Chapter 28

Hu Xinkai was stunned by Huo Jincheng’s words. “What did you say? You said Xiaoyun is your… wife?!”

“That’s right, my wife!” Huo Jincheng said coldly. After speaking, he grabbed Lan Yun’er’s hand, intending to leave with her. But Hu Xinkai blocked their way.

Hu Xinkai’s gaze landed on Lan Yun’er. With a serious tone, he asked her, “Xiaoyun, tell me, is this man really your husband? Is he lying?”

Lan Yun’er had the urge to facepalm. She hadn’t expected the original owner of her body to have ties with a male classmate. Previously, she thought the original owner had only been entangled with Wang Zhiqiang.

Was this detail written in the book? Or did she miss it?

She guessed the original owner might have tried to forget Hu Xinkai. Otherwise, why would this memory be buried so deeply? When she first inherited this body, she hadn’t even accessed this memory. It wasn’t until she saw Hu Xinkai’s face just now and thought carefully that she dug up this buried memory.

Feeling helpless and exasperated, Lan Yun’er sighed inwardly. She looked at Hu Xinkai and said plainly, “Yes, he’s, my husband. I’m already married.”

Hu Xinkai’s eyes widened in shock, looking utterly devastated. His brows furrowed tightly as he spoke, his voice suddenly emotional. “Xiaoyun, how could you do this? You said you would marry me—you promised me!”

“You’re from the city; I’m not worthy of you, Hu. Please forget about me.”

Hu Xinkai was from a county town and had lived with his grandmother in this smaller town during high school. Lan Yun’er guessed that the original owner had chosen to forget Hu Xinkai because of his mother.

Hu Xinkai’s mother had approached the original owner and demanded she break off contact with Hu Xinkai, stating outright that her background was unworthy of him.

“Why are you saying such things? You know I’ve never looked down on you, Xiaoyun. Why are you treating me this way? You haven’t contacted me for so long—I thought you were just busy with school! I never imagined you were already married!”

His tone grew more agitated, and he reached out to grab Lan Yun’er’s shoulder.

Huo Jincheng quickly shielded Lan Yun’er, pulling her into his embrace.

He glared at Hu Xinkai with displeasure. “Comrade, if you continue behaving like this, don’t blame me for being rude to you!”

No man could tolerate another man pestering his wife, especially someone who had seemingly been involved with her in the past.

Lan Yun’er also wanted to end this entanglement. She gave Hu Xinkai a serious look and said, “I didn’t get into university, so our agreement back then is void.”

Then she looked up at Huo Jincheng. “Let’s go.”

“Okay,” he replied, wrapping an arm around her as they walked around Hu Xinkai and headed out.

Hu Xinkai stood frozen for a few seconds. Watching Lan Yun’er leave with Huo Jincheng, his brows furrowed as he quickly called out, “Xiaoyun! Even if you didn’t get into university, I still want you. Divorce him! As long as you leave him, I’ll marry you!”

Huo Jincheng’s expression immediately darkened, as though storm clouds had gathered.

He stopped in his tracks and cast a cold, piercing glance at Hu Xinkai.

Lan Yun’er was speechless at Hu Xinkai’s words.

This guy sure had nerve, openly encouraging someone to get divorced in public.

In this backward 1980s setting, wasn’t he afraid of being drowned by the community’s scorn? Luckily, the noodle shop wasn’t crowded. If it had been packed, people’s judgments would have already flown like arrows.

Lan Yun’er frowned, displeased, and said to Hu Xinkai, “I love my husband and will not divorce him. So please, Hu, stop saying such things.”

“Also, Hu, does your mother know what you’re doing? If she finds out about this, she’ll probably cause me trouble again.”

The word again was spoken with deliberate emphasis.

Hu Xinkai froze. “My mother… Did she approach you before?”

Lan Yun’er snorted softly but didn’t want to answer. She pulled Huo Jincheng along and quickly exited the noodle shop.

Hu Xinkai’s mind was still spinning with her words—his mother had approached her? What had she said to her? Had his mother said something harsh? Was it because of his mother’s words that she gave up on him?

Nearby, Zhou Mingyue’s gaze locked onto Hu Xinkai. Watching him appear so despondent, a sly smile crept onto her face.

