Chapter 2: Scheming

At that time, she suddenly understood that Su Pingping's dissatisfaction with her wasn't something new in the past two years; it had been there all along, never changing.

Unfortunately, she realized it so late.

She looked at the person in front of her and suddenly smiled; how could she have been so blind in her previous life?

Su Pingping frowned. Why was she smiling? So sarcastically.

Yet, she still obediently said, "Sister, do you think I'm just teasing you?"

"No, really, I've thought of a great way to make sure you don't have to be forced into a happiness-redeeming marriage tomorrow."

Su An'an's gaze fell upon the hand being held, and she naturally withdrew it, saying, "What method?"

Su Pingping was stunned, feeling that Su An'an's attitude tonight was a bit indifferent. Upon reconsideration, it might be because she was upset about marrying a sickly person tomorrow.

Not giving it much thought, she leaned in and mysteriously revealed her plan.

Ha, identical to her past life.

Urging her to run away and elope with Liu Yiran.

Saying Liu Yiran couldn't let go of her and didn't want her to spend the rest of her life with someone on the brink of death. So, he'd wait for her at the back door at midnight to take her away, to explore the world freely and lovingly, never parting.

Su Pingping even produced a handwritten letter from Liu Yiran, each line expressing genuine feelings, seemingly deeply in love, as if he couldn't live without her if she were to marry someone else.

Time passed, and looking at this letter now, Su An'an only felt mockery. Mockery at such casual and exaggerated words that she once believed.

In her previous life, she had some affection for Liu Yiran but would never agree to elope. She only decided to do so because of this letter, making her mistake Liu Yiran for a deeply passionate person who would surely treat her well. Coupled with Su Pingping's persuasion, she decided to run away.

Never did she expect that running away was the beginning of a nightmare.

Liu Yiran didn't love her. Everything was a scheme he concocted with Su Pingping.

He tricked her out of all her valuables and finally sold her at a high price to a brothel.

Su Pingping had instructed Liu Yiran to destroy her innocence directly. However, Liu Yiran loved money more than beauty. A virgin beauty could be sold at a high price, so Liu Yiran left her untouched.

Su An'an refused to yield, disfiguring her face to the point of being unrecognizable, scaring anyone away without appetite.

She no longer had to receive guests but was forced to do the roughest work, her once delicate hands sullied by the rudest of labors.

The young miss eventually became a lowly servant, toiling away in filthy back alleys, without a glimpse of daylight, tormented for four years.

Reflecting on those four years, Su An'an suddenly closed her eyes—past events unbearable to remember—but ultimately, they were the past, and now, she still had time.

Su Pingping saw her holding the letter, unmoving for a long time, thinking Su An'an was moved. She quickly said, "Sister, as people often say, treasures are easy to find, but a devoted lover is rare. Look at how deeply Liu Gongzi cares for you; you mustn't let him down."

"I've arranged everything for you. Tonight at the third quarter of midnight, I'll find a way to distract the guards at the back door. Quickly gather some valuables, and when the time comes, leave with Liu Gongzi. From then on, you'll enjoy the scenic fields and the freedom at the ends of the earth, with no one to restrain you."

"Oh, and there's this." Su Pingping took a few silver notes from her pocket, "These are my savings. I hope they can help you a little. Don't think it's too little."

Su An'an put away the letter and took the silver notes—five hundred taels, just like in her previous life.

For someone of her standing, taking out five hundred taels at once probably took a long time to save up. In her previous life, seeing her so generously helping and facilitating her escape left Su An'an deeply moved.

Sadly, she later realized that what Su Pingping lost was five hundred taels, but what she gained was all her dowries and the position of the Su Family's legitimate daughter.

Seeing that day when the second miss of the Su Family became the young miss, using the lavish dowries left by her mother to marry into a high-status family with great fanfare, only then did Su An'an realize how foolish she had been.

The saying 'sold out and still help count the money' was her to a tee.

Suppressing her thoughts, she pretended to be embarrassed and said, "Five hundred taels, that must be all of your savings, right? How could I have the nerve to accept it?"

Su Pingping hurriedly said, "Oh, sister, you mustn't feel embarrassed. It's only right for good sisters to help each other. What's mine is yours. When you're out there, everything needs to be looked after; you can't be wronged."

After speaking, Su Pingping stuffed the silver notes into her sleeve, with an expression as if she wouldn't be at ease unless Su An'an accepted it.

Su An'an smiled and accepted it.

Not accepting would be unjust to your performance.

Seeing this, Su Pingping was satisfied—the fish had taken the bait.

She went on to advise about other matters, like where to leave without encountering any servants, and insisted that she change clothes, which had already been prepared and were left at such and such a place waiting.

In her previous life, listening to this was touching; now, all she saw was scheming.

Having set the trap early, waiting for her.

She pretended to listen cooperatively, and as she was expressing more reluctance at seeing her leave, she suddenly interrupted, "Pingping, actually compared to eloping, sister has a better idea. I could avoid marrying into the Shen family and stay here with you."

Su Pingping was stunned, clenching her handkerchief, "What way?"

Su An'an smiled at her, doting as she did back then, "Just have you replace me in the marriage."

"After all, it's only said to be a Su daughter, without specific names. Little sister just came of age early this year. Even if you married into the Shen family, they wouldn't say anything, right?"

"That way, we wouldn't have to part. Whenever I have time, I can visit you."

Su Pingping's expression instantly froze, "Sister, are you joking? Although our maternal aunt didn't specify names, everyone knows the Su family's eldest daughter is you. If I rashly marry over, I'm afraid, afraid it would displease the Shen family, and should our aunt get angry and implicate the Su family, what shall we do?"

She appeared to be worried, "Little sister isn't unwilling, just afraid the Su family can't bear the consequences of the Shen family's anger."

Su An'an laughed; if she ran away, wouldn't it be more severe than a substitute marriage?

Otherwise, why would her father be so angry, believing she tarnished the Su family's reputation and resolutely sever ties with her, leaving her to her fate, henceforth only recognizing the second miss of the Su family.

Su Pingping was terrified she'd really replace her and hurriedly listed the harms of her doing so, then started wiping her eyes with her handkerchief, a habit of hers when playing the victim.

Su An'an smiled slightly, suppressed her discomfort, and performed a sisterly bond play, "Alright, just teasing you. With how good little sister is to me, how could I bear to let you marry there?"

Only then did Su Pingping stop her tears and lightly scold her, saying her sister always frightened her.

Su An'an only smiled, a smile that made Su Pingping distinctly uneasy, so she spoke more honeyed words to persuade her.

Finally, seeing her revert to her previous gratitude, Su Pingping was relieved.

After finishing the reminders, as she was about to leave, Su An'an, with a worried look, said, "If we part like this, who knows when I'll see little sister again. I wonder if little sister can send me off tonight when I leave?"

Su Pingping hesitated.