Chapter 4

Back in her room, Wen Xin wandered around, feeling bored. The original book’s supporting female character didn’t have many personal belongings—just some clothes in the wardrobe, two wooden trunks, and two books on the desk, which appeared to be high school textbooks from this era.

The novel Let Me Love You One Last Time didn’t include much detail about the supporting female character. She had been raised by her grandaunt since childhood, was both the female lead’s neighbor and classmate, and was even her best friend.

What a ridiculous setup.

The only role she played in the novel was becoming a nanny in the Yan family. During that time, she wrote letters to the female lead detailing everything that happened. The female lead, who had already been admitted to Beijing University, came to visit her during the holidays. That was how she first met the male lead. Later, after frequent visits to see the supporting female character, she gradually became familiar with the male lead and began pursuing him.

When Wen Xin had originally read the novel, she hadn’t thought much about it. But now that she reconsidered, the only time the supporting female character had ever mustered the courage to seduce the male lead was after being encouraged by the female lead. And that time… just so happened to be when a group of people caught her in the act.

Was it really just a coincidence?

The novel never explicitly stated it, but from start to finish, the only person she had confided in about her feelings for the male lead was the female lead…

After that, she was completely written out of the story, discarded like an expendable pawn.

She was only mentioned briefly at the end—her life had been utterly tragic.

To sum it up, all the misfortunes she suffered in the novel served just one purpose: to highlight the perfection of the female lead, Song Qian, and her happily-ever-after love story.

That’s right! The novel’s heroine was named Song Qian!

Just thinking about that name made Wen Xin’s teeth ache with frustration. That’s because the female lead’s name was the same as her real-life best friend’s name!

The fate of the novel’s supporting female character was easily the most malicious design by the author—it was too real! If she could go back in time, she would never have befriended that person in the first place!

Until she entered this book’s world, she had never realized that her supposedly gentle and obedient best friend, Song Qian, actually harbored such deep-seated resentment toward her.

Wen Xin huffed in anger, flipping through the books on the desk. Inside one, she found a photograph of the novel’s supporting female character and the female lead, both smiling radiantly. The sight of it was unbearably irritating, so she stuffed it back into the pages with force.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She plopped down on the chair.

If this were just a book, it wouldn’t be so bad. But she had been dragged into this world, body and all, along with her suitcase!

If Song Qian had never written her name into the novel in the first place, she wouldn’t have been sucked into this mess.

And now, to make things worse, she had a best friend named Song Qian in this world too?

Disgusting!

…

So this was her so-called revenge? To humiliate her in a book?

The heroine Song Qian got to have a perfect love story and a blissful life, huh?

Ha! Not so fast.

She wasn’t just some disposable supporting character anymore—this time, she was in control.

From the moment her real self entered this book’s world and the original supporting female character ceased to exist, she became the biggest variable and loophole in the entire story.

If they wanted her to follow the predetermined plot, she would do the exact opposite.

The male lead, the so-called true love of the novel’s heroine—who was he again? Oh, right, the person she was supposed to meet tomorrow.

In the book, the female lead went through countless hardships. After getting into university, she came to visit her former best friend and ended up meeting the love of her life at the military district. The male lead was a second-generation military elite with power and status. She fell for him at first sight and, after two relentless years of pursuing him, finally won his heart.

After marriage, the male lead’s influence and position not only brought her wealth and status, but also paved the way for her success in everything she did. From that point on, her life was smooth sailing, her enemies were all crushed, and she became untouchable.

Wen Xin sneered.

She wanted to see what would happen this time.

If she never wrote to Song Qian, never revealed anything about her situation, and completely cut off the heroine’s chance to meet the male lead—would Song Qian still have her “perfect life” and “true love”?

…

Wen Xin waited until everyone in the Wen family had gone to bed before sneaking off to wash up.

She had expected to toss and turn in anger all night, but surprisingly, she fell into a deep sleep within two minutes.

By the time she woke up, it was already morning.

While brushing her hair, she couldn’t be bothered to braid it properly, so she grabbed a ribbon from the drawer—the same one that belonged to the novel’s original supporting character—and tied her hair into a simple ponytail.

