Xiuzhu carefully arranged the gifts on the dressing table, nearly running out of space, with some stacked on top of each other.

She started listing them one by one, gently picking up the one on the far left first. “This is a wedding gift for my dearest sister—a rose-scented perfume and this red silk scarf.”

Xiuli’s heart raced, and excitement surged in her eyes as she cherished the scarf in her hands.

“Oh my God, I’ve never seen such a beautiful water-red color before!” she exclaimed.

She rubbed the fabric between her fingers, marveling at its smoothness. “It feels even more luxurious than the ones in Beijing’s department stores. Where did you buy it?”

“I’m going to wear it on my wedding day. Xiuzhu, thank you so much!”

Feeling a little guilty, Xiuzhu touched her nose and muttered, “I don’t know. I just had my dad ask someone to get it for me.”

“Oh, come on! Smell the perfume! I held it right up to my nose—it’s such a rich rose fragrance!”

In reality, this scarf had been sent by her aunt ten years ago, along with two others.

The one she gave to her cousin was this water-red shade. Another was light gray, which she wore regularly.

The third one was the most exquisite—a pale lavender scarf adorned with transparent golden floral patterns, looking incredibly elegant.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t wear anything too eye-catching these days.

Still, she adored it and planned to save it for a special occasion in the future.

Her aunt had mentioned in a letter that these were the latest designs from abroad, made of high-quality silk.

At home, her parents had repeatedly warned her never to mention anything about her aunt.

She wasn’t foolish; she knew better than to speak recklessly. And after that, her aunt never sent anything again.

Originally, she hadn’t planned to give away this scarf. Her mother had even intended to save it for Xiuzhu’s own wedding.

But during a letter exchange with her cousin, Xiuli casually mentioned that she wanted a red silk scarf for her wedding but couldn’t find one she liked, even after searching all of Beijing’s department stores.

That was when Xiuzhu remembered the scarf locked away in her mother’s trunk. Because the color was too bold, it had never been worn and had remained stored away.

Even after ten years, it hadn’t faded at all and still looked brand new.

Thinking that her cousin would love it and shouldn’t have any regrets on her wedding day, Xiuzhu asked her mother if she could wrap it up as a gift.

Lin Mother inspected the scarf and found that, while it was a refined style, others had similar ones.

It was just a richer shade and of better quality. Wearing it for a wedding wouldn’t draw too much attention, so she agreed.

Xiuli carefully placed the scarf aside and picked up the perfume, spraying a small amount. Instantly, the room filled with a sweet fragrance.

Xiuzhu grabbed her cousin’s hands and spun her around in circles.

She enthusiastically explained, “I saw that people always twirl after spraying perfume. It helps spread the scent more evenly on the body!”

Then she suddenly remembered something important and added, “Oh! Sister, on your wedding night, you and brother-in-law should each chew a mint leaf—it’s supposed to make the experience better!”

Xiuli sat down on the bed, slightly dizzy from the spinning.

When she heard Xiuzhu’s unexpected comment, her face flushed red with embarrassment.

“You little rascal! Where do you come up with these strange ideas? Twirling? Chewing mint leaves? Why not just eat a whole green onion instead?”

Xiuzhu had learned this from watching others—people did it where she came from. Eating a green onion, though? That was way too extreme!

The more she thought about it, the funnier it got, and she couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“Hahaha! Oh my gosh, my stomach hurts! Sis, you’re too much! Fine, then—on your wedding night, you can chew on a big green onion!”

The two of them rolled around on the bed, playfully wrestling with each other.

After calming down, Xiuli suddenly became curious. She turned to look at Xiuzhu and asked, “Xiuzhu, what kind of person do you like?”

Hearing this, Xiuzhu stared at the ceiling, seriously pondering with her little head.

In both of her lives, she had never thought about love, nor had she considered what her ideal type would be.

Right now, well, power and influence were what mattered.

With that thought in mind, she answered accordingly, “I like someone who is better off than our family, someone with more power, so that if anything happens, they can protect us.”

Xiuli was surprised by Xiuzhu’s perspective. While it was nice that she was thinking about her family, that wasn’t how things should be.

She earnestly advised, “Marriage is for a lifetime. You should find someone you truly like. Being with someone you love will bring you happiness and sweetness.”

Xiuzhu didn’t know who she would fall in love with, nor did she particularly care. She only wanted her parents and family to be safe and happy.

As for herself, she wanted to live well, dress well, eat well, have fun, and enjoy a life of wealth and luxury.

“Then I like someone who can give me a rich life, take me out to play, buy me good food, dress me in beautiful clothes, and spoil me.”

“He has to be unconditionally on my side. If I say a bitter melon is sweet, he has to tell others that the bitter melon is sweet too,” Xiuzhu added seriously.

Xiuli simply thought her cousin was still young, with a childish mindset. She didn’t believe that such a person truly existed.

She and Tao Jian had grown up together, and their bond was deeper than most couples’. But even he couldn’t do what Xiuzhu described.

These were special times. You couldn’t openly say you liked wealth; instead, you had to say you liked poverty and weren’t afraid of hardship.

But really, who would willingly choose a life of poverty and suffering?

She didn’t think there was anything wrong with Xiuzhu wanting a wealthy life. Deep down, she even felt that Xiuzhu should have such a life—that she was meant to be pampered.

Still, she didn’t want her cousin saying such things outside, so she warned her, “You mustn’t say these things in public, understand? From now on, don’t talk about it.”

Xiuzhu immediately hugged her cousin and promised, “Sis, I won’t say anything reckless. Outside, I’m very careful—I go straight home after school.”

“If strangers talk to me, I don’t answer. And if someone is too annoying, I just snap back at them. I’m really tough!”

Xiuli gently stroked Xiuzhu’s round little head. She knew her cousin was cautious, but their uncle had shielded her too well.

She was like a spoiled little princess living in an ivory tower, surrounded mostly by beauty and kindness.

She thought she was tough, but in reality, all she had ever done was talk back to people with her sharp tongue.

She had never truly seen the darkness of the world—the kind that wouldn’t even give you a chance to speak.

They were like wolves lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to tear out your throat and end you.

Xiuli had witnessed this firsthand. A friend from her class, whom she had been quite close with, had been targeted just because she was beautiful.

Another girl from a different class had envied her beauty.

In the end, that friend was killed…

Sigh. In these times, there were too many unjust and tragic cases. She didn’t want Xiuzhu to suffer even the slightest harm.

She was just so beautiful—far more beautiful than that friend had been.

She was also more delicate, spoke too straightforwardly, and was the type to easily draw jealousy from other women.

What she feared most was those seemingly harmless people, the ones with meticulous and malicious minds. Those were truly terrifying.