At midnight, the boatman had already prepared, but Jiang Yu and Ah Yuan still hadn’t arrived. “Why haven’t they come yet?”

Yi Yu focused his attention. “I hope nothing goes wrong.”

Xu Yi, confused, asked, “What do you mean?”

“Yesterday, I saw a man in black. I was about to chase him, but he ran away.”

Xu Yi slapped his thigh. “What if they were tipped off? Let’s go find them.”

With that, they left the boatman behind, still confused.

Not far away, they saw that the Jiang residence was brightly lit. After climbing over the wall, they made their way to the backyard and hid on the eaves. The scene before them was shocking—Ah Yuan was tied up with ropes, and Jiang Yu was kneeling, begging Jiang Lao Ye. “Father, Ah Yuan would never betray us. Please, believe me!” Tears streamed down Jiang Yu’s face, and Jiang Mu, unable to bear it, tried to help Jiang Yu up.

“Yu’er, the evidence is clear. We cannot keep such a person alive.”

Jiang Yu refused to rise, running to Ah Yuan. At this point, Ah Yuan’s face was covered in wounds, but he still tried to comfort Jiang Yu. “Miss, don’t cry.”

Jiang Lao Ye, sitting at the table, shouted, “Someone, quickly pull the young lady away.”

Xu Yi’s eyes were already red. “No! I have to help them.”

Yi Yu grabbed him. “No, there are too many people.”

Xu Yi tried to push Yi Yu’s hand away. “Let go of me! I have to save them.”

The commotion was too loud, and the people under the eaves noticed. Yi Yu quickly covered Xu Yi’s mouth. “Be quiet.”

Xu Yi, not as strong as Yi Yu, could only bite his hand.

Jiang Yu shielded Ah Yuan with her body. “No, you can’t touch him. We are already like husband and wife. You can’t harm him!” Jiang Yu was crying so much that her voice became hoarse.

Jiang Lao Ye, enraged, overturned the table. “What did you say? You and him?”

Jiang Yu could no longer care about anything. “Yes, I’m with Ah Yuan. I won’t marry anyone else. I, Jiang Yu, swear to the heavens that I will only marry Ah Yuan.”

Jiang Lao Ye pulled his bow, aiming it at Ah Yuan. “Someone, pull the young lady away! Today, I’ll kill this beast.”

The servants rushed forward to pull Jiang Yu away, but she clung to Ah Yuan desperately. As they managed to pull her off, the arrow was released.

Xu Yi was pulled into Yi Yu’s arms, and his tears fell onto Yi Yu’s clothes. Yi Yu couldn’t bear to let him see what was happening.

Ah Yuan, struck by the arrow, gave Jiang Yu one last smile. It was the same smile he had given her when they first met. In her final moments, Jiang Yu broke free from the servants’ grip and crawled to Ah Yuan’s side.

Jiang Yu held Ah Yuan, tears flowing. “No, Ah Yuan, don’t leave me.”

Ah Yuan, bleeding from his mouth, weakly spoke, “Miss, I… prepared a gift for you, under… your pillow. I can’t protect you anymore, Miss. You must… live well.”

Ah Yuan’s body grew cold, and Jiang Yu whispered, “Ah Yuan, don’t be afraid. I’m holding you. You won’t be cold, not anymore.”

Jiang Lao Ye came over, pulling the two apart. “Quick, take the young lady back to her room. Don’t let her do something foolish. Tomorrow, the young master of the Wang family will come to deliver gifts.”

Xu Yi fainted in Yi Yu’s arms, and Yi Yu carried him back to the Yu residence.

When Xu Yi woke up, he said nothing. Yi Yu brought him some porridge. “Eat a little. We’ll go…”

The porridge was knocked over, and Xu Yi turned his back to Yi Yu.

Yi Yu silently cleaned up the broken bowl and left the room.

Jiang Lao Ye sighed. “Unfortunately, Yu’er caught a cold yesterday. I hope you understand.”

Wang Yu, snacking on sunflower seeds, replied, “It’s fine, it’s fine. As long as the wedding goes ahead as planned.”

Inside the room, Jiang Yu opened the wooden box Ah Yuan had left for her. Inside was a hand-carved fox hairpin. She picked it up and gently caressed it. “My Ah Yuan, I’ll come to find you soon. Wait for me.”

At the Wang residence, Wang Lao Ye was amusing himself with a bird when Yi Yu, holding a sword, confronted him. “You’re the one behind this?”

Wang Lao Ye smirked. “I told you, we’ve already won. It’s just bad luck for you, your teammates lacked the ability. Even if you kill me here, my true form won’t disappear. I’ll still win.”

Without hesitation, Yi Yu drove the sword into Wang Lao Ye’s heart.

Back at the Yu residence, Xu Yi had left.

Back in another realm, Xu Yi lay in bed as the system’s voice echoed.

“Mission failed. Both teams failed to complete the task.”

A voice from the glass room said, “How is that possible? We clearly succeeded in getting them married.”

[System] “The second round of the competition will be held the day after tomorrow. All participants, please prepare.”

The time returned to the wedding day. Jiang Yu had the maid place the fox hairpin in her hair. In the mirror, Ah Yuan was wearing his wedding clothes, smiling at Jiang Yu.

The entire street of people were blessing the newlyweds. Jiang Yu sat in the palanquin, lifted her veil, and held the fox hairpin, resolutely ending her life.

Under the sunlight, Jiang Yu saw her beloved Ah Yuan. Ah Yuan took her hand, calling out, “Miss, I’ve come to take you.”

The servant opened the curtain and shouted, “The bride has committed suicide! Someone, come quickly!”

Yi Yu could only watch, motionless, across the glass room.