I was suspicious, and there was a painful, needle-like sting in my chest.

  His figure was still tall and sturdy, with broad shoulders that always reminded people of the most solid mountain. He was still accustomed to looking slightly upward, his gaze always higher than others'. His strength and arrogance he never hid. That face, which I had always suspected could only be carved by some divine hand, still held its elegance, untouched by time, free from the wear and tear of age or hardship.

  The only thing that had changed was the warmth.

  Even from such a distance, I could still feel it—he no longer carried the same intensity of heat as before.

  Yes, the monstrous dragon in my memories, the second sun in my world. This metaphor, though not elegant, felt the most fitting. He truly embodied everything that the bzing sun in the sky represented: intense, bright, even violent.

  Heat was Ao Chi′s unique mark.

  In the years we spent together, I didn′t even need to open my eyes. I could sense him approaching just by the "heat wave" that swept over me, a sensation that no one else, except for me, could notice.

  At first, I didn′t understand and just thought I disliked this guy so much that my body had developed an "allergic" reaction.

  It was only ter that I realized, this was what true understanding felt like.

  The man I lost for twenty years was now right in front of me, holding another woman′s hand.

  They stood side by side, gazing deeply into each other′s eyes, smiling at one another.

  He gave a speech to the guests, welcoming everyone to witness the most important moment of their lives. His words were grand and elegant, polite and refined, his emotions practiced and skilled, as if rehearsed countless times beforehand, just waiting for a fwless debut in front of everyone.

  I refused to admit that the man before me was him. I was so terrified of him making promises of eternal love to someone else.

  The thousand-year-old tree yaokai, self-assured, believed that after all the passing of time, he could watch the world with a smile. Love, hate, joy, and sorrow were nothing but fleeting dust, mere distractions for the mundane world.

  But when I saw Ao Chi holding someone else′s hand, I finally understood that the “confidence” I had built up over so many years was nothing but a self-deceiving trick.

  In the end, I was just like any other woman, bound by emotions, no different from anyone else—a “common” woman.

  The sparkling ring rested on his long fingers.

  "I′ve waited countless centuries for you to wear this ring."

  I heard his slightly husky voice, and I saw Mu, the woman pretending to be me, shyly extending her finger.

  Couldn′t you really tell that the Sha Luo in front of you isn′t the one you wanted at all?!

  The appuse from the guests grew even more enthusiastic, and the cheers drowned everything out. Even Pang Zi and Shou Zi rushed to the front of the stage to cause a commotion.

  Cng!

  The diamond ring, which Ao Chi was about to pce on the "bride's" finger, was struck by a shining silver spoon and fell to the ground, rolling off the stage and disappearing from sight.

  The entire venue fell silent, and then a stir of surprise erupted. Everyone turned to look, wondering who had ruined the scene, using a spoon as a throwing weapon to spoil a beautiful moment in progress.

  There was a time when I was very fond of pying darts, and I even participated in the World Championship, finishing in the top three. But my results had nothing to do with magic. I respected the spirit of sportsmanship, striving for fairness and honesty.

  Though I hadn′t pyed in a while and my skills had declined, knocking a ring off with a spoon wasn′t hard.

  I no longer intended to py any more games of "who can stay the calmest." The situation had long since reached a boiling point, with all the mysteries about to unravel.

  If someone had to make the first move, fine, I'll do it.

  In the face of all these events and changes, my patience had reached its limit.

  The shiny dinner knife spun skillfully in my hand. I raised my head, meeting the curious and then questioning gazes of the crowd, and with a smile, said, "Yes, I did it."

  They started murmuring, and there was clear anger in many eyes.

  "Who is this crazy woman?"

  "Ruining someone else's wedding—what a strange person!"

  "How annoying; everything was fine until now!"

  I walked toward the stage calmly, and people automatically stepped aside as though avoiding a pgue.

  "Who are you?" Ao Chi pulled his bride behind him and frowned, asking me.

  I had expected him to say something like, "Are you looking for death?" and then jump down to beat me senseless. That would have been more like him.

  "Why don′t you beat me half to death first, then come interrogate me? This doesn′t seem like you." I lifted my chin and smiled at him. "Does getting married really make people mature? Even you, Ao Chi, can't escape?"

  "Who are you?" He took a step forward, looking down at me from his height.

  "Be careful..." The "Sha Luo" woman gently grabbed his arm and gnced at me. "This woman′s background is unclear. She's not on my guest list."

  Ao Chi patted her hand, then turned to me and said, "Today is my wedding. I don′t want to y a hand on anyone. Before I get angry, you better leave. Guards, escort her out!"

  The qipao-cd servants, two men and two women, floated toward me, surrounding me in the middle. With stiff smiles on their faces, they reached out their hands.

  "Wait!" He suddenly called out to them.

  A chill ran through me.

  He stepped down from the stage and came to stand before me, unexpectedly grasping my left hand. But in his eyes, there was only unfamiliarity and disdain.

  I didn′t get the surprise I had been hoping for.

  "Why are you wearing this?" He roughly removed the red-gold dragon-patterned peace amulet from my wrist, instantly seeing me as a lowly thief in his eyes. He shoved my hand away and returned to his bride, reproaching her, "You′re always so careless. I told you this thing is very important!"

  He personally pced the peace amulet on her wrist.

  However, as soon as it was secured, the pendant slipped right off her hand. The csp showed no signs of loosening; the entire amulet passed through her wrist like invisible air, without a trace.