Me? I was transported into a book? And I became a vicious villain?

Chu Mengmeng followed her father's carriage slowly towards Jing'an Temple, her heart full of anticipation. Today she specially changed into a light pink dress embroidered with hibiscus flowers. Xiao Yichen once praised that this color made her look delicate and charming. Thinking of this, Chu Mengmeng's cheeks couldn't help but blush.

The carriage stopped, and Xiao Yichen was already waiting beside him. He was wearing a moon-white gown today, and a piece of mutton-fat jade on his waist, which made him look even more gentle and smooth like jade. When he saw Chu Mengmeng getting off the carriage, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he gently took her hand and walked towards Jing'an Temple together.

The two walked side by side on the mountain road paved with bluestone slabs. On both sides were towering ancient trees, birds singing, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers. Everything was so beautiful.

However, this beauty was broken the moment we stepped into the temple.

In the crowd, a light yellow figure attracted Chu Mengmeng's attention. The woman had a slender figure, and her eyes were filled with a gentleness and shyness that Chu Mengmeng had never seen before. She was having a pleasant conversation with Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen seemed to have seen Chu Mengmeng as well. His smile deepened. He pulled the girl to Chu Mengmeng and introduced her, "Mengmeng, this is Miss Lin, Wan'er, my childhood sweetheart whom I told you about."

Lin Wan'er? Chu Mengmeng's heart tightened. It turned out that she was Xiao Yichen's childhood sweetheart.

"Miss Chu, I have heard of your great name for a long time." Lin Wan'er smiled slightly, her voice gentle and pleasant, "Yi Chen often mentioned you in front of me, saying that you are innocent and cute, and kind-hearted. After meeting you today, I can see that you are indeed worthy of your reputation."

Chu Mengmeng forced a smile, but a sour feeling rose in her heart. She secretly observed Xiao Yichen and found that the look he gave Lin Wan'er was full of doting and love, which made her feel even more uneasy.

"Yi Chen and I grew up together. We were childhood sweethearts." Lin Wan'er didn't seem to notice Chu Mengmeng's strangeness and continued, "We had endless things to say and endless games to play. Those happy times are still unforgettable."

Lin Wan'er's voice was gentle, but it was like a needle that pierced Chu Mengmeng's heart. She suddenly felt like an outsider, breaking into the world of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, and she would never be able to fit in...

As the sun sets, the golden afterglow falls on the eaves of Jing'an Temple, reflecting a peaceful and tranquil scene. However, Chu Mengmeng's heart is shrouded in a lingering haze.

 Shadow of the Haze (Continued)

After returning from Jing'an Temple, Chu Mengmeng seemed like a different person. The lively and cheerful girl in the past often hid in her room alone, silent and taciturn. Every time Xiao Yichen invited her out, she refused with various reasons.

"Mengmeng, are you worried about something? Why have you ignored me recently?" Xiao Yichen finally couldn't help but ask, with a hint of worry between his brows.

Chu Mengmeng lowered her head, fiddling with the corner of her clothes, and said in an inaudible voice: "No, I'm just... a little tired recently, and I want to take a rest."

"Is it really just like that?" Xiao Yichen obviously didn't believe it. He tried to reach out and pull Chu Mengmeng's hand, but she gently dodged him.

"Brother Yi Chen, I'm fine. You can go back first." Chu Mengmeng didn't dare to look up at him, for fear that her eyes would reveal something.

Xiao Yichen looked at her distant attitude, feeling lost and confused. He didn't know what he had done wrong to make Chu Mengmeng suddenly become so cold.

In the following days, Chu Mengmeng's attitude towards Xiao Yichen remained cold. She no longer clung to him like before, nor did she act like a spoiled child to him, and even spoke very little. Every time Xiao Yichen saw her, it was like seeing a fog that made him unable to see through or guess.

"Mengmeng, what's wrong with you? Did I make you angry in some way? Tell me and I can change." Xiao Yichen asked again, with a hint of pleading in his tone.

Chu Mengmeng took a deep breath, and finally mustered up the courage to raise her head, looked into his eyes, and asked, "Brother Yichen, do you... still remember Miss Lin?"

"Lin Wan'er?" Xiao Yichen was slightly stunned, and then he understood something, "Are you angry with me because of her?"

Chu Mengmeng didn't say anything, but just looked at him quietly, her eyes filled with complicated emotions.

"Silly girl, why do you think so?" Xiao Yichen reached out and gently stroked her hair, saying softly, "She and I were just childhood sweethearts, and that's a thing of the past. The person I really like in my heart is you."

"But... the way you looked at her was clearly..." Chu Mengmeng wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Xiao Yichen.

"That's because I haven't seen her for a long time, and I just felt a little emotional for the moment. Mengmeng, believe me, my feelings for you are evident to all." Xiao Yichen spoke sincerely, his eyes full of love.

Chu Mengmeng looked into his eyes, feeling mixed emotions. She wanted to believe him, but Lin Wan'er's words were like a thorn that pierced her heart deeply.

At this moment, Lin Wan'er appeared not far behind them. She looked at the intimate behavior of the two, and a subtle viciousness flashed in her eyes.

"Brother Yichen, what are you talking about?" Lin Wan'er walked forward, took Xiao Yichen's arm, and spoke in a friendly tone.

Chu Mengmeng watched this scene, and the string of "doubt" in her heart was completely broken...

