Chapter 1: Start Over Again

Jiang Xia only felt a splitting headache, her body soaked through, and faint voices murmuring beside her.

“What do we do, Brother Shen? Did she see us? If she tells anyone, we’re finished…” a woman’s panicked, frantic voice whispered.

“Don’t be afraid. Even if she says something, no one will believe her. Besides, she loves me so much and is so stupid. A little sweet talk and she’ll forget it all,” a man’s voice followed, gently reassuring.

As Jiang Xia listened to these two voices, a surge of hatred welled up inside her, so intense she wished she could tear them both apart.

She instinctively tried to open her eyes, to move, but in the end, could only let her consciousness sink into darkness.

She didn’t know how much time had passed.

Someone touched her forehead gentle, concerned.

“What do we do? Why hasn’t our Xia Xia woken up yet?” came a voice filled with worry.

Jiang Xia slowly opened her eyes at the sound, stunned as she looked at the people before her and the surrounding environment.

It was a hospital that looked like it was from decades ago. The walls were old and painted green, the bed was an old-fashioned iron frame, and on the table sat a chipped, army-green enamel cup marked with a five-pointed star.

She clearly remembered this hospital had been torn down back in 1981!

And there right in front of her were her parents, long since passed.

“Dad? Mom?” Jiang Xia’s voice trembled with disbelief.

So… those voices she heard earlier weren’t a dream. She really had returned to the past!

At this point, her parents weren’t sick and hadn’t yet died in that tragic accident. And she hadn’t yet foolishly believed in Shen Yicheng and made a series of terrible mistakes.

And that man…

Jiang Xia touched the injury on her forehead, remembering something. She gripped her parents’ wrists tightly, about to ask something.

“It’s good you’re awake. Nothing serious she can be discharged today,” the doctor her parents had called in said after a brief examination.

“Xia Xia, you scared me half to death,” her mother cried, eyes brimming with tears. “How could you run off so far just to throw a tantrum and force us to agree to your marriage with that Shen boy? Was it worth risking your life? If you’d died, only your father and I would be heartbroken.”

“If it hadn’t been for Yuanting passing by and pulling you out of the water…” her mother choked up.

Her father patted his wife’s shoulder, his brow furrowed deeply.

“Alright, alright. The child just woke up. Don’t upset her,” he said.

He was a man of few words, but when he looked at Jiang Xia, his eyes were full of sorrow.

“It’s not that we don’t love you,” he continued, “but that Shen boy went too far. How did he repay all the kindness you showed him these past two years? You followed him around with food, drinks, and even got military leaders to write him letters of recommendation. And what did he do? No title, no promise he wanted you to stay over at his place? That’s trying to trap you! If word got out, your reputation would be ruined!”

He sighed, finally compromising.

“Promise me you won’t do anything so foolish again. If you do, I’ll support you in whatever you want.”

Before he could finish, Jiang Xia shook her head.

“Dad, Mom, I’ll listen to you. I’ve completely given up on Shen Yicheng. I won’t do anything stupid anymore,” she said, sitting up and rubbing her head.

Her parents were stunned, unsure whether to believe her.

Just yesterday, she’d said the same thing and that night, she ran off with Shen Yicheng. If it hadn’t been for Lu Yuanting passing by and pulling her out of the pond, the consequences would’ve been unthinkable.

“Sigh. We won’t pressure you. Just rest,” her father said, clearly still doubtful.

Jiang Xia knew changing their minds wouldn’t happen overnight. She didn’t try to explain further. She would prove it with actions.

“I want to go see Lu Yuanting. He saved me. I should thank him properly,” she said, putting on her shoes.

Her words stunned her parents even more.

They had always known the Lu boy liked their daughter. The two grew up together, and though he was quiet and rough around the edges, they trusted him.

Years ago, when officials were sent down to the countryside, Lu Yuanting’s father had been stripped of his position and reassigned to a farm. Before leaving, he asked them to look after his wife and son.

Back then, their daughter looked like a little doll soft and pink adored by all the kids in the compound. Once, human traffickers tried to kidnap her in broad daylight. All the children were terrified except for Lu Yuanting, who bit the trafficker’s hand so hard it bled and saved her. But his fierceness scared her too.

Over the years, rumors spread: that Lu Yuanting looked too fierce, would never be gentle with a wife, had a temper, and being a soldier was too strong. These whispers made Jiang Xia avoid him completely.

Just seeing him used to make her pale.

And now… she wanted to see him?

The couple exchanged stunned looks.

“Go on then,” her mother said, softening. “You didn’t see the way Lu carried you here bloody gash on his chest and all, but he didn’t make a sound. He stayed by your side until the doctor said you were safe, and only then did he treat his own wounds.”

“I know,” Jiang Xia nodded.

She stood up, wearing her slippers.

She was desperate to see Lu Yuanting alive and well.

In her past life, she had been blinded by Shen Yicheng’s gentle appearance and scholarly charm. She bought him a job, invested her savings in his business, even introduced him to her parents’ network.

She gave up her pride and dignity, learned to be smooth and sociable, drank and brokered deals for him.

And in return, Shen Yicheng betrayed her.

At first, her parents could still hold him back. But once they died, he showed his true colors conspiring with Jiang Hongjiao (whom he was already involved with) to kill her.

They took her parents’ death compensation, stole her inheritance, plagiarized her medical achievements, and even claimed a fortune in life insurance after her death posing as a devoted husband while building a glamorous life on her grave.

She thought death would be the end, but instead, her soul had followed Lu Yuanting, forced to witness everything he did for her.

Jiang Xia bit her lip. The memories stung.

Taking a deep breath, she carefully opened the hospital room door.

And came face-to-face with Shen Yicheng.

Jiang Xia frowned, not bothering to hide her disgust.

“Why are you here?”

Shen Yicheng froze at her words, flustered, clearly not expecting her cold tone. He put on a gentle smile and used the same tricks he always did to coax her.

“Xia Xia, I heard you fell in the water. I was worried, so I came to see you.”