Chapter 1: Let’s Settle the Score First

“Wen Nuan! You actually stole my talisman! I’m going to tell father and have him beat you to death, you little brat!”

The sharp, piercing scolding dragged Wen Nuan back to her senses. She stared coldly at the younger sister standing before her—just two months her junior. A glint of frost flickered in Wen Nuan’s eyes.

To her shock, she had been reborn!

In her past life, it was at this very moment that Wen Qing framed her, accusing her of stealing the talisman. In reality, it was nothing more than Wen Qing’s scheme to force her to move to the countryside.

And the talisman—that white jade pendant carved into a safety lock—was hers to begin with. It was the only keepsake her biological mother had left her.

Unfortunately, due to her timidity and naivety back then, Wen Qing had deceived her into handing over the pendant when she was only eight years old. From that moment on, the pendant became Wen Qing’s prized possession.

This time, in order to frame her, Wen Qing had deliberately hidden the pendant under Wen Nuan’s pillow.

Recalling everything that had happened in her past life, Wen Nuan’s heart turned icy cold. She was clearly her father’s biological daughter, and Wen Qing was merely the stepdaughter.

Still, her father had continuously, without fail, sided with Wen Qing. Using this fabricated accusation, he openly pinned the countryside transfer quota on Wen Nuan.

She had labored like a beast of burden in the Wen household for so many years. After finally finishing high school and landing an apprenticeship at a garment factory, she was still forced to go to the countryside in Wen Qing’s place!

In her past life, she had struggled in the countryside for five long years. After finally earning a spot at the university she had dreamed of, she returned home full of joy, only to discover that Wen Qing had stolen her acceptance letter.

Her so-called biological father, fearing she might ruin Wen Qing’s plans, had conspired with her stepmother to drug her and sell her off as a wife to a crippled old bachelor.

The memory of those days, where living felt worse than dying, still made Wen Nuan tremble. But fortunately, she was back now. Heaven must have had eyes, granting her another chance to rewrite her fate.

A flash of cold determination gleamed in Wen Nuan’s eyes. In this lifetime, she would never walk the same doomed path. All those insignificant ties of family and affection? She wanted nothing to do with them anymore!

“Wen Nuan, got nothing to say this time, do you? The pendant was found right under your pillow! Ha, I’d like to see how you’re going to explain this to father!”

Hearing Wen Qing’s smug laughter, Wen Nuan propped herself up on the table and slowly stood.

Moments earlier, Wen Qing had shoved her, causing her to hit the table on her way down. There was no need to check—her back would undoubtedly be bruised by now.

“What’s the matter, Wen Nuan? Cat got your tongue? Let me tell you, hand over your job at the garment factory and head to the countryside, or else—”

Before Wen Qing could finish, Wen Nuan raised her hand and snatched the pendant right out of her grasp. Without hesitation, she slapped Wen Qing hard across the face, alternating left and right, landing blow after blow.

All the resentment and bitterness from her previous life seemed to pour out in that moment, and Wen Nuan felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction as she struck.

“Ah… ah… AH!”

The series of blows caught Wen Qing completely off guard. Still reeling from the shock, she barely had time to process before the searing pain on her cheeks took over.

“Wu-Wen Nuan, how dare you hit me, you little wretch!”

Wen Qing’s face was red and swollen, her teeth loosened from the impact. Her speech was slurred and barely coherent, yet even in her battered state, she was still thinking of revenge.

Seeing Wen Qing lunging toward her, Wen Nuan deftly stepped aside, letting her momentum carry her forward.

Wen Qing moved too quickly to stop and crashed directly into the table behind Wen Nuan—ironically, the same spot where Wen Nuan had just hit herself earlier.

“Ahhh!”

Another shrill scream echoed through the room. But this time, it was accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching.

It was the end of the workday.

There was no need to guess—it had to be her scumbag father, Wen Changming, and her stepmother, Tan Xiulian, returning home.

In her previous life, the scene had played out the same way—but back then, it was Wen Nuan who was the one beaten and humiliated, begging for mercy.

“What’s going on here? What are you two fighting about now?”

Wen Changming’s voice, tinged with irritation, rang out from outside the door. But the moment he pushed it open, his expression shifted dramatically.

“Qingqing, what happened to you? How did you end up like this? How could you be so badly hurt?”

Wen Changming didn’t even spare Wen Nuan a glance. He rushed straight to Wen Qing, who was sprawled on the floor, completely ignoring his other daughter as though she were invisible.

And Tan Xiulian?

Tan Xiulian’s gaze swept over Wen Nuan with a hint of mockery and disdain, laced with a touch of schadenfreude.

What was she so certain about?

That Wen Nuan was about to get beaten?

That Wen Changming would undoubtedly take their side, as he always did?

Of course. Throughout countless similar scenes from her childhood, Wen Nuan had always been the one to bear the brunt of punishment.

From the age of eight, her biological father had ceased to be her father. Yet in her previous life, she had foolishly clung to blind hope, refusing to wake up to the truth.

But not anymore!

As Wen Changming fussed over Wen Qing, doting and full of concern, Wen Qing’s confidence skyrocketed. Without hesitation, she blatantly tattled, her tone imperious and accusatory:

“father, you have no idea! Big Sister stole my talisman, and I caught her red-handed, but she still won’t admit it.

