Chapter 34: Choice

The distorted shadows of trees were reflected in the water.

Two blurry figures swayed in the wind and rain, as if they might be swallowed up at any moment.

Li Panpan felt she was ordinary-looking, easily lost in a crowd, utterly unremarkable.

The moment Zhao Chengyu saw this girl, his heart pounded violently, as if it would burst from his chest.

The girl before him, like a frightened little rabbit, huddled up, her slender body swaying precariously in the wind.

Droplets of water clung to her long eyelashes, glistening and translucent, like dewdrops about to fall.

His Adam's apple bobbed, a strange heat rising from his lower abdomen, quickly spreading to every part of his body.

Especially when she lowered her head, revealing her slender, white neck, the delicate curve of it gave him an urge to bite it hard.

His blood surged in his veins, roaring, as if trying to break free of its restraints.

The child's name, the burial plot where he and she were buried together, even the epitaph on the tombstone—every detail was crystal clear in his mind.

Zhao Chengyu's brows were furrowed, radiating a chilling aura, a manifestation of his desperate suppression of the turbulent emotions within him.

The once relatively calm sky was now filled with swirling dark clouds, as if stirred by an invisible hand, obscuring the last ray of light.

The air was heavy and oppressive, suffocating, like the calm before a storm.

"Could it be that the pressure from my family to get married lately has caused me to hallucinate?" he wondered to himself, trying to explain this sudden surge of emotion with reason.

"How did I suddenly develop the desire to get married, especially to someone I just met?"

"An ordinary-looking girl?" This thought seemed absurd, yet it swirled uncontrollably in his mind.

He Chengyang stared at Li Yaqin, his eyes filled with scrutiny and inquiry.

The girl had saved them, but only halfway, which displeased him.

She was of average appearance, dressed in a rustic style, and seemed uneasy and flustered in their presence.

He Chengyang raised his hand, signaling Li Yaqin to calm down; he needed time to sort out his thoughts.

“Thank you for saving us,” he said, his voice deep and magnetic, carrying an undeniable authority.

He paused, organizing his thoughts, each word carefully chosen.

“I’ll give you two choices; you can choose one.” His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable force.

“The first choice is that we will hold a ceremony for you, making you an adopted daughter of either the Zhao or He family.”

“From then on, your marriage will be arranged by us. In addition, we will provide you with a house and a respectable job.”

He Chengyang offered this option to prevent Li Yaqin from taking advantage of their life-saving grace to make exorbitant demands.

After all, the power and status of their two families are the object of countless schemes and attempts to curry favor.

For top-tier wealthy families like the Zhao and He families, marriage is never a game; it's a crucial bargaining chip concerning the family's interests.

It's either a powerful alliance to solidify the family's position, or a marriage based on deep affection and mutual love.

Otherwise, they'd rather remain single than settle for less.

They have very few potential marriage partners, and currently none are suitable, causing them anxiety.

Therefore, they usually choose from those who are exceptionally good in every way.

But all their choices are predicated on their own affection and willingness.

Otherwise, the woman they marry is merely a pretty face, utterly meaningless.

Li Yaqin is just a country girl; even if she has some beauty, she's nothing special in their eyes, not worth mentioning.

"The second option is that you can choose to marry into the Zhao or He family, but only as a wife in name only. We will provide you with a comfortable life, but we will not give you any affection."

A tear was ripped open in the dark sky, and silver lightning streaked across the horizon, illuminating the earth.

A rumble of thunder rolled by, like a whisper, foreshadowing the approaching storm.

Is it going to rain?

Today's meeting was truly bizarre.

He Chengyang's smile widened, his sarcasm deepening. He didn't believe Li Yaqin would refuse this tempting offer.

The air was thick and heavy, the oppressive atmosphere suffocating.

As heirs to the family fortune, their every move had to be cautious, without any mistakes that could jeopardize the family's reputation and interests.

They couldn't be led by the nose by a country girl; they had to maintain control.

Their marriage had already become a focal point of power struggles, a potential target for attack at any moment. They had to be careful.

Now that they had resolved Li Yaqin's life-saving debt, it was time to seriously consider a marriage partner—this was their most important matter at the moment.

As for proposing Li Yaqin's marriage into their family, it was merely a temporary measure, a delaying tactic.

First, they needed to secure their savior, providing her with a stable home and preventing her from being exploited by others.

Once the storm has passed, if she wishes to leave, they will naturally make proper arrangements and provide her with a generous compensation.

Li Yaqin lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes obscuring the emotions within, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.

"These two choices..." she began, her voice soft, as if afraid of disturbing something, or perhaps talking to herself.

For an ordinary village girl, both choices were incredibly tempting, enough to change her entire life.

Whether it was becoming the adopted daughter of the Zhao or He families, or marrying into a wealthy family as a nominal wife,

both could lead to instant success, changing her destiny and granting her a life of luxury.

Unfortunately, she was no ordinary village girl; she had her own secrets and ambitions.

She was Li Yaqin, a woman with a cheat code, destined for greatness.

Before transmigrating, she was a botanist, a recent graduate, working diligently and conscientiously at her internship.

On her way home from get off work, she stood by the roadside watching a police raid on prostitution, a group of scantily clad men and women being led into police cars.

Unexpectedly, her joy turned to tragedy; she was struck by a sports car that ran a red light, dying instantly, ending her short and ordinary life.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in this unfamiliar world, as a country girl with the same name.

She was also bound to a spatial dimension—her greatest secret, and the capital that allowed her to change her destiny.

The space was vast, containing a palm-sized jade bottle, exquisite and mysterious.

Inside the bottle were several compartments, each holding one of the following: ninety Beauty Pills, sixty Fertility Pills, sixty-six Divine Weapon Pills, and ninety Infertility Pills.

Each pill possessed miraculous effects, enough to allow her to establish herself in this world.

The Beauty Pills could restore a person's body to its optimal state, granting radiant beauty and eternal youth.

The Fertility Pills, as the name suggests, would result in pregnancy upon consumption after intercourse, guaranteeing a successful conception on the first try.

The children born would not only possess exceptional intelligence but also develop a strong dependence on their mothers, becoming complete "mama's boys," obedient to her every command.

The Divine Weapon Pills, regardless of gender, would mark anyone who had intercourse with them, making them only interested in that person and unwaveringly loyal.

The Infertility Pills, once taken, would render a person infertile only if they took the Fertility Pill; otherwise, they would be infertile for life.

Two pills would be beyond saving, completely eliminating any possibility of reproduction.

The pills in the jade bottle all had health-regulating effects; long-term use could prolong life and prevent all diseases.

With these pills, why would she need to rely on a man? That was a ridiculous joke.

Her previous desire to find a man to rely on was merely to establish herself in this unfamiliar world, to have a place to call home.

She could barely control ordinary men, using the pills to manipulate them and make them work for her.

But men like Zhao Chengyu and He Chengyang, exceptional individuals, she probably wouldn't even know how they died, let alone control them.

“I choose the first one,” Li Yaqin said, raising her head calmly, without the slightest hesitation.

Zhao Chengyu and He Chengyang were both stunned; they hadn't expected Li Yaqin to make such a choice.

A look of astonishment flashed in their eyes; they had assumed Li Yaqin would eagerly choose the second one, marrying into a wealthy family.