I dare say it’s definitely not because of his moral character. In the past, no matter how bad, annoying, or terrifying someone was, as long as they were handsome, I’d go for them. Because of this, any good-looking boys in our school would avoid me, afraid I’d swallow them whole. Could the Marriage Book really be that powerful?
But thinking that they like me because of the Marriage Book leaves a bitter taste. If there were no Marriage Book pushing us together, would they have liked me? If I weren’t wearing Ling Xiaochan’s body and beautiful face, would they still like the ordinary me?
“Sigh~” I couldn’t help but sigh to the sky. When I was buying husbands back then, why didn’t I consider all this?
The sun quietly moved overhead, then slipped away behind the western mountains. As night drew closer, my mood improved.
“Han.” A familiar voice reached my ears as I was daydreaming. I turned and saw the person I’d been thinking of day and night – “Shang!!”
I threw myself into Shang’s arms, rubbing against his chest like a spoiled child. “We’re still here~” A complaining voice rang out, completely destroying our romantic moment.
I turned my head and saw it was indeed Baobao and Beibei. I went forward and pinched their cute cheeks. “You two little devils, were you good while I was away?” They nodded vigorously, “Yes!” I lovingly stroked their heads.
Suddenly, Baby pulled Beibei onto the flying carpet. “Shang ge ge, we’re leaving first. You should be careful and bring Xiao Han jie jie back safely. It’ll be troublesome if someone finds out.” Shang nodded, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. As soon as they left, I grabbed Shang’s hand and spun around, “Shang, you’ve finally come! I missed you so much!”
Then I hugged Shang tightly like an octopus. “By the way, didn’t you say you’d come late at night? Why are you here at dusk?” “That letter will definitely be watched. Naturally, they’ll strengthen their guard at night, so it’s easier to come in at dusk,” Shang patiently explained.
“Shang, you’re amazing, thinking of everything like this.” I stared at Shang’s star-like bright eyes with admiration. He gently touched my nose with his delicate fingertips, giving me a feeling that was sweet to the heart and warm to the bone.
I curved my mouth, smiling at Shang. His eyes were full of doting. I stood on tiptoe and brought my mouth close to his lips, giving him a quick kiss, my first kiss. Just as I was about to pull away, Shang pressed the back of my head, and our lips met again. I was stunned as Shang’s tongue skillfully pried open my mouth.
Just as I was about to suffocate, Shang finally let me go, holding me tightly. “Han, I’m sorry. I was careless. It’s my fault that you were brought here. I’ll take you away right now, okay?”
My heart ached. Something blocked my throat, and tears slid down from my eyes. I shook my head, “It’s too late… already too late…” Shang trembled, releasing me and gripping my shoulders tightly. “Why? What did that bastard Xiao Chen Yue do to you?!”
“He…” My tears flowed more fiercely, “He cast a heart-binding spell…” Shang’s beautiful eyes widened, “How could…” He let go, biting his lip, his fist clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palm, drawing blood. “I’ll kill him!” Anger burned in his eyes.
Suddenly, an arrow pierced Shang’s left shoulder. He let out a muffled groan and collapsed to the ground. I opened my eyes wide, kneeling down to hold him.
Xiao Chen Yue’s arrogant voice echoed, “Try it if you can, Dugu Shang.”
Both of us turned towards the window, surprised to see Xiao Chen Yue smiling without a hint of humor. Suddenly, Shang spat out a mouthful of black blood. I gasped, tightening my hold on him—the arrow from earlier was poisoned.
Shang’s face turned pale; his lips were devoid of color. My heart ached as I held him, feeling helpless. I pulled out the bottle of hundred-poison antidote, but before I could open it, Xiao Chen Yue snatched it away.
With all my strength, I shouted, “Xiao Chen Yue! Give me back the antidote!” He placed the medicine in his chest, calmly walking over, gripping my waist and pinching my chin. “Baby, stop struggling. You’re destined to be mine.”
“Bastard! Let her go!” Shang roared, struggling to support himself. He drew his sword to stab at Xiao Chen Yue. Xiao Chen Yue pushed me away and shot four flying knives at Shang. He dodged two and blocked one with his sword but couldn’t avoid the fourth, which pierced his right arm. The sword fell to the ground, destroying the last bit of hope in my heart.
“Shang!”
I dragged my exhausted body forward, tears blurring my vision, unable to see Shang’s pale face clearly. Xiao Chen Yue flashed in front of me, tightly embracing me. “Quickly drag Dugu Shang out! Lock him in the secret room!”
“No!” I roared in despair, but he held me tighter. “You have no choice.” I struggled hard, feeling intense pain in my heart. My legs gave way, and I fell to the ground, curling up and biting my lower lip. Xiao Chen Yue squatted down, took out a bright red pill, and pushed it into my mouth. After swallowing, the pain disappeared, but I was completely drained of strength.
He picked me up from the ground and placed me on the bed, covering me with blankets. “I told you long ago that you have no choice.” “You lied,” I gasped. “You said you didn’t read the secret letter.”
A fearsome smile appeared on his expressionless face. “Not reading it doesn’t mean I didn’t have others read it. You’re too naive. You can’t escape my grasp. Give up.” I nodded, smiling self-deprecatingly. Yes, there was no way to escape now.
“I only ask you one thing.”
“Say it. Whatever I can do, I will definitely do,” he readily agreed. I didn’t try to guess his intentions. “Let Shang go.”
It has nothing to do with him. Let him go, help him detoxify, save him.”
Xiao Chen Yue nodded, “I will let him go, just not right now. But as a condition, you must stay by my side and obediently get engaged to me.” “I have no other choice, right?” I laughed desperately. “That’s right, baby. You understand. You’re tired, sleep now.”
When I closed my eyes, Xiao Chen Yue left. A transaction that brought happiness, but as long as Shang was fine, I would do anything…
The next day, Xiao Chen Yue announced our engagement in front of all the members of the Demon Cult, and I accepted it.
Perhaps because we were already engaged, Xiao Chen Yue no longer kept me confined to the courtyard. I could move freely within the Demon Cult, as long as I didn’t step outside. I kicked small stones along the way, walking carelessly on the small path. “Bai Chi Han! Are you crazy?!” Ling Yan’s angry shout came from behind me.
I turned around, smiling at the furious Ling Yan and the worried Ling Shuang. “I’m not crazy; it’s because I’m not crazy that I’m doing this. I have no choice left. If I don’t do this, Shang will die! Do you know what death means? It means I will lose him forever!” I still smiled, but tears flowed down, utterly desolate.
Ling Shuang walked up, gently wiping away my tears and embracing me lovingly.
Ling Yan, unusually, didn’t get angry; he just lowered his head. “Weren’t you always someone who never gives up? Why did you give up so easily this time? Don’t you still have a chance?”
“Hehe, do I still have a chance? I don’t even have the right to escape; where would my chance come from? Watching Shang get hit by a poisoned arrow and seeing his painful state, what could I do? I could do nothing…” Ling Yan stopped talking and, together with Ling Shuang, took me back to my room.
As he was about to leave with Ling Shuang, he dropped a sentence: “I will help you, whether you have a chance or not, don’t give up…” This one sentence reignited hope in my heart. I thanked him sincerely and tried to stand up again.
