Hu Ziqiang also looked a little awkward. Once Village Chief Xu made his promise, he headed out.

Village Chief Xu stared at Yun Hao.

What he saw startled him.

Yun Hao was handsome and carried the air of a scholar, setting him apart from the average villager at a single glance. But the Yun Hao before him now was pale, as if he had suffered a serious illness. Even his face wasn’t as good-looking as it used to be.

’Did getting sick even make his face uglier?’

It wasn’t just his appearance, but his aura as well. Something felt different, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

The overall impression the young man gave off had changed drastically, yet Village Chief Xu couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was different.

It was clearly the same person, but no matter how he looked at him, he just seemed ordinary.

He was no different from any other educated youth. If one had to point out a difference, it would be that he was still just as tall, his clothes were still decent, and his facial features, aside from his pallor, were the same.

For a moment, Village Chief Xu was actually at a loss for words.

Yun Hao frowned.

"Village Chief, is there something you need from me?"

Village Chief Xu glanced at Yun Hao. He recalled that Yun Hao and Xu Wenwan had a good relationship, so he figured Yun Hao would be thrilled by what he was about to propose.

With this in mind, Village Chief Xu’s expression softened considerably.

"Yun Hao, what I’m about to tell you is good news for you."

Yun Hao was confused.

’Good news?’

’Is Xu Wenwan going to marry someone else?’

He couldn’t imagine any other good news.

Village Chief Xu said gently, "We’ve agreed to the marriage between you and Wen Wan. You should get ready and find a time to come make a formal proposal."

Those words stunned Yun Hao, leaving him frozen on the spot.

Village Chief Xu’s expression softened even more. ’Look at this kid, he’s so excited he’s been struck dumb.’

"We didn’t agree before because we were worried about the gap between you and Wen Wan. But now, we feel that since you two grew up together, things like family background aren’t so important after all."

Yun Hao snapped back to his senses, his eyes turning icy as he spoke with firm resolution.

"Village Chief, I will absolutely not marry Xu Wenwan."

He gritted his teeth.

He still didn’t know what was happening to his body, but he was certain his current weakness had something to do with Xu Wenwan. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

’Marry Xu Wenwan? Impossible.’

He hated Xu Wenwan to the bone now.

He had no idea what Xu Wenwan had done to him to make him so weak.

Speaking of which, the last time he’d felt dizzy, it was also after Xu Wenwan had held his hand. That was when he’d started feeling cold all over, his head growing heavy and dull.

At this thought, Yun Hao spoke again.

"Village Chief, did Xu Wenwan not tell you? I already made things clear to her today. I’ve always seen her as a little sister and never had any other intentions."

Hearing this, Village Chief Xu flew into a rage.

"What did you say? You’ve always seen my daughter as a sister?"

"Educated Youth Yun, don’t you go too far! Everyone in the village knows you and my daughter are close. They all assume you’re courting!"

"You’ve ruined my daughter’s reputation, and now you’re telling me you just see her as a sister? Do you think I’d believe a thing like that?"

Village Chief Xu used to think Yun Hao was a decent person. He was handsome and a capable worker. While he couldn’t compare to the village’s strongest laborers, he was a man of culture. Among the educated youth, Yun Hao was considered one of the best.

But now, he realized Yun Hao was nothing but a liar.

Yun Hao couldn’t explain his past actions. He really had liked Xu Wenwan before.

When they were little, Xu Wenwan had been an obedient, adorable, and clever girl who would follow him around, sweetly calling him "Big Brother."

Yun Hao had taken great care of Xu Wenwan, and the two had grown up together.

The day he was sent down to the countryside, Xu Wenwan had even come to see him off. The silly girl had cried, and back then, he had truly felt for her.

But seeing Xu Wenwan again this time, he felt she had completely changed.

She was clearly the same person, yet she felt like a complete stranger. Now, all he felt for Xu Wenwan was disgust.