Mu Xiang's words were unintelligible to Mu Anxiao and the others present, so they all turned their gaze to Ouyang Ye.
However, in Ouyang Ye's memories, his encounter with Mu Xiang was so beautiful. A shared umbrella led to their fated meeting, a shared umbrella sealed their engagement, and because of an umbrella, they fell in love at first sight.
He had given up everything to find her, even envisioning a beautiful future life before he arrived.
But who would have known… she had forgotten. It was fine, he had helped her recover her lost memories, only to be met with such a 'misunderstanding.' In her eyes, he had become a thief.
And she, she was still the kind girl in his heart.
"..." He remained silent, staring blankly at Mu Xiang.
Mu Xiang felt truly uncomfortable under Ouyang Ye's gaze. "That's how you looked at me that day," she shivered.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Ouyang Ye, then at Mu Xiang, trying to interject, "He's so handsome, do you really think he's a thief?"
Mu Xiang looked at Mu Anxiao. "..."
Mu Anxiao felt uneasy under Mu Xiang's sudden stare. "I don't mean to judge by appearance, it's just… he looks like a noble young master, and he only stole an umbrella, not money. And you…"
"Are you siding with him, or with me?" Mu Xiang interrupted.
It turned out that Mu Anxiao was indeed siding with Ouyang Ye. Of course, her actions were not out of flattery, but rather… she was curious about the ability he possessed.
She thought that if she tried to use his good looks to her advantage, perhaps he would be happy. Once he was happy, she could ask him who his master was.
This way, she could also rescue Mu Xiang.
Who would have thought that Mu Xiang would timely interject at this moment.
"Of course…" she gave a dry laugh. "I deal with matters, not people. I don't think he's a thief." She glanced at Ouyang Ye, who continued to stare at Mu Xiang without speaking.
Mu Xiang: "The fact is, he stole my umbrella."
"This is…" Mu Anxiao was only beginning to understand emotions. Guessing Ouyang Ye's feelings was still difficult for her, so she couldn't continue.
Ouyang Ye: "You gave it to me." He stared at Mu Xiang.
Mu Xiang finally turned her gaze back to Ouyang Ye's face. "You suddenly stood in front of me and asked for the umbrella."
Ouyang Ye had wandered the mortal realm for many years, observing all sorts of relationships, and had been looking for a suitable partner for himself.
Thus, relying on the notion of fate, he walked onto the street and encountered Mu Xiang, holding an umbrella in the rain. It was a magical day; they were the only two people on the street. Ouyang Ye believed this was their fated encounter. Then, with a mysterious confidence, he approached Mu Xiang.
Mu Xiang didn't speak that day. She simply looked up at him with a polite smile, her meaning being that he was blocking her way.
Unexpectedly, he completely misinterpreted Mu Xiang's reaction. He immediately reached out, grabbed the handle of Mu Xiang's umbrella, and smiled, saying, "Miss, could you give me the umbrella?"
He merely wanted to share an umbrella with Mu Xiang and chat with her, to get to know her.
Little did he know, Mu Xiang was completely bewildered by his words and let go of the umbrella. And so… Mu Xiang unknowingly handed the umbrella over to Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye, holding the umbrella, uttered words of marriage.
Mu Xiang was startled by Ouyang Ye's words, but for her own safety, she smiled at him naturally twice before turning and running away.
Conversely, Ouyang Ye thought Mu Xiang was being shy. Her escape was merely an opportunity for him to find her again. Thus, from that day on, he began searching for Mu Xiang.
He had even given up the task of impersonating a groom and marrying a bride for her.
Finally, after persistent effort, he found her. Who would have thought… the result would be so… real.
"Why did you give me the umbrella?" he asked.
Mu Xiang: "If I didn't give it to you, what if you… snatched my money bag? Besides," she glanced at her hand, "that day, you almost touched my hand. I'm an unmarried girl. What if someone saw?"
"..." Ouyang Ye's fantasies of months shattered in an instant.
Mu Xiang, seeing Ouyang Ye's stunned expression, dared not speak.
Ouyang Ye: "So, I never existed in your heart for a single day."
"I'm not like them…" Mu Xiang looked at Wan Sha and Mu Anxiao. "They like handsome men. Besides, I think you look quite ordinary; you didn't particularly impress me."
Ouyang Ye sneered: "Since that's the case, everything was my wishful thinking."
"Of course," Mu Xiang said without thinking.
Mu Anxiao began to worry for Mu Xiang.
Wan Sha shared the same thought as Mu Anxiao.
