Chapter 3

The unrelated onlookers had finally dispersed completely.

Lin Jiayi still didn’t speak to Lin Dong. She walked straight into the house and sat down in the living room.

Lin Dong followed, putting down his two large bags as he looked around. The house hadn’t really changed in all these years—the only change was his daughter.

He sat across from Lin Jiayi, his eyes shifting restlessly. For a soldier, this was unusual and shouldn’t have happened at all.

He didn’t know how to begin, nor how to communicate with his daughter.

In the end, Lin Jiayi couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke first.

“I think, as a father, you’re unqualified.”

Lin Jiayi had always been straightforward—she said what she thought, never sugarcoated things. It was exactly this bluntness that had offended her rival so badly in the first place.

Lin Dong hadn’t expected his daughter to speak so directly. The impression she gave him now was completely different from what he remembered.

But she was right. He had failed as a father. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spent so many years drowning in his own grief, neglecting his daughter’s care.

In his previous life, he hadn’t come home on this day. He hadn’t accepted retirement but stayed in the army instead.

Yes—Lin Dong had been reborn.

In his last life, he had missed the chance to make things right. By the time he heard that his daughter had been bullied by some old man, lost her reputation, and been forced to the countryside, Lin Jiayi was already in the Northeast.

He had sent Yao Qingqing there too, hoping she would look after his daughter, even promising to give her extra money each month. But within two years, tragedy struck.

When he went to the Northeast to collect Lin Jiayi’s body, his daughter had already been ruined by village thugs.

He had always thought she hated him, which was why she never wrote back or answered calls. Wracked with regret, he had grown distracted during a mission and was severely injured.

Later, while recovering at home, he had a heated argument with Yang Xueqin. It was then that she revealed the truth: his daughter had been abused at home, framed by Yao Qingqing, and that was why she had lost her reputation.

The old lady had never liked Lin Jiayi. In her cruelty, she sent her off to the harsh Northeast.

In the end, the final accomplice in his daughter’s death had been himself. He was the one who had sent Yao Qingqing there, leading to Jiayi’s death. Overcome with grief, he died from anger.

That left the ungrateful mother and daughter to inherit his property and house, and in the end, they thrived.

Now, as Lin Jiayi watched Lin Dong’s gaze grow sharper and colder in silence, she became uneasy.

“Alright, I admit I was blunt, but you can’t blame me. Do you even know how miserable your daughter’s life has been at home…?”

But the moment Lin Dong raised his head, her words died in her throat.

As an elite scout, he immediately picked out the key point in her slip of the tongue.

“Your daughter?”

Lin Jiayi realized her mistake, shrank her neck, and didn’t dare answer. She might roar and fight in front of those two vile women, but before Lin Dong, she had no confidence.

“Looks like we need to have a proper talk tonight. Let’s start with your story.”

That official tone made Lin Jiayi realize he suspected her. Lin Dong might not have been home often, but he came back once a year—surely he knew his daughter’s personality somewhat. She was very different from the original.

“For fairness’ sake, I think before you question me, you should explain yourself first. Don’t you think it’s strange you suddenly came back? I remember that Lin Dong never returned home until after I left.”

Though terrified inside, Lin Jiayi forced herself to remain calm, giving herself silent encouragement.

Lin Dong had never believed in the supernatural. But since the moment he was reborn, something in him had changed. And now, the girl before him clearly knew things she shouldn’t.

Still, personality and expression don’t lie. He was sure this wasn’t his daughter. But with the exact same face—who was she?

“I can only tell you this much for now: I died once. As for the rest, it depends on how honest you are.”

Though Lin Dong revealed little, Lin Jiayi instantly pieced it together. Having read countless web novels, she quickly concluded that Lin Dong had been reborn.

No wonder. No wonder he had returned midway. No wonder his gaze held not just the resolve of a soldier but also deep hatred. Clearly, in the parts of the story she didn’t know, that mother and daughter had done far worse.

That made things simple. The enemy of her enemy was her friend. They weren’t in conflict, were they?

“As for me—you may not believe it, but I’m from another world. This place is a book written by my love rival. You’re all characters in her story.

I offended her, and she somehow threw me into this book. The Lin Jiayi here has the same name as me, while Yao Qingqing shares her name. She wrote me such a tragic fate just to get revenge.

But I never finished reading the book, so I don’t know what happens after I was sent to the countryside. What about you—are you reborn or transmigrated?”

Lin Jiayi’s words truly shocked Lin Dong. He had thought it was some ghostly matter, but never expected something like this.

He could see she wasn’t lying. This girl might be arrogant, but at her core, she wasn’t bad. As for her temper—well, that was another matter.

“I don’t know what you mean by transmigration, nor do I understand being a character in a book. In my understanding, we are all living beings—flesh and blood, with feelings and grudges.

But it’s true, I did die once. My body was already weakened from injuries, and when I learned the truth—that my daughter had been destroyed by them—I was so enraged I died of fury.

I remember many things, but when I woke up, I was back at the military compound, before my injury. That should be what you call rebirth.”

Lin Jiayi was thrilled. Perfect!

She knew the future, and Lin Dong knew the plot. Together, how could they not rise?

“I think we should work together—to destroy those two and take our revenge. With our knowledge of the future, we can definitely live happy, fulfilled lives and reach the peak of success!

This time, I’ll still win. Yao Qingqing—no matter where we are, you’ll never be my match. Even if this is your territory, so what? If you’ve got the ability, come in here yourself!”

Perhaps Lin Jiayi’s excitement was contagious, because Lin Dong no longer looked weighed down by grief.

After all, wasn’t the girl before him his daughter? She had just said it—the Lin Jiayi in this book was her, wasn’t she?