Since Zhang Fan and An Ling’er had the audacity to flaunt their relationship at her wedding and intentionally provoke her, as the bride of the day, An Xin decided it was only fitting to distribute some “wedding candy.”

Though Dong Mei was reluctant, she responded with a forced smile,
“Alright, I’ll get the candy.”

She turned and left, while Zhang Fan’s face visibly darkened. Raising his eyes, he looked at An Xin intently. She was stunning today, her watery, captivating eyes paired with a seductive figure exuding charm. The crimson wedding dress she wore made her look dazzlingly alluring—like an enchanting temptress. He’d always known she was beautiful.

Otherwise, why would he have defied his family’s objections to secretly date her for so long? But just as he was about to graduate and formally bring her into his life, she betrayed him by lying in another man’s bed.

The thought alone rekindled a flicker of disgust in Zhang Fan’s eyes. However, his gaze softened as he turned to An Ling’er, dripping with affection. He deliberately emphasized his words as he said,

“Your sister has kindly offered us wedding candy. It’s only right we give something in return. This is a wedding gift from the two of us. Go ahead and give it to her.”

Zhang Fan deliberately stressed “the two of us,” pulling out a red envelope from his pocket and handing it to An Ling’er.

Since An Xin had so easily married another man, why shouldn’t he accept her cousin throwing herself at him? Being involved with her closest relative was the best way to needle her, wasn’t it? Besides, Zhang Fan relished the fleeting chill he saw in An Xin’s eyes when she noticed him with An Ling’er.

An Ling’er’s smile grew wider as she obediently took the red envelope, walked up to An Xin, and said sweetly,
“Sister, congratulations on your wedding! This is a gift from Zhang Fan and me—I hope you’ll accept it.”

Before An Xin could respond, An Ling’er stuffed the envelope into her hand and quickly stepped back.

In An Ling’er’s mind, she knew exactly what kind of person her cousin was—an opportunist who prioritized money. Given the family’s financial circumstances, money was what kept them alive. If An Xin didn’t value money, her family would’ve starved long ago.

An Ling’er was a reborn soul. In her past life, she had been ordinary and unremarkable. When she returned to this moment, she vowed never to live so insignificantly again. This time, she would marry the best man and lead the most enviable life.

In her previous life, An Xin had drowned and died the year before, but this time, her cousin had survived that accident and lived to be 19. Not only that, but she had latched onto Zhang Fan, a man who, in An Ling’er’s past life, had risen to power in the provincial capital.

At the moment, Zhang Fan was just a soon-to-graduate university student, but An Ling’er knew better than anyone what the future held for him. He would become a high-ranking official in the province.

Although she didn’t know the exact position, An Ling’er clearly remembered how Zhang Fan had visited their village for an inspection in her previous life. He had traveled in a polished black car, accompanied by county officials bowing and scraping before him.

Zhang Fan had acted arrogantly then, turning down a request to invest in the village, which left them impoverished.

This time, An Ling’er was determined to rewrite the story. After her rebirth, she worked diligently to break up An Xin and Zhang Fan. She even cleverly ensured another man, Bai Yichen, took Zhang Fan’s place in An Xin’s trap.

This was why, during the infamous village scandal, Bai Yichen and An Xin were caught in bed together instead of Zhang Fan.

In An Ling’er’s eyes, Zhang Fan was her future, and there was no way she would let her cousin, who should’ve drowned, taint him. Bai Yichen, on the other hand, was just a geological surveyor. Sure, he had a stable job, but compared to the influential future awaiting Zhang Fan, he wasn’t even in the same league.

Though An Xin was infamous in the village, her beauty and allure still turned heads. Many women envied her figure, her graceful movements, and the attention she received from men. But now, her fate was sealed. She had married a man who spent his days chipping away at rocks with a hammer. What future could she possibly have with him?

An Xin looked at the red envelope in her hand, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. She cast a playful glance at Zhang Fan and An Ling’er, just as Dong Mei returned with the wedding candies.

“Dong Mei, hand them the candy,” An Xin said coolly. “They’ve brought a gift, so it’s only fair we send them off with something sweet.”

She wasn’t a saint. If they came to provoke her and even brought a gift, she’d accept it. Money was always useful, and since they’d likely stay to eat their fill, why not break even?

“Take your candy,” Dong Mei said coldly, shoving the treats into An Ling’er’s hands.

She had half a mind to put these two troublemakers in their place, but before she could, a deep, resonant voice echoed from the bridal chamber door.

“Alright, everyone! Three glasses of liquor and three red envelopes, and I’ve cleared the third round. You said it yourselves—no backing out now!”

It was Bai Yichen, who had fought his way through the festive hurdles and finally reached the door to the bridal chamber. Just one more step, and he could take his bride away.

Dong Mei’s face lit up with joy. She turned to An Xin, exclaiming,
“Your man is amazing! Most grooms leave here stumbling drunk before they even reach the bride’s door. He’s already here and still steady as ever!”

Indeed, Bai Yichen stood at the door, his voice calm, his demeanor composed.

An Xin glanced shyly at Dong Mei, silently chastising her for her bluntness. There were still two unwelcome guests in the room. From the corner of her eye, she caught An Ling’er signaling to Zhang Fan. The two exchanged a look of understanding before An Ling’er smirked and said,

“Oh my, brother-in-law is here to fetch his bride! Zhang Fan, let’s go watch the fun. You’ll need to learn the ropes for our future wedding.”

The two of them strode toward the door without waiting for permission, their posture less that of curious onlookers and more like enemies looking for a fight.