While Zhou Huaihua was out and Fei Jin was away in Qi City, she had slipped out of the village to take a peek.
Just one look was all it took for her heart to be utterly captivated...
The script only mentioned the male lead had a scar on his face, but it never said he was so extraordinarily charming.
He stood a towering six-foot-three, with a well-proportioned and sturdy build.
His military uniform was cinched with a leather belt, giving him the distinct look of a tough guy.
You don't see many men with that kind of style these days.
He'd be a rare specimen in today's entertainment industry.
If he ever set foot in showbiz, he'd probably cause an absolute frenzy.
And that wasn't even mentioning how high Fei Jin's status was depicted to be later in the novel...
The thought of marrying Fei Jin and returning to the Capital in the future made Wen Wei's heart pound with irrepressible excitement.
That kind of high-society circle.
Even at the peak of her career, it had been hard for her to break into, and at most, she had only managed to snag minor roles.
But the book clearly stated that Fei Jin would only ever love her in this life, not even deigning to glance at anyone else.
Just as Wen Wei was lost in her fantasies of a wonderful married life, an angry shout shattered her thoughts.
"Wen Xiuxiu, are you slacking off again? Go feed the pigs!"
Zhou Huaihua had just returned from spreading news around the village. When she saw Wen Xiuxiu wasn't working, her face instantly darkened.
The only reason she was willing to help Wen Xiuxiu find a good husband was because they were relatives from her side of the family.
But she hadn't expected the girl to get lazier and lazier recently.
She had brought this poor relative over to help take care of her precious son and to cook, not to come here and enjoy a free ride!
"Aunt Zhou, I was just about to feed the pigs."
For the sake of her future life of wealth and luxury, Wen Xiuxiu swallowed her anger and forced a smile to please her aunt.
She gave a sweet-tongued reply, but the moment she turned around, she began to impatiently dump the pig feed into the trough.
Unexpectedly, she had just scattered a pile of bran into the trough when a pig lunged at her.
Wen Xiuxiu's face went pale with fright, and she scrambled to dodge.
As a result, she messed up the haircut she had worked so hard to get.
She thought this hairstyle was especially beautiful and took great care styling her bangs every day.
But the townspeople just laughed at her, saying she looked odd.
'Hmph, what do they know?'
Wen Xiuxiu muttered under her breath as she shoveled pig manure.
'Just wait until I'm the Village Chief's Wife. We'll see if you're not all kissing my feet then!'
At that thought, even the stinking pigsty didn't seem so unbearable anymore.
When she finally got out of there, Wen Xiuxiu was so tired she was about to collapse.
'According to the story's plot, Fei Jin should be back from Qi City soon, right?'
'The moment their relationship is supposed to heat up is almost here!'
Having read many web novels, she was well aware that as the protagonist, she usually had to be the one to pursue the male lead, Fei Jin...
Filled with anticipation, Wen Xiuxiu trotted all the way to the village entrance.
She couldn't wait to ask for news about the Fei Village Chief, but she never expected that when she finally managed to ask a villager, the news she heard would be a bolt from the blue.
"The Fei Village Chief came back with his wife!"
"That wife of his is so delicate, she didn't even want to walk on her own. The Fei Village Chief had to carry her home!"
Wen Xiuxiu was dumbfounded.
Her mind went completely blank, and she had no idea what to say.
'Did I remember it wrong?'
'In the original story, didn't that frail ex-wife leave the male lead long ago?'
'How could she possibly have come back with him?'
This twist was something Wen Xiuxiu couldn't accept for a moment.
To figure out the truth, Wen Xiuxiu decided to go looking for clues under the pretext of borrowing a needle and thread.
She walked quickly to Song Qingya's front door, took a deep breath, and knocked.
The door opened, and she froze.
This Song Qingya's face was identical to the Song Qingya from the 21st century!
Remembering Song Qingya's ending in the novel, she couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.
Across from her, Song Qingya looked at the smiling Wen Xiuxiu and felt a little puzzled.
'Is there something wrong with this girl?'
'Why is she grinning foolishly at my face?'
"Xiu Xiu? Is something wrong?"
Wen Xiuxiu snapped back to her senses and quickly put on her signature smile.
It was something she learned in her real life: a sweet and innocent-looking smile that showed eight teeth.
"Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing. Sister Qingya, I came to borrow a needle and thread. Aren't you going to invite me in to sit for a while?"
"...Come in and sit."
Song Qingya felt that something was off.
'That tone of voice, and the curve of her smile... how is it all exactly the same as the Wen Wei I despise?'
'It's just like the standard, affected expression you see in those terrible dramas.'
But the thought was fleeting, and Song Qingya quickly dismissed it.
The script always said that Wen Xiuxiu was diligent and capable in everything she did.
But the real-life Wen Wei was pampered and spoiled, needing someone to help her even put on her shoes.
This huge contrast left Song Qingya feeling a little confused.
'How could they possibly be the same person?'
The situation was simply baffling.
Faced with this doubt, Song Qingya didn't feel nervous about the "female lead's" sudden visit.
"Is there something on my face?" Song Qingya asked with a smile. "You keep staring at me. I'm starting to feel a little shy."
"No, I just think you're really beautiful, Sister Qingya."
Though Wen Xiuxiu said that, inwardly she was gloating.
The feeling was so good she could barely stop herself from laughing out loud.
She secretly congratulated herself that her efforts to bribe the screenwriter and change the plot hadn't been in vain.
She had not only changed the ex-wife's name from Song Ya to Song Qingya.
But she had also added many plot points to make Song Qingya's life difficult.
Her original thought was that if she couldn't win against her in reality, she would at least make her suffer in a fictional story.
But who would have known?
The way Song Qingya in this world spoke was so similar to the woman who had been set up for a tragic fate.
Thinking about all the misfortunes Song Qingya was destined to face, Wen Xiuxiu felt a great sense of vindication.
'How ironic.'
'The once-glamorous Song Qingya probably never dreamed she'd be brought so low.'
However, Song Qingya was already used to such direct compliments and replied politely, "You're very pretty too."
Hearing this reply, Wen Xiuxiu's smugness was written all over her face.
Wen Xiuxiu was naturally blessed with a pitiful, delicate appearance that always inspired affection and pity in others.
It was a completely different style from Song Qingya's glamorous beauty.
Wen Xiuxiu thought to herself silently.
'With my looks, there's no way Fei Jin would fall for someone with a personality as flamboyant as Song Qingya's.'
A glance from the corner of her eye caught sight of several plates of leftover delicacies on the table, and she immediately seized the opportunity. "Sister-in-law, did you cook all this yourself? You must be exhausted. Brother Fei is so inconsiderate!"
On the surface, this sentence seemed to be full of concern, but in reality, it was laced with ulterior motives.
She was trying to sow discord, hoping Song Qingya would complain to her. Then she could add fuel to the fire, hint at how terrible her own life was now, and stir up Song Qingya's dissatisfaction.