Bowing to Arranged Marriage [Rebirth] - Chapter 9

Zheng Xiyun had decided to disappear for a while and made no further appearances. Her phone was turned off, and none of her social media accounts revealed her whereabouts. While one person’s disappearance might not have much impact on the outside world, the Zheng family was thrown into chaos over Zheng Xiyun’s vanishing act.

“They’re all looking for you,” Zhang Yi said as she handed the prepared items to Zheng Xiyun. Zheng Xiyun packed her daily necessities and clothes one by one into the suitcase, then frowned at the stack of cash on the bed. “Let them keep looking.”

With that, she separated the cash into smaller bundles, stuffing them into different compartments of the suitcase, and tucked the remaining portion into her crossbody bag.

To avoid drawing attention, everything Zheng Xiyun now owned was budget-friendly. Fortunately, she wasn’t a pampered girl, so she had no strong attachment to material possessions.

Once her luggage was packed, Zheng Xiyun stood up and looked at Zhang Yi. “Let’s go.”

She had abandoned high heels and designer fashion, given up her branded leather bags. Now, Zheng Xiyun wore a simple hoodie, sweatpants, and a windbreaker, carrying a no-name PU crossbody bag. The most expensive item on her was the pair of Nike sneakers on her feet.

Her hair was tied high at the back, revealing a smooth forehead and rosy cheeks. Despite her plain attire, she still stood out not just because of her delicate features and flawless skin, but more so because of her innate grace.

Zhang Yi opened her arms, her eyes filled with worry and reluctance. “Be careful. Nothing is more important than your life.”

Zheng Xiyun hugged her and whispered in her ear, “I know. That’s exactly why I’m doing this because I don’t want to die.”

Tickets from Shanghai to Chengdu weren’t in high demand. To prevent anyone from tracking Zheng Xiyun’s ID usage in real time, Zhang Yi drove her to the airport before booking the flight. From purchasing the ticket to boarding, the entire process took less than an hour. Even if someone found out about her flight, there’d be no time to arrange for someone to accompany her.

Upon arriving in Chengdu, Zheng Xiyun remained vigilant, constantly scanning her surroundings for suspicious individuals. Even after contacting the tour guide using the phone Zhang Yi had given her, she found no signs of being followed. This was undoubtedly a good sign. Her sudden and swift actions had left little room for anyone to intercept her at Chengdu Airport.

But the Mu family clearly wouldn’t try to stop her, because their goal had never been Zheng Xiyun’s wealth or life.

In an office building in Beijing, Mu Jin set aside his work and asked the man reporting to him, “How are things?”

The man standing in the office looked slightly nervous. “Mr. Mu, the team at the airport reported that Zheng Xiyun has already boarded the private tour group’s vehicle and is on her way to pick up the young miss from the hotel.”

Mu Jin nodded. “Keep observing, but don’t let them notice. Zheng Xiyun’s whereabouts must not be leaked. Divert attention elsewhere. Report immediately on anything that happens once she and the young miss are traveling together.”

The man nodded and left the office.

At the moment, Mu Jin wasn’t particularly interested in who wanted to kidnap Zheng Xiyun. What he really wanted to know was whether Zheng Xiyun could truly alter Mu Qing’s fate, as that seemingly mystical fortune-teller had claimed. If that were the case, he wouldn’t mind helping Zheng Xiyun. But if she had no effect on Mu Qing, the Mu family would no longer involve themselves with her.

The Mu family had always been this way. Never offering too much help to those unrelated to them. They placed greater emphasis on harmony within the family and their own social connections. Whether it was called opportunism or cold-bloodedness, the Mu family had never cared. Just like with Zheng Xiyun, the Mu family wouldn’t offer her any assistance or support before she married into their household.

Zheng Xiyun had no idea that someone was already tailing her. However, those people were highly professional and kept their distance, so it was only natural she hadn’t noticed.

As Zhang Yi had mentioned, the two tour guides were very beautiful, but their attire and demeanor were different from ordinary women. Perhaps because they frequently traveled and moved around, their skin wasn’t particularly fair but rather a healthy tan. Their clothing wasn’t fashionable, yet it was very comfortable to look at. The taller of the two guides said, “Hello, I’m the leader of the Period Freedom Travel group. You can call me A-Yang.”

The other one smiled more brightly than the taller guide. “I’m Su-Su. I hope we’ll have a pleasant trip together.”

Zheng Xiyun wasn’t here for a vacation at all, but she still curled her lips in response. “Call me A-Yun. I hope we’ll have a pleasant trip too.”

After stowing her belongings in the car and sending Zhang Yi a message to confirm her safety, Zheng Xiyun waited. Twenty minutes later, the door of the Jeep parked in front of the hotel opened again. A-Yang had mentioned on the way that there was another traveler joining them. Zheng Xiyun turned to look toward the door only to freeze abruptly.

“It’s you!” The newcomer was ecstatic, stepping forward eagerly, only to suddenly halt at the entrance.

Zheng Xiyun heard a dull thud and saw Mu Qing clutching her head with a pained groan. Instinctively, she covered her own head as well. Just watching Mu Qing made her feel a phantom ache.

A-Yang turned back and couldn’t help but laugh. “Be careful!”

Mu Qing climbed into the car dejectedly, shooting Zheng Xiyun a resentful look. Zheng Xiyun sighed. “I didn’t hit you.”

