UM CH 02

Chapter 2

My stepmother was an expert at tormenting people.
When I turned and met her fierce eyes, the words I wanted to shout stuck painfully in my throat.

“Come on, Mom, there’s no need to get so mad,”
Yu Jin finally spoke up. Then he turned slightly, making a face at me as if joking.
“Yan Shuang, it’s your big day. Don’t upset Mom, okay? It’s just a little performance—why be so delicate about it?”

Before I could answer, my stepmother gripped my arm tightly and forced the bright red opera costume over my head.
Her breath brushed my ear as she hissed,

“I already used the bride price to buy your brother a house. The money’s gone. You’re getting married whether you like it or not.”

“What?!”
I jerked back, stunned, staring at her in disbelief.
But her face showed only cold certainty, as if everything she did was perfectly reasonable.
I opened my mouth, wanting to argue, but no words came.

At this point, what could I even say?
Grinding my teeth, I looked down at the ridiculous costume on my body.
I blinked hard, forcing the tears back.
All the humiliation, the anger, the hopelessness—I could only swallow it and endure.

My mother-in-law’s face softened slightly when she saw me give in.
She snorted,

“Ungrateful girl.”
But she didn’t insist on calling off the marriage anymore.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my stepmother exhale in relief.

Then my father-in-law put on his own opera robe and walked toward me, smiling with squinted eyes.
He knelt down on the ground.

The host shouted excitedly,

“Down on your knees!”

Suddenly people pushed me from behind.
I was forced down, my face pressed hard against the red carpet.
A strong smell of plastic filled my nose.

Someone sprinkled ash over me while the crowd below roared,

“Dirty bride!”

So that’s what the “Climbing the Ashes” meant—
“Dirty knees,” “Dirty bride.”

Disgust churned inside me, but I was helpless.
They hung a sign around my neck, mocking me as they snapped pictures.
I tried to turn my face away from the blinding flashes, but Yu Jin suddenly grabbed my chin and forced my head toward the camera.

Seeing the groom act that way only fueled the crowd.
Someone shouted,

“Kiss! Kiss!”
and soon the chant spread like a wave.

Five or six drunk men stumbled up onto the stage, faces red, surrounding me.
They yelled for me to kiss my father-in-law, laughing, their bodies brushing against mine—hands groping, shoving, pressing too close.

Panic shot through me.
I clutched desperately at Yu Jin’s sleeve.
But he only smiled, that same careless smile, and gently pried my fingers away.

“It’s fine,” he said lightly. “They’re just playing around.”

“Yu Jin…”
My voice trembled.

He turned his head, pretending not to hear.

Then my father-in-law actually moved toward me—his greasy face stretching into a grin that made his eyes disappear.
His heavy body swayed as he came closer.

Fear flooded me. I backed away, but he was faster—two quick steps and he was right in front of me, one hand clamping down on my shoulder.

The pressure was deliberate, cruel.
I couldn’t break free.

I looked toward Yu Jin again, silently begging for help, but he just stood there, smiling faintly, as if none of this concerned him.

That oily face loomed inches from mine.
My stomach churned violently—
and before I could think, my hand flew up.

Slap!

The sound cracked through the air, sharp and loud.
The weight on my shoulder vanished as the man staggered back several steps, clutching his cheek in shock.

The whole place fell silent.
For a moment, no one moved, no one breathed.

Then, as I came back to my senses, I saw my mother-in-law’s face—dark as burnt coal—suddenly appear before me.
She raised her hand high.

Smack!