Chapter 1: I’m in a Book

Wen Ya was in a panic. She had stayed up late reading a book and casually commented on a side character who shared her name. But somehow, she woke up to find herself inside the story—as that very character!

Compared to her life as an orphan, the life of the character she now inhabited was practically destined for greatness. She had loving parents, a prestigious family background, and, most importantly, a fiancé with an even more impressive family background, extraordinary abilities, and a face as handsome as Pan An.

All she needed to do was join the company, learn the ropes, take over the business, marry her idol-like fiancé, and live happily ever after.

But if the original character’s life had been so smooth, she wouldn’t have been a supporting character—she would have been the heroine.

In the book, Wen Qihua, the original character’s father, was in a car accident and fell into a coma. Her mother, devastated, died from a heart disease relapse. When the original character went to her fiancé for help, she caught him being affectionate with another woman, leading to an immediate breakup. The high medical expenses forced her to lower her pride, but she faced obstacles everywhere. Eventually, she ended up in a brothel to earn money for her father’s medical bills and living expenses.

Wen Ya took a deep breath. She didn’t want to be in this book. She wanted to return to her own humble life.

How could she go back?

Would dying take her back?

Wen Ya got up from the luxurious three-meter-wide bed, found a fruit knife, and rushed to the bathroom, but stopped when she passed the mirror.

In idol dramas and romance novels, supporting actresses are never ugly—they’re often more beautiful than the heroines, highlighting the male protagonists’ preference for pure and kind-hearted heroines.

But Wen Ya didn’t expect to be this stunning. Her skin looked like it had a beauty filter, and her eyes, nose, and mouth were so perfect that she couldn’t find words to describe them.

Looking down at her swan-like neck, slender A4-sized waist, and perfectly shaped hips and legs, she felt like she might get a nosebleed just from looking at herself.

She pinched her nose and suddenly didn’t want to die anymore. What should she do?

Wen Ya slapped herself, and the flawless face in the mirror turned red. It hurt! This wasn’t a dream. She had truly become the character in the book. She looked at the fruit knife. Cutting herself would hurt ten, no, a hundred times more. Imagining her blood slowly draining and her body growing cold…

She realized she couldn’t do it.

Sitting on the toilet lid, Wen Ya fell into deep thought. If she couldn’t go back, she needed to find a way to survive. She couldn’t end up in a brothel, could she?

First, she needed to figure out the current timeline. The book’s timeline was likely very different from the real world.

From her memories, Wen Qihua had already been in a car accident, and her mother was in the hospital. The original character had stayed in the hospital for three days and nights without sleep. She had returned home yesterday to freshen up and pack before heading back to the hospital, but somehow, Wen Ya had taken over her body.

Now was the time when the ungrateful people in the company were preparing to cause trouble. It seemed that today or tomorrow, a shareholder would approach her, offering to buy her shares at a low price. The original character, being arrogant, refused outright, believing her father would wake up. A few days later, news of Wen Qihua’s coma was leaked, causing the company’s stock to plummet. Wen’s company was attacked from all sides and eventually went bankrupt.

Wen Ya wasn’t a business expert and didn’t fully understand the situation, but she knew one thing: the company’s shareholders and executives had conspired with outsiders to take over Wen’s shares. She knew she couldn’t outsmart them, so her priority was to maximize profits before the bankruptcy.

Just as she was thinking, her phone rang. “Gu Chengze?”

Wasn’t this the original fiancé and the male lead of the book? Why was he calling now?

Suddenly, Wen Ya’s eyes lit up. Wen’s and Gu’s companies had always been close partners. After Wen’s bankruptcy, two-thirds of its assets were taken over by Gu’s. She suspected Gu’s had played a significant role in the bankruptcy, possibly preparing for it long in advance.

She had no feelings for Gu Chengze, so why not use this opportunity to team up with his old enemy and trick him?

“I just returned to the country and heard about Uncle Wen’s accident. Are you okay?” Gu Chengze’s calm voice came through.

How foolish the original character must have been to think Gu Chengze cared for her. Her parents were critically ill, yet her fiancé hadn’t even shown up, and his tone showed no concern.

“I’m fine,” Wen Ya replied, still thinking about her plan. Wen’s company was facing issues, but they were nothing compared to the big boss, especially with the project they were collaborating on with Gu’s company. Once completed, it would bring huge profits.

