggled to pull down her pure white silk underwear. She bent her legs for a long time before finally finding a suitable position.
And then…
After that, nothing else mattered to her! She had overcome the biggest hurdle in her life so far! She had conquered a difficult challenge she had never even imagined!
Hua Mu's only regret was that such an accomplishment could never become a topic for her to boast about, even if she made it back.
She used the handkerchief Bai Zhen had given her, then hastily straightened her clothes and destroyed the evidence.
Bai Zhen heard the movement but didn't dare turn around. Only when Hua Mu walked up and tapped her did she cautiously lower her hands.
"Miss…"
She looked at Hua Mu eagerly, a silent plea in her eyes.
"What is it? Let's go back."
Hua Mu washed her hands in the seawater. They were still a bit wet, making a slapping sound as she patted Bai Zhen.
"Um, the handkerchief…"
Hua Mu's hand stopped mid-pat, and she stared at her in shock.
"You- you're planning to take it back? You pervert!"
Bai Zhen shrank back. "But it's the only one I have…"
Hua Mu stood on her tiptoes and smacked her on the head. "How can you ask for something back after it's been used to wipe… that! I threw it away, so don't even think about it!"
While enduring the tickle-like corporal punishment, Bai Zhen quickly shifted her gaze to the reef where Hua Mu had just been.
It was so obvious what she was thinking!
Hua Mu was practically mad with anger. "Don't look, don't think about it, and don't you dare go pick it up. You pervert!"
Being called a pervert by the Young Lady did hurt Bai Zhen's feelings, but she really was reluctant to part with that handkerchief. She didn't mind how the Young Lady used it, but throwing it away was such a waste—after all, she had treasured it for many years.
"Carry me back. I'm going to sleep!"
Hua Mu was exhausted, sleepy, and furious. In the past, she had only thought this Sentinel was dull and uninteresting. Now she knew she was actually a closet pervert!
A lone Guide and a lone Sentinel on a deserted island… this was too dangerous!
"Yes…"
The Sentinel didn't dare disobey her. She only cast one more reluctant glance before obediently carrying Hua Mu back.
Having temporarily solved one major problem, exhaustion began to torment Hua Mu. She desperately wanted to sleep, but as a "princess and the pea," the harsh sleeping conditions made it impossible for her to fall asleep.
No bath, no bed, and the firelight was glaring.
This was completely different from the leisurely camping trips of her past. She was about to be driven mad by the sand and stones on the ground and the sound of the tide.
The Sentinel, on the other hand, seemed quite at ease. Even after taking off her trousers for Hua Mu to lie on, she sat there leisurely with her eyes closed, resting.
So shameless.
Hua Mu tossed and turned, unable to sleep. When she opened her eyes and saw Bai Zhen in just her underwear, she gritted her teeth in frustration.
Textbooks said Sentinels had incredibly sharp senses. So why was it that Bai Zhen seemed to fear neither cold nor heat, neither pain nor discomfort?
Was it because she had a lot of muscle?
Bai Zhen's build was by no means burly. Her muscle definition was clear, giving her a lean and agile appearance. While her features weren't as soft as a typical girl's, they lacked any trace of masculine roughness. Putting aside her stern, overly rigid, and stoically indifferent expression, Bai Zhen's deep-set features were actually quite feminine. If she were to dress up a bit, she might even be a refined beauty.
What a pity.
Looking at Bai Zhen's face, pale in the firelight, Hua Mu felt a pang of regret. Why did someone like her have to be a Sentinel? For Hua Mu, Sentinels were a source of psychological trauma.
Bai Zhen wasn't asleep. In a situation like this, she needed to maintain a high level of alertness to deal with any sudden developments. As if sensing Hua Mu's gaze, she opened her eyes and looked at the Young Lady with a questioning expression, waiting for an order.
Bai Zhen had extremely rare black hair and black eyes. Unlike most people, her irises weren't brown or hazel, but a true, pitch black. Hua Mu had rarely looked directly into her eyes before. Only now did she realize that those pitch-black pupils emitted a faint green glow in the night.
Just like a real wolf.
Startled, Hua Mu quickly averted her gaze, but then felt she was losing face and didn't know what to say.
Bai Zhen asked with some concern, "Miss, can't you sleep? Is the ground uncomfortable?"
Of course it was very uncomfortable!
Hua Mu snapped, "Why don't you try lying on it? My skin is about to be rubbed raw."
Bai Zhen looked troubled, not knowing what to do.
Seeing her frowning in silence, Hua Mu felt her own words were pointless. What could she do about it? Lie down and be a human cushion for her?
Even if she were willing, I wouldn't be!
"Forget it. I'm sleeping!"
Hua Mu wrapped the clothes around herself, turned over, and found a relatively more comfortable position to lie in. If she couldn't sleep, she might as well think carefully about their current situation.
Bai Zhen's loyalty shouldn't be a problem for now. At present, she could rely on her. As for what would happen after the Little White Pills ran out… they would cross that bridge when they came to it. She remembered that, under normal circumstances, one Little White Pill could last from half a month to a month. A well-trained Sentinel could hold out for even longer.
According to Bai Zhen, they had to plan in terms of months, so the most urgent task was to figure out how to survive on the island. First was drinking water, which could be temporarily replaced by coconut milk. Second was food. Judging by Bai Zhen's skills, catching fish wouldn't be a problem.
So, what was the next thing to solve?
How about building a toilet?
No, no, no, a bed would be better.
At this point, Hua Mu's thoughts were muddled with exhaustion. After agonizing over whether the first thing to do when stranded on a deserted island was to build a more dignified toilet or a more comfortable bed, she finally fell into a deep sleep.
The sun rose early from the horizon, and the first morning after they were stranded arrived.
The azure sea shimmered with golden light under the morning sun. The thick fog over the water gradually dissipated, leaving only dewdrops on the plants.
Hua Mu was awakened by the sound of the tide and seabirds. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was this sunrise scene. If not for her current circumstances, she would surely have exclaimed in admiration, or perhaps even painted a picture.
Bai Zhen was already up and had made her breakfast with coconuts and fresh shellfish, which even included a few crabs.
Bizarre dreams and the uncomfortable sleeping environment left Hua Mu with an aching back, but hunger still drove her to finish the all-natural breakfast as quickly as possible.
It seemed a bit more palatable than last night's meal.
Neither of them looked very presentable. Hua Mu, who had originally been dressed so glamorously, looked especially wretched. But no matter how wretched they looked, nothing was more urgent than survival. After some preparation, the two finally began to head inland.
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