Chapter 3: Clinging to You

Jiang Yunhe took a few deep breaths and repeatedly told herself to stay calm, be rational, and not stoop to his level. He was just a straight man!

But to hell with “straight men”!

“Chu Peihan, did you come to propose because you felt sorry for me?”

“I… no!” Chu Peihan just felt he wasn’t worthy of her. If the Jiang family hadn’t caused such a scene, he wouldn’t have made this decision.

Even more so, if he knew Jiang Yunhe had a better option, he would never have come to bother her.

Yunhe regained her composure. In her past life, she had never even heard of him proposing. From beginning to end, Chu Peihan had kept it from her. Why?!

Seeing her silent, Chu Peihan felt uneasy. “Yunhe, I really do like you, but…”

Jiang Yunhe cut him off, “But my ass! You already agreed just now when I asked. I don’t care! From now on, you’re my fiancé. I’m clinging to you!”

Not “I’ve chosen you” — but “I’m clinging to you.”

Whatever he thought, she was going to marry him first!

Chu Peihan froze again. He felt her decision was a bit hasty. He wanted to say something to explain but couldn’t find the right words.

In truth, he was just afraid she’d regret it.

Feeling aggrieved, Jiang Yunhe pouted, “Chu Peihan, you said you’d marry me, and I believed you. If you go back on your word… then I’ll… I’ll…”

Chu Peihan said, “I’ll marry you. I will.”

He had wanted to marry her all along. He was just worried she was too young to understand what she was committing to, and if she regretted it later, there’d be no turning back.

Jiang Yunhe was satisfied and let out a few smug little hums. So annoying!

If not for the memories of her previous life, she might really have been tricked by him. But even so, she was still a little pissed off.

This time, Chu Peihan was finally behaving himself.

If she said hold hands, he held hands. If she said hook arms, he did it without question or resistance — though the tips of his ears were so red, it looked like they might bleed.

The Jiang family lived at the village entrance, and the Chu family lived at the far end, on a small hillside. Most villagers were out in the fields, so they didn’t run into any annoying people along the way.

Jiang Yunhe reviewed her next steps silently as she walked.

Chu Peihan, fully aware of what she was thinking, couldn’t help saying once they neared his house, “How about… you stay away for a while? Let me handle things here, and once it’s settled, I’ll come get you and we’ll get married.”

Jiang Yunhe replied, “No need to worry about me. With those few idiots? They can’t do anything to me.”

Chu Peihan: “…”

He was still worried.

Her arms and legs were so thin — could she even fight them off?

Although she had given Sun Meilin quite a beating earlier, the Jiang family still had Jiang Dazhuang and Jiang Chenglong!

Jiang Yunhe didn’t want him dragged into her messy family affairs. She quickly reassured him, “If I can’t handle it, I’ll come find you. Don’t worry, I won’t treat you like an outsider.”

Chu Peihan cautiously asked, “But… didn’t you use to really hate me?”

Jiang Yunhe looked serious, “When did I ever hate you? That was just a little misunderstanding. Chu Peihan, I see clearly now — you’re loyal, righteous, and chivalrous. You’ll make a great husband. I’ve struck gold with you!”

Chu Peihan: “…”

A little dazed.

Before, whenever Jiang Yunhe saw him, she’d act like a mouse seeing a cat. And now she was saying this? Was she… possessed or something?

Jiang Yunhe coughed lightly. She had so much to tell him — about past and present lives — she wanted to pour it all out and hand him her heart on a silver platter.

But… she better not. She might scare him off.

Besides, he didn’t even seem that eager to marry her.

That thought made her angry again!

While Chu Peihan was still in a daze, she pushed him into the house and bolted away like a sprinter. She still had to deal with Sun Meilin!

Chu Peihan clutched the envelope in his hand, took a few steps after her, then stopped.

Marrying her—

Just those two words were enough to make his heart race.

He rubbed his eyes and looked in the direction she had run. Though people said he was blind, in reality, he could still vaguely see shapes.

Like now — he could make out Jiang Yunhe’s swiftly disappearing silhouette.

But Jiang Yunhe didn’t know how much he could see. All she was thinking about was — deal with the mess at home, marry him, then find a way to cure his eyes.

Back at the Jiang household, Sun Meilin was still lying on the ground.

The yard was quiet, not a sound. It seemed Jiang Dazhuang and Jiang Chenglong weren’t back yet.

Jiang Yunhe stared at Sun Meilin with cold eyes, countless thoughts racing through her mind. Finally, she calmed down. This was a society governed by law — if she killed her outright, she wouldn’t just lose the chance to marry Chu Peihan, she’d probably end up in jail.

Not worth it for a piece of trash like her!

She quickly found some rope and tied Sun Meilin up tightly.

Splash—

A bucket of cold water was dumped over her head.

Sun Meilin jerked awake, only to find herself tied to a wooden chair in the house, leaning against the wall, feet off the ground, soaking wet.

Jiang Yunhe stood beside her, staring coldly.

“You little bitch! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“If I’m a bitch, then what are you?” Jiang Yunhe asked calmly, genuinely confused. She really didn’t understand. She was Sun Meilin’s biological daughter — why had she always treated her this way?

Was it just because she was a girl?

“I’m obviously—” Sun Meilin changed the subject, “I’m telling you, let me go now, or you’ll regret it! I’ll make your life hell!”

“I’ll regret your ass,” Jiang Yunhe sneered. Even now, Sun Meilin still thought she could boss her around. Clearly, she didn’t understand the shift in power.

Sorry, but it was Jiang Yunhe’s turn now.

“Sun Meilin, who told you to marry me off to Wang Tiejiang?”

“I didn’t need anyone to tell me…” Sun Meilin scoffed, not taking her seriously at all. But when Jiang Yunhe picked up a whip, her expression finally changed.

It was the bullwhip they used in the fields — Sun Meilin had used it on Jiang Yunhe many times before.

She instinctively leaned back, glaring at her like she wanted to rip her apart.

Jiang Yunhe smiled, “Don’t look at me like that. Or I might change my mind. If I kill you and throw you in the reservoir, no one would ever know.”

Sun Meilin: “…”

Damn. She really was a bitch.

So many years of raising her — wasted!

Jiang Yunhe stepped closer with the whip, eyes dark and cold. “Debts have names, and enemies have faces. You tell me who gave the order, and I’ll settle it with them. If not… I’ll settle it with you.”

Sun Meilin panicked. “I—I’ll talk!”