Rebirth isn't all good, you know. Rebirth doesn't exactly equip you to handle situations like this. No, wait—even with rebirth, unforeseen things can still happen that you can't control.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. The old woman wiped her face and went out.

Cheng Ying awkwardly straightened her clothes, while Chi Wu stood nearby, afraid to look at her.

By the time Cheng Ying regained her composure, she knew she was in for a rough time; not being beaten to death would be a good outcome.

But right now, even if she were beaten, she'd have to grit her teeth and endure it. The situation was already this bad; if everything fell through now, she’d get absolutely nothing.

Cheng Ying glanced at Chi Wu beside her. He truly didn't know how to face her now, did he? Had Wu Zi been scared off?

Even someone as smooth-talking as Cheng Ying didn't know what to say at this moment.

A heavy silence settled between them in the room.

Then they heard the senior craftsman outside say, "Elder sister, this isn't such a big deal. If the two children are willing, just offer the betrothal gifts later—won't that suffice? Please don't make a fuss; just grant the children happiness."

This was the best solution to the problem right now.

The old woman sighed, "Oh, I’m just angry! We agreed they would get engaged after high school graduation, before university. Why did these two unlucky kids have to cause such a stir?"

The words sounded hollow. The craftsman managed an awkward smile; everyone knew they were false,

but now, the false had to serve as the truth. "Aren't the two children a perfect match? We’re just waiting for the wedding banquet. Don't worry, elder sister, none of us are gossips. If the children are happy and their affection is true, we, the elders, won't meddle."

This was a reassurance that they wouldn't spread rumors and ruin the children's reputations.

Cheng Ying and Chi Wu listened in silence. Chi Wu felt a sense of finality, as if the matter had been settled.

Cheng Ying's mind was a chaotic mess; she couldn't think of anything clearly.

Chi Wu watched Cheng Ying’s expression cautiously, trying to guess her every thought, his anxiety mounting. The most uncertain thing right now was Cheng Ying’s heart. He felt deeply unsettled, wishing they could just get engaged right away.

Listening to the voices outside, Cheng Ying didn't think of anything else; she just focused on the fact that this scandal had finally been suppressed.

As for her newly minted fiancé, she felt nothing.

Even after just having slept, she felt no connection to him.

If there was any feeling at all, it was a slight touch of guilt—how could she have done that? Was she simply too starved?

Once the situation calmed down, the characters "**"—separated, or joined together, these words floated through Cheng Ying’s mind in various forms. Life! Must it be so stimulating? Life! Must it be so unpredictable? I, Cheng Ying, could actually make this kind of mistake? It was utterly unacceptable.

Chi Wu stood meekly behind Cheng Ying.

Cheng Ying shot him a look, feeling a surge of anger. He was, after all, the one who benefited.

Even though she seemed to have been the initiator, ultimately, she was the woman who suffered the loss in such a matter.

Why was this boy acting as if he were about to hang himself? That attitude was unacceptable. This 'benefit' and he was acting wronged—wasn't that him?

Cheng Ying put on a grim face. "Are you unwilling?"

Thinking of the young girls who used to cling to Chi Wu, Cheng Ying felt she had acted rather immorally, ruining Chi Wu's bright future.

From now on, he would probably have an extra mother to deal with. This child was doomed.

Chi Wu’s face was flushed crimson. An hour ago, he wouldn't have even dreamt of this, yet now he felt as if Cheng Ying had cornered him into marriage. Damn, it felt amazing.

Let this beautiful misunderstanding continue. Every extra day was a bonus.

Chi Wu dared not look up, afraid Cheng Ying might read his mood, which wasn't good. "I know what to do. You don't need to worry about my side of the family; I can handle everything."

Being spared the trouble of facing Chi family’s old woman was something Cheng Ying was very happy about; the thought alone gave her a headache.

Cheng Ying wasn't entirely satisfied with this answer, but it was barely acceptable. She would handle this crisis first; who knew what tomorrow held?

The old woman saw off the villagers outside, feeling as if she had been forced onto a sedan chair against her will.

This mess was partly her own fault. How could she have let outsiders into the room?

Otherwise, things wouldn't have spiraled out of control like this.

The old woman’s heart was a tangled knot. The issue was that the relationship between the Chi and Cheng families was already complicated enough; now it would only become messier.

The thought of Chi family’s old woman made Grandma Cheng feel sick.

Why did her granddaughter only pick suitors based on superficial things and not look at their family background? Grandma Cheng couldn't stand Chi family’s old woman one bit.

She patted her chest. Thankfully, her health had been good these past two years, or this disaster of a granddaughter would have certainly angered her to death. She was close to it now. "Get out here, both of you! Time to eat!"

Cheng Ying shivered. Back when they hadn't separated the households in the village, the old woman used that exact tone with her own mother.

Indeed, fortune turns in cycles. Now it was her turn.

