As soon as Zhou Heng and Xu Huifang entered the courtyard, Mother Ji chased them out with a broom.
"What kind of scoundrels dare step into our Ji family's home? Get out, get out!"
Zhou Heng shielded Xu Huifang, preventing her from being hit by the broom.
His expression turned grim. "Auntie, I came to apologize to Yanshu."
"Get out! We won't forgive you!"
Mother Ji was fiercely protective of her family. In the past, Zhou Heng had been among those she shielded.
Including in his previous life, after Ji Yanshu's death when he married Xu Huifang, the Ji family had still treated him as one of their own for the sake of the child.
Suddenly facing such treatment now felt quite unfamiliar to Zhou Heng.
He spoke gently, "I never meant to hurt Yanshu, and I'm willing to compensate her. Whatever she asks me to do, I'll do without complaint…"
Here, Zhou Heng paused briefly, "But marrying her is something I can't do right now. I'll agree to anything else."
Mother Ji spat in disdain, "Take a piss and look at your reflection! Are you even worthy of our Little Five? Before, I held back to spare your pride, but now I'll say it! A man your age should be ashamed, preying on someone so young!"
Zhou Heng's face flushed crimson.
With Ji Yanshu's older brothers being successful and Ji Yanshu herself being young and beautiful, she certainly had no shortage of marriage prospects.
Given her brothers' capabilities, even if she were blind, they could still find her a good husband.
Not to mention she had attended high school – finding a partner would be effortless for her.
Zhou Heng knew his circumstances were inferior to Ji Yanshu's, but he still had his pride. Being insulted like this stung deeply.
But he was a man – he couldn't engage in shouting matches.
And in this matter, he was indeed in the wrong.
Pursing his lips tightly, he endured Mother Ji's scolding. "If it makes you feel better, you can hit me too."
Mother Ji didn't hold back at all.
Raising the broom, she struck Zhou Heng heavily. "Get out! Our Ji family doesn't welcome you!"
Xu Huifang had experienced many hardships over the years, but being chased away with a broom was a first for her.
Her face burned with shame.
"Auntie, we sincerely want to apologize to Comrade Ji. Let's talk this through properly. Losing our temper won't solve anything."
Since Zhou Heng was the root of the problem, Mother Ji hadn't initially intended to scold Xu Huifang.
But by speaking up, she had proven her willingness to involve herself in the matter.
Now Mother Ji couldn't help but scold her too.
"I used to pity you! When others spoke ill of you, I told them not to gossip! But now I see you're both rotten to the core!"
Mother Ji's tirade left Zhou Heng and Xu Huifang speechless.
Ji Yanshu had gone to the private plot to pick some vegetables. Returning home to see Zhou Heng and Xu Huifang, her good mood instantly evaporated.
She quickened her pace to the doorway.
To get her marriage certificate, Ji Yanshu had specially dressed up, wearing a pink floral dress and newly purchased low-heeled leather shoes.
Her exposed ankles were pale and delicate, with smooth, well-proportioned lines that looked particularly attractive.
She had applied scented powder, penciled her eyebrows, and put on lipstick. Her smooth long hair cascaded down her back, held in place by a hairband.
Without heavy makeup, just lightly adorned, her already outstanding appearance reached another level.
Ji Yanshu's skin was fair and translucent, her complexion rosy, like a ripe peach exuding a sweet, soft fragrance.
The reborn Zhou Heng hadn't seen her for a very long time.
Seeing her now, he froze momentarily.
In his memory, Ji Yanshu was a pretty young girl.
But she had been dead for many years, her features gradually blurring in his mind. When he thought of her, only the hollow words "pretty" remained.
How exactly she was pretty – Zhou Heng couldn't describe it.
The moment they met, the thin haze clouding his mind dissipated.
The blurred figure came vividly to life.
Her brows were arched like willow leaves.
Her eyes were large, with distinct whites and pupils—such clear eyes were rarely seen in adults.
Her nose was delicate and upturned.
Her lips were pink and tender, as lovely as flower petals.
She had an oval face that seemed smaller than his palm, and her features combined to create astonishing beauty.
Zhou Heng suddenly thought of a phrase.
Born beautiful.
It was the perfect description for Ji Yanshu.
Who wouldn’t want to be good to such a lovely girl?
Ji Yanshu already knew Zhou Heng had been reborn. Being stared at with that look in his eyes now only disgusted her.
