Bowing to Arranged Marriage [Rebirth] - Chapter 12

Right behind them was a group of cyclists heading to Tibet. As the four women got out of the car, the cyclists approached and asked, “Flat tire? Need any help?”

There wasn’t a single man in their car, and these girls probably didn’t know how to change a tire.

A-Yang crouched down to inspect the tire, then glanced back at the eager volunteers. Why wouldn’t she take advantage of the offer? She winked at Su-Su, and Zheng Xiyun watched as Su-Su batted her big, adorable eyes at the group and said, “We do need help! None of us know how to change a tire!”

Soon, the cyclists parked their bikes around them, pushed the car to the side of the road, and began replacing the spare tire.

With help arriving, Mu Qing finally let out a sigh of relief. She had originally planned to travel alone. After all, with her unlucky streak, anyone who teamed up with her was bound to run into trouble. But her family had been worried, and Mu Jin had even booked her onto this independent travel group the day before departure. Now, Mu Qing felt deeply guilty. Seeing others step in to help eased her mind, and she resolved not to touch the wheel again for the rest of the trip. Though she was used to her own misfortunes, she couldn’t bear the thought of causing harm to others.

Zheng Xiyun watched Mu Qing standing alone to the side and suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for her.

Meanwhile, some of the cyclists gathered around A-Yang and Su-Su, while others kept glancing in her and Mu Qing’s direction. Zheng Xiyun had no intention of attracting unwanted attention during this journey, so she walked over to Mu Qing, intending to chat and keep those men at bay.

Mu Qing tucked her hands into her pockets, her expression unreadable as she watched the repair work. When she wasn’t in one of her unlucky moments, she could be quite deceptive at least, the Mu Qing standing here now bore no resemblance to the person who had borrowed money earlier.

Noticing Zheng Xiyun approaching, Mu Qing turned her gaze toward her. Her eyes held a faint trace of sorrow and guilt, and Zheng Xiyun suddenly understood how she must be feeling.

Tucking her own hands into her coat pockets, Zheng Xiyun tilted her head and said, “Don’t be upset.”

Mu Qing’s expression faltered for a split second before she flashed a carefree grin. “I’m not upset. As long as you all aren’t, that’s fine.”

Zheng Xiyun sighed and turned her back to the group of male cyclists, focusing solely on Mu Qing. “I’m not blind. If you want to convince me you’re fine, you might need to wear sunglasses so I can’t see what’s in your eyes.”

“You saw it and still called me out?” Mu Qing frowned slightly, pulling her hands out of her pockets only to feel awkward about where to put them. Eventually, she stuffed them back in, lowering her eyes. “Now I just feel even more embarrassed.”

Zheng Xiyun studied the way Mu Qing’s thick lashes cast delicate shadows under the sunlight and murmured, “Sorry.”

“I didn’t want to join this trip with you all in the first place. I was planning to go solo,” Mu Qing said, lifting her gaze again. Under the sunlight, her amber eyes were strikingly clear. So clear that Zheng Xiyun could see her own reflection in them. “But my brother insisted on booking me into this group and made me stick with it.”

Zheng Xiyun nodded, tucking a windblown strand of hair behind her ear. With a teasing smirk, she said, “You really should stick with the group. If you traveled alone, you might die and no one would even notice.”

Mu Qing paid no mind to her teasing and curled her lips into a smile as well, though hers carried a hint of pride. “You’re mistaken. Though I’ve had my share of bad luck, I’m still standing strong. A Taoist once told me I wouldn’t live past next year, but I don’t believe a word of it.”

Hearing this, Zheng Xiyun couldn’t help but recall that absurd marriage arrangement.

When the Mu family first proposed the alliance, Zheng Xiyun had found it baffling. Why would such a prestigious family in Beijing insist on their daughter marrying a woman and with all the formalities of a traditional wedding, no less? It was utterly ridiculous.

Later, she learned an even more absurd reason: the eldest daughter of the Mu family was said to be born under an unlucky star. Only by marrying someone with a specific birth chart could her fortune be reversed, allowing her to escape her ill fate.

“There’s no such thing as destiny. People forge their own paths,” Zheng Xiyun remarked with a sigh.

Mu Qing nodded in agreement. “Exactly! That’s what I think too. Sure, I’ve had my share of misfortune, but I’ve never been in any real danger.”

Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Mu Qing grinned even wider. “A while back, my brother kept pressuring me to meet a blind date. I ran away only to get tricked into joining a pyramid scheme! At the time, I thought my life was over. But by some twist of fate, I ended up helping dismantle the entire operation! So yeah, I might be unlucky, but sometimes good things happen too.”

A pyramid scheme?

A vague memory flickered in Zheng Xiyun’s mind, but she couldn’t quite place where she’d heard about someone being lured into a pyramid scheme only to bring it down.

