Qin Lian sat quietly in the backseat of the old car as it bumped along the uneven road. With each jolt, she clutched the small bag on her lap, her bandaged head throbbing faintly.
After leaving the Qin family, the reality of everything began to settle in. She had woken up in a novel, as a cannon fodder character doomed to have a tragic ending.
She took a deep breath and looked out the window, her heart gradually calming. Since things had come to this, all she could do now was live her life well. The god had given her a second chance; she didn't want to waste it.
All she wanted was a peaceful life. Nothing more.
She couldn't help but wonder if her decision to leave the Qin family and marry Xu Yinchen would turn out to be the right one.
But deep down, she knew this much: whatever comes next, she'll be fine.
…..
When the car came to a halt at the entrance of Qinghe Village, the sun had already set, and darkness enveloped the area.
Qin Lian had expected to reach the village before nightfall, but the journey had been riddled with delays. What should have been a two-hour drive had turned into more than three hours.
"Thank you, Uncle Wu, for dropping me off. I can go from here. Thank you," Qin Lian said politely, stepping out of the car and clutching her small cotton backpack.
Her legs felt stiff from sitting in a small, cramped car for too long, and a wave of dizziness hit her as she adjusted to standing again.
The events of the day, combined with her lingering weakness from the morning's incident, left her feeling drained.
Uncle Wu waved his hand dismissively. "No worries. However, it's already dark. Are you sure you can manage from here? Do you want me to drop you off at your husband's home?" He asked worriedly.
After all, she's just a girl, new here and alone. It's so dark and desolate. How can he not worry?
Although Qin Zhong hadn't told him where Qin Lian was going when asking for the favour, once they were in the car, he asked out of curiosity, expecting her to make an excuse.
But to his surprise, she didn't hide it. Calmly, she revealed that she was going to her husband's house, which caught him off guard.
He lived in the same compound and had heard about the drama at the Qin household that morning.
He couldn't believe how much Qin Lian had changed in just a few hours. To accept everything so quickly... it didn't make sense.
He felt a wave of pity for her.
Such a beautiful girl, now leaving the city behind to live in a village, marrying an older man. What a shame.
"It's so dark, and there's no one around. I should at least drop you off at your husband's place. It's not right for a girl to go there alone," he said, feeling a pang of sympathy.
He couldn't help but think about how heartless Qin Zhong must be. How could they send a girl to her husband's home all by herself? Were they trying to humiliate her?
Is this even considered marrying her off or selling her to the old man?
Qin Lian's heart warmed slightly at his words. She shook her head hurriedly.
She knew Uncle Wu had other places to be, and he had already gone out of his way to bring her this far. He was late for his appointment because of her. She couldn't be more of a burden than she already was.
"No, thank you. I'll manage," she insisted, bowing slightly in gratitude. "Thank you again."
He hesitated for a moment but then nodded, his concern evident. "Alright. Be careful," he said before driving off, the car lights disappearing into the night.
After he was gone, Qin Lian let out a deep breath and turned to look at the empty road ahead. The village entrance was silent, with sprawling fields surrounding the uneven path in the middle.
The absence of streetlights made the darkness feel oppressive, and the distant chirping of insects heightened the eerie quiet.
She shivered slightly, the autumn chill seeping through her thin dress. "Looks like I'll have to find my husband's house myself." She sighed, wrapping her arms around herself, before taking her first hesitant step forward.
Just when, a deep voice startled her, causing her to stumble slightly. "Qin Lian?"
She turned around sharply in vigilance, her heart pounding. A man was approaching her, holding a bicycle by the handlebars.
The dim moonlight outlined his tall, broad frame, though it was too dark to see his features clearly.
As he came closer, the details of his attire became visible: a white T-shirt beneath an unbuttoned brown shirt and beige cotton pants, slightly dirtied from a long day's work.
On anyone else, the outfit might have seemed outdated fashion, but on him, it appeared effortless, enhancing his rugged, masculine handsomeness.
She couldn't help but wonder, 'Are all village men this handsome in this era?'
For a moment, Qin Lian blinked at him in confusion. She couldn't see him clearly, but the soft moonlight only seemed to enhance his features, making him appear even more handsome.
"Who…" she hesitated, gripping the strap of her bag tighter. "Who are you? How do you know my name?" She wondered if he was someone from the production team.
The man who was approaching her stopped a few steps away.
He glanced at her bandaged head and the small backpack slung over her shoulder. His brows furrowed slightly, as though trying to make sense of the scene before him.
After a moment, he cleared his throat and spoke in a low, steady voice.
"I am Xu Yinchen. A while ago, your father… I mean, Mr. Qin contacted the village production team and left a message saying that you would be arriving today."
Qin Lian's mouth parted slightly in surprise. 'So this handsome man is… her husband? The father of three children?'
No way!