I only said a few words to her, and she started hitting me! She even pushed me to the ground. You have to help me get my talisman back and teach her a good lesson!”

Sure enough, as soon as Wen Qing finished her complaint, Wen Changming’s face darkened with fury.

“Wen Nuan! You’re the older sister—how could you take your younger sister’s things and even lay hands on her? Have I spoiled you too much? Are you trying to make life impossible for me?”

Wen Changming had originally planned to stop disciplining her physically now that she was older. He had even been considering selling her off to a suitable match for a good price.

After all, his eldest daughter had inherited her late mother’s beauty—a beauty that was almost annoyingly striking.

Unfortunately, his eldest daughter and youngest daughter had graduated from high school one after the other. Somehow, the local street office got wind of this and came knocking.

As a small-time supervisor at the machinery factory, Wen Changming couldn’t afford to be seen as someone who didn’t actively support the government’s call for Rural Re-education. That would be unacceptable.

He couldn’t bear to send his youngest daughter, so the eldest—who happened to resemble his late wife—was the one he chose to sacrifice.

After all, with her good looks, she could still fetch a decent price in a few years, even after returning from the countryside.

This arrangement worked perfectly: Wen Nuan’s departure for the countryside would not only free up her garment factory job for Wen Qing but also leave the family with one less mouth to feed. It was a win-win situation for him, as he wouldn’t have to worry about his precious younger daughter anymore.

Finding a job these days was no easy feat—it cost a fortune, and you had to humble yourself, begging for favors from everyone.

Wen Changming thought he had everything perfectly calculated, but little did he know that from this moment on, Wen Nuan was no longer under his control.

Standing across from Wen Changming, Wen Nuan looked at the smug expression on his face. In her past life, such a scene might have left her heartbroken and distraught, but now? Heh…

“When two people have a conflict, don’t you think you should at least hear my side of the story? How can you take Wen Qing’s word for it and blame me without question? On what grounds?”

“You dare talk back?!”

Wen Changming grew even angrier. He put down Wen Qing, who was still nestled in his arms, and stormed over to Wen Nuan, raising his hand, ready to strike.

Wen Nuan wasn’t a fool—why should she just stand there and get hit? While she might not be able to fight back against Wen Changming, she could certainly run!

With her mind made up, Wen Nuan turned and shoved past Tan Xiulian, who was blocking the door, dashing straight into the courtyard.

Taking a deep breath, she finally voiced the questions that had weighed on her heart for an entire lifetime.

“Wen Changming! My mom hadn’t even been gone three months before you brought Tan Xiulian into our home, dragging along Wen Qing like some unwanted baggage.

You’ve been living happily as a family of three, bullying and squeezing me out both openly and in secret. Not only that, but you also took possession of the keepsakes my mother left for me.

And now, for the sake of this stepdaughter, you’re actually going to hit me? Tell me, am I really your biological daughter, or is Wen Qing the one who’s actually yours?

Could it be that Wen Qing is your biological child? If that’s the case, then you’ve been lying to everyone all along. You betrayed my mother, didn’t you? My mom had a heart attack, and guess who was conveniently there—Tan Xiulian!”

When I was young, I didn’t understand things, but now I finally do. My mom died because of you two—a pair of despicable scoundrels! Wen Changming, I’m going to report you! I’m going to seek justice for my mom!”

Hearing Wen Nuan’s words, Wen Changming’s face instantly darkened. He hurriedly let go of Wen Qing and stormed outside.

“You little brat! What nonsense are you shouting out here? Get back inside right now!”

Wen Changming stood at the doorway, glaring at Wen Nuan with a fury so intense it seemed like he wanted to tear her apart. That terrifying look made Wen Nuan’s heart skip a beat.

What she had initially suspected was merely her own conjecture, but now, judging by Wen Changming’s reaction, it was obvious—his over-the-top anger and guilty demeanor screamed of a cover-up.

Glancing at Tan Xiulian, who stood off to the side, Wen Nuan noticed her evasive gaze and nervous expression.

Had she accidentally stumbled upon the truth?

So her mother’s death really was connected to this vile pair of scoundrels!

Wen Nuan clenched her fists tightly, digging her nails into her palms to force herself to stay calm.

Now that she had found some clues, she had to maximize the advantage this discovery could bring. She would first free herself from the Wen family’s grasp and then seek justice for her mother—there was still time.

Ignoring the threatening glare from Wen Changming, Wen Nuan raised her voice even louder and shouted:

“Wen Changming! Answer me! Is Wen Qing your biological daughter or not? Why are you so blatantly biased toward her, letting her bully me? Is this how a father is supposed to act?”

“If you keep spouting nonsense out here, don’t blame me for getting rough with you!”

Wen Changming barked, his voice stern but lacking true authority. Wen Nuan wasn’t the least bit fazed. She didn’t believe for a second that he would dare strangle her in broad daylight.

Her gaze shifted to the front gate, where a growing crowd of neighbors had already gathered. Nearly everyone who was home in their tightly-knit community had come out to see what the commotion was about.

Their current residence, though privately owned, was located in the factory district of the machinery plant. This entire area was home to factory workers and their families. Any minor disturbance would inevitably draw attention from every household.

Realizing this, Wen Nuan became even more determined to escalate the situation.

If they wanted to make her life miserable, she’d make sure the entire Wen family suffered along with her!