The persistent knocking woke the girl in bed. Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered, and a pair of eyes filled with regret slowly opened.

A tear rolled down her cheek, and she painfully closed her eyes.

“Xiao Qi, I know you’re awake,” the person at the door persisted, as if she wouldn’t leave unless the girl got up. “This isn’t the time to be stubborn. Even if you don’t want to, don’t make people think our Mu family is untrustworthy.”

The girl on the bed sat up abruptly. She tremblingly raised her hands, her slender, white fingers with clearly defined knuckles—most importantly, her skin was young and supple.

The next second, she leaped out of bed and headed straight for the mirror on her desk.

With a clatter, the mirror slipped from her hand. The girl cried and laughed, appearing somewhat frantic.

Hearing the commotion in the room, the person outside was startled. A look of displeasure flashed across the middle-aged woman’s face. This brat wouldn’t be thinking of doing something drastic, would she? Instead of speaking, she hurried towards the main hall.

“Yuehui, I really don’t know what to do with Xiao Qi. It’s already nine o’clock. If we don’t leave now, we’ll miss the bus to Luo’an Town,” she said worriedly. “I just heard her drop the mirror. She seems very resistant to today’s blind date.”

The middle-aged man, who was reading a newspaper, frowned deeply. He didn’t know when the once-obedient Xiao Qi had become a willful, unreasonable child.

Folding his newspaper, the middle-aged man looked gently at his wife. “It’s not your fault. Xiao Qi is being unreasonable, causing you worry.”

At that moment, Mu Xiaoqi, sitting at her desk, realized she had been reborn on the day of her blind date with her ex-husband.

Tears streamed down Mu Xiaoqi’s cheeks. She hadn’t expected heaven to give her a second chance at life.

In her past life, she had been rebellious and ended up alienated from everyone; death was a relief. But even until she died, that man had held her hand tightly.

In her final moment, she saw the tears in his eyes and his deep self-reproach.

With a loud bang, the door to Mu Xiaoqi’s room was kicked open by the angry middle-aged man. Seeing his daughter’s swollen eyes and flowing tears, the words he had intended to say caught in his throat.

The moment she saw her father, Mu Xiaoqi’s tears stopped.

From then on, she would only cry for those who loved her.

“I’m ready. When are we leaving?” Mu Xiaoqi wiped away her tears, her voice hoarse and dry.

“Forget it! I won’t force you.” After a long moment, the middle-aged man found his voice. This daughter reminded him of his deceased wife; she cried the same way, as if abandoned by the world.

The woman behind the middle-aged man dug her nails into her palm. She had underestimated Mu Xiaoqi’s abilities.

A little crying, and she could change Mu Yuehui’s mind.

Just as she was thinking about how to respond, the girl at the desk suddenly stood up. “I said, I’m willing to go on the blind date.”

Seeing this, the middle-aged woman relaxed. “Xiao Qi, it’s good you’re alright. Your father and I were scared you’d done something to yourself in the room. Such a pretty face, crying makes you less beautiful.”

She wanted to affectionately take Mu Xiaoqi’s hand as usual, but Mu Xiaoqi brushed her hand away.

Mu Xiaoqi looked coldly at Jiang Xueqin beside her. In her past life, she had pretended to be virtuous for a lifetime, colluding with her biological daughter to ruin her. She had been too naive, always thinking this stepmother was better than her own mother.

The atmosphere became heavy and awkward. Everyone could see the undisguised disgust in Mu Xiaoqi’s eyes.

This Mu Xiaoqi was unlike anything they had ever seen before. The middle-aged man and woman were stunned.

“Xiao Qi, you… you hate me?” Jiang Xueqin reacted, feigning hurt.

Mu Yuehui’s remaining shred of pity completely vanished. He pinched the bridge of his nose, his tone laced with helplessness. “I arranged this marriage, it has nothing to do with your mother. Today is just to meet. If you don’t like him, no one will force you to marry him.”

Mu Xiaoqi almost forgot that she had started calling Jiang Xueqin “Mom” before she even married her father, causing great sadness to her grandmother and three uncles.

Curving her lips, Mu Xiaoqi sneered, “My mother is Xu Jiayun!”

Her voice filled with infinite sorrow, she continued, “She’s dead.”

“You! Ungrateful!” Mu Yuehui said, without looking at Mu Xiaoqi, and hurried away. Jiang Xueqin quickly followed him.

Back in her room, Mu Xiaoqi changed into her nicest outfit. Apart from the swollen eyes, everything was fine.

On the bus to Luo’an Town, Jiang Xueqin’s expression shifted repeatedly. She couldn’t understand what Mu Xiaoqi was doing. She had cried and refused to go on the blind date, but now she was neatly dressed and ready to go.

And what she said in her room today was so strange!