When Chu Mengmeng saw Lin Wan'er holding Xiao Yichen's arm affectionately, her heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, and she could hardly breathe. She tried to hold back the soreness in her eyes and maintain a calm expression.

"Nothing, just chatting casually." Xiao Yichen pulled his arm out of Lin Wan'er's hand without leaving a trace, turned his head and looked at Chu Mengmeng, "Mengmeng, didn't you say you wanted to eat osmanthus cake? I'll go buy it for you."

"No, I'm not hungry." Chu Mengmeng refused coldly, then turned and left, her back looking particularly lonely.

"Mengmeng!" Xiao Yichen wanted to chase after her, but was stopped by Lin Wan'er.

"Brother Yi Chen, stop chasing her. Don't you understand what Miss Chu is thinking?" Lin Wan'er looked at Chu Mengmeng's back, a hint of pride in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Xiao Yichen frowned, his tone somewhat displeased.

"I heard that the Chu family has encountered some troubles recently and is in urgent need of funds. And you are the future head of the Xiao family and hold enormous wealth. I'm afraid Miss Chu has other intentions in approaching you." Lin Wan'er said with pretended concern.

Xiao Yichen was shocked. Although he was unwilling to believe Lin Wan'er's words, Chu Mengmeng's recent abnormal behavior made him start to doubt.

"Impossible, Mengmeng is not that kind of person." Xiao Yichen shook his head, trying to convince himself.

"Whether it is true or not, you know it in your heart. Brother Yi Chen, I know you are kind-hearted and easily deceived. However, you must also keep your eyes open and not be used by people with ulterior motives." Lin Wan'er continued, with a hint of provocation in her tone.

Xiao Yichen was silent. He looked at Chu Mengmeng's back as she walked away, his heart full of contradictions and struggles. He wanted to believe Chu Mengmeng, but reality was like a basin of cold water, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in his heart.

Chu Mengmeng ran all the way back home and hid in her room. She could no longer control her emotions, and tears rolled down like pearls from a broken string. She didn't know what she had done wrong and why she had to endure such pain.

Xiao Yichen didn't believe her, and Lin Wan'er was trying to sow discord between them behind her back. She felt like she was trapped in an airtight cage, unable to breathe and seeing no hope.

She curled up on the bed, buried her head deeply in her knees, and let the tears flow freely. At this moment, she hoped that all this was just a nightmare, and when she woke up, everything would return to normal.

However, reality is reality after all, it cannot be avoided or changed...

Chu Mengmeng buried herself in the soft quilt, her tears soaked the pillowcase, and also soaked the budding love in her heart. She didn't know what was wrong with her. She knew that in this era, women couldn't easily give their true feelings, but she was still moved by Xiao Yichen's gentleness and talent.

She recalled Lin Wan'er's words over and over again. Those words were like poisonous thorns that pierced her heart and made her feel miserable. Did she really misjudge the person? Did Xiao Yichen approach her just for the Chu family's money?

No, she didn't believe it! Xiao Yichen was not that kind of person! The way he looked at her, the words he said to her, were so sincere and warm, how could they be fake?

But, if it wasn't fake, then why didn't he chase after her to explain? Why did he let Lin Wan'er whisper those divisive words in his ear?

Chu Mengmeng's heart was in a mess. She didn't know what to do or who to trust. She just felt so tired, so tired, as if her body had been hollowed out, leaving only endless fatigue and despair.

"Miss, are you okay?" The worried voice of the maid Xiao Cui came from outside the door.

Chu Mengmeng quickly wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and tried to make her voice sound calmer: "I'm fine, just a little tired, I want to rest for a while."

"Then miss, you should have a good rest and call me if you need anything." Although Xiao Cui was worried, she did not dare to ask more questions. She closed the door gently and left.

The room fell into silence again, with only Chu Mengmeng's suppressed sobs echoing in the air. She didn't know how long she had been crying, she just felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier, her consciousness gradually blurred, and finally she fell into a deep sleep.

As the sun sets, a fiery red sunset glow burns on the horizon, dyeing the entire Chu Mansion with a faint golden light.

Chu Mengmeng woke up from her sleep and felt a splitting headache. Her heart felt like it was being pressed by a huge rock, so heavy that she couldn't breathe.

She stood up and walked to the window, looking at the beautiful scenery outside, but she couldn't be happy. She didn't know what to do, should she believe Xiao Yichen, or should she let go, protect herself, and not get hurt again?

At this moment, a clear bird song came from a distance, breaking the tranquility of the courtyard. Chu Mengmeng looked in the direction of the sound and saw a colorful bird perched on the osmanthus tree in the courtyard, singing happily.

The clear and melodious singing was like a stream of clear spring, slowly flowing into Chu Mengmeng's heart, gradually calming her irritable mood.

She decided to go out for a walk and breathe some fresh air, maybe she would feel better.

Chu Mengmeng stood up, tidied her clothes, then opened the door and walked out. She wandered aimlessly in the garden, and before she knew it, she came to a bamboo forest deep in the garden.

Deep in the bamboo forest, there is a small pavilion where Chu Mengmeng often comes to read and rest. At this time, the afterglow of the setting sun shines through the dense bamboo leaves, casting a mottled light and shadow on the ground, adding a bit of mystery to this secluded pavilion.

Chu Mengmeng walked to the pavilion and was about to sit in for a while, but suddenly she heard a familiar sound of footsteps coming from behind her...