After leaving the noodle shop, Lan Yun’er led Huo Jincheng down another street.

Huo Jincheng glanced at her, his eyes soft and tender. He suddenly asked, “Yun’er, what you said earlier—was it true? When you said you love me, did you mean it?”

When he heard her say those words, he was overjoyed, feeling wrapped in happiness as though soaking in a jar of honey.

Lan Yun’er stopped in her tracks, her lips twitching as she resisted the urge to facepalm again.

She had only said those words to deal with Hu Xinkai.

While she did admire the male protagonist and wanted to live a good life with him, saying she loved him at this stage didn’t feel genuine.

After all, love was a serious matter. If it came so easily, wouldn’t it cheapen the sentiment?

She wanted to tell him the truth, but seeing his hopeful expression, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Biting her lip, she hesitated for two seconds before forcing a sweet smile. “I…”

“Let’s go,” he interrupted gently, wrapping an arm around her as they continued walking. “Do you have anything you want to buy? I’ll go with you.”

Her hesitation had already given him the answer.

He was being too impatient. They had only been married for a short time, and she had previously been averse to him. Expecting her to fall in love with him so quickly was nothing short of wishful thinking. The fact that she was willing to stay by his side and live a good life with him was already enough for him. He shouldn’t be asking for too much, nor should he be dreaming of gaining her love so soon.

However, he believed that with his efforts, she would eventually fall in love with him. Someday, they would become a truly loving couple.

Lan Yun’er actually wanted to buy many things, but her limited budget meant she had to be selective. After wandering the streets for a while, she finally bought a set of clothes for Huo Jincheng.

Huo Jincheng’s clothes were too old, and some were so worn out that they weren’t warm anymore. He didn’t want to buy them, but she insisted.

After all, he was now her husband, and she had to consider his health. If he fell ill from the cold, she would feel guilty. Moreover, treating an illness would cost even more money in the long run, so it was better to invest in warm clothes now.

After purchasing the clothes, the two continued to stroll around. Seeing that it was about time, Huo Jincheng decided to leave first, as he only had the morning off and needed to return to work in the afternoon.

Lan Yun’er didn’t want him to go, but he insisted, thinking about the money they had spent on clothes and food. He was determined to earn every penny he could.

Unable to persuade him, Lan Yun’er let him go. She understood his mindset—he was eager to earn money, no matter how little, because the family’s financial burden was heavy.

After Huo Jincheng left, Lan Yun’er continued to wander the streets alone, hoping to discover some business opportunities in town. However, after walking around for a long time, she found nothing.

Perhaps she wasn’t cut out for business, and even if opportunities were there, she might not recognize them.

At this moment, outside a state-owned pharmacy, Zhou Mingyue stopped Hu Xinkai, calling out, “Excuse me, Comrade Hu, please wait a moment.”

Zhou Mingyue quickly stepped in front of Hu Xinkai. He paused, looking at the delicate-looking girl before him and asking, “Do you need something, Comrade?”

Hu Xinkai hadn’t noticed Zhou Mingyue at the noodle shop earlier, so he had no idea she had been there.

Zhou Mingyue smiled and said, “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Zhou Mingyue, a close friend of Xiaoyun’s.”

“Xiaoyun? You know Xiaoyun?” Hu Xinkai’s eyes lit up as he fixed his gaze on Zhou Mingyue.

Zhou Mingyue nodded. “Yes, I’m very close to Xiaoyun. She tells me everything. She’s even mentioned you and your relationship.”

Without any suspicion, Hu Xinkai immediately asked, “Did she ever talk to you about my mother? Is the reason she left me and married someone else because of…?”

“Yes, it’s because of your mother,” Zhou Mingyue replied without hesitation. “Your mother confronted her and said many harsh things, even threatening her to leave you. Xiaoyun is just a girl from the countryside. How could she possibly stand up to your mother? She had no choice but to obey.”

Hu Xinkai’s face darkened with pain. “So it really was my mother… She’s the reason Xiaoyun left me.”

Zhou Mingyue’s expression remained composed as she added, “Hu Comrade, do you still have feelings for Xiaoyun? Do you still wish to be with her?”

“I do. Xiaoyun is the only one in my heart, and my love for her will never change,” Hu Xinkai replied eagerly.