“That’s good. I have some things to attend to. I’ll visit Uncle Wen and Aunt Lin at the hospital later,” Gu Chengze said before hanging up without waiting for Wen Ya’s response.

If she heard correctly, there was a woman’s voice in the background. It was likely the heroine. Gu Chengze didn’t even bother to hide it.

Wen Ya narrowed her eyes. It seemed the Gu family was confident in their victory.

She pursed her lips. There were still over two months before the bankruptcy, so there was still time to act. But there was something more urgent.

According to the book, on the night the shareholders met with the original character to discuss the acquisition, Wen’s mother died. That would happen within the next two days. She needed to get to the hospital immediately.

She is an orphan who never experienced parental love, but after taking over the memories and body of her original self, she also inherited some emotions and responsibilities.

She washed her face, put on casual clothes, and went downstairs bare-faced, carrying the items she prepared the day before.

“Miss, would you like to eat before heading to the hospital?” asked Uncle Li, the family butler who has been with the Wen family for years and watched Wen Ya grow up. He felt sad seeing Wen Ya lose so much weight.

“No, just pack something for me to eat in the car,” Wen Ya replied, shaking her head. She wanted to check the situation at the hospital first and then plan her next steps.

Uncle Li, surprised by her straightforwardness and simple outfit, quickly arranged for breakfast. “Alright, go to the hospital first and comfort Madam. I’ll bring you lunch later.”

“Okay, I’m leaving.”

Although Wen Ya shares the same name as her original self, their upbringings were vastly different, leading to distinct personalities. Given the recent family crisis, her behavior and personality changes are understandable.

Currently, the hospitalization of Wen’s parents is kept secret. Wen Ya carefully went to the top floor of the hospital, where the VIP ward is located. The floor has only two rooms: one is the intensive care unit where Wen’s father is, and the other is where Wen’s mother stays.

She first checked on her father’s condition in the ICU. He was still unconscious, but his vital signs were stabilizing, and he was out of immediate danger.

Before entering her mother’s room, Wen Ya thought she might feel awkward or lost, but upon seeing her mother, she naturally called her “Mom,” held her cold hand, and tried to warm it.

If not for her mother’s faint breathing, Wen Ya would have thought she was holding a doll.

“Why are you up? The doctor said you need rest,” Wen Ya said, helping her mother back to bed and covering her with a blanket. She adjusted the bed to a sitting position. “Aunt Wang made porridge this morning. It smells good.”

Lin Lin looked at her suddenly responsible daughter, feeling heartbroken.

“Mom, you need to eat something. How else will your body recover?” Wen Ya whispered, holding her mother’s hand and crying, “Mom, with Dad like this, you can’t afford to get worse. I won’t survive if something happens to you.”

Lin Lin, startled, clutched her chest and said, “Xiao Ya, your dad won’t wake up.”

Wen Ya was shocked. No one had dared to mention Wen Qihua in front of her mother recently. She had only tentatively brought it up, not expecting such a strong reaction. She quickly composed herself, realizing that her mother’s heartache needed to be addressed directly.

“Mom, I just saw Dad. His vital signs are normal, and the doctor said he’s recovering well. If someone he cares about calls to him, he might wake up. Dad loves you the most. Remember when he was sick before, he loved it when you read the newspaper to him? Now he’s lying there alone, probably bored. Get well soon and read to him again,” Wen Ya said, hugging her mother’s arm and watching her eyes regain some life. “And if you’re worried, let the nurse take care of Dad? I don’t trust outsiders as much as family.”

“You’re right. Your father can’t stand being still. He must be so lonely lying there without anyone to talk to. I should go read to him now. And the hospital caregivers aren’t enough. Ask Uncle Wang to come over,” Lin Lin said, trying to get up.

“Mom, take care of yourself first. Otherwise, Dad will be angry and scold me. It’ll be so embarrassing to be scolded at my age,” Wen Ya said playfully.

Seeing her mother cooperate with the treatment, Wen Ya felt relieved. The doctor had mentioned that her mother’s heart condition wasn’t severe enough to cause sudden death. Her determination to die and possible external stimuli were likely factors. Wen Ya suspected her mother’s condition wasn’t entirely natural.

What about her father’s accident? Wen Ya stopped herself from overthinking. Protecting the family assets was the priority now.

“Mom, I need authorization for Dad’s shares and all of yours,” Wen Ya suddenly said after lunch.

“Okay,” her mother agreed without question. To her, her husband and daughter were everything.