In reality, she was 21 years old, while the book’s character was 18. But thanks to her “special” physique and perfect skincare routine, there wasn’t a visible difference at all.

Even before she and Song Qian had fallen out, they had been inseparable. But some secrets were never meant to be shared—not even with the closest of friends. Those were secrets buried deep within her heart, never to be spoken aloud.

And since the real-world Song Qian never knew about them, the supporting female character she had written was fundamentally different from Wen Xin herself.

Wen Xin put down the mirror, pulled out a chair, and stood up effortlessly.

She picked up the yellow dress next to her and casually examined it.

Back when she was studying at the performing arts academy, she had done some live streaming for a while. She was even briefly a contracted streamer on a certain platform. With her face alone, she had earned plenty of virtual gifts and flowers.

During her streams, she had to handle everything herself—from makeup to styling and outfit coordination. Luckily, she was quite skilled with her hands, so making minor adjustments to clothes and accessories was no problem at all.

This dress…

The worst parts were the shoulder pads and sleeves. Without hesitation, she tore the sleeves off entirely, removed the shoulder pads, and transformed the long sleeves into a sleeveless design. She also ripped off the outdated folded collar, turning it into a V-neck.

Now it was finally bearable to look at.

After some minor touch-ups, she slipped it on. The waist was a bit loose, so she grabbed a thin white belt from her suitcase and fastened it around her slim waist.

Checking herself in the mirror, she nodded. It’s decent enough to wear.

Yellow was a tricky color—if worn incorrectly, it could make a person look dull and lifeless, their features flat and unremarkable. But Wen Xin had no such problem.

Her skin was so fair that it seemed to glow from within—smooth, radiant, and flawless.

The color yellow only made her skin appear even fairer and more delicate, enhancing her vibrancy.

…

When Wen Xin stepped out of her room, her father had already left for the meat processing plant, and her younger brother was nowhere to be seen. At home, only Luo Juan, who was supposed to take Wen Xin to the Yan family, and her younger sister, who was off from school that day, remained.

“Wen Xin! What are you doing in there? Don’t you know you’re supposed to go to the Yan family today? Hurry up and come out! Let me tell you, whether you want to go or not, you will go! If you dare disobey me, I—” Luo Juan was shouting loudly.

But then, she saw someone step out of the inner room—a stunning beauty who immediately caught the eye.

Wen Xin was wearing a sleeveless yellow dress. The fitted fabric accentuated her slender, graceful figure. The color of the dress highlighted the exposed parts of her arms and calves, making her skin appear as smooth as jade, soft and fair like snow. On her feet were simple white shoes, giving her an effortlessly fresh and elegant look, with a delicate charm that was both pure and alluring.

Luo Juan was momentarily stunned.

She had to admit—her eldest daughter had exceptional natural beauty. When she had first brought Wen Xin home, the girl had been pale and thin, her beauty somewhat obscured by malnutrition. But after a month of proper care, she had transformed—truly becoming a breathtaking beauty.

The more Luo Juan looked at her, the more pleased she felt. She couldn’t help but grin, her eyes practically glowing with excitement. She refused to believe that with such a delicate, strikingly beautiful young woman, Yan Weiguo’s son wouldn’t be tempted. There wasn’t another girl in the entire area who could compare to her in looks. Even the female performers in the army’s arts troupe weren’t as stunning as Wen Xin. Faced with such a beauty, how could a young man in his prime possibly resist?

“Mom! Look at her, strutting around like that! She even ripped off the sleeves of that dress—it cost eighty yuan! Such a waste!” Wen Xin’s younger sister complained, her eyes practically sparking with jealousy as she turned to Luo Juan to tattle.

But this time, Luo Juan didn’t scold Wen Xin as expected.

Instead, she smiled brightly and said, “You don’t understand! She did the right thing. This is exactly how it should be! I once saw a girl in our factory’s cafeteria—Xiao Sun’s daughter—wearing a sleeveless dress. But she didn’t have the looks to pull it off. Your sister, though, looks absolutely stunning in it! Just look at that skin—so soft and dewy! Even I want to reach out and pinch her cheeks…”

If she found Wen Xin’s skin irresistible, imagine how men would feel! Touching something so soft and smooth—who wouldn’t be captivated?