Cheng Ying took a deep breath and clenched her fists, gathering enough courage for that first step. It was just this little thing. Thinking twenty years ahead, what did this matter? But right now, it looked bad. People didn't accept this premature trial marriage.

However, as someone who had just been... with someone, she genuinely felt no physical difference. Had this body been modified too well by the spatial anomaly?

Chi Wu followed closely behind Cheng Ying, observing every shift in her expression.

It seemed Cheng Ying had always seen him as a younger brother, always stepping forward to shield her from trouble.

Now, no matter what, he was a man, and Cheng Ying’s man.

If this situation continued, even if they slept in the same bed, their relationship might never change. Chi Wu understood this clearly.

As Cheng Ying was about to exit the room, he swiftly moved in front of her. A man, after all, was supposed to shield his woman from the storm.

Besides, Chi Wu understood everything in his heart. Yingzi was letting him take the blame for this.

This matter would eventually come to light, and he would have to face it eventually.

If he behaved well now, he might gain a more stable footing with Cheng Ying in the future.

After all, Yingzi and he hadn't truly consummated anything; he hadn't dared.

Chi Wu regretted it. If they truly married and Yingzi found out, would she spare him? Why had he been so timid at that moment? Why hadn't he considered the future? Why hadn't he gone all the way? He lacked the necessary decisiveness.

As Chi Wu stepped out the door, regret washed over him, thick and heavy.

Cheng Ying looked at the tall back in front of her, feeling a mix of emotion: touched, and impulsive.

The child had grown up; he was shielding her now. She felt genuinely heartbroken, yet also a little happy.

No one had protected her like this since the old woman.

Who would have thought? From now on, her reputation was staked. If Wu Zi didn't step up to shield her, she truly wouldn't manage.

Cheng Ying sat down naturally across from the old woman, her expression composed. She had long cultivated a thick skin.

But in the old woman's eyes, her granddaughter had just trampled her dignity underfoot. This further cemented the idea that her granddaughter had taken the initiative in that matter with Wu Zi. Why else would Wu Zi be lowering his head, afraid to look at anyone?

Think about it, what a blow this must be to a young man. One could only hope he wouldn't develop psychological trauma.

The old woman pushed a bowl of mashed, curdled tofu toward Wu Zi. "Hurry up and eat; it’s all gone bad. We'll think about the other matters once everyone has calmed down."

Chi Wu’s hand trembled slightly as he accepted the bowl of tofu.

The old woman was treating him so kindly now; how furious would she be later when she learned the truth? Chi Wu was terrified.

But his trembling hand seemed perfectly timed. The old woman thought the boy was just frightened by his own family. "Don't be afraid, child."

Her comfort was infuriating to Cheng Ying; he was a man! She was comforting the wrong person.

Chi Wu’s face grew redder, this time entirely out of shame. "Grandma, I was drinking. It’s my fault, truly. If I hadn't..."

Chi Wu couldn't finish; he was too mortified.

It would be good if he could clarify things right now; at least the old woman wouldn't be angry with him later.

Besides, since things between Yingzi and him were now sealed, regardless of whose fault it was, the matter was set in stone.

If word spread throughout the village—and village gossip could be vicious—it could ruin people. They could be drowned in slander.

The old woman had to make him take responsibility.

The old woman looked at Chi Wu. What a good child, taking the blame onto himself.

Although in such matters, if the man didn't agree, the woman couldn't succeed, this situation was special, wasn't it? Her granddaughter was so forceful; usually, Chi Wu listened to her every command without the slightest argument.

The old woman felt a slight pang of resentment toward Chi Wu. Why was he so compliant in a situation like this?

But as soon as Chi Wu claimed responsibility, all her complaints vanished.

She thought about how much her granddaughter valued money, yet how generous she was to Wu Zi—buying that car as soon as she mentioned it. And the clothes! He had more than her granddaughter; they were made from fabric Cheng Ying bought, with designs the old woman drew herself. How much effort she put into it.

This girl hadn't wanted him for just a day or two.

The more the old woman thought, the more logical it seemed. Children were debts you paid.

Look what it’s come to.

Cheng Ying thought she must be a sinner. Look how the old woman viewed her—as a complete deviant.

Looking at the unlucky boy beside her, Cheng Ying felt deeply wronged.

If it had been anyone else, she could have accepted it more easily; at least there wouldn't be this crushing pressure.

Damn this life, it's unbearable!

Cheng Ying stared at the tofu Chi Wu had just set down for her, frowning. All she could think about was the substance clinging to her body moments ago. She couldn't eat it.

Oh God, what would happen next? Her mind was a murky mess, compounded by the sight of Chi Wu beside her, eating with his head bowed like a young bride.

What path were they supposed to take now? It was so agonizing. Why did this role feel so awkward? Should she pretend? After all, she was a woman.

There were times in life when luck shone, and times when it abandoned you.

Cheng Ying felt that if everything before last night had been sheer luck since her rebirth,

then from last night, or perhaps starting this morning, she was due for a run of bad luck.

She truly had no choice but to believe in fate.

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