Shouldn’t his heart and eyes be full of Xu Huifang at this point?
She couldn’t be bothered to say more.
“We’ve already called off the engagement. I hope you’ll have some self-respect and stop coming to the Ji family to annoy us in the future.”
Zhou Heng frowned. “I don’t want to hurt you. Even if we don’t marry, I’ll treat you like a younger sister from now on. If anything happens, you can come to me.”
Ji Yanshu rolled her eyes. “Are you worthy of being my brother?”
Zhou Heng felt somewhat helpless.
He had known Ji Yanshu wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
He took out several Great Unity banknotes from his coat pocket—about a hundred yuan at a glance.
“This is compensation for you.”
He acted as if he were being generous, but Ji Yanshu laughed in anger.
“The things I gave you are worth more than a hundred yuan. Don’t tell me you’re trying to take advantage?”
Zhou Heng was taken aback again.
A hundred yuan was a considerable amount at this time.
He thought he was being generous, offering ample compensation—how had it turned into taking advantage?
Ji Yanshu reminded him, “Everything you’re wearing was bought by our Ji family. The watch was a gift from my second brother. All together, it’s worth far more than a hundred yuan.”
Mother Ji chimed in, “We don’t want the things you’ve touched. Hurry up and return the money!”
Zhou Heng had come to compensate Ji Yanshu.
Instead, he ended up being treated like a debtor.
Neighbors came out to watch the drama, whispering among themselves as if he really were some petty opportunist.
Zhou Heng burned with shame.
He took out all the betrothal gifts the Ji family had returned. “Is this enough?”
Ji Yanshu promptly accepted it.
She handed it to her mother. “We don’t covet others’ belongings, but we won’t let anyone take advantage of us either. Keep it safe.”
Mother Ji, overwhelmed by anger, had forgotten about this.
She patted her chest. “My dear, your memory is sharp. Otherwise, our family would’ve suffered a huge loss.”
Ji Yanshu nodded.
In her past life, she had suffered even greater losses. Fortunately, it wasn’t too late to change things.
She went back to her room and brought out a bag.
Inside were snow cream, a comb, a dress, and a few balls of yarn.
She threw them at Zhou Heng’s feet. “These are from you. Take them back. Our families are cutting ties completely. Whoever clings on is nothing but a beast, doomed to a wretched end!”
Zhou Heng’s eyelids twitched.
He hadn’t intended to take these things back.
“There’s no need for this. You can keep the items and the money.”
Ji Yanshu’s expression was icy. “Breaking off an engagement should be done cleanly. Our Ji family lives with integrity. We don’t play at cutting ties only to leave threads attached.”
In Zhou Heng’s imagination, Ji Yanshu might have cried or made a scene.
After all, she had truly loved him.
He had envisioned many possibilities but never expected her to react like this.
Ji Yanshu was so cold.
There wasn’t a trace of emotion in her eyes when she looked at him.
Zhou Heng’s heart trembled. Could it be that Ji Yanshu had been reborn too?
The moment this thought arose, he dismissed it.
In her previous life, Ji Yanshu died young. They had never quarreled or raised their voices at each other. If she had been reborn, she shouldn't be acting like this.
She let out a heavy sigh.
Picking up the items that had been thrown on the ground, she placed them on the stone steps in front of the Ji family's door.
"Once a gift is given, there's no taking it back."
Then, she quickly added, "The things you gave me were all very valuable. You should take them back."
Ji Yanshu didn't want to listen to his nonsense. "Leave. Now."
Her resistance was so obvious, her pretty face filled with disgust.
Zhou Heng felt even more uncomfortable inside.
He didn't want Ji Yanshu to hate him…
Xu Huifang, who had been silent all this time, spoke up: "Comrade Ji, we sincerely apologize to you. Whatever request you make, we will agree to it."
Zhou Heng also looked at Ji Yanshu expectantly.
Aside from marriage, he would agree to anything.
As long as Ji Yanshu acted normally and stopped treating him with such a cold attitude.
Ji Yanshu: "Then go die."
Xu Huifang frowned. "Comrade Ji, you're being impulsive."
Ji Yanshu: "If you can't do it, then get lost!"
She kicked the items on the steps, sending them flying accurately toward Zhou Heng.
Ji Yanshu pulled Mother Ji back into the house and shut the gate firmly.
From today onward, she would live her own good life.
Those annoying people and matters weren't worth wasting her energy on!