While Han Daliang had gone to speak with Lu Yunfei, the atmosphere at home was no better.
Madam Li had sent her son outside to play while she stayed behind to do the housework. Seeing Han Xiuxiu sitting there with an indifferent expression, the resentment she had been suppressing finally boiled over.
Now that the two of them had completely fallen out, Madam Li no longer bothered pretending to be polite. As she swept the floor, she muttered loud enough for Han Xiuxiu to hear, each word dripping with sarcasm.
“You shameless little slut. Throwing yourself at a man and still not feeling embarrassed.”
“Only your father’s pig brain couldn’t see what you were plotting. I saw right through you.”
“You splashed mud all over your father and me. Do you really think you’ll get a happy ending?”
“Just wait—you’ll get what’s coming to you.”
“You could’ve lived a life wearing silk and gold, but instead you chose poverty.”
“Don’t think I don’t know. You’ve had your eye on that hunter for a long time.”
“Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that he was the one who saved you?”
“You turned down a perfectly good marriage into the Zhang family just to marry a hunter.”
“When you can’t even fill your stomach, you’ll regret it!”
…
Madam Li was clever enough.
After thinking the whole night, she had pieced together almost the entire truth about Han Xiuxiu’s little scheme.
Now that Han Daliang wasn’t home, she vented all her frustration by muttering endless insults.
Han Xiuxiu ignored her.
She was still getting used to this new body.
In the era she had lived in, Earth was no longer suitable for ordinary humans.
Only mutated people had survived.
She had been born with a unique ability—the trust of animals came naturally to her, and she could command them with her mind.
In the apocalypse, she had been a famous beast tamer.
Unfortunately, even someone as powerful as she was couldn’t survive a hellish world forever.
When she died, she’d actually felt relieved.
People in that world no longer lived like human beings.
To survive, they slaughtered one another without hesitation.
If life meant living like that…
Death was preferable.
Never had she imagined that she would awaken in ancient times, inhabiting the body of a girl who happened to share both her name and surname.
Han Xiuxiu’s body was weak.
It could even be called malnourished.
Her thin arms, skinny legs, and underdeveloped chest left her thoroughly dissatisfied.
In the apocalypse, physical strength was everything.
Without it, one simply became prey.
Fortunately, this Han Xiuxiu was only fifteen years old.
If she could improve her nutrition now, her body would develop quickly.
At the very least, she wouldn’t remain so frail.
As for marriage…
She wasn’t particularly concerned about whom she married.
In the apocalypse, nobody knew whether tomorrow would come.
Love and romance had long ceased to matter.
She had only agreed to marry the hunter because that had been the original Han Xiuxiu’s wish.
She wanted to fulfill it.
Now that she had accepted this identity…
From this day onward, she truly was Han Xiuxiu.
Lost in thought, she ignored Madam Li completely.
That only made Madam Li angrier.
“If I can’t discipline the older one, I’ll discipline the younger one!”
She rounded on Han Xiaoxiao.
“So now I’ve raised two pampered young ladies?”
“The older one threatens everyone by trying to die.”
“And the younger one won’t even move when poked.”
“No chores.”
“No laundry.”
“Just waiting for me to serve you?”
“Pah!”
“The pair of you are worthless! Born by a mother but never raised by one!”
Han Xiaoxiao’s eyes immediately filled with tears.
Too frightened to argue back, she silently picked up the wooden basin piled high with dirty clothes and shuffled toward the door.
She wasn’t walking slowly on purpose.
She was simply too small and weak to carry such a heavy load.
Han Xiuxiu shot Madam Li a cold glare before striding over and taking the basin from her little sister.
The two sisters left together to wash the clothes.
The moment they stepped outside, they heard the sound of a broom being hurled behind them.
“You little bitch! How dare you glare at me!”
Everyone in the village washed clothes by the river.
The sisters had to walk past several homes before reaching it.
Seeing them carrying the washbasin, the villagers greeted them warmly enough.
“Xiuxiu, Xiaoxiao, off to do laundry?”
“Xiuxiu, are you feeling better?”
The curiosity in their eyes was painfully obvious.
Han Xiuxiu answered with vague nods and kept walking.
She didn’t need to think hard to know they were after the latest gossip.
Perhaps some of them genuinely cared.
But not many.
Still…
Though they weren’t especially lovable people…
Neither were they particularly hateful.
The washing place was a shallow bend in the river.
Since it was already afternoon, nobody else was there.
Laundry was usually done in the morning.
The river water was cool but not painfully cold.
The refreshing chill awakened both body and mind.
The scenery beside the river grew more beautiful the longer she looked.
The setting sun scattered countless fragments of gold across the water.
The glitter was almost blinding.
Trees lined the banks in varying shades of green, rustling softly in the breeze.
As Han Xiuxiu scrubbed the clothes with soap pods, she gazed at the landscape she had regained after death.
So…
This was what Earth had once looked like.
So clean.
So beautiful.
So peaceful.
Han Xiaoxiao had been uneasy all along.
Seeing her sister staring blankly at the river with an expression she couldn’t understand, she grew more frightened.
Unable to bear it any longer, she grabbed Han Xiuxiu’s hand.
Her voice trembled with tears.
“Big Sister… don’t leave me.”
“I’m scared…”
Han Xiuxiu smiled gently.
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ll never leave you.”
Han Xiaoxiao looked at her with tear-filled puppy-like eyes.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“I promise.”
“Let’s pinky swear.”
She hooked her little finger around Xiaoxiao’s.
“Pinky promise. A hundred years, no breaking it.”
“And seal it.”
Han Xiaoxiao burst into laughter through her tears.
Han Xiuxiu smoothed her little sister’s bangs.
“There.”
“No more crying.”
“From now on, your big sister will protect you.”
