Chapter 3

The slap never landed on Shen Hongxing’s face.

In her previous life, she was timid, weak, foolish, and slow-witted.  She passively endured their injustice, Shen Jiaojiao’s schemes, and Lu Ping’an’s indifference.  In the end, she was treated like a beast of burden, bullied her entire life, and died without anyone to mourn her.

Now, reborn, she would never tolerate any injustice again, and she wouldn’t allow anyone to bully her.

Shen Hongxing grabbed Shen’s mother’s wrist, and with a slight push, sent her sprawling.  Shen’s mother stumbled back several steps before regaining her balance, staring at Shen Hongxing in astonishment.  When did this little wretch become so strong?

However, Shen Hongxing was unaware of her own strength, assuming Shen’s mother was merely feigning weakness.

She questioned them, “Are you really my parents? I’m the victim, yet you’d rather help the daughter of the woman who almost killed me than help me?”

Shen’s mother was speechless.

“The year I was brought back, Shen Jiaojiao and I had a birthday party together. She wore a beautiful dress, and you all surrounded her singing happy birthday.  Me? I wore her discarded, worn-out clothes and ate cold steamed buns in the dark, damp storage room! When I was fifteen, we both fell into the river, and you only saved her, forgetting me. If Grandpa hadn’t found me, I would have drowned! Three months ago, I earned my college entrance exam spot through my own hard work, but because of your favoritism towards her, you forced me to give it to her.  She didn’t even get into a vocational school. A month ago, it was my play script that I submitted to the drama club, yet you forced me to give the position to her!”

Each incident was an accusation of their injustice.

Remembering how she had strived to gain their approval in her previous life, yet never received it, Shen Hongxing’s eyes welled up. “Why? If you don’t love me, why did you bring me back? Why bring me back and then reject me?”

She slowly lowered her hands, a pang of guilt rising in her heart. Shen’s father felt the same. He sighed softly, “Xingxing, your mom and I know you suffered a lot at Wang Meili’s house. Don’t worry, your sister now has a stable job, and we’ll work hard to compensate you in the future!”

Shen Jiaojiao, overhearing this from outside the door, clenched her fists.  No matter how hard she tried to please them, their eyes were only on their biological daughter.

And Lu Ping’an. After Shen Hongxing left, he became distracted and even avoided her touch.  It was obvious he had feelings for Shen Hongxing.

She was heartbroken.

They absolutely couldn’t both fall for Shen Hongxing.  She was the favored one, the only one they should love.

She had to find a way to make them hate Shen Hongxing even more.

Turning to go outside, Shen Jiaojiao wanted to slap herself, but her cheek was too painful to touch.  That damn Shen Hongxing, a country bumpkin, had such incredible strength.

She could only pinch her own neck until the pain became unbearable, before turning back.

The atmosphere in the main hall had calmed down somewhat. Shen’s mother had softened, attempting to take Shen Hongxing’s hand, but Shen Hongxing coldly rejected her.

Suddenly, Shen Jiaojiao rushed in from outside, crying and shielding her mother.

“Sister, it’s all my fault, I made you fight with Mom and Dad! Don’t worry, I’ll leave immediately. Please don’t hit Mom; she loves you, and everything she’s done is for your own good!”

Everyone saw the clear slap marks on her cheek and the red welts on her neck.

Shen’s father also rushed over, seeing Shen Jiaojiao’s injuries, and began to curse, “Damn it, who dared to bully my precious Jiaojiao?”

Shen Jiaojiao pretended to cover her face, sobbing, “Mom and Dad, don’t ask, Jiaojiao won’t say!”

Shen Hongxing had witnessed this tactic countless times in her previous life.  Every time Shen Jiaojiao hurt herself, she would feign difficulty when questioned by her parents.  Then, when her parents became angry, she would cry and implicate Shen Hongxing.

Shen Hongxing was defenseless.  Over time, whatever happened, it was always her fault. Her parents never listened to her explanations.

“It’s you! You little wretch, did you bully Jiaojiao again?” Shen’s father said, without further ado, trying to hit Shen Hongxing.

But Shen Hongxing dodged him.  She stood in the middle of the main hall and declared, word by word, “I didn’t come back to be beaten! I’m here to tell you, I’m cutting ties with you!”

Shen’s father was furious, “You little wretch, what did you say…?”

Shen Hongxing ignored him and went straight to her room.

…

The next day.  Shen Hongxing chose a time when Lu Ping’an wasn’t home to go to his house.  The Lu family still lived in the government compound at that time.  She returned everything Lu Ping’an and his grandfather had given her.

“Grandpa Lu, these are all the things you and Lu Ping’an gave me. I don’t want…”

“I’ve decided not to marry Lu Ping’an!”

Grandpa Lu’s brow furrowed.  “Girl, what’s wrong? Why would you suddenly not want to marry Ping’an? Did that boy bully you?”

“Dad, what are you saying? Our Ping’an is such a gentle and humble person, how could he possibly bully this wild girl? It must be this wild girl’s own problem!”  Lu Ping’an’s mother, Qin Xianglan, was fiercely protective of her son.

Shen Hongxing felt she had little family support. Her biological parents didn’t love her, her adoptive parents disliked her, and even Lu Ping’an’s parents looked down on her.

In her previous life, only her two grandfathers had liked her. Unfortunately, they both fell ill and passed away within a few years, leaving her without anyone to rely on.

“Grandpa Lu, Lu Ping’an didn’t bully me. I just feel he doesn’t like me, and even if we get married, we won’t be happy.”

Qin Xianglan sneered, “Oh my, the wild girl finally has some self-awareness, realizing our Ping’an doesn’t like you! In that case, your wedding with our Ping’an is off!”

Grandpa Lu was furious.  He repeatedly tapped his cane on the floor, asserting his authority.  “When did it become your turn to make decisions in this family?”

Qin Xianglan was too scared to speak.

Grandpa Lu beckoned Shen Hongxing. “Girl, come sit next to Grandpa.”

Shen Hongxing obediently sat beside him. She insisted, “Grandpa Lu, I really don’t want to marry Lu Ping’an. Please cancel our wedding.”

Grandpa Lu saw her determination in her eyes.

Shen Hongxing shook her head. “Grandpa Lu, I don’t want to wait anymore!”

In her previous life, she had naively believed that if she wholeheartedly loved Lu Ping’an, he would eventually fall for her.

But she was wrong. No matter how hard she tried, he only had eyes for Shen Jiaojiao.

Therefore, she no longer wanted him.