Whoooosh!
The freezing wind howled outside, making the windows rattle and bang loudly.
Huang Xiaoxiao had already wrapped herself in three layers of blankets, yet she still didn’t feel warm.
“Ugh, it’s freezing to death!” she finally shouted.
She looked out the window.
Everything was covered in white.
A world of ice and snow—the Winter Kingdom.
This was her home.
The entire planet was covered by thick layers of ice year-round. Without a supply of Fire Crystals, humanity simply couldn’t survive.
Especially this year.
It was colder than ever.
“Big… Sis… Big… Sis… Time… to… eat…”
A trembling voice came from outside the door.
If one listened carefully, they could even hear the sound of chattering teeth.
“Coming!”
Wrapped in her blanket, Huang Xiaoxiao walked out of her room.
She saw her family, all bundled up in blankets just like her.
On the dining table sat five portions of cold food.
Her father, her mother, her two younger brothers, and herself.
After a long silence—
Her father, Huang Nan, finally spoke.
“Eat.”
Silence followed once more.
“Let’s eat.”
Her mother, Lu Xiao, picked up a bowl from the table.
Inside was a small piece of dried meat. Their household had been without fire for five days.
This was the only thing they could eat.
Her mother picked up the meat and bit into it several times before finally tearing off a small piece.
She chewed painfully.
Her father and two brothers had it slightly easier. They were Ability Users, so they could still bite through the meat.
Huang Xiaoxiao lowered her head.
Looking at the frozen dried meat in front of her, she simply couldn’t bring herself to eat it.
“Maybe… I should just get married.”
At last, she spoke.
“What?”
Everyone immediately turned toward her, surprise and delight written across their faces.
“I said… I agree to get married.”
A faint smile appeared on Huang Xiaoxiao’s face as she looked seriously at her parents and brothers.
In her previous life, because she stubbornly refused to marry, her father and two brothers had ventured out into the snowstorm to hunt and died beneath the claws of ferocious beasts.
Her mother, trying to support her, froze to death in the icy wilderness. Her body was never even found.
As for herself, she eventually died alone at home—whether from hunger or freezing, she didn’t know.
In this life, she couldn’t be that selfish again.
Wasn’t it just marriage?
What was there to be afraid of?
“That’s wonderful! You finally agreed!”
Her mother tossed aside the chunk of dried meat. It hit the table with a heavy thud, showing just how hard it had become.
“Wait here. I’ll contact Zhuo Yi right away.”
Zhuo Yi.
The man her family had chosen for her to marry.
A disfigured man.
A scar stretched from his brow all the way to his lips. Combined with the fierce, murderous aura surrounding him, he looked terrifying, as though he might devour someone alive.
No matter how many times Huang Xiaoxiao saw him, she still felt afraid.
Zhuo Yi placed a bag of Fire Crystals and over a hundred pounds of ferocious beast meat onto the table.
Then he sat beside Huang Xiaoxiao.
In her previous life, she hadn’t even dared to look at him. She simply lowered her head and silently refused.
This time, she raised her head and carefully examined the man before her.
The scar on his face was indeed deep. One could easily imagine how dangerous the situation had been when he received it.
Aside from the scar, however, he was actually very handsome.
His brow ridge was well-defined, his nose high and straight, and even his tightly pressed lips seemed strangely… attractive.
Thinking of something, her face suddenly grew warm.
She quickly shook her head, trying to throw away those random thoughts.
“Are you cold?”
Seeing her shrink her neck, Zhuo Yi moved a little closer.
Instantly, Huang Xiaoxiao felt a wave of warmth wash over her.
Warm.
Comforting.
Without realizing it, her body relaxed.
“We can handle the paperwork in a couple of days. Let’s take her home today first.”
After putting away the supplies, Lu Xiao walked into the living room and spoke enthusiastically to Zhuo Yi.
The smile on her face was dazzling. Anyone who saw it would think she’d struck it rich.
Seeing this, Huang Nan couldn’t help frowning. He glanced once more at his daughter.
When Zhuo Yi took hold of Huang Xiaoxiao’s hand, her heart tightened.
She swallowed nervously.
Yet she didn’t pull away.
He was sharing his warmth with her.
As if he knew how cold she was.
His thoughtfulness made her feel unexpectedly touched.
“Zhuo Yi, she’s our only sister. If we ever find out you’ve bullied her, we won’t let you off.”
Her second brother, Huang Zitao, spoke solemnly.
Her eldest younger brother, Huang Ziming, said nothing, but his meaning was clear.
“Father, Mother, Ziming, Zitao, don’t worry. I’ll treat Xiaoxiao well.”
Holding Huang Xiaoxiao’s hand, Zhuo Yi stood up and spoke with complete sincerity.
And just like that—
Huang Xiaoxiao followed him home.
The house was large and warm, several times bigger than her family’s home.
“Are you cold? If you are, go upstairs and take a bath first. The first room upstairs is ours.”
As Zhuo Yi organized the things Huang Xiaoxiao had brought from home, he spoke to her.
Huang Xiaoxiao didn’t move.
“What is it? Is there something else?”
Seeing her still standing there, Zhuo Yi looked at her in confusion.
“Um… my clothes.”
After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally spoke.
“Oh. Go wash first. I’ll bring your clothes up in a moment.”
Without even thinking, Zhuo Yi answered.
Having no other choice, Huang Xiaoxiao headed upstairs.
“This house is way too big… With a house this nice, why would he choose me?”
Standing in the bathroom, she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
She wasn’t exceptionally beautiful—at most, she could be called pleasant-looking.
Nor did she possess any notable strength.
And by strength, she meant this life’s strength. Since birth, she had never displayed any extraordinary talent.
So why had he chosen her?
Warm water flowed down from above, instantly warming her entire body.
Her thoughts became more and more active.
So this counted as getting married.
She now belonged to someone else’s family.
Tonight…
Would she have to sleep beside that man?
And if they slept together…
Would something happen?
Wait.
What was she even thinking?
Stop.
Stop right there.
In this life, she had made a different choice from her previous life.
That meant her parents and brothers wouldn’t die because of her anymore, right?
Knock, knock, knock.
She had no idea how long she had been bathing when a knock sounded outside the door.
“I’m coming in.”
“Wait!”
Huang Xiaoxiao panicked.
Click.
The door opened.
Their eyes met.