Liu Yanyu was not a good person.
At least… that was what everyone in Wu Village believed.
She was fat, arrogant, and loud. She liked to bully others and never cared about their feelings. Every day, she covered her face with heavy, ugly makeup that made her look worse instead of better. Instead of behaving like a proper village girl, she spent her time chasing after men and causing trouble.
She even gathered a small group of idle youths around her. They followed her like a gang, doing whatever she said. Because of this, many villagers avoided her. Some were afraid of her, while others simply hated her.
Behind her back, they called her names.
"Fatty witch."
"No shame."
"Troublemaker."
No one respected her.
The only reason she was still tolerated in the village… was because of her parents.
Her parents had been kind people. They helped the villagers many times when they were alive. Because of this, even though everyone disliked Liu Yanyu, they endured her.
And there were also her sisters.
Liu Muyan and Liu Ruyan.
The two of them were completely different from Liu Yanyu.
They were hardworking, kind, and respected by the villagers. While Liu Yanyu caused trouble outside, they stayed behind to clean up after her mess.
They apologized for her.
They paid for her mistakes.
They protected her… even when she did not deserve it.
---
Back in the room, silence filled the air.
Liu Muyan still held my hands tightly, her eyes red with emotion. Liu Ruyan stood nearby, her sharp gaze fixed on me, as if trying to see through me.
I could feel it clearly, suspicion and disbelief all mixed together.
I did not blame them.
If someone like Liu Yanyu suddenly changed overnight, anyone would find it strange.
Liu Muyan sniffed softly and looked at my face again. "Yanyu… are you feeling alright? Did something happen?"
I paused for a moment before answering.
"I'm fine."
It was a simple answer, but it was enough to make Liu Ruyan frown deeper.
"You're acting strange," she said directly. "Too calm... Way to calm."
I met her gaze without avoiding it.
"Is that a bad thing?"
She did not reply immediately.
Liu Muyan quickly spoke up, trying to ease the tension. "It's not bad! It's good. Very good. I just… I'm just happy you finally changed."
Her voice trembled again, and she tightened her grip on my hands.
I looked at her quietly.
These two sisters…
Even after everything Liu Yanyu had done, they still cared about her.
A strange feeling rose in my chest.
Before I could say anything else, the system's words echoed in my mind again.
I did not have much time.
Soon… those men would arrive and the village chief would die.
My expression turned serious immediately.
I looked at both of them and spoke quickly, "Listen to me. Something urgent is about to happen. Some people are coming… and they will cause harm. We don't have time. You both need to pack all our valuables now."
Both of them froze.
Liu Muyan's grip on my hands tightened slightly, while Liu Ruyan's brows furrowed deeply.
They exchanged a quick look.
"What are you talking about?" Ruyan asked, her voice sharp. "Who is coming? How do you even know this?"
I did not hesitate.
"Just trust me."
My voice was calm, but firm.
"This is not a joke. If we don't prepare now, we will regret it later."
The room fell quiet again.
They both looked at me, searching my face for any sign of doubt or hesitation.
But I did not look away.
After a few seconds, Liu Muyan nodded slowly.
"Alright," she said softly. "We will trust you."
Liu Ruyan hesitated for a moment longer, then let out a small breath.
"…Fine. If something is really wrong, it's better to be prepared."
I felt a small weight lift from my chest.
"Good. Pack only what is important. Food, clothes, money… anything we can carry easily."
They both nodded and quickly turned to start gathering things.
Then I remembered the noise outside.
"What is still going on outside?" I asked.
Liu Ruyan let out a small laugh, shaking her head.
"The wedding just finished. Everyone is still outside drinking and having fun."
She paused slightly before adding, "Including Yan Mo."
I frowned slightly before I turned to Liu Muyan.
"Sister, please help me send them away. The wedding is over. Everyone should leave now."
Liu Muyan looked surprised. "Now? But they just started celebrating…"
"There's no time," I said firmly. "Please."
She hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. I'll try."
Liu Ruyan crossed her arms and looked at me.
"What about your men?" she asked. "Should they leave too?"
'my men?' it seemed like the original host has a gang.
I quickly shook my head.
"No. No, they shouldn't."
She raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
I took a slow breath.
"Because… we might need them."
My eyes darkened slightly.
"If what I said is true… then tonight won't be peaceful."
Liu Muyan immediately turned and rushed outside. Liu Ruyan did not waste time either. She pulled out three bundles and began packing quickly.
She placed jewelry into one, folded clothes into another, and added money and other important items into the last. Her movements were fast and neat, showing she was used to handling things properly.
I watched them for a second, then turned and walked outside.
The moment I stepped out, I paused.
For a brief second, I just stood there and looked around.
Everything felt… different.
This was truly not my world.
The courtyard was wide and open. Wooden tables were arranged all around, covered with red cloth. Plates of sweets and jars of drinks were placed on top. Red decorations still hung in the air, moving slightly with the wind.
People were laughing, drinking, and talking loudly.
It looked lively.
Too lively.
My eyes moved across the place slowly, taking everything in.
So this is a village…
Before I could think more, Liu Muyan's voice rang out.
"The wedding is over. Everyone should leave."
Her voice was firm and steady, completely different from how gentle she sounded inside.
The villagers paused.
Some looked confused, but no one argued. One by one, they began to stand up, gathering their things and leaving. It did not take long before the courtyard started to empty.
Soon, almost everyone was gone.
Only a few people remained.
Four men sat at one side, clearly drunk. They laughed loudly among themselves, not paying attention to anything else.
And then… there was one more person.
He sat quietly in a corner.
He was dressed in red, just like me earlier, but unlike the others, he did not move or speak. He simply sat there, calm and silent, as if nothing around him concerned him.
My gaze rested on him.
So this is Yan Mo…
My husband.
I stared at him for a moment.
Then I slowly walked closer.