“But I got hurt because of you!” Mu Qing continued rubbing her head, her eyes brimming with even more grievance. Deep down, she knew this had absolutely nothing to do with Zheng Xiyun. She had simply been unlucky like this her entire life. Choking on food, coughing on water, tripping while walking, getting into car accidents—these were all part of her daily routine.

Because of her extreme misfortune, no one wanted to be friends with her, so Mu Qing had grown up as a lone wolf. Fortunately, her family was warm and loving, doting on her endlessly. Otherwise, the current Mu Qing might have turned into a world-destroying maniac. And precisely because of her perpetual bad luck, Mu Qing had always felt she wouldn’t live long, which made her even more reckless and unrestrained in life.

Her family had even gone so far as to consult a so-called fortune-teller, who eventually determined that there was one person whose birth chart aligned perfectly with Mu Qing’s and could counteract her ill fate. Upon learning this, Mu Qing had vehemently opposed the arranged marriage her family had planned. She despised anyone forced to be with her whether it was familial bonds, friendships, or romantic relationships. Mu Qing never wanted to become someone else’s shackle. So, she had always refused to accept any information about this person, holding onto the hope that she could find her own love within her lifetime not some wretched arranged marriage.

At this moment, Mu Qing’s pitiful gaze at Zheng Xiyun was just to tease her. Although she hadn’t spent much time with Zheng Xiyun, she had taken quite a liking to this woman and now seized the opportunity to poke fun at her.

Zheng Xiyun had genuinely fallen for it. In her eyes, Mu Qing’s urgency was all because of her. That muffled thud had resonated with her, and for once, Zheng Xiyun softened her tone: “You should be more careful.”

Mu Qing, pushing her luck, leaned closer to Zheng Xiyun. “Then help me rub it.”

Zheng Xiyun looked at her disheveled yet still stylish short hair and reached out to gently tousle it. The texture beneath her palm wasn’t what she had expected. She had assumed Mu Qing’s messy hair would feel rough and dry.

The slight tremble from the woman under her touch felt odd. Zheng Xiyun glanced down and caught Mu Qing stifling a laugh.

Caught red-handed, Mu Qing showed no embarrassment. Instead, she grinned at Zheng Xiyun and said, “You really are the kind of person who’s cold on the outside but warm on the inside!”

Without hesitation, Zheng Xiyun pushed her head away and snapped, “Stay away from me!” This woman was truly insufferable!

Mu Qing actually retreated a bit, then pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her bag and offered one to Zheng Xiyun. “Want one?”

Zheng Xiyun didn’t smoke and shook her head with a frown.

Mu Qing looked surprised. “Last time on the high-speed train, didn’t you ask me for a cigarette?”

“That wasn’t me asking!” Zheng Xiyun glared sternly at Mu Qing. She hadn’t touched a single cigarette from that pack, yet she had kept it at home. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thrown it away, but right now, she desperately wanted to go home and toss it in the trash.

Mu Qing pouted. “Fine, I forced it on you.” Her tone was so infuriating that Zheng Xiyun’s face flushed red with anger.

From the passenger seat, Su-su chimed in, “A-Qing, stop bullying people. You don’t even act like a woman!”

“Then what do I act like?” Mu Qing smirked, exuding undeniable charm.

Su-su remained unimpressed. “You act like a rogue.”

Zheng Xiyun nodded in agreement. Mu Qing didn’t strike her as an ordinary woman. She was stunningly beautiful, yet her demeanor was wild and unrestrained, exuding a unique femininity in every gesture. Zheng Xiyun thought that if she were a man—no, even as a woman she’d want to conquer her, to make her stop looking at her with such careless defiance, to see other expressions on her face.

It wasn’t that Mu Qing wasn’t feminine. She was just too different from ordinary women.

Mu Qing didn’t argue with Su-su’s remark. Instead, she shook her cigarette pack and asked the three in the car, “Mind if I smoke?”

No one answered. Mu Qing spoke again, “Then I won’t hold back. Any takers?” She pulled out a cigarette for herself and extended the pack forward. A-Yang nodded, but it was Su-su who took one.

The Mu Qing who smoked was different from the teasing Mu Qing. Zheng Xiyun watched as Mu Qing exhaled a hazy cloud of smoke out the window, the faint scent of tobacco lingering in the air. Her eyes grew distant with the smoke, her expressionless face somehow even more alluring.

Suddenly, the Jeep braked hard. Zheng Xiyun lurched forward slightly, but Mu Qing smacked her head right into her own cigarette.

“Damn it!” When Mu Qing lifted her head, a red mark was already visible on her forehead, stark against her fair skin.

Zheng Xiyun couldn’t help but burst into laughter, reaching out to hold her elbow as she supported her with a smile. “You’re having a bit of bad luck today.”

Mu Qing turned to look at her, thinking to herself that she actually had this kind of bad luck every day. The warmth from the elbow was more captivating than the pain from the red mark on her forehead, and at this moment, Mu Qing still seemed unable to feel the ache on her brow. She tightened her arm, trapping Zheng Xiyun’s hand between her arm and waist, then shifted her gaze to A-Yang, who was borrowing Su-su’s hand to smoke. “Yang Jie! Can you be a little gentler?”

A-Yang exhaled a puff of smoke and laughed. “Alright, who knew you’d get hurt just from braking?”

Mu Qing turned her attention back, looking at Zheng Xiyun. “Hold onto me properly!”

The amusement in Zheng Xiyun’s eyes hadn’t faded, and she smiled even more brightly at the red mark on Mu Qing’s forehead, nodding lightly in agreement.

Only then did Mu Qing feel at ease enough to continue smoking.