A woman around my age, with raven-black hair cascading to her waist, wore a form-fitting white strapless minidress that accentuated every curve. Leaning against the driver's seat where a man sat, she cooed: "Du Gongzi, don't forget our wedding dress exhibition the day after tomorrow!"
The man addressed as Du Gongzi responded distractedly, his eyes lingering on her figure while his Adam's apple bobbed and a predatory smile curled his lips. "Yes, yes, my little sweetheart. Whatever you say... Let me just..."
Just then, I strode to the car and yanked open the door.
"You're Wu Yun?" I said, voice brooking no argument. "Get out."
Startled, Wu Yun sneered. "Who the hell are you?"
"Li Beidou. Your fiancé."
Both Wu Yun and Kang Shao erupted into derisive laughter.
"A fiancé? You?" Kang Shao jeered. "Take a piss and look in the mirror. Do you really think you're good enough for Yunyun?"
I ignored him, fixing Wu Yun with a cold stare. "I make funeral attire, but I also know a thing or two about feng shui and divination. Those purplish bags under your eyes? Signs of excessive indulgence. Your vitality's draining away. No amount of money will save you much longer."
Grabbing her wrist, I pressed: "Didn't your parents tell you about our engagement?"
"Of course they did!" she scoffed, crossing her arms. "They said you're a con artist promising our family fortune through marriage. As if I'd believe that fairy tale!"
I gestured to the villa behind me. "Isn't this proof enough?"
"Of course it is! But what does that have to do with you?" she spat. "My father earned this wealth. Do you really think it's because of some so-called 'ancestral bloodline'? Even novels wouldn't stoop to that! Your family preys on gullible people, hoping one lucky hit will let you leech off their success. Do you honestly expect me to fall for such tricks?"
Our argument drew an elegant middle-aged man from the villa. His eyes held a mix of resignation and unease.
"You must be Beidou," he said heavily. "After all these years... Some things aren't as they seem."
Before he could elaborate, Wu Yun interrupted:
"Father, ignore him! What can he do?"
The man turned to me, conflicted. "I'm Wu Yun's father. There's... more to this."
His cryptic words left me uneasy, but before I could respond, Wu Yun sneered:
"Dream on if you think I'd marry a pauper like you! Look at yourself compared to Kang Shao—you're not even fit to shine his shoes!"
I gave a humorless laugh. "Breaking this engagement won't just cost you wealth. It could cost lives."
For a moment, she faltered, then regained her bravado. "Keep spouting nonsense and I'll make you regret it!"
Reaching into my coat, I revealed the yellowed marriage contract. "This is your last chance—"
Before I finished, she snatched it and tore it to shreds. Kang Shao applauded, lecherously squeezing her thigh.
"Bravo!" he mocked. "Know your place, scum!"
I locked eyes with her, voice icy. "Don't come crawling back when you regret this."
She smirked. "If I ever do, you can do whatever you want with me."
"Enough!" her father suddenly roared. Turning to Kang Shao, he said stiffly: "Please take Xiao Yun home. She's caused enough embarrassment."
Without another word, I turned and walked away—my duty fulfilled.
But then he chased after me, grabbing my arm...