After provoking the holy maiden of Miao territory, she was infected with a love curse.

The wind rushed past Yin Huaixi's ears as she hurried upstairs, leaving the diners on the first floor of the inn puzzled.

However, they dared not look any longer.

Most of the beautiful Han Chinese women born in this village are related to people of high rank and power.

Anyone who dares to provoke them.

The next day they would be skinned and dismembered, then submerged in the river.

"Ah Che!"

Pushing open the wooden door, Yin Huaixi couldn't help but call out "Sang Che," then, realizing her lapse in decorum, immediately pinched her thigh.

The pain spread.

It offset her obsession.

"Are you alright...?"

The sound gradually faded, and Yin Huaixi suppressed her strange emotions. She stepped over the threshold and saw Sang Che covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and shaking his head.

"Huaixi... I'm fine."

"It's just that there's some cold toxin accumulating in my body, causing occasional coughing."

He spoke of it casually.

But her pale face couldn't lie.

The thought of those two pairs of eyes constantly peering downstairs made Yin Huaixi realize that Sang Che had to leave immediately.

At this moment, she didn't care about anything else and squatted down in front of Sang Che.

Turning back, she said softly, "A-Che, come up on my back, I'll take you away from here."

"I've already found a new place, and we'll go back in a few days."

If you've said too many things against your conscience, one more won't make a difference.

However, before leaving, Yin Huaixi still intended to give Sang Che a friendly face.

Even if it's just "acting," you still have to portray the tenderness and affection.

Besides... she was completely powerless against such delicate and beautiful girls.

If she hadn't known the ending beforehand, Yin Huaixi sighed, she might have really fallen headfirst into this endless pit just like the original owner.

Human nature.

Reaching out to hug Yin Huaixi's neck, Sang Che pressed her face against hers, inhaling the strong, earthy scent emanating from Yin Huaixi.

Unable to resist, she pressed her lips to Yin Huaixi's sensitive neck and shoulders, exhaling softly.

"Why are you carrying me on your back?"

"Don't you usually help me walk?"

Could it be... that Yin Huaixi has taken a liking to her?

Whether it's acting or something else, as long as Yin Huaixi is willing to put on a show, Sang Che is very happy.

"The road here is difficult to walk on, and there are many people around. If I don't carry you, who will?"

"Besides, it's my duty to take care of you, um... otherwise, I'd feel bad for eating and drinking for free all these days."

Why would I feel bad?

In order to fit her persona, Yin Huaixi has been buying a lot of things these past few days, almost bursting the closet.

At least A-Cai and Yi-Yun stopped her.

That's why I didn't let her buy more.

Listening to Yin Huaixi's rambling on and on, Sang Che didn't say anything, only chuckled softly.

She knew better than anyone whether Huaixi was lying to her.

But there was nothing he could do; whenever this person got close, Sang Che couldn't help but listen to her footsteps and observe her every move.

I wonder what Yin Huaixi's thoughts are about their entanglement in "past and present lives".

The wind blew the jewelry pinned to his hair, making Sang Che feel very itchy.

Yin Huaixi finally spoke when they were almost at their destination.

"Huaixi, will you... stay with me for the rest of your life?"

Such a heavy promise right off the bat made Yin Huaixi's breath hitch, and the familiar feeling from the words in the book washed over her again.

If she answers no at this point, she might be eaten alive by the insects and turned into a pool of blood.

Using laughter to mask her fear, Yin Huaixi, in that moment of reflection, genuinely wondered if she would have to spend her whole life with Sang Che if she couldn't get out.

But who wants a life without freedom?

Even though Sang Che was indeed good to her, she didn't want him.

She wanted to go home, to return to her sister's side, and to continue being the carefree third young lady of the Yin family.

He spends his days playing with cats and dogs, walking birds, and listening to operas.

This is what she wanted.

She... wasn't so blinded by the female lead's lust that she would be willing to stay here in vain.

If you really have that thought, then you've lost your mind; being love-struck is unacceptable!

...

Noticing Yin Huaixi's pause, Sang Che hugged her even tighter, as if afraid she would use this opportunity to escape.

Sang Che's fingers gradually explored, and his palm touched Yin Huaixi's chest. The heart was beating so vividly.

The strange sensation made Yin Huaixi panic and put Sang Che down. She was really not used to having her chest rubbed like that.

Even though Yin Huaixi knew that Sang Che was a blind girl who couldn't see, she was still not a casual person.

Sang Che didn't care about anything else this time. She took a step forward and pinned Yin Huaixi against the wall.

"Why can't you answer my question?"

"Huaixi, is it difficult to answer?"

Those bewildered eyes clearly couldn't see anyone, yet Yin Huaixi still sensed disappointment and loneliness in Sang Che's deep eyes.

It seems she really did something like that—a scumbag woman who just picked up her skirt and ran away.

No… She did do a lot of things behind Sang Che’s back, but there was no intention of betraying Sang Che in them.

They were never partners or lovers, so is it really so wrong for her to want to escape?

It was Sang Che who went too far.

Pinching Yin Huaixi's chin with her fingers, Sang Che moved closer, and the silver ring on her index finger made Yin Huaixi shiver from the cold.

The ring had a strong medicinal smell, but it wasn't the scent of herbs or trees; rather, it was a strange fragrance that could cloud one's judgment with just a slight whiff.

The small red snake had reappeared on Sang Che's shoulder at some point, flicking its tongue and looking quite pleased with how Yin Huaixi was now distrusted by her master.

"Little Tooth, step back."

Sang Che's words were laced with coldness. The little red snake froze, its writhing body still. It blinked in disbelief, then shrank back with a look of grievance, before hanging back on Sang Che's waist.

I know that Yin Huaixi is afraid of snakes and poisonous insects.

Sang Che prevented her children from causing trouble; otherwise, Yin Huaixi would have been terrified.

That would be bad.

Things have come to this point.

Even if Yin Huaixi was oblivious to the situation, she knew how to appease Sang Che and calm him down.

She stretched out her palms and placed them next to Sang Che's cheeks, pulling him forward abruptly. Before Sang Che could react, Yin Huaixi kissed him.

This place is secluded.

There was no one coming or going.

But... Sang Che really didn't expect Yin Huaixi's bold move.

The panic gradually subsided, replaced by a surge of joy.

Sang Che had never seen Yin Huaixi be so proactive before.

When their thin, moist lips touched, Yin Huaixi's brain short-circuited.

But she knew that if they kissed, Sang Che would keep bringing up what had just happened without doing something more extreme!

So, following the descriptions she had seen before, Yin Huaixi took the initiative to "deeply kiss" Sang Che.

However, her lack of skill resulted in biting Sang Che's thin lips, but fortunately Yin Huaixi pulled back in time and did not draw blood.

My head is spinning.

They released the person just like that.

Yin Huaixi hurriedly tried to explain that she didn't mean to bite Sang Che, but before she could even open her lips, Sang Che cupped her face in his hands again.

He kissed her back.