"Do you ever think that in our last life, the reason everything happened the way it did was because we were like actors, just following a script someone else had written? The plot dictated that I marry you, so I had to. Then the plot dictated that you argue with me, that you lose your mind, and so you did."

Shen Yi fell silent.

’If that’s really true, it’s terrifying. If you can’t even be the master of your own life, then what’s the difference between us and marionettes?’

’In my last life, it wasn’t until the moment of the car crash that I felt a sense of release. Could it be that only from that moment on did I finally escape the tragedy of being a marionette?’

Shen Yi said, "But so many things in this life are different from our last one. Doesn’t that prove we won’t be controlled by this so-called plot anymore?"

"I thought so too, at first. But then I realized that ever since Lin Nian went to prison, Chen Feng keeps popping up in front of me. On this trip to North City, the people in the bunks next to us weren’t originally Chen Feng and his mom, but soon after the train departed, they were switched to our car. And then we ran into Chen Feng when we went to take our driver’s license test. It got me thinking... Shen Zhengfeng had clearly promised to give you the clothing factory, but then he suddenly went back on his word, insisting that you had to ’start a family before establishing a career.’ Could that also be a mandatory plot point?"

In the entire world, besides the two of them, Lin Nian was probably the only other person who could have understood this conversation. It was just too unbelievable.

And so, at that moment, Mr. Du was sitting under the eaves of the corridor, with a row of people crouched beside him.

Du Liya said anxiously, "Argh, I can’t hear what they’re saying!"

Beidou was optimistic. "They look pretty calm. That means the talks haven’t broken down. Maybe it’ll work out."

Xiao Shi didn’t understand at all, while Mr. Du shook his head helplessly.

Qin Zhonghui, on the other hand, was growing anxious. He said to his wife, "What if that kid Xiao Yi tries to kiss Xiao Jiao in a minute!"

Su Yun was skeptical. "No way. They must know we’re all out here watching. That boy wouldn’t be that audacious, would he?"

Little did they know that the two people inside were busy analyzing the so-called "mandatory plot."

Shen Yi said, "You mean the mandatory plot is forcing us to get a fake marriage first, just like in our last life?"

Qin Jiao shook her head. "I’m not sure if the fake marriage is a mandatory plot point yet. There’s something else, too. In our last life, the story’s main characters were actually Chen Feng and Lin Nian. They were the ultimate winners. But in this life, Chen Feng’s personality seems to have changed, and Lin Nian is still serving time in prison. I’ve been wondering... could the main characters of this ’book’ have changed?"

Shen Yi’s eyes lit up. "You mean... it’s become you and me?"

"I’m not sure, but we can test it. For example, let’s insist on not getting a fake marriage and see if something else happens to force us into one." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Shen Yi thought for a moment and nodded as well.

The so-called plot had tormented them enough in their last life. Since they had a fresh start in this one, neither of them wanted to be marionettes again.

When the two of them came out after their chat, they found a crowd of people crouched by the door. Seeing them emerge, the group immediately turned and walked away. Only Xiao Shi walked up to Qin Jiao and asked curiously, "Sis, are you going to marry Brother Shen Yi?"

The few people who hadn’t gotten far all stopped in their tracks in unison and turned to look back.