Heat.

An Xin felt as though she were in the center of a scorching oven, her entire body about to be burned to ash. She struggled desperately, seeking relief. In her hazy state, she touched a firm, lean body and instinctively clung to it.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

A series of rough knocks jolted her awake from her slumber. Barely opening her eyes, An Xin registered the light streaming into the room but quickly shut her eyes again.

She had never felt so exhausted before. Pulling the blanket over her head, she snuggled deeper, eager to continue sleeping.

Who disturbs someone’s dreams this early in the morning? What kind of person does that?

The pounding on the door persisted, more aggressive this time. Realizing there was no response from inside, the person outside began yelling.

“An Xin! Open the door! If you don’t, I’ll have someone break it down!”

“Exactly! That shameless little hussy! First, she jinxed her father to death, and now her mother is bedridden because of her. Yet all she thinks about is seducing men! I heard her mother’s on the brink of death!”

“And that’s not the worst of it. Have you seen the rest of the kids in her family? Except for this little vixen with her bewitching looks, the rest of them are so scrawny they look like bean sprouts! A gust of wind could blow them away!”

“She doesn’t just curse her parents. Her siblings look so malnourished they’re crooked! She’s practically a walking curse! And remember, when she was born, didn’t the old pear tree at the village entrance wither and die for no reason?”

“What? That happened?”

“Yes! If her aunt hadn’t said anything, we wouldn’t have known! An Xin is a calamity—she can even kill trees!”

“Alright, enough gossiping. Let’s catch her in the act and let the village chief handle this!”

“Right!”

An Xin, still in a daze, heard the chaotic voices outside but remained silent. Pulling the blanket tighter around herself, she just wanted to sleep.

However, her peaceful cocoon was suddenly interrupted. Her head bumped into something solid and warm beneath the blanket—something that radiated heat and exuded a faint masculine scent.

“Huh? What’s under the blanket?”

In an instant, An Xin’s groggy mind snapped awake. She pushed her head out from beneath the covers and came face-to-face with a pair of dark, intense eyes. The man’s gaze was sharp, burning, and locked on her.

“Ah! A ghost!”

Startled, An Xin leapt off the bed, ready to bolt for the door. But the man’s strong arm caught her like a rabbit in a trap, pulling her back under the blanket. A large hand quickly covered her mouth to stifle her scream.

“Mmmpf!”

Terrified and confused, An Xin stared at the stranger with wide eyes. She clearly remembered that she was the only one sleeping on the big bed at home every day. How had a man appeared out of nowhere? She struggled, her muffled cries unintelligible.

As her mind raced, unfamiliar memories surfaced. Reality dawned on her—she had somehow transmigrated into the 1980s, a time of scarcity and hardship.

Her gaze darted back to the man. His sharp features, striking and angular, were complemented by his lean, muscular build.

Wait. Why could she see his bare chest?

Oh no… Could last night’s dream have been real?

Before she could dwell on it, the man’s deep, gravelly voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Don’t move, and don’t make a sound. We need to sort ourselves out quickly before the people outside break in.”

His eyes darted meaningfully to their current state. An Xin followed his gaze and realized just how bad things looked. Neither of them was wearing anything.

“Oh no… We really…”

The thought hit her like a brick. The man’s stern voice pulled her back.

“Did you hear me? Nod if you understand. If you don’t…” His menacing glare suggested she wouldn’t like the alternative.

Snapped back to reality, An Xin quickly nodded.

The man’s piercing eyes studied her for confirmation. “When I let go, don’t scream or yell, understand? If you do, we’re both done for.”

An Xin nodded vigorously. She understood all too well—when these things were exposed, it was always the woman who suffered the most.

Once he released her, they both scrambled to gather their clothes from the floor and dressed as quickly as possible.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The pounding on the door intensified. A woman’s raspy voice barked, “What are you waiting for? Get some strong men and break the door down before they escape!”

“Exactly! Don’t let that jinx get away! Hurry up!”

Perhaps the two people’s suggestion worked, Soon, heavy thuds reverberated as the door began to splinter under repeated blows.

An Xin’s heart raced as she hurriedly dressed. Meanwhile, the man finished putting on his clothes, walked over to the bed, and paused at the sight of the disheveled sheets and the crimson marks.

His gaze darkened as he swiftly tidied the bed.

With a loud crash, the door finally gave way, and a group of villagers barged in.

Inside, they found An Xin and the man fully dressed, but the air was thick with an unmistakable tension. The villagers exchanged knowing glances. Married or not, anyone could guess what had transpired here.

Then a shrill voice pierced the room.

“Someone ran to the village saying they caught a couple doing indecent things in broad daylight! Let’s see who these shameless creatures are!”

It was Tian Zhengying, the village women’s director. She had a pair of triangular eyes. As soon as she came in, her eyes were fixed on the faces of the two people in the room.