“I’m only doing this because if you suddenly died, Senior Sister would suspect I had something to do with it.”
As the words left his mouth, Xie Yanci’s fingers curled ever so slightly at his side.
A flicker of panic crossed his dark eyes before he forcibly suppressed it, maintaining the same icy, detached demeanor as always.
He deliberately acted as though he couldn’t care less.
As though handing her the antidote without hesitation…
As though preparing extra pills for her in advance…
Had all been for his own convenience, and had nothing to do with concern for her.
Su Wan looked at the profile of his face as he deliberately turned away.
She understood his personality.
Without saying anything else, she turned and went back inside.
Clutching the small white porcelain bottle tightly in her hand, she carefully tucked it into her storage pouch and kept it close to her body.
Only then did she finally feel at ease.
I probably… aren’t on his assassination list anymore, right?
Thinking that, Su Wan gradually drifted off to sleep.
Beside her, Luo Qingyuan slept peacefully, her breathing slow and steady, completely unaware of the subtle emotional tug-of-war that had just unfolded between the girl beside her and the young man waiting outside in the courtyard.
What Su Wan didn’t know…
Was that the so-called antidote Xie Yanci had given her wasn’t an antidote at all.
It was actually a poison he had accidentally refined.
There were only seven pills in total.
After all seven had been consumed, even if an immortal descended from the heavens, there would be no saving the victim.
Death would be certain.
Su Wan had already taken two of them.
Including the three pills he had just given her tonight…
She now possessed five.
The very first time Xie Yanci forced the Eclipse Poison upon her…
He had never intended to let her live.
Only after Su Wan disappeared into the room did Xie Yanci slowly withdraw his gaze.
Looking down at the sleeve she had gently tugged moments earlier, he felt as though the cool touch of her fingertips still lingered there.
Soft.
Light.
Like a thread quietly wrapping itself around his heart.
“…Should I kill her?”
The whispered words drifted away with the night breeze, carried off by the fragrance of pear blossoms into the darkness.
The night quietly passed.
At dawn, pale sunlight broke through the horizon.
A thin veil of mist blanketed Pear Blossom Village as smoke rose lazily from household chimneys, making the peaceful village seem especially tranquil.
Su Wan slowly opened her sleepy eyes.
She stretched lazily before sitting up.
After straightening her clothes and smoothing out the wrinkles, she noticed Luo Qingyuan was already gone.
Once she had washed up, she stepped outside and found the village chief and the other three gathered around the stone table in the courtyard eating breakfast.
Xie Yanci had changed back into his usual black robes.
Standing tall beneath the morning light, his sharp, handsome features were outlined in soft sunlight.
His expression remained indifferent.
His eyes were as unreadable as ever.
He still carried that unmistakable aura warning strangers to keep their distance.
Seeing her emerge, Luo Qingyuan smiled.
“You were sleeping so soundly that we didn’t wake you.”
“Here.”
“I saved breakfast for you.”
“Thank you, Senior Sister Luo.”
Su Wan picked up a large steamed bun and ate it in small bites.
Before she knew it, her eyes drifted toward Xie Yanci.
Pretending not to notice, Xie Yanci continued eating breakfast with his usual expressionless face.
Luo Qingyuan, however, caught the subtle glance.
The corners of her lips curved upward ever so slightly.
After breakfast, the four spent the entire day questioning villagers and investigating every corner of Pear Blossom Village.
They found absolutely nothing.
The sinister aura lingering throughout the village had become so faint that it was almost impossible to detect.
It was as though it had never existed at all.
At that moment…
It was finally time for Su Wan—the girl who supposedly knew the plot—to step forward.
Well…
She only remembered most of the plot.
Clearing her throat, she said,
“Since every newlywed disappeared after their wedding night…”
“Then why don’t we stage a fake wedding and lure the evil spirit out?”
“That’s actually a good idea,” Ling Chen immediately agreed.
“So…”
“Who’s going to pretend to be the bride and groom?”
Xie Yanci asked.
“Obviously Senior Sister Luo and Senior Brother Lin—”
“Naturally,” Luo Qingyuan interrupted before Su Wan could finish,
“Junior Sister Su and Junior Brother Xie should play the newlyweds.”
Su Wan froze.
Luo Qingyuan continued calmly,
“Your cultivation is too low to hide in the shadows and support us.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ll protect you.”
Before Su Wan even had the chance to protest, Luo Qingyuan had already made the decision.
She didn’t leave Xie Yanci any room to object, either.
Ever since discovering Su Wan’s “change of heart,” Luo Qingyuan had almost completely let go of her prejudice toward the younger girl.
She could also tell…
Her junior brother seemed to have developed feelings for Su Wan.
Since the opportunity had presented itself…
Why not give the two of them a little push?
Ling Chen naturally had no objections.
As for Xie Yanci…
He wasn’t allowed to have any.