“What’s wrong?” Mu Qing noticed the shift in Zheng Xiyun’s expression and sobered, looking at her curiously.

Unable to recall the details, Zheng Xiyun focused on the key point in Mu Qing’s story. “You mentioned a blind date. Who was it?”

Mu Qing sighed, as if recounting a joke. “Well, since I’m supposedly cursed, that Taoist not only read my fortune but also prescribed a ‘cure’. Finding someone with a specific birth chart to counteract my bad luck. Isn’t that ridiculous? We’re the successors of socialism. How can we believe in such nonsense? But my family took it to heart. They actually found a girl with the ‘right’ birth chart and insisted that marrying her would change my fate.”

At this moment, Zheng Xiyun didn’t know how to control her expression.

She never imagined that, in this second life of hers, she would cross paths with this person so soon. Her hands clenched and unclenched in her pockets, nails digging into her palms. The sharp pain helped her regain composure. She forced herself not to dwell on the implications of what she’d just heard otherwise, she might break down. If she lost control, her identity would be exposed, and Mu Qing would realize she was the one with that specific birth chart.

But despite her efforts, her expression still betrayed her.

Mu Qing looked at her with concern. “Are you okay?”

Zheng Xiyun quickly shook her head. “It’s nothing. I just think your family is far too superstitious.”

Mu Qing nodded. “I agree. That’s why I’ve refused to engage with anything related to that woman. I believe in freedom and love. Arranged marriages and blind dates are compromises I won’t make.”

After speaking, Mu Qing looked at Zheng Xiyun with a meaningful gaze, as if hinting at something.

Zheng Xiyun stiffly curved her lips into a smile, but her heart was in turmoil. Mu Qing’s gaze clearly carried some implication, yet she couldn’t decipher it. Does she already know I’m her arranged marriage partner? But if she knows, why pretend otherwise?

That look unsettled Zheng Xiyun, though she had no idea Mu Qing was merely flirting. Trying to convey through veiled words and suggestive glances: The freedom I sought is already mine, and the love I pursue is you.

Alas, while their compatibility was written in the stars, their thought processes were on entirely different wavelengths. Zheng Xiyun completely missed the signal.

Fortunately, the cycling team had finished repairing their bikes, and A-Yang waved them over from beside the vehicle, signaling it was time to hit the road again.

The cycling group was sizable and naturally reluctant to let go of four beautiful young women. One of the more outgoing men spoke up, “Where are you all headed? Since there are just four of you girls, it might not be the safest journey. Why not travel with us? We can look out for each other.”

A-Yang, battle-hardened in such situations, thought to herself, Oh, you mean ‘look out for us’ all the way into bed? Or maybe ‘look out for us’ for the rest of our lives after the trip?

Whichever it was, A-Yang knew neither she nor the other two travelers needed it.

And so, a scene that had played out countless times before unfolded once more.

Su-Su suddenly clung to A-Yang’s arm and cooed, “Yeah, yeah! There are only four of us girls, I’d be so scared!”

Just as the men were about to chime in agreement, Su-su added, “I know you’ve said before that even though you’re a girl, you can protect me like a man would. But I’d still worry about you getting hurt! Who’d stay with me for the rest of my life then?”

The air froze in stunned silence. After a long pause, one of the men finally managed, “Y-you two, what’s your relationship?”

Su-su tilted her head innocently. “Girlfriends! We’re dating!”

Zheng Xiyun and Mu Qing exchanged glances, struggling to suppress their smiles as they dutifully played the role of amused bystanders.

But the men weren’t ready to give up yet their gazes shifted to the other two women.

As Zheng Xiyun scrambled for a way to fake a non-single status, she suddenly felt an arm wrap around her waist, pulling her firmly against a warm, soft body.

Before she could react, Mu Qing declared coolly, “Don’t even think about hitting on my girlfriend.”

Zheng Xiyun turned to see Mu Qing’s icy expression; her eyes sharp with unmistakable warning as if genuinely staking her claim.

A stampede of mythical beasts galloped through Zheng Xiyun’s mind, but she could only force a smile and smooth things over. “She’s always like this so dramatic. Don’t take it to heart. I know you guys mean well.”

If she denied it now, not only would Mu Qing be embarrassed, but A-Yang and Su-su’s ruse would also be exposed. Their intentions would become obvious though none of them appreciated the unwanted attention, these men had helped them. If they realized the lie was just to avoid traveling together, the awkwardness would only deepen.

The group’s expressions turned sour upon hearing that. A-Yang then spoke up, “We’re two lesbian couples. You don’t mind, do you? We really appreciate you helping us change the tire. How about we treat you to a meal in the next city?”

The man who had spoken earlier glanced around at his friends, then scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin. “No need, we’re all just travelers helping each other out when problems arise. Wishing you a smooth journey ahead!”

With that, the two groups parted ways to continue their separate travels.