The man standing by the bed maintained a stern and unyielding expression, meeting Tian Zhengying’s gaze head-on. His composure was so steady that it unsettled the Women’s Director, who averted her eyes and instead scrutinized An Xin.

The man, as it turned out, was Bai Yichen, the leader of the nearby geological exploration team—a figure Tian Zhengying dared not provoke for the time being.

An Xin quickly lowered her head, feigning calm while her heart raced with panic. Having just transmigrated, she was still sorting through the chaos. For now, silence was the best strategy—fewer words meant fewer mistakes.

Tian Zhengying observed An Xin’s downcast expression, her smirk betraying a sense of triumph as if she already knew the full story. She settled onto a nearby bench, crossed her arms, and began speaking slowly.

“An Xin, your father hasn’t been gone long, and here you are, entangled with a man like this. What am I supposed to do with you?”

At these words, everyone turned their attention to An Xin. Some gazes were amused, others angry, and a few even sympathetic. After a long pause, she finally managed to stammer:

“I…”

Before she could say more, the man standing silently at the bedside stepped forward. His deep voice carried through the room.

“Director Tian, don’t make this difficult for An Xin. I, Bai Yichen, have been in a relationship with her for a while. What happened today was a moment of passion. I’ll be going to her family soon to formally propose, so there’s no need for anyone here to meddle.”

His words were calm but firm, designed to protect An Xin’s reputation.

The room fell into stunned silence. The villagers had heard rumours that An Xin was romantically involved with Zhang Fan, the son of the town’s school principal. The news was that the two had been caught in a compromising position in the village warehouse. But now, it seemed the reality was far from the rumors.

Bai Yichen is the leader of a nearby geological team,.He takes a group of people up the mountain to hammer and bang, saying that he is surveying for minerals. While his team hadn’t found any valuable minerals yet, it seemed he’d discovered the village’s most beautiful woman instead.

Sensing the need to strengthen his narrative, An Xin quickly chimed in.

“Yes, Bai Yichen and I have long had feelings for each other. We’ve already discussed marriage.”

If today’s events were to spread, the An family would become the laughingstock of Chahai Village. They’d be gossiped about for years, with her name dragged through the mud.

The villagers exchanged puzzled glances, the situation growing more intriguing by the minute.

Just then, a mechanical voice echoed in An Xin’s mind.

“Ding-dong! Congratulations, host! Soul transmigration successful. You’ve been granted a portable warehouse.”

Who said that?

Her eyes darted around the room, but everyone appeared preoccupied with their thoughts. The voice echoed again.

“Host, there’s no need to look around or doubt yourself. The portable warehouse exists in your mind. You can access it and its contents through thought alone.”

An Xin blinked, momentarily dumbfounded. This wasn’t the time to test out this so-called warehouse, but she couldn’t help but feel exhilarated. A transmigration with a cheat ability? Jackpot!

As she marveled at her newfound advantage, Tian Zhengying’s triangular eyes darted back and forth. Her original plan to ruin An Xin’s reputation had clearly fallen apart. Bai Yichen’s status as a government worker put him beyond her reach—even the village chief treated him with respect. It was best not to provoke him.

The tension in the room thickened until a tall, wiry figure burst in like a whirlwind. Zhang Fan, eyes red with disbelief, stormed up to An Xin and shouted,

“An Xin! You told me you only loved me! How could you turn around and be with this man? You even said you want to marry him!”

Zhang Fan—her supposed former lover and the town school principal’s son. He was meant to be her partner in this sordid play, but somehow, the male lead had been swapped with Bai Yichen by morning.

Now wasn’t the time to sort through that mystery. First, she needed to defuse the crowd.

With a deep breath, An Xin donned a doe-eyed, innocent expression and addressed Zhang Fan in a soft, trembling voice.

“Zhang Fan, you’ve misunderstood. I’ve always seen you as a brother. The one I love has always been Bai Yichen.”

She poured as much emotion into her performance as possible, her voice so earnest it almost convinced herself that she had fallen for the stoic man before her.

Yet deep inside, a pang of sorrow twisted her heart. Perhaps it was the lingering emotions of the body’s original owner—feelings that hadn’t yet faded for Zhang Fan. After all, this was a girl who had been ostracized by her community, only to pin her hopes on him. And now, even that fragile connection was severed.

But what did it matter? Zhang Fan was a weepy little puppy, and she had no time for those. She preferred wolves, sharp and fierce, like Bai Yichen, whose gaze held a cold, unrelenting edge.

Zhang Fan’s voice cracked, thick with emotion.

“No, that’s not true! You promised me we’d marry after I graduated from university. How could you betray me for someone else?”

His wounded gaze darted to the bed, the disarray speaking volumes. His heartache was palpable—a symphony of despair that could make even Chopin weep.

An Xin: “…”

Get a grip, man. I’ve barely had time to figure things out since I got here, but one thing’s clear—you’re not even a backup plan anymore.

Turning to the assembled crowd, she plastered on a bright smile.

“Everyone, there’s no need to linger here. Please return to your homes. Bai Yichen and I will formally invite the village leadership to host our wedding. For now, we’d like some privacy to discuss personal matters.”

Bai Yichen stepped forward, backing her up.

“Indeed. Thank you all for your concern. Tomorrow, I’ll deliver a pound of sugar to each of you as a token of our gratitude. Later, I’ll speak to the village chief about officiating our wedding. And as for Director Tian…”

He fixed Tian Zhengying with a frosty, piercing stare, sending a shiver down her spine.