Chapter One: Return to the Village

"Ah Hao, you... you..."

"A little higher, yes... and use a bit more strength."

"Yes, yes, that's it, right there. Feels so good... Mm."

...

Peach Blossom Village.

Lu Hao was giving Zhao Cuihua a massage on the bed.

On the bed, the woman's eyes were filled with allure, her cheeks flushed a delicate red, like a ripe, juicy peach that could drip with nectar. Especially with her soft, breathless sighs, Lu Hao could hardly keep the heat in his heart at bay.

"Sister-in-law, maybe you should put your pants back on. If I keep massaging further down, that wouldn't be appropriate," Lu Hao said, face burning, as he withdrew his hands from Zhao Cuihua's waist.

Zhao Cuihua gave a charming laugh. "Ah Hao, for a young man, you're really old-fashioned and conservative! I don't mind, so why should you? Besides, even if you wanted to do something else, I'd be happy to cooperate."

Her bold words, paired with that seductive look in her eyes, sent a shiver through Lu Hao's heart. He couldn't help but swallow hard. He didn't even dare look Zhao Cuihua in the eye; instead, he turned his head slightly to the side and said, "Sister-in-law, please stop teasing me."

Today, Zhao Cuihua had simply felt a bit sore and thought to ask Lu Hao for a massage to ease her discomfort. But who could have imagined it would turn into this scene?

Seeing Lu Hao's bashful expression, Zhao Cuihua laughed so hard she nearly shook herself to pieces.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Ah Hao, you're about to get married. What plans do you have for the future?"

Lu Hao smiled, "I've already thought it out. After I get married, I'll open a small clinic in the city and work hard to earn money. I want to give Xiao Juan a good life."

The Xiao Juan Lu Hao spoke of was named Xu Juan, his childhood sweetheart, a girl he'd grown up with.

Later, Lu Hao was admitted to medical university while Xu Juan attended nursing school. After graduation, Lu Hao worked as a doctor at the County First People's Hospital, and Xu Juan became a nurse at the same hospital. Both families were very satisfied with the match. They had planned to marry once their jobs were stable.

But who could have foreseen what happened?

Half a year ago, when Xu Juan was working as a nursing assistant, she caught the eye of a local rich man's son, who began to harass her. As her boyfriend, Lu Hao couldn't stand for it and gave the young master a good beating.

The next day, the rich young man returned with his cronies and gave Lu Hao a brutal lesson, breaking his right leg and leaving him crippled. Worse still, the young man contacted the hospital and had Lu Hao fired for "lack of medical ethics."

Thankfully, Xu Juan didn't despise Lu Hao for this; she still wanted to marry him. The only issue was the high bride price demanded by her family. This time, Lu Hao had come home to discuss the bride price with his parents.

"That's good... After you marry, make sure to live well together. Don't be like my family..."

"Brother Hao!"

Just as Zhao Cuihua was about to continue, an anxious voice shouted from outside. A man as thin as a monkey rushed in, worry etched on his face. This was Zhou Qiang, Lu Hao's childhood friend.

"Xu... Xu Juan is back!"

Zhou Qiang leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

"So she's back," Lu Hao glanced at Zhou Qiang and smiled. "We're about to get married. Where else would she go if not home?"

"But... she's back to deliver wedding invitations to the villagers!"

"What?"

Lu Hao froze in place.

Wedding invitations? But he and Xu Juan hadn't even settled the bride price yet. Where did these invitations come from?

"Brother Hao, you'd better see for yourself," Zhou Qiang said, pulling an ornate invitation from his pocket and handing it to Lu Hao.

Lu Hao opened it, and it felt as if he had been struck by lightning, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.

He knew both names on the invitation. The bride was Xu Juan. And the groom—shockingly—was the very rich young man who had tried to molest Xu Juan.

Sun Wenguo!

Seeing this, Lu Hao clenched the invitation tightly, then hobbled out of the room, leaning on his crutch.

He had to find Xu Juan!

He needed to question her face to face—what was going on?

...

At the entrance to Peach Blossom Village.

Xu Juan stood there in a black dress, beaming. By her side was a man in a sharp suit.

"Xu Juan!"

