Cool morning air nipped at Sue Ning's cheeks as she strode along the dusty path. The sun, a timid sliver, painted the eastern sky in soft oranges and bruised purples. Lin Wei’s home lay on the other side of the quiet village, a considerable walk that gave Sue Ning ample time to refine her strategy. Haste was the enemy. Subtlety, her sharpened blade. Her fingers brushed against the simple necklace at her throat. It was a cheap, almost childish piece, a relic from the initial ‘friendship’ that had been so cruelly betrayed. Today, it was a prop. She would embody the happy, if slightly envious, friend, wishing Lin Wei nothing but a lifetime of joy. Every step solidified her resolve. The system points were a bonus, a fuel. The real reward was the dismantling of this woman's stolen happiness. Slow, deliberate, excruciating. Reaching the Lin family courtyard, Sue Ning saw she wasn’t the first. A flutter of red fabric already adorned the entrance. Laughter drifted from inside, warm and inviting. Before she could even knock properly, the door swung open. “Sue Ning! You’re here!” Lin Wei’s mother, her face beaming, pulled her inside with an enthusiastic tug. Her grip was strong, her eyes alight with the frantic energy of a mother on her daughter’s wedding day. “Come, come! Lin Wei is already in the inner room. The sisters are helping her!” The small courtyard buzzed. Women bustled with trays of sweets, children chased each other, their giggles echoing off the mud-brick walls. Red paper cuts, symbols of good fortune and happiness, decorated every surface. Lanterns, still unlit, hung from the eaves, promising a bright evening. Sue Ning offered a wide, genuine-looking smile. “Auntie, congratulations! Lin Wei must be the most beautiful bride in the village today.” Her voice carried just the right note of sincere admiration, carefully calibrated. Lin Wei’s mother patted her arm, her eyes shining. “You are too kind, child. Go, join them. She needs all the help she can get with her stubborn hair!” She gestured towards a slightly open door leading deeper into the house. Stepping into the inner room, Sue Ning paused. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and something faintly metallic, perhaps from the brass mirror. Lin Wei sat on a low stool, her back to the door, a flurry of hands working on her long, dark hair. Two other women, young and eager, were meticulously braiding strands, weaving in red ribbons. “Sue Ning!” Lin Wei’s voice, a little breathless, carried a genuine note of surprise and pleasure. She turned, her face flushed with excitement, a faint smear of rouge already on her cheeks. Her eyes, usually so sharp, were soft and dreamy today. “Lin Wei.” Sue Ning approached, her smile never faltering. “You look radiant.” She meant it, in a twisted way. The joy was palpable, a fragile thing that Sue Ning intended to shatter. “Let me help.” One of the sisters, a girl named Xiao Hua, immediately ceded her spot. “Here, Sue Ning. You’re good with braids.” She knew Sue Ning had always been deft with her fingers, a trait Lin Wei had often admired in their past lives. Sue Ning took the comb, her movements fluid and practiced. Her hands moved through Lin Wei’s thick hair, separating strands, weaving them with precision. The intimacy of the act was jarring, almost sickening. Her fingers brushed against Lin Wei’s neck, a subtle shiver running down her spine. Not from repulsion, but from a cold, quiet thrill of proximity to her target. “Are you nervous?” Sue Ning asked, her voice soft, almost conspiratorial. She leaned in slightly, as if sharing a secret. Lin Wei giggled. “A little. Mostly excited. It feels… surreal. Like a dream.” Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, a blissful expression on her face. *A dream you stole from me,* Sue Ning thought, her jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. She kept her hands steady, her expression serene. “That’s how it should feel. This is a big day.” Minutes stretched into an hour. The room filled with the quiet murmur of women, the rustle of silk, the clink of ornaments. Lin Wei’s wedding dress, a vibrant red qipao embroidered with golden dragons and phoenixes, lay carefully draped over a chair. Its fabric shimmered, a stark contrast to the drab blues and grays of everyday village life. One of the older women, Lin Wei’s aunt, began applying the finishing touches to Lin Wei’s makeup. Powder dusted her nose, more rouge on her cheeks, a delicate touch of red to her lips. Sue Ning watched, observing every detail, every minute change in Lin Wei's appearance. Her gaze lingered on Lin Wei’s left hand, bare for now. The wedding ring would be placed there soon. “There,” the aunt declared, stepping back with a satisfied sigh. “Perfect. A true village beauty.” Lin Wei opened her eyes, gazing at her reflection in the small brass mirror. A shy, happy smile blossomed on her face. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright, almost liquid with suppressed joy. She truly looked beautiful, innocent, and utterly unaware of the venomous intent hiding beneath the surface of Sue Ning’s helpful demeanor. “Now, for the dress,” another sister announced, carefully lifting the heavy garment. The red silk seemed to glow in the dim light of the room. Sue Ning stepped forward, offering her assistance, her movements smooth and efficient. As Lin Wei slipped into the qipao, the room grew quieter, a sense of reverence falling over the women. The fabric rustled, settling around her. It fit perfectly, hugging her curves, accentuating her youthful figure. The golden embroidery seemed to come alive, shimmering with every slight movement. Lin Wei looked at herself again in the mirror, turning slightly, her expression one of utter contentment. This was the moment. The culmination of a life she believed was her own, a happiness she had snatched from another’s destiny. Sue Ning’s hands adjusted a fold of the qipao, her touch light, almost tender. Inside, a cold fire burned. This peace, this joy, it was all temporary. She would watch it all crumble. This was just the beginning of her reclamation. She would see that face twisted in despair, those bright eyes dulled by betrayal. “You look stunning, Lin Wei,” Sue Ning said, her voice steady, devoid of any tremor that might betray her true feelings. She met Lin Wei’s gaze in the mirror, holding it for a beat longer than necessary. Lin Wei, lost in her own happiness, only saw affection. She helped Lin Wei with the delicate red veil, a sheer piece of silk that would cover her face until the groom unveiled her. As the fabric settled, obscuring Lin Wei’s features, a sense of grim satisfaction settled over Sue Ning. It was fitting, she thought. A veil over the truth. Outside, the sounds of the village slowly intensified. More voices, louder laughter, the distant thrum of drums beginning to beat a festive rhythm. The auspicious hour was drawing near. The air grew thick with anticipation, a vibrant hum that vibrated through the very foundations of the house. Lin Wei’s mother reappeared, her face flushed with excitement, her eyes darting between the door and her daughter. “It’s almost time! They’ll be here any minute!” She wrung her hands, a nervous, happy energy radiating from her. Sue Ning watched Lin Wei, now fully adorned, a vision in red. The veil cast her features in shadow, but the bright joy still emanated from her. The path to vengeance was long, intricate, and fraught with peril, but Sue Ning had never felt more alive. Every beat of her heart was a drum of retribution, every breath a silent vow. As it is now the auspicious hour at 9 am the Lin family court yard is already packed and festive the place decorated in red as we hear the gongs signaling the arrival of the groom and his entourage to pick up the bride

Chapter 5: Red Veil, Black Heart