“Senior Sister.”
Xie Yanci frowned in dissatisfaction.
Luo Qingyuan ignored him completely.
Likewise…
Su Wan wasn’t permitted to object either.
The village chief immediately called the villagers together to prepare the “wedding” between Su Wan and Xie Yanci.
The ceremony would be held at his own home.
In less than a single day, the spacious courtyard had been transformed.
Scarlet silk ribbons wrapped around pillars and roof beams, fluttering gently in the breeze.
Bright red paper cuttings decorated every doorway.
The once simple village home was suddenly overflowing with festive wedding decorations.
Not a trace of its former plainness remained.
The villagers of Pear Blossom Village were kindhearted by nature.
When they learned that the immortal cultivators planned to hold a fake wedding to lure out the evil spirit, everyone eagerly volunteered to help.
Some built the ceremonial platform.
Others hung red decorations.
Some prepared wedding clothing.
Everyone bustled about enthusiastically.
By noon, every wedding arrangement had been completed.
The bridal garments weren’t especially luxurious…
But for something prepared in only a single day, they were more than sufficient for their purpose.
Inside one of the rooms lay two neatly folded wedding outfits.
Brilliant crimson silk embroidered with paired mandarin ducks and blooming lotus flowers.
Su Wan stared blankly at the bright red bridal robes.
She stood rooted to the spot, completely at a loss.
Awkward.
Embarrassed.
Flustered.
Her original plan had been for Luo Qingyuan and Ling Chen to pose as the newlyweds.
After all, that was exactly what had happened in the original novel.
The male and female leads had worked together to confront the evil lurking within the Matchmaking Temple.
Never…
Not even once…
Had she imagined that she herself would end up fake-marrying Xie Yanci.
She had devoted herself to changing the tragic fate of the protagonists and Xie Yanci alike.
But she’d never expected the plot to drag her into something like this.
Even if it was only pretend…
This would still be the first wedding she’d ever experienced across both of her lifetimes.
More importantly…
Xie Yanci had originally intended to kill her.
If this made him hate her even more…
Wouldn’t she die an even more miserable death?
“Senior Sister Luo!”
“This absolutely won’t do!”
Su Wan hurried over, grabbing Luo Qingyuan’s sleeve.
Her expression was earnest.
“Can’t we think of another plan?”
“I’m afraid the evil spirit won’t even have a chance to appear before Senior Brother Xie dies from anger.”
She forced out a laugh.
“The two of us standing together doesn’t even look like we belong in the same world.”
Then, half-jokingly, she pleaded,
“Please have mercy on me, Senior Sister.”
“Senior Brother Xie is going to kill me!”
Though she sounded playful…
The comment was very clearly directed at someone in particular.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Xie Yanci standing nearby.
She immediately shut her mouth.
Her gaze wandered everywhere except toward him.
Xie Yanci disliked physical closeness to begin with.
Especially with her.
And now they were supposed to get married?
Married.
Married!
Even if it was fake…
The thought alone sent chills down her spine.
It might even awaken his murderous intent again.
The tiny bit of goodwill she’d painstakingly earned last night would probably plunge straight into negative numbers.
Luo Qingyuan gently patted the back of her hand.
Her smile remained calm and unwavering.
“There isn’t anything unsuitable about it.”
“It’s settled.”
“If we’re going to lure out the evil spirit, our disguise can’t have any flaws.”
“You and Junior Brother Xie are well matched in appearance and stature.”
“No one is more suitable to play husband and wife.”
“Senior Brother Ling’s cultivation is the highest among us.”
“He’s best suited to hiding nearby and providing support.”
“I’ll also remain close enough to protect both of you.”
“So don’t worry.”
“I’ll make sure nothing happens.”
Seeing through Su Wan’s embarrassment immediately, Luo Qingyuan leaned closer and whispered teasingly into her ear,
“You’ve become much more straightforward lately.”
“So why are you suddenly acting so shy?”
“It’s only a fake wedding.”
“It’s simply part of the mission.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
Luo Qingyuan understood people well.
After last night’s conversation, she had already realized Su Wan cared deeply about Xie Yanci.
One was stubborn and soft-hearted.
The other was nervous and constantly avoiding her own feelings.
Neither of them was willing to admit what they truly felt.
So Luo Qingyuan decided to give fate a little push.
Using the mission as an excuse…
Perhaps the two of them would finally come to understand their own hearts.
Xie Yanci spoke coolly,
“Why make such a fuss?”
“It’s nothing more than acting.”
“Just don’t mistake it for the real thing.”
He knew there was little chance of changing his senior sister’s mind once she’d made a decision.
Besides…
If the alternative was watching Luo Qingyuan pretend to marry Ling Chen…
Then this arrangement was preferable.
After all…
Su Wan was destined to die sooner or later.
He would simply treat her…
As if she were already dead.