“I won’t let anyone bully you ever again.”
Han Xiaoxiao softly answered,
“Mm.”
The anxiety in her heart finally melted away.
Together, beneath the setting sun, the sisters rinsed the clothes in the river.
Water flowed over their fingers…
their wrists…
their forearms…
sending tiny splashes outward in widening ripples.
As they returned home, they ran into Han Daliang.
“Dad!” Han Xiaoxiao called.
Her voice broke the strange silence.
Han Daliang merely cleared his throat in response.
His complexion was poor.
His brows remained tightly knitted.
Han Xiuxiu immediately guessed that his visit to the hunter hadn’t gone well.
At least…
He hadn’t gotten the answer he’d hoped for.
Could it be…
The hunter had refused to marry her?
Once inside, Han Daliang told her to put down the washbasin.
He sat on the doorstep, taking one drag after another from his pipe.
Finally, after a long inhale, he spoke.
“Xiuxiu…”
“I’ve never lowered myself to beg anyone in my entire life.”
“But…”
“He said he’s used to living freely.”
“He doesn’t want to get married.”
Madam Li immediately sneered.
“What a disgrace.”
“Now you’re begging people to take you, and nobody wants you.”
Han Daliang shot her a glare.
She merely turned around and cast Han Xiuxiu a mocking smile.
Seeing no reaction whatsoever on the girl’s face, she snorted and twisted away into the kitchen.
The next morning in the mountains was chilly.
Lu Yunfei slung his bow over his shoulder, preparing to head into the forest.
As soon as he opened the wooden gate, his large black dog shot outside.
Its teeth bared, it barked furiously.
Following its gaze, Lu Yunfei noticed someone standing a short distance away.
A young woman.
She had apparently been waiting there for quite some time.
The mountain mist had dampened her bangs, which clung to her forehead in sharp contrast against her pale skin.
Even her eyelashes seemed touched by moisture.
She simply stood there, staring at him.
She looked vaguely familiar.
But he couldn’t immediately remember where they’d met.
First, he shouted to stop his dog before it frightened the girl.
“Black Panther! Come back!”
Unlike ordinary village watchdogs, Lu Yunfei’s dog was enormous.
It looked almost the size of a small calf.
Its sharp teeth and fierce appearance gave it an unmistakably wild air.
The dog often accompanied Lu Yunfei on hunts.
Master and dog worked together perfectly.
Though fierce, Black Panther always obeyed him.
Today, however, something strange happened.
The dog completely ignored his command.
Instead, it barked happily as it circled the young woman.
Even stranger…
She showed none of the fear most girls would have around such a large dog.
She simply stretched out her hand for it to sniff.
Black Panther circled around Han Xiuxiu’s legs, practically fawning over her.
Lu Yunfei called again.
“Black Panther! Come back!”
The dog’s ears twitched.
It had clearly heard.
It took a few reluctant steps toward him…
then turned around again.
It flopped onto its back in front of the girl…
exposing its belly.
That posture meant complete trust.
Complete relaxation.
And obvious affection toward the girl beside it.
She crouched down and gently rubbed its head.
“So your name is Black Panther?”
“You’re such a good boy.”
The dog happily licked her hand and wagged its tail.
Watching his usually intimidating hunting dog behave like a fool, Lu Yunfei could only sigh helplessly before walking closer.
“And you are…?”
The moment Han Xiuxiu saw him, her face instantly flushed scarlet.
A delicate pink spread across her cheeks like wild mountain roses.
Her voice was soft with shyness.
“My surname is Han.”
“My given name is Xiuxiu.”
So…
She was the girl he’d pulled from the river yesterday.
The very same girl whose father had come asking him to marry her.
An awkward feeling settled over him.
Yesterday he’d rejected the father’s request.
Now the daughter herself had appeared at his door.
“You needed something?”
“I… wanted to thank you.”
“Oh.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Just a small favor.”
“Your father already thanked me.”
Han Xiuxiu glanced at him quickly before lowering her eyes again.
“My father is my father.”
“I am me.”
Lu Yunfei had little experience speaking with young women.
Even so, he could hear the quiet stubbornness in her words.
He found himself studying her a little longer.
“You shouldn’t risk your life like that again.”
“You’re still so young.”
“It would be such a pity if you died.”
She quietly protested,
“I’m not that young.”
“I’m already fifteen.”
Lu Yunfei laughed.
Fifteen.
Eight years younger than himself.
No wonder she seemed so childish.
His tone unconsciously softened.
“You should go home.”
“Don’t make your parents worry.”
But she didn’t move.
Her clear black-and-white eyes seemed veiled by the mountain mist itself.
Soft.
Hazy.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“I have no way to repay you in this lifetime.”
“Perhaps…”
“I’ll repay you in the next life.”
He waved dismissively.
“I already told you.”
“I only helped because I happened to be there.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“There’s no need to repay me.”
“Thank you, Brother Lu.”
She looked at him for a long moment before quietly saying,
“I’m leaving.”
“Hurry home.”
She walked several steps away.
Then suddenly—
She turned around…
ran back…
and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.
Lu Yunfei froze as if struck by lightning.
He had never expected such a thing.
Recovering his senses, he quickly pushed her away.
“What are you doing?!”
Caught off guard, Han Xiuxiu stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
Tears welled in her eyes as she pleaded.
“Brother Lu…”
“Can you really not marry me?”
“I can cook…”
“I can wash clothes…”
“I can do anything.”
“I don’t want to marry a fool.”
“Can you help me?”
“I’m begging you…”
“Will you marry me?”
Looking into those clear eyes clouded with tears, Lu Yunfei suddenly felt as though he were the one bullying a young girl.
“…”
So this girl had really latched onto him.
Yesterday her father had come to beg him.
Today…
She had come herself.