The designated stop for the school bus.
There was only one long bench in the waiting area; while I experienced the inconvenience, I also saw how it was more convenient for others.
I hadn’t been waiting long in the open area when a beautiful senior offered me her seat.
“Thank you.”
I didn’t bother to pretend to be polite.
Mainly because it really was inconvenient; standing the whole time was tiring and uncomfortable.
Ding ding ding—
Ever since I left the villa, Su Liumeng’s messages hadn’t stopped.
[Baby, you can’t just wander around.]
[Why won’t you let me come find you?]
[The world outside is too dangerous… no, actually it’s too fragile. Anyway, just don’t run off.]
[Want me to come pick you up?]
[I just got my license, how about I take you for a drive in the city later?]
[Are you inviting a friend home for dinner?]
[It’s fine if you don’t have any friends… I’ve already found out where Shangguan Xiyue is, at the Shanshui Villa District in the capital. Her parents have restricted her movements, and the day after tomorrow is her wedding to Mo Wuya. She’s probably trying on wedding dresses right now, maybe even finished her wedding photos, just waiting for the ceremony to walk through the motions.]
I looked at my phone helplessly. [No, don’t come pick me up. I have arms and legs, I’m not a child. Do I really need someone to look after me just to go out? Don’t be so annoying, you hear me?]
Su Liumeng was so chatty, I got to experience firsthand what it meant to be clingy.
I’d already replied a lot, but compared to her almost one message for every moment, my chat box on the left kept piling up with a dozen lines while her replies on the right popped up only one at a time.
The school bus pulled in slowly. The students at Beiqing were very enthusiastic; even after I said I didn’t need help, a senior still assisted me to the back row of the bus.
“Hey, it’s been a while, little junior.”
A senior greeted me. I stared at her face, a little embarrassed, not daring to admit that I’d already forgotten her.
She smiled knowingly, “You must have forgotten me. I was the senior holding the sign at the high-speed rail station. I wanted to help you at the time, but you said you didn’t need it, and the president scolded me hard in the group chat afterward.”
I smiled apologetically, “Sorry, I didn’t know you got in trouble because of that.”
“It’s just my personality, I don’t like others helping me.”
“Strong sense of pride, afraid you can’t repay if others help.”
I could now face my flaws calmly.
“It’s nothing, really.” The senior smiled sincerely, “That’s just how the president is, scolding us isn’t real scolding. We subordinates are used to it.”
“I saw the president’s Moments—she’s getting married in three days. I hope she’ll be happy.”
My smile froze, “She should… be happy, I guess.”
I was too embarrassed to say I was planning to crash the wedding.
Thinking about it in my head was one thing, but saying it aloud always felt way too juvenile.
*****
Villa District.
“You… said you were going to crash the wedding?”
“Do you know how many months pregnant you are?”
Su Liumeng was a bit agitated, her voice raised so much that the neighbors could hear.
“Shh, keep your voice down.”
“It’s not really crashing the wedding, just stopping the ceremony and taking Cat out of her misery.”
“You’re making a scene at the wedding—if that’s not crashing, what is?”
“Fine, fine, it’s crashing. I’ll just grab my bestie and get her out. What’s wrong with that?” Sitting on a chair off to the side, I didn’t look at Su Liumeng. “Cat already told me she doesn’t like that young master. What else am I supposed to do? Just watch her walk into misery? No way, I can’t do that.”
“I… that’s not what I meant.” Su Liumeng’s voice dropped a lot, “I just wanted to tell you, you don’t have to do this yourself. Leave it to me.”
“No way.” I turned my back to her in annoyance. “If I don’t even show my face, how will anyone know Shangguan Xiyue is under my protection? Wouldn’t she just become your bestie then?”
“It wouldn’t be the same.”
I didn’t want my only bestie to become Su Liumeng’s. If that happened, I’d have no one left to talk to!
I had my own little plans.
Shangguan Xiyue was completely different from anyone else in my heart.
She was one of the few from my birth family. When Su Liumeng and I argued, I could take my daughter and hide out at Shangguan Xiyue’s place—then no one could come knocking.
