Lin Zhixia stared nervously at the door, panic rising uncontrollably inside her, as if she were about to be caught in the act of doing something wrong.

Click. Clack.

The lock was turned.

Her fingers clenched tightly around her pants, her heart hanging high in her chest.

Thump. Thump.

Fortunately…

Because she had bolted the door from the inside, even after the lock was turned, it did not open immediately.

Lin Zhixia pressed a hand to her chest and let out a quiet breath of relief—just in time to hear Sister Zhang speaking outside.

“Xingyu is back.”

“Can’t open the door? Zhixia is resting inside. The door must be locked from the inside,” Sister Zhang said.

“Oh, I see. Thank you, Sister Zhang.”

Unlike Xie Jingheng’s deep, magnetic voice, Chen Xingyu’s voice was sharper and more youthful.

After the conversation in the courtyard ended, the door was knocked heavily.

Bang. Bang.

“Zhixia, I’m back. Open the door.”

Lin Zhixia took a deep breath.

She reminded herself: she wasn’t doing anything wrong. She was simply retaliating for harm done—an eye for an eye.

Chen Xingyu had used her to harm the Xie family and get them sent down to the countryside, forcing her to suffer a hard life as well.

She would no longer be able to enjoy the idle, carefree, wealthy life the original owner once had.

In the original storyline, he even caused the original owner’s death.

Whether for revenge or for herself, she could not let him go.

He was their shared enemy—what she was doing was justice.

Why should she be nervous?

After this self-persuasion, her emotions calmed.

She stepped forward and opened the door.

A man stood at the entrance—plain-looking, dark-skinned, wearing metal-framed glasses.

Even uglier than in the original owner’s memory. Compared to Xie Jingheng, he didn’t even compare to a single toe of hers.

Lin Zhixia couldn’t understand how the original owner had ever fallen for him. Did she have questionable taste?

“Zhixia, why are you only coming to see me now? Do you know how anxious I’ve been?”

“I even thought you changed your mind and decided to go down to the countryside with them.”

Chen Xingyu looked extremely excited upon seeing her.

He had already found a buyer. Because of Lin Zhixia’s pretty photo, the other party was willing to pay 300 yuan to buy her as a wife.

These past few days, he had gone to the Xie residence several times but failed to find her. He had been worrying about how to lure her out—unexpectedly, she came to him on her own.

Lin Zhixia didn’t miss the malice in his eyes and sneered inwardly, while putting on a helpless expression.

“They’re watching me too closely and won’t let me out.”

“I finally managed to sneak out today.”

“It’s fine. Once they go down to the countryside, no one will stop us from being together anymore,” Chen Xingyu said, reaching out to grab her hand.

Lin Zhixia did not want him touching her. Her eyes flicked to a water cup on the table beside them.

She immediately picked it up and smashed it to the ground.

Bang!

Her aim was slightly off—the cup hit near Chen Xingyu’s feet, and cold water splashed all over his lower legs, soaking his pants and shoes.

“You—” A flash of anger crossed his face.

But Lin Zhixia didn’t give him a chance to get angry. She loudly interrupted him.

“The Xie family is just too hateful!”

“They insist I go down to the countryside with them and refuse to help me find a way to stay in the city!”

“What? How could they do that!” Chen Xingyu’s expression changed drastically, even forgetting his wet pants.

He had already accepted a 50 yuan deposit.

If he couldn’t deliver the person on time, he would have to pay back 100 yuan.

Enjoying his panic for a moment, Lin Zhixia continued.

“Brother Xingyu, I don’t want to go to the countryside and suffer. Can you help me figure out a way to stay in the city?”

“The Revolutionary Committee said that as long as I can pay 2,000 yuan, I can stay in the city.”

“Brother Xingyu, can you help me borrow it?”

She looked at him expectantly.

“You definitely don’t want to see me suffer in the countryside, right?”

Chen Xingyu stiffened. A trace of disgust flashed in his eyes as he forced himself to remain calm.

“Zhixia, I want to help you too, but you know I was kicked out of the Xie family with nothing valuable.”

“And after my comrades found out I wasn’t the Xie family’s biological son, none of them want to deal with me. Even if I wanted to borrow money, no one would lend it to me.”

“All I have now is a little over 50 yuan and 10 jin of meat coupons.”

“Zhixia, I’m sorry… I’m useless… I can’t—”

This was exactly what Lin Zhixia was waiting for.

Before he could finish refusing, she immediately reached out.

“Brother Xingyu, then give me the money and coupons first. I’ll go ask my uncle, aunt, and grandmother for more.”

“If that’s not enough, I’ll borrow from Xiaoyu, Xiaohong, and Caixia too.”

“If everyone chips in a little, I should be able to make up the 2,000 yuan.”

Lin Zhixia had no intention of leaving early—her goal was to drain him of everything he had.

Without money and ration coupons, life in the countryside would be very difficult.

She knew very well that Chen Xingyu didn’t have much money left. After leaving the Xie family, he still insisted on living like a young master, spending as if he were still in a wealthy household. His monthly salary wasn’t even enough for food.

Previously, he relied on the original owner—his “sucker”—to support him. But this month, before Xie Jingheng’s salary arrived, the Xie family was already about to be sent down, so that support never came.

So, these fifty-something yuan and ten jin of meat coupons were likely all he had left.

Lin Zhixia would not let him go to the countryside with money to live comfortably.

Chen Xingyu was extremely unwilling. He had always been the one spending Lin Zhixia’s money—never the other way around.

But before he could refuse, her next words changed his mind.

“Brother Xingyu, aren’t you familiar with people from the Revolutionary Committee? When I gather 2,000 yuan, you can help me deliver it to them.”

“I trust you—you’ll make sure I don’t have to go to the countryside.”

“Alright, no problem.”

Greed flashed in his eyes as he immediately agreed.

He quickly took out the money and coupons and handed them to her.

“Zhixia, don’t worry. With me here, I won’t let you suffer. I’ll handle everything.”

“I’ll wait for you at home. Come to me once you’ve gathered everything.”

Looking at Lin Zhixia’s departing figure, he silently cursed: fool.

Little did he know—he was scheming for interest, while she was after his principal.

And early the next morning, she would be heading down to the countryside… and more than that.