That night, Lu Jianfeng lay awake, staring at the cracked ceiling.
Her figure replayed endlessly in his mind.
The way men stared.
The way women whispered.
The way she walked no longer hunched, no longer ashamed.
He clenched his fists.
"She's too good…"
For the first time, he felt inferior.
From that day on, he walked her to the market.
Waited silently at her stall.
Stood behind her when crowds thickened.
His tall frame and cold stare discouraged wandering eyes.
But it didn't stop whispers.
"She married too well."
"She'll dump him once she gets rich."
Each word stabbed his heart.
Yet he said nothing.
He only worked harder.
Lifted heavier loads.
Earned more money.
Because he wanted to stand beside her not behind her.
One evening, she returned late from business.
Lu Jianfeng stood at the door, fists clenched.
"Why are you back so late?"
His tone was harsher than usual.
She blinked. "The merchant delayed the payment"
"Or were you talking to men?"
The words escaped before he could stop them.
Silence slammed between them.
Her face went pale.
"I would never."
He froze.
Regret burned instantly.
"I didn't mean "
She turned away.
For the first time distance appeared between them.
And fear tightened his chest.
Across the village road, beneath the shade of an old banyan tree
Chen Yuyang watched.
Pretty.
Handsome
His eyes dark, twisted, burning.
His gaze followed Lu Jianfeng with obsession.
"That man…"
His lips curled.
"…belongs to me."
When his eyes shifted to Jiang Yanyan
The smile vanished.
Killing intent surged.
"A fat village woman…"
"…trying to steal what's mine?"
He has been obsessed with Lu Jianfeng ever since he saw him.
For him it doesn't matter if it's a man nor woman as long as he wants it he'll get.