Conversely, Mu Xiang's sister-in-law felt nothing. She knew… Mu Xiang was destined to marry the fool regardless, and as for Ouyang Ye, she saw him as merely a… stranger.
Outside, Feng Qishi listened to the conversation inside and thought about the difficult stories of Ouyang Ye 'seeking his wife' that the servants had been gossiping about. He sighed faintly, feeling sorry for Ouyang Ye.
Inside.
After staring at Mu Xiang with a cold smile, Ouyang Ye suddenly turned to Mu Xiang's sister-in-law.
Mu Xiang's sister-in-law was startled and gave Ouyang Ye a dry laugh.
Ouyang Ye: "I was the fake groom. Now, because of me, she has to marry that fool. Therefore," he said seriously, "you should pay me silver."
"What? Even without you, she would…"
"Without me, she would have escaped. But now," Ouyang Ye interrupted, turning to glare at Mu Xiang, "she won't."
Mu Xiang's eyes widened.
Wan Sha lowered her head and looked at her hands, which had completely lost their demonic powers, her eyes darkening.
Mu Anxiao frowned.
Seeing that Ouyang Ye was not someone to offend, Mu Xiang's sister-in-law asked, "How much do you want?"
"What? Sister-in-law…" Mu Xiang exclaimed.
"Mu Xiang, sister-in-law is just following your parents' arrangements. Don't blame me. If you escape, for me," Mu Xiang's sister-in-law's eyes darkened, "there's no benefit."
Mu Xiang: "..." She smiled wryly.
Seeing Mu Xiang like this, Ouyang Ye felt a sense of satisfaction. "Not much, a hundred taels."
"A hundred taels?" Mu Xiang's sister-in-law was truly shocked by the amount Ouyang Ye stated.
Ouyang Ye: "Of course, for such tasks, I usually only charge fifty taels. As for the extra amount, it's because your sister made me search so hard, and in the end, she hurt my heart. So, the additional fifty taels are for the emotional compensation you owe me."
"..." Mu Xiang's sister-in-law shifted her gaze to Mu Xiang.
Mu Xiang glanced at her sister-in-law, thinking of Ouyang Ye, who was always self-righteous and imposed all his mistakes onto her. She said, "I am willing to marry the fool; it has nothing to do with you."
The seemingly melodramatic story suddenly became so real. This was the first time Mu Anxiao had encountered such a situation, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity towards Ouyang Ye.
This familiarity wasn't from a past relationship, but rather… a familiarity from the overlap of certain events.
At this moment, she suddenly remembered those five brothel madams.
"I don't care," Ouyang Ye said, turning his back on her. "When the wedding happens, give me the money." With that, he left.
And so, the situation reversed.
Ouyang Ye, carrying his 'disgust' for Mu Xiang, went to the reception hall. He then ordered to dispense with all formalities, and the sound of gongs and drums echoed throughout the Mu family mansion.
People passing by the Mu family mansion on the street were also shocked by the sounds from within. However, no one dared to inquire further; after a glance, they all left.
Mu Xi, upon hearing Feng Qishi's words, personally helped Ye Yu put on the wedding attire. Ye Yu kept smiling foolishly, muttering "wife, wife" incessantly.
Seeing Ye Yu like this, Mu Xi felt guilty towards Mu Xiang.
In that room, Mu Xiang sat at the table, ignoring her sister-in-law's words, and drank tea cup after cup. Mu Anxiao, lost in thought about Ouyang Ye's identity, continued to refill Mu Xiang's cup with the teapot.
Wan Sha sat cross-legged on the bed, trying to find the reason for her lost demonic powers.
Half an hour later.
Mu Xiang, unable to resist her sister-in-law's persuasion, finally changed into the wedding dress that made her uncomfortable. Then, with Wan Sha's support, she walked towards the reception hall.
Along the way, Wan Sha looked at Mu Xiang, who was deliberately trying to lift her veil, with a sad expression. "Let's escape," she said. After speaking, she couldn't help but glance left and right to ensure they were alone on the path.
Mu Xiang knew that Ouyang Ye's abilities must have surpassed those of Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi, otherwise, why would Mu Xi obey, and why would Wan Sha lose her demonic powers?
With this thought, she abandoned all unrealistic ideas and said indifferently, "Don't worry, after I marry the fool, I'll escape."
"What?" Wan Sha exclaimed.
Mu Xiang whispered, "His task is to make me marry the fool. As long as his task is completed," her eyes darkened, "I can go my own way."
"You… isn't this idea a bit too naive?"
Mu Xiang had just argued with her sister-in-law. From that argument, she realized that her sister-in-law's kindness towards her before was purely because she saw the shadow of her deceased sister in her. And what she was doing now was fulfilling her sister-in-law's wish to see her sister get married.
