Lu Fengting listened quietly, lowering his gaze to the woman in front of him.
She was wrapped in his oversized clothes, her small frame almost swallowed by them. Even though she was soaked through, her eyes were sharp and full of intelligence.
Earlier, he had offered to take responsibility out of concern for her reputation. But now that she had spoken so calmly, he simply nodded.
“I’ll wash your clothes and return them to you,” Liu Qingyue said, stepping closer. She looked up at him with clear, steady eyes. “Could you leave me your address?”
People nearby watched the two of them closely.
Off to the side, Liu Wanwan kept pretending to cry, but secretly watched them, confusion growing in her heart.
What was wrong with Liu Qingyue today?
Lu Fengting gave his address. Liu Qingyue nodded and bowed deeply.
“Thank you for saving me. I truly appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.”
And just like that, their first encounter ended. Lu Fengting walked away, while Liu Qingyue turned her gaze toward the “family of three” standing nearby, her heart filled with cold irony.
“Dad, aren’t you leaving yet?” she said lightly.
“Or do you still want people to keep watching the joke—mine, or Liu Wanwan’s?”
With a faint, knowing smile, she glanced at Liu Wanwan before turning and walking away.
Liu Wanwan froze for a moment, then hurried after her.
“Liu Qingyue! Why did you say I pushed you? I didn’t push you at all!” she whispered urgently.
Annoyed, Liu Qingyue suddenly turned around, startling her.
“Because I understand what’s in your heart.”
She gave her a half-smile and a deep, meaningful look.
That single glance made Liu Wanwan’s heart pound.
Did she… actually know?
If not, why would she say those things in front of everyone?
If she really knew… what would happen to her plan?
“Wanwan!”
From behind, Wang Chunhua caught up and pinched her arm. “Why are you running so fast? You did well today—but how did things with Zhou Heshan get exposed? How did that girl find out?”
Liu Wanwan quickly shared her doubts.
Wang Chunhua gritted her teeth. “Useless girl! Can’t you do anything properly?”
Tears rolled down Liu Wanwan’s face. “How was I supposed to know? After she fell in the water, she changed completely! She even hit me—my face still hurts!”
Wang Chunhua thought for a moment, then lowered her voice.
“When she goes to the island with the army, you go with her. Watch how she reacts. If she refuses, it means she really knows about you and Zhou Heshan. If she doesn’t, then she’s just guessing.”
“Okay.”
Soon, they returned home.
As Liu Qingyue pushed open the door, she saw a young boy playing in the yard. He snorted and rolled his eyes at her.
Without hesitation, she walked over and kicked him.
“You—you kicked me?!”
The boy was the son of Liu Dajun and Wang Chunhua.
Ever since he was born, Liu Dajun had practically obeyed Wang Chunhua in everything, and Liu Qingyue’s life had only gotten worse.
Her younger brother was spoiled and mischievous—whenever he broke something, she was blamed and punished for it.
So what if she kicked him?
Ignoring him completely, Liu Qingyue walked inside.
By the time Wang Chunhua and Liu Dajun returned, the boy had already cried his complaints.
Liu Dajun stormed in just like before, ready to scold her. But Liu Qingyue simply turned away, clearly unwilling to engage.
“What kind of attitude is that?” he snapped. “First you badmouth your sister in public, now you hit your brother at home. What, you think you can do whatever you want now?”
Liu Qingyue stayed silent.
Seizing the moment, Liu Wanwan stepped forward and played the victim.
“Dad, she hit me so badly just now! She chased me and kept hitting me—my face still hurts!”
She sat beside Liu Dajun, acting spoiled, and pointed at Liu Qingyue.
“Dad, make her apologize to me!”
Wang Chunhua had secured her position in the family by giving birth to a son, and Liu Wanwan often gained sympathy by acting pitiful—so Liu Dajun treated her quite well.
Only Liu Qingyue had little standing in this family.
Just as Liu Dajun was about to demand an apology, Liu Qingyue suddenly turned her head, narrowed her eyes, and asked calmly:
“Do you really have nothing going on with Zhou Heshan?”
That look made Liu Wanwan feel a flicker of guilt.
But she still answered firmly, “No! You’re just making things up!”
Liu Qingyue gave a faint smile and said nothing for a moment, then relaxed her expression.
“Alright, then I’m relieved. I must have been shaken after falling into the water—that’s why I got emotional and hit you. I apologize.”
Seeing Liu Dajun and Liu Wanwan visibly relax, Liu Qingyue suddenly changed her tone.
“But if you really are involved with him…” she said coldly, “I won’t go easy on you.”
She smiled—but to Liu Wanwan, that smile felt chilling.
Startled, Liu Wanwan quickly got up and hid behind Wang Chunhua.
Wang Chunhua gave Liu Dajun a look.
He cleared his throat and said, “Qingyue, don’t overthink things. Your sister would never have anything to do with your fiancé.”
Hearing this, Liu Qingyue’s expression became even calmer.
At this moment, Liu Dajun truly didn’t know the truth.
But in her past life, when everything eventually came out, he still accepted it—and allowed Liu Wanwan to marry Zhou Heshan.
Because in his mind, even though the engagement was originally for Liu Qingyue, her reputation had been ruined.
Someone still had to fulfill the marriage.
And if that person was Liu Wanwan, even better.
The family could benefit from it.
After everything she had experienced in her previous life, Liu Qingyue now understood clearly:
It wasn’t that her father didn’t care about her at all—
it was just that he cared more about himself and his precious son.
Without another word, Liu Qingyue turned and walked into her room.
Liu Dajun sighed heavily. Beside him, Wang Chunhua muttered,
“Look at her attitude! If Wanwan’s reputation really gets ruined, what are we supposed to do?”
They continued talking, while Liu Wanwan sat quietly, her hands clenched tightly together.
Inside, her thoughts were racing.
Now that Liu Qingyue’s reputation was damaged, she could step in and marry Zhou Heshan under the existing engagement.
Everything would fall into place.
And her future would be secure.
The thought made her secretly pleased.
After a while, Liu Qingyue stayed in her room until Liu Dajun called everyone to eat.
During dinner, Wang Chunhua said, “In half a month, you’ll be heading to the island with the army. Start getting ready.”
“I know,” Liu Qingyue replied calmly.
She remembered the timeline clearly—she had lived through it once already.
She had already decided to go to the island, so she didn’t object.
After dinner, she stood up to return to her room.
“Aren’t you going to help clean up?” Wang Chunhua snapped.
“Didn’t you want me to do it?” Liu Qingyue replied flatly, then went inside and slammed the door shut.
Wang Chunhua slammed the table in anger, while Liu Dajun quietly cleaned up the dishes.
Once inside her room, Liu Qingyue took out the space necklace from her dowry.
It had a small snowflake-shaped design.
She cut her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto it.
The moment the blood touched the necklace, it began to glow.
Then, as she closed her eyes—
She was pulled into another space.