If there was no Shangguan Xiyue, where would I hide in the future?
What if I couldn’t even find someone to cook?
That was important.
Very important.
A person who can’t cook has a deep-seated obsession.
“Alright then.” Su Liumeng gave in. “Baby, what do you plan to do?”
Su Liumeng already had countless perfect solutions in mind.
But those were her ideas—she couldn’t just replace Zixi’s words with her own.
If Zixi had her own plans, meddling would only make things awkward.
I reached out my little hand, clearly without thinking, “Why overcomplicate it? Just wreck the wedding in front of everyone, speak a bit about not accepting arranged marriages, then let Shangguan Xiyue stand up and say she won’t marry, and take her away cleanly. That’s it.”
“What’s there to plan?”
Su Liumeng’s gaze was complicated, “Baby, you know you have a brain, right… maybe try using it, just a little?”
I tilted my head.
If you already have absolute strength, why bother thinking so much?
Why make things complicated?
Su Liumeng sighed silently, “Have you considered this: if you storm the wedding and forcibly take Shangguan Xiyue away in front of everyone, isn’t that the same as forcing her to break with her parents forever? She’s being forced to marry, but you’re not her. Are you sure you understand her feelings? Are you certain she’s ready to break with her family and give up all the advantages of being part of the Shangguan family?”
“Have you really thought about all this?”
“I…” My tone faltered, my earlier bravado evaporating. I slumped at the stone table, staring blankly. “I… didn’t think that far. I just wanted to get her out.”
Su Liumeng added, “And another thing—after you make a scene at the wedding, who knows what will happen to Shangguan Xiyue. But you? You’ll be fine, maybe even walk away without any consequences. After all, you won’t have to face the entire cultivation world’s pressure.”
“Shangguan Xiyue can’t live with you forever. You can take care of her for a while, but can you replace her life for good?”
“I…” I stuttered again.
“I can’t.”
I fiddled with my fingers, gradually growing despondent.
“So, what should I do?”
“Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish…” Su Liumeng sighed, “It’s simple—you can’t just take her out of her circle. She’s an adult, with her own network, friends, and family. Can you guarantee that after taking her away, she’ll be happy living alone?”
I was taken aback. “So?”
“Turn that clever head of yours around.” Su Liumeng pinched my cheek. “What’s the point of crashing the wedding? Isn’t it just to stop her marrying someone she doesn’t like? Just accomplish that goal.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to be Shangguan Xiyue’s protector?”
“She’s being forced because she doesn’t have enough bargaining chips. But if you, the Su family’s young madam, are on her side—doesn’t that change things?”
“You don’t have to do anything dramatic. Just use your status and issue a public statement to the Shangguan family—make your stance clear and let them know what you won’t tolerate. Naturally, the Shangguan family will call off the wedding. That way, Xiyue won’t have to leave her circle and, because of you, will have more say in her future. Maybe she’ll even gain real power one day.”
“True, there are many bad habits in her circle, but she also has friends and relationships she can’t just cut off. When a person is strong enough, no old custom or sharp arrow can hurt her. It’s better than hiding away from everyone forever.”
“Fine, I’ll listen to you.” I decided immediately. “Chunqiao, come here, fetch pen and paper.”
“The Shangguan family’s forced marriage has really angered me.”
“This isn’t something that can be solved with just ‘breaking the engagement.’ I won’t let a single guilty party off, especially Xiyue’s parents. This time, they’ll learn what a real lesson is.”
“And I’ll give the whole Shangguan family a warning too.”
“Remember this: one last thing—Shangguan Xiyue is under my protection. If anything like this happens again, everyone involved will be executed without mercy.”
Tapping the table with my finger, I added, “Draft it yourself, no need to show me. Stamp it with Su Liumeng’s seal and deliver it to the Shangguan family’s capital estate tonight.”
“Make it grand. Give Xiyue plenty of face, let everyone know how serious I am.”
I looked over the list Su Liumeng handed me, full of names and crimes. “This one, and this one, and this one—whoever should die, kill them in front of the whole Shangguan family. If they don’t see some blood, they’ll never understand what I’m like.”
“Miss, how many do you want executed?”
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