Xu Xi’s gaze fell openly on Zhou Yue’s face, first taking in the proportions of his features—the three divisions of his face and the five-eye width—then assessing his bone structure.
The man’s bone structure was exceptional: sharp brows and bright eyes, a cool, almost icy sharpness between them, and a jawline so defined it carried an imposing presence. Between his brows and eyes lay the unique severity and steadiness of a military man.
When he lowered his gaze, a hint of anger seemed to simmer beneath the surface. Even standing quietly, he exuded an intimidating aura.
How could he not be angry after being tricked into sleeping with a girl he’d never even met?
Zhou Yue noticed Xu Xi’s eyes fixed intently on him, and a trace of disgust flickered imperceptibly in his gaze.
He despised scheming women.
But what was done was done—he had indeed slept with the girl—so the problem had to be resolved.
Though reluctance was written across his face, Zhou Yue spoke coldly, “I will take responsibility.”
Mother Xu and her three brothers all wore expressions of satisfaction.
Only Xu Xi, who had been standing silently in the corner, pursed her lips and said hoarsely, “I… don’t need you to take responsibility.”
Her voice was terribly raspy, likely from how forcefully he had been the night before.
As soon as she spoke, Mother Xu and her three brothers were stunned. Even Zhou Yue furrowed his brows slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.
Mother Xu gritted her teeth and pulled Xu Xi back into the room, poking her head in frustration.
“Silly girl! Are you still half-asleep?! We finally managed to pressure him into saying he’d take responsibility, and you say you don’t need it?!”
Xu Xi slumped dejectedly onto the bed.
She just wanted to survive. If she married Zhou Yue and disrupted his relationship with the female lead, her fate would surely be miserable.
“Mom, I think marriage shouldn’t be forced. He doesn’t like me at all, and we shouldn’t have drugged him.”
Mother Xu stared at Xu Xi wide-eyed. Was this really her daughter?
“Yesterday, when you saw him, you were head over heels! You came home crying and insisting you’d marry no one but him! Now you’re saying marriage shouldn’t be forced? Girl, have you lost your mind?”
“I suddenly don’t like him anymore.”
Mother Xu didn’t believe it. She knew her daughter well—Xu Xi must like him so much that she didn’t want to force him.
“I’ve asked around. Zhou Yue is the battalion commander of the island garrison. The island might be remote, but he’s a decent man with a steady monthly salary—a responsible man!”
“Feelings can develop over time. I don’t want you to be called a homewrecker, unable to hold your head high for the rest of your life. You must marry him!”
Xu Xi: “…”
Why should she clean up and bear the mess the original owner had made?
Just then, Zhang Tianfu arrived with the brigade leader, and even the village chief followed along.
As soon as Brigade Leader Sun Zhiqiang entered, he began looking around for his younger sister, Mother Xu.
Reminded by the Xu brothers, Sun Zhiqiang learned that Mother Xu and her niece Xu Xi were in the room.
He entered the room and assured Mother Xu and Xu Xi, “Don’t worry. If that scoundrel dares to take advantage of Xi Xi, I’ll make sure he takes responsibility!”
Xu Xi: “…”
She had almost forgotten—she also had an uncle who was the brigade leader.
Mother Xu’s eldest brother, Sun Zhiqiang, was the brigade leader of their village, which was why Mother Xu, her brothers, and the original owner could act so domineeringly in the village.
Under the negotiation and threats of the village chief and brigade leader, Zhou Yue promised to marry Xu Xi in two days.
Zhou Yue cast a cold glance at Xu Xi. “Don’t worry, I’m just going back to the neighboring village these two days to prepare for the wedding. I won’t run away. There’s no need for you to have your mother and brother keep an eye on me.”
Xu Xi wanted to say he didn’t need to take responsibility, but Mother Xu firmly covered her mouth.
For her daughter’s happiness, Mother Xu was going all out!
The fact that Xu Xi had slept with a man had already spread throughout the village. She didn’t want Xu Xi to be called a “broken shoe” all day long—she’d be drowned in spit.
She also didn’t want her daughter to end up unmarried and alone for the rest of her life because of this.
Xu Xi didn’t dwell on it any longer. She kept feeling as if an invisible hand was pushing her, urging her to follow the original plot.
Besides, this was the 1970s. If she didn’t marry, she’d be labeled a hooligan and might even face execution.
So marry it is!
At worst, she could divorce Zhou Yue later and let him reunite with the female lead. Maybe that way, she could avoid her tragic death.
Having figured this out, Xu Xi felt a bit better.
She waved at Zhou Yue. “Zhou Yue, remember to come marry me in two days. I’ll be waiting for you at home.”
Seeing the lift in her brows as she spoke, Zhou Yue thought she was gloating.
Mother Xu and the Xu brothers were threatening him. For the sake of his future, reputation, and taking responsibility for what he had done, he had no choice but to marry her.
He frowned, his dark, deep gaze inadvertently falling on the faint red marks on the skin peeking from her collar.
Zhou Yue suddenly recalled last night—the soft, delicate skin beneath his palm. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and a wave of heat surged through his body.
It must be lingering effects of the drug.
The thought of Xu Xi and her family drugging him instantly darkened Zhou Yue’s expression.
Xu Xi noticed the chill in his gaze as he looked at her and guiltily averted her face.
Wait—it was the original host who did the bad deed, not her. She had no reason to feel guilty.
Just as Xu Xi was about to glare back, Zhou Yue had already followed the village chief and the brigade leader out, leaving her only with his tall, sturdy, and indifferent back.
…
Mother Xu was overjoyed. She was about to go back inside to burn incense for her deceased husband and tell him their daughter was getting married when she suddenly noticed Xu Xi darting out.
“Hey? Where’s Xixi going?”
“No idea,” said the eldest brother, Xu Shoushan, a bit confused but quickly catching on. “Little sis is probably so happy she’s found a place to secretly laugh.”
Mother Xu understood.
Meanwhile, Xu Xi, whom the Xu family mistakenly thought was off somewhere secretly laughing, was rushing to the village clinic.
Her legs were still a bit weak, making her walk slower. The villagers’ disdainful looks and gossip all reached her ears.
“Did you hear? Xu Xi forced herself on Zhou Yue from the neighboring village last night!”
“If they hadn’t drugged Zhou Yue and made it a done deal, he would never have married her! The Xu family is a bunch of lowlifes.”
“How shameless! Zhou Yue is the most promising young man in ten villages around here, and now he’s been ruined by Xu Xi!”
People pointed and whispered about her, even saying worse things.
Xu Xi instinctively wanted to refute them, but what they said was indeed the truth. She couldn’t… really argue.
Arriving at the village clinic, Xu Xi ignored the doctor’s disdainful look and asked him for birth control pills.
She had thought it through carefully. The book said Xu Xi died from a difficult childbirth. If she didn’t get pregnant, wouldn’t that avoid the difficult birth?
Xu Xi was quite optimistic and clever—when there’s danger, just solve it.
In this era, everyone was thinking about having children, believing that more children meant more blessings. Basically, no one practiced contraception. The village doctor rummaged through the medicine cabinet for a long time before finally finding Contraceptive No. 2 for Xu Xi.
“Our village clinic is small. We only have No. 2, not No. 1. Do you want it?”
Xu Xi: “Of course.”
Only after she forced herself to swallow the contraceptive pill did she feel a slight sense of relief.
Returning to the Xu household, Mother Xu was busy with the Xu brothers, discussing what dowry to prepare for Xu Xi. The Xu family was determined to give her the best.
Xu Xi had little interest in the matter and listlessly retreated to her room.