Chapter 1: Love at First Sight

It turned out that my father said he had no money to support my university education because all the money was spent on my brother's wedding. In the past, no matter how biased my parents were, I could endure it. However, attending university was the only opportunity to change my fate, and they cruelly deprived me of this chance. I felt unwilling and harbored a deep resentment towards the unfairness of the world. That night, I hid under the blanket and cried all night, feeling as if I had been abandoned by the world.

That evening, while my parents were still entertaining guests outside, I took a flashlight and quietly left through the back door with Xiao Yue.

After a few seconds of silent confrontation, Xiao Yue struggled to part her trembling lips: "Ge Tian, I thought you were educated and would be different from them. I didn't expect you to be a pervert, a beast. If you dare to touch me again, I will immediately show you what death looks like!" As she spoke, ... she tightened her grip on the scissors, causing blood to seep from her neck ...

After taking just two steps, I heard Xiaoyue's crisp voice behind me: "Ge Tian, aren't you going to walk with me? If you just go home like this, your parents will definitely beat you!"

Many years later, I finally understood that it was all because of that damn love at first sight

Upon entering the bridal chamber, I gently placed Xiaoyue on the red wedding bed. As I contemplated turning to leave, I found myself unable to move. Outside was noisy, yet the new room was eerily quiet, so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat. Under the influence of alcohol, numerous images flooded my mind. I felt a deep sense of injustice regarding my parents, and I was filled with resentment. The thought that my brother was about to enter the bridal chamber with such a beautiful bride made me quite displeased. A series of extreme thoughts surged within me, and I even entertained the idea of winning Xiaoyue's heart first. Suddenly, fueled by an unknown courage, I lunged onto the bed, landing on top of Xiaoyue, who was like a character from a book.

As soon as I returned to the village entrance, I was forcibly taken back home by a group of aggressive villagers. At that moment, my house was already overcrowded, and my parents quickly rushed back from outside to question me. I did not engage in futile arguments and admitted everything. My parents were furious, and they took up weapons to give me a severe beating. Even my brother, in a fit of rage, grabbed my clothes and demanded that I compensate his wife. To my surprise, even my relatives were outraged and joined in to beat me. That night, I was beaten unconscious, and I seemed to feel no pain from my injuries. All I knew was that when I woke up, I had already become lame in one leg.

I paused, turned to look at her, and said: "No, this is my home, I cannot leave!"

In the dim light, Xiaoyue's complexion appeared quite haggard. Her eyes reflected gratitude, but more than that, they were serious. She looked at me earnestly and said: "But I promised to give you the money. If you don't come with me, how can I ask my dad to give you the money?"

After walking for several hours, we finally emerged from the mountain path and arrived at the main road. Fearing that someone might be pursuing us, we did not dare to slow down even upon reaching the main road, continuing to move forward without pause. It was not until the sky began to brighten slightly that we finally saw a glimmer of hope: a bus was approaching us at the end of the road. Little Yue, who was already exhausted, immediately brightened at the sight of the bus. Without a second thought, she quickly jumped into the center of the road and waved her hands vigorously at the oncoming vehicle, her excitement evident.

I do not know why, but I cannot feel happy. I softly said to her, who was filled with joy: "The car has arrived; you can take it to the city. I do not know the way in the city, so you can go home by yourself. I will head back first!" After saying this, I turned and left. In that moment of turning, tears welled up in my eyes.

In order to prevent Xiaoyue from seeing my emotional breakdown, I quickened my pace to leave. Xiaoyue's voice kept ringing out behind me, but it was drowned out by the honking of the stopped bus. I couldn't hear what she was saying, nor did I want to.

I have an older brother who is four years my senior. He was born with a certain foolishness; to put it bluntly, he is somewhat of a simpleton. However, my parents dote on him, while I, being more intelligent, am often neglected. Throughout my life, whether it was clothing or belongings, I always had to make do with what my brother left behind, which has left me feeling quite unbalanced. According to rumors in the village, my brother is my parents' biological child, while I am merely someone they picked up from elsewhere.

In the summer of 2009, I received my university admission notice, which was a tremendous piece of good news. A glimmer of hope pierced through my previously gloomy heart. However, what followed was a thunderbolt; my parents told me that they did not have the money to support my university education and urged me to give up on this dream. No matter how I pleaded with them, it was of no use, and I could only resign myself to my fate with tears in my eyes

A few days later, a girl suddenly appeared at my home. Her skin was very fair, her features exquisite, and she had a unique aura; it was evident that she was a girl from a big city. The moment I saw her, my heart raced uncontrollably. Having grown up in a remote valley, I had truly never seen such a beautiful girl before

I felt my mind suddenly explode in a daze; it turned out that Xiao Yue was not mute. She had been enduring all along, and I had shamelessly committed an act of beastliness. Faced with the furious Xiao Yue, I did not know how to respond. After stammering for a long time, I finally managed to squeeze out three words: "I'm sorry"

After a brief period of interaction, I discovered that Xiaoyue is a particularly quiet girl. It is likely that she has been brainwashed by human traffickers; unlike other purchased brides who loudly attempt to escape, she remains silent. However, her quietness seems to be excessive; she never speaks, never leaves her room, and behaves like a puppet, maintaining a blank expression all day. Her family believes that she has been overly stimulated and has become foolish, yet only I can read in her eyes that she is a normal person

Xiao Yue's tears streamed down her cheeks as she cried out to me in pain and desperation: "If you still have a shred of conscience, take me away from here; otherwise, I will die right here. I would rather die than fulfill your family's wishes. I cannot live with a fool!" Looking at the bright red blood seeping from her delicate neck, my heart ached sharply. I felt panicked and afraid, my mouth opened in tension as I repeatedly uttered 'no'. She cried out to me again in pain and desperation: "If you still have a shred of conscience, take me away from here; otherwise, I will die right here. I would rather die than fulfill your family's wishes. I cannot live with a fool!" Looking at the bright red blood seeping from her delicate neck, my heart ached sharply. I felt panicked and afraid, my mouth opened in tension as I repeatedly uttered 'no'.

Xiao Yue is a clever girl. She sensed my hesitation and began to plead with me, expressing the pain in her heart. She spoke at length, even saying that if I let her go back, her family would pay me. It seemed as though she had prepared these words for a long time, as if she had been ready to persuade me all along. However, I did not truly listen to everything she said; I merely felt her suffering and her difficulties, sensing that we shared a common plight.

Later, I learned that her name was Xiaoyue, and she was bought by my father with all his savings to be my brother's wife. I heard that she was still a young unmarried woman