Seeing this scene, Lu Hao could take it no longer. Leaning on his crutch, he shouted in anger.

His sudden outburst drew everyone's attention.

Xu Juan's delicate brows knitted for a moment, but then she quickly relaxed. She knew the truth about her marriage to Sun Wenguo could not be hidden, so she might as well take this opportunity to make everything clear.

"Well, well," Sun Wenguo sneered, a cigarette between his lips as he looked at Lu Hao. "Isn't this Lu Hao? What's wrong? Your leg still isn't better? You useless cripple!"

With those words, Sun Wenguo let out a shrill laugh.

Lu Hao's face darkened as he struggled to suppress his rage. He glared at Xu Juan and demanded coldly, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"

"Why?" Xu Juan curled her lip in disdain. "Why do you think? You balked at a bride price of three hundred thousand! Why should I stay with you?"

"Lu Hao, do you still think you're some top student from medical school? Who would want you now, looking like this?"

Lu Hao retorted angrily, "But I became like this... wasn't it all because of you?"

"Hey, hey!" Xu Juan waved her hands dismissively. "Don't twist things! I never asked you to fight my husband. That was your own decision!"

Her words were like a dagger, stabbing straight into Lu Hao's heart.

Lu Hao let out a bitter laugh. "Xu Juan, I really misjudged you. I gave everything for you, but you—"

"Lu Hao, that's enough! Are you done using your so-called morals to guilt-trip me every day?" Xu Juan cut him off, her anger flaring. "What did I ever get from being with you all this time? A car? A house? You have nothing!"

"If you really loved me, shouldn't you let me go so I can pursue my own happiness?"

"Do you have any idea how precious a girl's reputation is? How can you be so selfish?"

"I must have been blind back then to fall for a selfish, narrow-minded man like you!"

Lu Hao stared at the aggressive Xu Juan, his face turning ashen, his lungs about to explode with fury. He hadn't expected Xu Juan to cheat on him so brazenly, yet act so justified.

From her words, it almost sounded as if he was the one who had ruined her life.

"Fine!" Lu Hao took a deep breath, nodding angrily. "If you won't marry me, you have to return the 100,000 yuan I gave you!"

"Return your money?" Xu Juan sneered. "Are you out of your mind? That 100,000 was compensation for my lost youth! Why should I give it back?"

"You should be grateful I'm not asking for more! And you still want it back?"

Lu Hao's anger erupted. "That money was my parents' hard-earned savings! And you said it was for the bride price, that's why I gave it to you! Why won't you return it?"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He reached out to grab Xu Juan's collar.

Bang!

In the next instant, Sun Wenguo kicked Lu Hao to the ground.

Sun Wenguo stomped on Lu Hao, cursing, "Who do you think you are? You dare touch my woman?"

"You... you bastard!" Lu Hao, enraged, tried to fight back, only to be met by a flurry of kicks and punches from Sun Wenguo.

"This pathetic loser still wants to fight? What, do you want to lose your other leg too?" Sun Wenguo grew even angrier, stomping Lu Hao's wounded right leg with all his might.

"Ah!"

A wave of searing pain shot through Lu Hao, making him cry out in agony.

"Let him go, darling!" Xu Juan grabbed Sun Wenguo's arm. "Beating this coward only dirties our hands!"

"Listen here, brat," Sun Wenguo squatted beside Lu Hao, yanking his hair and snarling, "If you dare bother my woman again, I'll make sure you never leave that wheelchair for the rest of your life!"

With that, Sun Wenguo kicked Lu Hao aside.

Lu Hao's head slammed hard against a roadside stone. Blood began to stream down the back of his head.

Meanwhile, Sun Wenguo, the cause of all this, swaggered away with Xu Juan on his arm. Their group got into the car and sped off.

"Brother Hao!"

"Ah Hao!"

At that moment, Zhou Qiang and Zhao Cuihua hurried over. When they saw Lu Hao lying there, bleeding from the head, their hearts leapt into their throats.

"Re...venge!" Lu Hao growled, his eyes fixed hatefully on the direction Sun Wenguo had left. He managed to utter the word "revenge" before slipping into unconsciousness.

"Ah Hao!" Zhao Cuihua cried out anxiously, calling his name over and over.