The faint hint of romance in the room vanished instantly as Zhou Huai'an rushed out.

Lin Xiaoxiao cursed under her breath, put down the enamel mug, and hurried after him.

She was furious: Luo Caixia was the one who had caused all this trouble, and now that her lies were exposed, she chooses to drink pesticide? It was clearly her fault, but by pulling this stunt, she was somehow making Zhou Huai'an look like the villain again.

They hurried to Luo Caixia's house, where a crowd had already gathered in the yard. Wang Ying was inside, wailing loudly.

Some were urgently suggesting finding a vehicle to take her to the hospital, while others ran to fetch the production team's tractor.

Lin Xiaoxiao grabbed Zhou Huai'an just as he was about to enter the house. "Go mix a basin of soapy water. If there's no soap, use baking soda. A large handful of soda in a basin of water," she said, her words rapid yet steady. Without waiting for a reply, she turned and entered the house.

She saw right through it—Luo Caixia never truly intended to die. If she were serious, she would have drunk the pesticide at night; by morning, her body would have been cold and stiff. She hadn't been home long at all—she was discovered immediately after drinking it.

Since she wanted to put on a show, she might as well learn a real lesson.

Inside, Wang Ying was clutching Luo Caixia and sobbing. Two middle-aged women were flustering around, trying to force-feed her soapy water, but Luo Caixia's jaw was clamped shut, making it impossible.

Lin Xiaoxiao's face was stern, her tone brooking no argument. "Take her clothes off and wipe her down with the soapy water! That little bit of water is useless—go find a funnel, like for soy sauce or vinegar!"

Her calm and authoritative demeanor spurred the three helpless women into action: one ran to find a funnel, while the other two, along with Wang Ying, began to remove Luo Caixia's clothes and wipe her body with a wet towel.

Soon, the woman returned with a large basin of soapy water and a funnel.

Lin Xiaoxiao climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), knelt beside Luo Caixia's head, pinched the pressure points below her ears to force her mouth open unconsciously, shoved the funnel in, and barked at the woman beside her, "Pour!"

Wang Ying, her legs weak with fear, stammered, "With such a large basin... won't she drown?"

After only a small amount was poured in, Luo Caixia began to vomit.

Lin Xiaoxiao used her knee to press firmly on Luo Caixia's back, holding her over the edge of the kang to force the contents out. Once the vomiting subsided, she continued pouring the soapy water.

After several rounds of this, Lin Xiaoxiao felt the pulse at Luo Caixia's neck—it was gradually becoming stronger and clearer.

She was out of danger.

"You can take her to the hospital now."As soon as Lin Xiaoxiao jumped off the kang, Luo Caixia slowly regained consciousness. Truth be told, she hadn't drunk much pesticide to begin with. Instead, the several rounds of soapy water had left her stomach burning and her throat in searing pain, rendering her unable to speak a word.

Seeing her daughter awake, Wang Ying hurriedly pulled up a quilt to cover her, crying, "Child, why are you so stubborn?! What could be so bad that you'd choose death?... If something really happened to you, how could I go on living?!"

Luo Caixia stared emptily at the ceiling. She never expected that Lin Xiaoxiao would be the one to save her.

She simply couldn't bear the humiliation of being publicly exposed by Zhou Huai'an. She had nothing left now, not even her last illusion.

Lin Xiaoxiao flexed her wrist—she'd used too much force earlier and had sprained it slightly. It was throbbing with pain. Just as she was about to leave, she heard Luo Caixia speak in a hoarse voice:

"Mom, everyone else out... I want to talk to Lin Xiaoxiao alone."

Wang Ying hesitated, looking at her daughter, then at Lin Xiaoxiao. Finally, she wiped her tears and left the room with the others.

Lin Xiaoxiao hadn't planned to engage, but since the other woman initiated it, she had things to say too.

Rubbing her wrist, she turned around and asked coldly, "What do you want to say? Be quick about it."

A tear trickled from the corner of Luo Caixia's eye, her voice filled with despair. "If it weren't for you... Huai'an would have married me."

Lin Xiaoxiao found it ridiculous. "It's a pity there are no 'ifs.' So your little pesticide stunt was utterly pointless."

Luo Caixia's tears flowed more fiercely. "You understand nothing... The Zhou family owes me! Zhou Huai'an owes me!"

Looking at this gentle, beautiful face spouting such unreasonable words, Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't be bothered to argue further. "It was your mother who saved Zhou Huai'an. All these years, he's repaid that debt many times over. Must he become your family's beast of burden for life?"

"Furthermore, I saved your life. I don't want your gratitude. I only ask that you stay away from Zhou Huai'an! Stop causing trouble. I won't indulge you. If you really want to die, go do it somewhere far away."

"Do you think your death would make Zhou Huai'an feel guilty for life? Let me tell you, it won't!"

"He wouldn't just feel no guilt—he'd forget you quickly. Because he'll be busy taking care of me, taking care of our children. Why would he spare a thought for someone insignificant like you?"

"So I advise you to behave. I'm no Bodhisattva filled with boundless compassion. Next time, I won't save you."

Having said that, Lin Xiaoxiao turned and walked away, not wanting to hear another word of Luo Caixia's self-indulgent grief.

That emotionally dense and tongue-tied man had been chosen by her, Lin Xiaoxiao. That made him hers.

And the man she claimed, she would naturally protect. No one was allowed to bully him.

Lin Xiaoxiao walked out with a cold expression. Several people were still in the yard, including Zhou Huai'an. Their eyes turned to her in unison, their gazes now distinctly different—not only because she had saved a life but also because they had heard from Sun Qiuxiang that Zhou Huai'an had never been in a relationship with Luo Caixia; it was all her fabrication.

Thus, their sympathy had shifted. Now, more people were feeling sorry for Zhou Huai'an.

Still angry, Lin Xiaoxiao walked over to Zhou Huai'an and said, "Let's go home."

Zhou Huai'an followed her out without a word. The people in the yard looked at each other, unsure what to say for a moment, but they all shared the same thought:

Zhou Changsuo's daughter-in-law is really something else.

Once outside the gate, Zhou Huai'an spoke softly, "Thank you."

Lin Xiaoxiao shot him a glare. "Does Luo Caixia have anything to do with you?"

"No."

"If not, what are you thanking me for?" She snorted coldly. "Luo Caixia has no brains. If she really died from pesticide, wouldn't you have to avoid her memory even more?"

Zhou Huai'an replied gruffly, "We have no connection."

"I know there's no connection, but there would be if she died. Tsk, tsk. It would leave behind a legend about how amazing you were, having a beautiful girl commit suicide for love over you!"

Zhou Huai'an, never eloquent to begin with, was no match for her words. He could only press his lips together and fall silent.

Lin Xiaoxiao loved seeing him rendered speechless like this. She suddenly stopped walking, shook her wrist, and thrust it before him.

"I sprained my wrist. Rub it for me."

Zhou Huaian also stopped. He looked at the slender, pale wrist before him, then glanced at the occasional acquaintance passing on the road, hesitating...