Zhou Mingyue smiled slightly. “Since you two love each other so much, I’d feel guilty if I didn’t help. Here’s an idea: why don’t you give me your address? I’ll have Xiaoyun write you a letter.”

“My address? Sure!” Hu Xinkai hurriedly pulled out a notebook and pen from his satchel, squatting by the roadside to jot it down.

Watching him, Zhou Mingyue smirked inwardly.

Lan Yun’er, you dream of being with my male lead? What a joke! I’ll make sure Huo Jincheng drives you out himself, and I’ll ruin your reputation by framing you as unfaithful with Hu Xinkai!

What Zhou Mingyue didn’t notice was that inside the state-owned pharmacy, Widow Hou, Hou Yushan, was watching her intently.

Listening to Zhou Mingyue’s conversation with Hu Xinkai, Hou Yushan frowned deeply, her expression darkening. She could tell Zhou Mingyue was lying, and the woman clearly hadn’t changed her deceitful ways.

Lan Yun’er spent a while aimlessly wandering around before deciding to head home. Just before leaving, however, she stumbled upon a business opportunity.

She was passing by a clothing store when she overheard the storeowner sitting at the door, chatting with another woman.

The storeowner complained, “Look at my skin—it’s so sallow and dull now. I’ve tried everything, but nothing works. It’s driving me crazy. If this keeps up, how can I even look at myself?”

The woman replied, “I know, right? My skin is not only dull but sagging as well. I even had relatives from Hong Kong bring me some fancy products they swore by, but after using them for three months, my skin still looks the same. It’s so frustrating!”

The storeowner sighed, “I don’t even dare to look in the mirror anymore, afraid of seeing how ugly I’ve become.”

Hearing this, Lan Yun’er’s eyes lit up.

That’s it—she could make and sell beauty-enhancing pills!

She was skilled in crafting all kinds of elixirs, especially beauty-enhancing ones. This was a basic formula for her, and making it would be effortless. The results of her beauty-enhancing pills were unparalleled—just a few days of use would significantly improve skin condition.

Excited by the idea, she smiled and hurriedly left, determined to pursue this new venture. The pills would require various ingredients, but she was confident the necessary materials could be found in the mountains.

The only concern was a pill furnace, which was essential for crafting elixirs. However, she was determined to figure it out.

Returning home, Lan Yun’er set down her basket and called over Huo Miaomiao. She took out a small packet of snacks from the basket and handed it to her. “Miaomiao, this is for you. Go ahead and eat it.”

Huo Miaomiao was stunned, her eyes wide with surprise. She hadn’t expected her fourth aunt to buy her snacks.

Her brother, Huo Tianhe, had eaten this kind of treat before, but he never shared any with her. Instead, he and her aunt scolded her for being greedy when she drooled over it.

Now holding the snacks, Huo Miaomiao couldn’t hold back her tears.

“Fourth Auntie…”

“Why are you crying, silly girl? It’s just a little snack,” Lan Yun’er said, wiping her tears away.

Huo Miaomiao was painfully thin—so frail she looked like a twig. In contrast, her brother Huo Tianhe was plump and rosy-cheeked. The disparity between the siblings was heart-wrenching.

Huo Miaomiao thanked Lan Yun’er and was about to bring the snacks inside to share with her father when Huo Tianhe and Cao Yunxia emerged from the house.

Seeing the snacks in Huo Miaomiao’s hands, Huo Tianhe shouted, “Mine! Give it to me! That’s mine!” He rushed toward her, trying to snatch the packet.

Huo Miaomiao’s face turned pale. She knew they would take it away, leaving nothing for her or her father.

Lan Yun’er quickly stepped between them, shielding Huo Miaomiao.

Looking coldly at the arrogant Huo Tianhe, she said sternly, “I bought these, and they weren’t for you. They’re not yours!”

If Huo Tianhe’s behavior wasn’t curbed, his life would be ruined.

Huo Tianhe swung his chubby hand toward Lan Yun’er. “It’s mine! Everything in this house is mine! Give it to me!”

Lan Yun’er dodged with Huo Miaomiao, her voice even colder. “Who told you everything in this house is yours? Who taught you such shameless nonsense?!”