Having such a delicate beauty around every day—even a god wouldn’t be able to resist!

Luo Juan chuckled gleefully to herself, feeling more confident than ever about their visit to the Yan family today.

“Mom!” Wen Xin’s younger sister protested, still dissatisfied.

Luo Juan impatiently pushed her aside. “Go, go, go! What do you know, you little brat?”

Then, turning back to Wen Xin, her voice softened so much that it gave people goosebumps. “Come, come, sit down and have breakfast. Now this is the right attitude! You’ve finally come to your senses. The Yan family isn’t some wolf’s den! Their compound is far better than our home here. Once you marry in, you’ll be living the good life. I’ve heard that Yan Weiguo’s son is quite the fine young man—tall and handsome. If you two stand together, you’ll make the perfect pair! Like a wolf and a beautiful maiden—absolutely meant to be!”

A wolf and a beautiful maiden…

Wen Xin rubbed her arms and forced a smile before slipping away to wash up.

…

After breakfast, Luo Juan tidied up briefly and then took Wen Xin out the door.

As they passed by the meat processing plant, several young men ran out, their gazes burning as they stared at Wen Xin.

“Aunt Luo, where are you off to?”

“Wen Xin is so pretty—she looks just like a figure from a New Year’s painting…”

“Shut up! My daughter isn’t for you to gawk at! Get back to work!” Luo Juan snapped at them before proudly strutting out of the factory compound with Wen Xin.

Wen Xin fiddled with the end of her braid, curiously glancing back. A group of men stood near the meat plant, still watching her. When they saw her turn around, they immediately got flustered, nudging and shoving each other in embarrassment.

She found them rather amusing.

The people in this era gave off a sense of innocence—it was hard to be annoyed with them.

“Don’t give them the time of day,” Luo Juan muttered. “Flash them a smile, and they’ll think they can take liberties with you. Those good-for-nothings actually think they have a chance? Let me tell you—when we get to the Yan family, you’d better behave yourself! Be nice to Yan Weiguo’s son—what’s his name again? Oh, right—smile at him more, get closer to him. Men are all the same. If you just smile and cozy up to him, he’ll be eating out of your hand…”

Wen Xin: “…”

Was this era really so open-minded?

Looking at Luo Juan, Wen Xin couldn’t help but think that the tragic fate of the original novel’s supporting female character wasn’t without reason.

After all, with parents like these—utterly indifferent to their daughter’s reputation—it was no wonder things had turned out the way they did.

But that had nothing to do with her. They were her parents, not Wen Xin’s.

So she just listened silently, not reacting much. Besides, according to the book, today’s visit would end in rejection. The Yan family would kick them out, and only after several repeated attempts would she finally be forced into the marriage.

Since she already knew the outcome, she treated the visit as nothing more than a leisurely stroll—idly following behind Luo Juan with a relaxed air.

The military district wasn’t far from the meat processing plant—after about twenty minutes of walking, they arrived at the gate.

Looking at the heavily guarded entrance, even the usually bold Luo Juan seemed a bit nervous. The sentries standing watch weren’t to be trifled with—the rifles in their hands were loaded and real, leaving no room for frivolous behavior.

“Comrade, entry is prohibited,” one of the sentries immediately blocked their way.

Luo Juan quickly pulled Wen Xin close and flashed a fawning smile. “I’m here to see Comrade Yan Weiguo’s wife.”

The sentry frowned. “Please show your identification.”

“I work at the meat processing plant just down the road,” Luo Juan hurriedly produced a document proving her employment.

Standing to the side, Wen Xin lazily glanced into the compound.

There were quite a few people moving about inside, all dressed more neatly than those outside. She even saw a few military wives wearing heeled sandals and beige skirts—though the socks they wore slightly ruined the overall aesthetic.

After much coaxing and explaining, Luo Juan finally convinced the sentry to make a call. Once her visit was approved and the necessary registration was completed, they were told to wait for someone to fetch them.

Before long, a woman in her thirties or forties, wearing glasses, approached. She greeted the sentry first before turning to Luo Juan, exchanging a few polite words. Then, her gaze fell on Wen Xin.

