The wooden table in the Liu's family home was crowded.
Bowls of steaming food filled the air with rich aroma pepper soup, fried rice, duck meat, fresh vegetables, Dumplings.
Laughter echoed.
For once, peace lived inside these walls.
Liu Meilin sat between her Second Brother, Liu Qiang, and her third sister-in-law, Zhao Lihua who carefully placed extra meat into her bowl.
"Eat properly," Zhao Lihua said softly.
"You're always working.
Your face is thinner again."
Liu Meilin froze.
This was the same woman who once insulted her weight, mocked her appetite, and avoided sitting beside her.
Now she watched her with worry.
Liu Meilin smiled.
"You're spoiling me."
Zhao Lihua scoffed.
"You deserve it. If not for you, this family would still be struggling."
Across the table, the sharp-tongued third sister-in-law, cleared her throat.
"Let's say it clearly," she said.
"We treated you badly before. We judged you without understanding. That was wrong."
The table fell silent.
She stood, bowing slightly.
"Thank you for not becoming bitter. Thank you for saving this family."
Her voice cracked.
Liu Meilin's chest tightened.
Before she could speak, her eldest brother, Liu Cheng, slammed his palm onto the table.
"She's not just our sister," he declared. "She's our pride. Anyone who dares touch her… touches all of us."
Her five brothers nodded in unison.
Their parents watched across the table,smiling happily with a proud face.
Liu Meilin swallowed hard, her eyes shining.
"I didn't save you," she said softly. "We saved each other."
Her sisters-in-law moved to her side, hugging her tightly.
Outside the windows, curious villagers whispered.
"That's the girl who changed their fate."
"She used to be shameless, but look at her now."
"Her family protects her like treasure."
"She's become someone untouchable."
Behind the scenes, the enemies planned silently, preparing a way to attack her
"When the family are about to retire to bed, that's when you attack.
TARGET: LIU MEILIN
OPERATION CODE: BLACK MIDNIGHT
The village slept.
Crickets chirped softly.
Moonlight bathed the quiet roads.
Liu Meilin lay beside Lu Jianfeng, half asleep, when the system screamed.
[DANGER! IMMINENT LETHAL THREAT DETECTED!]
TIME TO IMPACT: 7 MINUTES
Her heart slammed.
She shook Lu Jianfeng awake.
"We need to move. Now."
Lu Jianfeng's instincts exploded awake. He reached for his gun instantly.
Outside, shadows moved.
Three figures climbed the wall.
A suppressed shot cracked.
Lu Jianfeng rolled, dragging Liu Meilin down just as bullets tore through the room.
"Down!"
Her brothers burst from their rooms.
"Protect Liu Meilin!"
Gunfire erupted.
Screams shattered the night.
Villagers poured out, panicked.
Her sisters-in-law formed a human shield around her, trembling but unyielding.
"You touch her, you step over us first!"
The fourth brother Liu Haoi screamed.
Hugging his mother
Lu Jianfeng fought like a demon.
Blood streaked his jaw.
Three attackers fell.
More came.
"Too many," he muttered. "We need extraction."
A car came to the front of the house
"Get in!"
Lu Jianfeng lifted Liu Meilin into his arms.
She reached back toward her family.
"Please be safe…"
She cried.
Zhao Lihua cried seeing her daughter run, because of danger.
"Come back alive!"
As the car sped into the night, bullets chasing behind, Liu Meilin finally collapsed against Lu Jianfengs chest.
She had escaped.