If her guess was right, the people outside were likely Bai Yichen and the group he brought for the marriage proposal.

Her younger siblings usually didn’t bother knocking and would push the door open directly. Their dilapidated little courtyard was so poor it could hardly sustain even rats, so they typically didn’t bother closing the door during the day.

Chen Hongyan lay on the bed, coughing and gasping as she spoke weakly to An Xin.
“Xin’er, go see who’s at the door!”

Their little courtyard hadn’t had visitors in a long time, and even in her illness, An’s mother felt a flicker of inexplicable anticipation at the thought of someone coming.

“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll check. It’s probably my friends.”

An Xin walked to the door, responding to her mother’s call while opening it.

Despite being bedridden and seemingly on the verge of death, her mother still worried about household matters. An Xin couldn’t help but sigh, reflecting on how much her mother had sacrificed for her and her siblings.

As the door opened, she was greeted by Bai Yichen’s cold, expressionless face, standing there with several village officials. An Xin quickly said, “Please, come in, everyone!”

Lifting her head, she accidentally met Bai Yichen’s dark, deep eyes, as profound and mysterious as a bottomless pool. Her face flushed unintentionally.

The village officials exchanged knowing glances and smiled discreetly, mistaking her reaction for the natural bashfulness of a young couple. After all, hadn’t the two already been intimate? What was there to be shy about?

The officials walked into the courtyard cheerfully, while Bai Yichen, bringing up the rear, turned to look at the blushing woman and said quietly, “Let’s go in.”

He had arrived as promised to formally propose, yet it seemed to embarrass her.

Wasn’t she the one confidently proclaiming her love in front of that bamboo-stick Zhang Fan without hesitation just a few days ago?

Love him? Could he believe that?

An Xin hadn’t expected Bai Yichen to look at her so intently. Startled, she quickly lowered her head and stammered, “L-let’s go!”

Standing side by side with him gave her an inexplicable urge to escape, so she strode quickly into the house, leaving the man behind in the courtyard.

Bai Yichen watched her retreating figure, his expression inscrutable, and shook his head helplessly.

The village chief of Chahe Village, Hu Zhigang, was a short but stocky middle-aged man. Entering the house, he loudly called out toward the inner room, “Mrs. An, we’ve got some good news and came to your house. You don’t mind, right?”

Without waiting for a reply, Hu Zhigang invited everyone in, dragging chairs to seat the group in the room.

After all, they were village officials and had come bearing gifts from Bai Yichen for this marriage proposal. Naturally, they didn’t treat themselves as outsiders.

With no one in the An family to properly receive them, the officials made themselves at home.

As An Xin entered the house, she heard her mother, Chen Hongyan, weakly respond from the inner room.
“Oh, why would we mind? Please, all of you, have a seat. I’ll come out right away.”

Suddenly remembering something, she instructed An Xin, “Xin’er, quickly pour some water for the guests.”

Their home hadn’t had visitors in ages, and now a group of officials had arrived. How could Chen Hongyan not be pleased?

Hearing her mother’s intentions to come out, An Xin decided against fetching water and hurried into the inner room to help her mother out. She seated her on a chair in the main room.

After all, Bai Yichen was here with the officials to discuss her marriage. As her mother and the family elder, Chen Hongyan needed to be present.

Once her mother was settled, An Xin busied herself pouring plain boiled water for the officials. Their poverty meant they couldn’t afford tea leaves.

When Bai Yichen entered, he saw An Xin finishing the task and handing him a tea cup. He accepted it without a word, moving gracefully to sit beside the village chief on a worn-out chair. His actions were so natural and seamless, as if he belonged in this house. Even the dusty chair didn’t bother him.

Once everyone was seated, Hu Zhigang addressed the ailing Chen Hongyan with a measured tone.
“Mrs. An, we’re here today on someone’s behalf to formally propose. The idea is to marry your eldest daughter, An Xin, to Bai Yichen, the captain of the exploration team.”

He paused, glancing meaningfully at both An Xin and Bai Yichen before continuing.
“You know how it is with young people. Sometimes emotions run high, and things happen. But what’s important is that they have feelings for each other. Today, we’re here to finalize their marriage.”

Hu Zhigang’s words glossed over the morning’s scandal, framing it as a matter of mutual affection between the couple. His aim was to settle the matter quickly and preserve the village’s reputation, as any more gossip could jeopardize his candidacy for Outstanding Village Official later that year.

“What?” Chen Hongyan was stunned. It was one thing for the officials to never visit, but to come out of the blue with a marriage proposal?

What was going on between An Xin and Bai Yichen? Wasn’t she close to someone named Zhang Fan? He had even visited their home a few times, calling her “auntie” sweetly.

How had things suddenly shifted, with Hu Zhigang claiming An Xin was in love with Bai Yichen and planning to marry him?

Seeing her mother’s confusion, the officials all turned their attention to An Xin. Catching their meaning, she quickly lowered her head and whispered an explanation to her mother.

“Mom, it’s like this…”

She hastily concocted a story about being just friends with Zhang Fan and being in love with Bai Yichen, conveniently omitting the morning’s events.

In a few sentences, she painted a picture of mutual affection between her and Bai Yichen.

Bai Yichen, seated quietly in a corner, listened to her fabricated story with a mix of amusement and admiration. This girl can spin tales so easily; she ought to be writing novels, he thought. Still, given the situation, he had no choice but to go along with her lies.

After hearing her daughter’s explanation, Chen Hongyan hesitated before asking, “So, you’ve decided to marry Bai Yichen?”

While it was good news for her daughter to get married, the sudden switch of suitors was unsettling. She didn’t know much about Bai Yichen but sensed he had a stable, respectable job. Still, she couldn’t help feeling a little apprehensive.