Her eyes flashed with surprise, and she began sizing Wen Xin up.

Previously, when Luo Juan boasted about how beautiful her daughter was, He Wenyan didn’t take it seriously. But now, seeing Wen Xin in person, she realized that a true phoenix had emerged from the humble Wen family.

At first, He Wenyan maintained a composed and indifferent demeanor, but after seeing Wen Xin, she became noticeably warmer. “Come in quickly, I’ve been waiting for you all morning,” she said, leading the two of them into the military compound.

From Wen Xin’s modern perspective, both the architecture and landscaping here were quite basic. Unlike the lush parks and well-equipped facilities of later years, the surroundings were simple—mostly single-story houses and small buildings, with clear divisions between the military and residential areas.

The compound itself was spacious, with wide, tree-lined avenues stretching in all directions. According to Luo Juan, their guide was He Wenyan, Yan Weiguo’s second wife, who now held the position of chief physician at a hospital.

As they walked, He Wenyan explained the compound’s rules and customs.

She stole a glance at Wen Xin, who remained quiet and composed while listening, and felt somewhat satisfied. She then turned to Luo Juan and said in a low voice, “Weiguo isn’t home today, but Zeyang is. You’d better be prepared—he might not want to see you. Whether this works out or not depends entirely on him.”

“I understand, I understand. If it doesn’t work, that’s on us. Don’t worry,” Luo Juan quickly assured her.

“Good,” He Wenyan said.

They turned onto a small path and soon arrived at a two-story house with its own courtyard. The garden inside was lush and vibrant, with carefully pruned flowers and plants arranged in an elegant manner.

“This entire garden was cultivated by Weiguo himself. He enjoys trimming and tending to these plants in his free time,” He Wenyan remarked.

Luo Juan responded with flattery, but deep down, she found it ridiculous. In her eyes, the residents of the military compound didn’t know how to live practically—wasting such a large plot of land on flowers when they could have grown vegetables to last all summer.

Stepping into the house, they entered the living room, where a man was sitting on the sofa. He wore a black sleeveless shirt and neatly pressed military trousers, his hands occupied with adjusting a device that resembled a radio.

When they walked in, he glanced up briefly. His gaze swept over them before sharply locking onto Wen Xin. But in the next moment, his icy, piercing eyes shifted to Luo Juan, exuding an oppressive aura as cold as a frozen lake.

The cheerful conversation at the entrance instantly died down, as if a dark cloud had descended upon them, making it hard to breathe. Even Luo Juan, who was usually loud and brash, instinctively shrank her neck, forcing herself to greet him. “C-Commander Yan, you’re home?”

Wen Xin, standing beside her, was momentarily stunned.

When she first saw the man on the sofa, her reaction had been more surprise than fear. He’s the male lead? She wasn’t sure if she felt disappointed or something else.

After all, if she remembered correctly, this was the man who had saved her that day. His face and physique were exactly to her taste—so striking that she had remembered him at a single glance. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have instinctively kissed him in her dazed state back then…

Now that they were meeting again, things felt awkward. At this moment, she actually wished he would just tell them to leave so she could turn around and walk away, avoiding the uncomfortable situation altogether.

Based on the novel’s plot, this was the moment when Luo Juan would ask her question, and the male lead would respond with his infamous line: “Get out!”

Then, they would be forced to leave in humiliation.

After all, with him here, there was no way they would be allowed to stay on their first visit.

Yet, after a long pause, instead of yelling at them to leave, the man’s sharp gaze moved from Luo Juan back to Wen Xin. His icy stare scrutinized her for a moment before he expressionlessly lowered his head and resumed fiddling with his device.

He Wenyan let out a quiet sigh of relief. At least he hadn’t immediately thrown them out—it was already giving her some face. She quickly smiled and said, “Come in, come in. The sun is too harsh outside.” She then winked at Luo Juan and Wen Xin, signaling them to hurry up before this cold-faced man changed his mind.Luo Juan eagerly dragged Wen Xin inside, while Wen Xin was still slightly dazed. Wait… something feels off. Where’s the male lead’s signature line?