Chapter Four: I Can Play Along as Your Loving Spouse

"I know how you feel about Zhou Zhizi. As long as you are willing to divorce me, I can help cover for you in front of our parents."

Zhou Chenyan had always known. He wanted to be with Zhou Zhizi, but the biggest obstacle was his parents. I had naively thought I had found a perfect solution.

"If you have children in the future, I can be their mother in name only. In public, I will do my best to play the part of a loving wife, but in private, you can be a happy and sweet family of three. I will never interfere!"

However, Zhou Chenyan’s expression darkened instantly. "You certainly are generous, aren't you?"

His love for Zhou Zhizi was a secret he had buried deep in his heart for years—one that had just been exposed without reservation. He said nothing and turned to go to his car. When he returned, he was holding four or five bottles of mineral water.

I didn't understand at first, until I watched him open the bottles one by one and pour them all over the power distribution box next to me through the iron mesh. In a flash of sparks, the alarm let out a sharp, ear-piercing wail. A moment later, it fell into a deathly silence.

Zhou Chenyan sneered as he pushed open the bolt on the mesh and walked in with ease. He approached me step by step, his lips curled into a mocking arc.

"Do I need you to go to such lengths to help me be with whoever I want? Mu Yan, don't you think a bit too highly of yourself?"

Without a word, he grabbed my chin firmly, his presence radiating an overwhelming pressure. My heart panicked, and I instinctively retreated until I hit the cold wall. I watched as his eyes grew deeper, seemingly filled with an undefinable meaning. He leaned closer and closer, his breath almost brushing against my face.

Just then, a sharp ringtone cut through the air. Zhou Chenyan released his grip and pulled out his phone.

"A-Yan, come quickly, please save me! These people are trying to rape me... save me..."

Hearing this, the veins on Zhou Chenyan’s forehead bulged instantly. "Where are you?"

"I don't know, I don't know where this is. I can only see a signal tower and a small white building... A-Yan, hurry!"

Zhou Zhizi’s terrified cries were audible even to me. My heart sank. These events, which were supposed to happen days later, had been brought forward to today in this new life...

Before I could react, Zhou Chenyan grabbed my arm. "Take me there! The signal tower, the small white building!"

I had no time to think and led him to the edge of the village.

"Three hundred meters south is the signal tower, and fifty meters west is the small white building..."

Before I could finish, a miserable cry echoed from the nearby bushes.

"Zhizi!"

Without hesitation, Zhou Chenyan leaped into the dirt ditch by the road. The moment he pushed aside the bushes, even I couldn't help but gasp. Zhou Zhizi’s clothes were torn, and her trembling body was already stained with blood. Even though she was covered in wounds, the three men were still pinning her down, their eyes glinting with predatory intent.

"You bitch! It’s your good fortune that we brothers took a liking to you! Why pretend to be a virtuous woman?"

One of the burly men spat, slapped Zhou Zhizi across the face, and began to unzip his pants. Zhou Chenyan’s eyes turned bloodshot as he charged forward and kicked the man away.

"Who the hell do you think you are, interfering in our business? Brothers, beat him to death!"

The three men lunged at him. Zhou Chenyan held his own against all three, but the scene descended into chaos.

"Sister Yanyan..."

Suddenly, Zhou Zhizi struggled to her feet and stumbled toward me. She knelt before me, bowing her head heavily, over and over again.

"It’s all my fault, I know I was wrong, please... beg them to let me go, please..."

My mind went blank. What was happening?

"I know you never liked me, that you thought I ruined your relationship with A-Yan. I can understand however you want to treat me, but..."

"Sister Yanyan! If you let them ruin my innocence, you might as well just kill me... let me die!"

I was being framed for a crime I hadn't committed. I looked at Zhou Chenyan subconsciously. This exact situation had happened twice now. Zhou Chenyan had already beaten the three men to the ground, but hearing Zhou Zhizi’s words, his expression turned grim. Looking at his terrifying face, I knew he was furious. In my previous life, I had no way to defend myself, but this time—

"I’m not taking the blame for this! Zhou Chenyan and I were together this whole time; when would I have had the time to bribe anyone? Besides, you ran so fast—did you think I could predict the future and know where you’d run to?"

As I spoke, the three men, who had been beaten to a pulp, suddenly perked up. They pointed at me, indignant.

"It was you who sent us here! You said you had a grudge against this woman and told us to teach her a lesson. How can you deny it now?"

"We brothers were beaten like this because of you, you have to be responsible!"

I laughed at their nonsensical lies. "You say I sent you? Then tell me, when exactly did I..."

"A-Yan, A-Yan..." Zhou Zhizi murmured weakly before closing her eyes and fainting.

She had been full of energy while kowtowing to me, only to collapse the next second. Zhou Chenyan didn't show a hint of doubt. He rushed toward her and scooped her up into his arms. As he passed me, his sharp gaze swept over me, and he said, word by word:

"If anything happens to Zhizi, I will not let you go!"

The look in his eyes was the same as in my memories—filled with a bloodthirsty glare. I finally realized: whether in my past life or this one, no matter how logical my explanations were, Zhou Chenyan would never believe me.

...

Zhou Chenyan called the police and an ambulance at the same time. The three thugs and I were taken away by the arriving officers, while Zhou Chenyan accompanied Zhou Zhizi in the ambulance.

At the police station, before the interrogation even began, Zhou Chenyan burst in.

"The victim is unconscious in the hospital and in critical condition! I demand the maximum penalty for these men, especially Mu Yan! She orchestrated everything! I want you to arrest her immediately and prosecute her to the fullest extent of the law for intentional injury!"

Even before the police had reached a conclusion, Zhou Chenyan had already unilaterally pronounced my guilt.

"Yes, yes, if the situation is confirmed, we will handle it seriously!" the officer promised.

I was too tired to explain. I hadn't done it, and I trusted the police to give me justice.

"Bang!"

With a heavy thud, the door was pushed open once again.