In an instant, all the blood in Zhong Yizhu’s body turned cold.
He instinctively tried to cry out, but his mouth was forcefully covered. He struggled desperately, yet the man above him pinned him down with brutal strength.
Zhong Yizhu had already recognized him—he was the thug who had bumped into Tao-ge’er in town earlier that day. But no matter how cautious he had been, he never imagined the man would follow them all the way back to the village… and strike in the dead of night.
The hand clamped over his mouth reeked of damp earth and something foul, making him nauseous. The man was soaked through from the rain, his wet clothes pressing coldly against Zhong Yizhu’s body. With rough force, he tore at Zhong Yizhu’s clothing—his intentions unmistakable.
The man’s voice, deliberately lowered, hissed into his ear, filled with malice that made one’s skin crawl.
“So you’re Young Master Zhong? Never thought I, Lai Lao’er, would be lucky enough to enjoy someone from the prefectural city. Why struggle? With a face like yours… weren’t you born for this?”
He let out a crude, ugly laugh.
“Don’t worry. Once I’ve had you, you’ll have no choice but to marry me.”
The storm outside roared, drowning out everything.
Zhong Yizhu could only make faint, muffled sounds. His strength was no match for the man’s. His legs were pinned, his movements completely restrained. Despair flooded his chest, and the tears at the corners of his eyes only seemed to excite the attacker further, making his movements more urgent.
Lai Lao’er grinned viciously, his face twisted with greed and lust. In his mind, everything was already settled—once he ruined Zhong Yizhu’s reputation, the young man would be forced to marry him. Not only would he gain a beautiful spouse for free, but everything Zhong Yizhu owned would become his as well.
He had already asked around the village. This “young master” was nothing more than a discarded son, sent away after causing trouble. Otherwise, Lai Lao’er would never have dared act like this—he had survived this long by knowing exactly who he could and couldn’t offend.
In the struggle, Zhong Yizhu’s hand brushed against something—
A needle from the embroidery frame by his bed.
He seized the chance.
With all his strength, he drove the needle into the man’s neck.
“Ah—!”
Lai Lao’er cried out in pain, clutching his neck as he sprang up. Furious, he slapped Zhong Yizhu hard, then grabbed him by the throat.
“You dare hurt me? Want to die?!”
Zhong Yizhu gasped for air, forcing out the words:
“The needle… was poisoned. If you’re not afraid of dying… then keep going.”
Lai Lao’er spat in disdain.
“Think I’m an idiot? Where would you even get poison? And why would you keep it by your bed?”
He sneered, though his breathing had grown rough.
“Besides, once you’re mine, you’ll have to save me anyway.”
With that, he lost all patience and lunged forward again.
Zhong Yizhu struggled with everything he had left.
He didn’t even feel the pain as his nails broke.
There was only one thought in his mind—
If the man succeeded, he would have no way out.
He couldn’t die.
His mother was still here.
Then—
Thud!
Something heavy slammed down.
The weight pressing on him suddenly vanished.
Another dull crash followed beside the bed.
Zhong Yizhu turned his head, dazed, his vision unfocused.
Sun Yun-niang stood there, trembling, the broken clay pot at her feet.
“It’s alright… Zhug-er… it’s alright…”
Her voice shook as she reached out, touching his face—only to find it wet with tears. Pain twisted through her heart like a knife.
She had heard nothing over the storm until Lai Lao’er’s cry. Grabbing the medicine pot from the hall, she had crept in through the darkness—and struck from behind.
The man lay motionless on the ground.
Sun Yun-niang was still shaking with fear. She didn’t dare touch Zhong Yizhu’s trembling body, only softened her voice again and again:
“Don’t be afraid… Mother won’t let you marry him… we’ll leave… we’ll go somewhere else…”
Zhong Yizhu made no sound as he cried.
Slowly, he came back to himself, though his body still shook uncontrollably.
“Mother… he didn’t succeed. I’m fine…”
Only then did Sun Yun-niang finally collapse onto the bedside, relief flooding through her as she stifled her sobs.
“My poor child… how could heaven be so cruel to you…”
Zhong Yizhu lowered his eyes.
Since his father died, it felt as though fate had set obstacle after obstacle in his path.
All he had ever wanted… was to live peacefully with his mother.
They checked the man—he was still breathing, only unconscious.
Zhong Yizhu’s voice, unexpectedly calm, broke the silence:
“Mother… we have to move him.”
If word got out that Lai Lao’er had been in their house in the middle of the night, no one would believe nothing had happened.
And once rumors spread—
There would be no way to clear his name.
Their house stood at the northern edge of the village, backed by the mountains.
In the pouring rain, mother and son dragged the unconscious man into the forest… and pushed him down the slope.
They returned home soaked, locked the doors, and barricaded them with whatever furniture they could move.
They stayed awake until dawn.
Only when the first light slipped into the room did they finally breathe again.
Zhong Yizhu stood there, still gripping the knife.
His body was stiff. His thoughts numb.
After a long while, he realized something—
This was a dead end.
Even if he survived tonight, Lai Lao’er would never let this go.
Slowly, he raised a hand to his face.
If this face only brought disaster…
perhaps it would be better to destroy it.
“Zhug-er! What are you doing?!”
Sun Yun-niang rushed forward, stopping him, her voice breaking into sobs.
“This isn’t your fault! Why hurt yourself?”
She snatched the blade from his hand and threw it aside, wiping her tears before forcing herself to stay calm.
“It’s alright… I’ll find you a good marriage. Anyone is better than that beast. Pack your things—we’ll go to your uncle’s house first…”
“I’m not going.”
Zhong Yizhu shook his head.
“If I leave, he’ll take revenge on you. I can’t leave you alone.”
And even if he were betrothed…
Lai Lao’er could still ruin everything before the wedding.
Unless—
A figure appeared in his mind.
Someone Lai Lao’er would never dare provoke.
At the foot of the mountain, east of the village
Pei Mu woke late the next morning.
After the storm, the mountain paths were muddy, so he stayed home, passing time by working on stored wood.
Just as he was about to fetch firewood, he paused.
Something felt… off.
Silent as usual, he picked up a hatchet and moved toward the back door, then suddenly pulled it open.
There was no intruder.
Only—
Zhong Yizhu.
Pei Mu frowned. “What are you doing here?”
Startled, Zhong Yizhu took a step back.
His face was pale, almost bloodless. His lips were tightly pressed together—except for a faint trace of blood at the corner.
Pei Mu shifted slightly.
Zhong Yizhu thought he was about to shut the door and quickly stepped forward to block it.
“I…”
Pei Mu had never been a patient man.
The person before him was slender, barely reaching his nose in height. It would take no effort to push him aside.
But because of their past encounters, he didn’t act.
He simply looked down at him, his expression cold, carrying a faint, ever-present edge of danger.
Zhong Yizhu clenched his hands tightly.
In his seventeen years, he had always been obedient, proper—
The only time he had ever stepped out of line was when he fought back against those who tried to treat him like an object… and was cast out for it.
He knew—
Once he said this, there would be no turning back.
If he chose wrong, it would mean ruin.
He lifted his gaze and met Pei Mu’s eyes directly.
His voice trembled slightly—
but his words were steady.
“Pei Mu… will you marry me?”