As the saying goes, a married daughter is like spilled water. Once she left here, she would have no relation to the Mu family. Later, on her way back, she would disappear. Then, the Ye family wouldn't be able to come back to cause trouble for the Mu family, because she was the daughter-in-law of the Ye family. Her disappearance under their noses would be their problem.
Also, she knew… her sister-in-law was an extremely unreasonable and greedy person. This time, her sister-in-law had also spent money on her wedding.
Naturally, she believed that when her sister-in-law heard of her disappearance, she would demand that money back from the Ye family, and then the Ye family would be the unlucky ones. Who asked them to raise a fool.
Therefore, after arguing with her sister-in-law and compromising, she came up with this plan. Telling Wan Sha this now was only to prepare Wan Sha, nothing more.
"..." She continued to walk.
Wan Sha frowned: "Why aren't you talking to me?"
"...."
The next moment, Mu Xiang stopped and looked at Mu Anxiao, who had suddenly stopped in front of her. She asked in surprise, "Why are you out?" She frowned.
Ouyang Ye, worried that Mu Anxiao might cause trouble, had arranged for Feng Qishi to lock her in a guest room before Mu Xiang and Wan Sha came out.
As for the sister-in-law, after arguing with Mu Xiang, she had been escorted to the reception hall.
Therefore, Mu Xiang was surprised.
"He guarded me, of course I can come out," Mu Anxiao said softly, turning to look at Feng Qishi, who had stopped beside her.
Mu Xiang followed Mu Anxiao's gaze and turned to look. "What are you two trying to do?" she thought that since Mu Xi and Wan Sha had lost their demonic powers, their magic must also be under control. So, she didn't hold out much hope for them.
"..." The two of them looked at A Long together.
A Long looked helplessly at Feng Qishi and Mu Anxiao, who were afraid of being overheard, and said, "She wants to help you." She pointed to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Xiang looked at Mu Anxiao and asked softly, "Didn't you say you couldn't do anything?"
"..." Mu Anxiao glanced at A Long.
A Long sighed helplessly, "Your sister-in-law is here. Whatever she says… originally, she wanted to come out with you and talk to you, but she was turned back. Now," she cleared her throat and pointed at Mu Xiang's wedding dress, "give me the wedding dress."
Feng Qishi knew nothing of this matter, so he quickly turned his back.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Feng Qishi and said nothing.
Mu Xiang: "You want me to leave? And marry the fool in my place?"
"..."
This time, it was A Long's turn to look at Mu Anxiao and thoughtfully say, "It wouldn't look good for you to go out with the reputation of being married, so she wants to do it for you and create a scene, saying you ran away." She pointed to Mu Xiang.
Mu Xiang frowned.
Wan Sha said helplessly, "Eloping."
Mu Anxiao nodded.
Mu Xiang shook her head: "No, if I do that, my… sister-in-law's wish won't be fulfilled. Besides, you heard it, I'll harm my sister-in-law."
"Do you really want to marry the fool?" Mu Anxiao broke her silence and asked.
A Long was speechless.
Mu Xiang remained silent.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao frowned and asked, "You didn't know he was a fool before, did you?"
"Of course, I didn't know," Mu Xiang said excitedly.
Mu Anxiao: "Don't get agitated. Since you didn't know, this matter is easy to handle," she said, a smile curving her lips. "Now, give me the wedding dress."
"I…"
"Put on my clothes, and don't leave here," Mu Anxiao arranged personally, looking at Wan Sha. "Stay close to her." She pointed to Mu Xiang.
Wan Sha: "Mu Anxiao, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Doing a good deed. Next, you just wait and watch the show," Mu Anxiao said, turning to look at Feng Qishi, who was still with his back turned. "Go further away and watch for me."
Upon hearing this, Feng Qishi turned his face slightly and obediently walked a bit further away.
A moment later, Mu Anxiao put on the wedding dress, tidied her hair casually, and put on the headdress. She then turned to look at Mu Xiang, who was staring at her in surprise. "What are you looking at me for?"
Mu Xiang, dressed in Mu Anxiao's clothes, looked at Mu Anxiao, who had put on the wedding dress and deliberately applied blush, with astonishment. She said faintly, "I thought you would look like you were cross-dressing in this wedding dress, but it's not like that."
Mu Anxiao's lips curled. "Big sister, I'm a woman no matter what." As she spoke, she reached out and snatched the veil from Mu Xiang's hand, looked at Wan Sha, who was staring at her, and frowned.