Tong Xuelu was jolted awake by the sound of cicadas outside the window.

Wait a second—wasn’t she skiing before she blacked out? It was the dead of winter. Where the hell were the cicadas coming from?

She opened her eyes in confusion and was greeted by the sight of a coarse mosquito net. On a wooden table beside the bed sat an old-fashioned thermos and an enamel mug that read: “Women Hold Up Half the Sky.”

As she was still trying to make sense of it all, the door suddenly burst open with a bang.

Cai Chunlan barged in, took one look at the girl lying with her eyes closed, and clicked her thick lips in disapproval.

“For heaven’s sake! Xiao Mei is a grown woman—what’s wrong with her? Hanging herself at home? If I hadn’t come in to check on her, someone would’ve died in this house today!”

“Alright, enough—”

“Enough? Why should I shut up? I only ever put up with her because I thought she was your biological sister—my dear little sister-in-law. Now we know she’s not even part of the Tong family, and I’m supposed to keep treating her like royalty? If you ask me, once she wakes up, we should kick her out immediately!”

Cai Chunlan smirked as she stared at the girl on the bed, practically gloating.

Everyone in the military compound knew that the Tong couple doted on their youngest daughter. They pampered her like she was made of glass—afraid she’d break if dropped or melt if spoken to too harshly. Even their two sons had to take a backseat to her. Tong Xuelu had been spoiled rotten since birth, fed the best, dressed the best, with skin so fair and smooth it made peeled eggs look dull by comparison.

But her personality? Sharp-tongued and willful. Even as her sister-in-law, Cai Chunlan had always had to tiptoe around her. She’d thought she’d be stuck enduring this unfair dynamic for life—until, out of nowhere, a girl showed up at the Tong household two months ago claiming she was the real daughter who had been kidnapped fifteen years ago.

That revelation had hit the Tong family like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.

Fifteen years ago, three-year-old Tong Xuelu had been abducted. Two years later, they found her again—thanks to a small birthmark on her back and other matching details, the family had never questioned her identity.

Who would’ve thought they’d spent all these years raising someone else’s child?

Cai Chunlan’s shrill voice, loud and forceful, was giving Tong Xuelu a splitting headache. She wanted nothing more than to jump out of bed and slap the woman across the face.

But at that moment, the memories in her mind finally settled—and she had the sudden, burning urge to strangle the gods of time travel.

She’d actually transmigrated into a book.

One moment, she was skiing on a mountaintop with a handsome young man—broad shoulders, slim waist, mile-long legs, and an impressive family background to top it off. He had been quite the catch.

Over the years, she’d had plenty of admirers fall at her feet. She rather enjoyed the attention, though she rarely let her heart get involved.

People called her a VIP-level green tea bitch, the queen of heartless flirts—but she never minded. Women always had to play the game twice as hard to get half the credit.

That particular guy had chased her for three years—sweet, obedient, capable. She had been thinking: Maybe he’s the one. Maybe it’s time to hang up the heels and play the part of the perfect wife.

But before she could even begin a passionate, body-and-soul romance, she crashed straight into a tree by the ski trail.

And when she opened her eyes again… she was in the 1970s.

Before getting thrown into a book, she’d once joked with her fake besties about time travel—if it ever happened, which era would they want to end up in? Back then, she’d said, “Anywhere’s fine, as long as it’s not the poverty-stricken ’60s or ’70s.”

And yet here she was… smack in the middle of the 1970s.

Just her damn luck.

Seriously, screw this—what kind of cosmic joke was this? Even a hyper dog on Red Bull couldn’t mess things up this badly!

And to make matters worse, the book she landed in? One of those ridiculously trashy face-slapping revenge dramas with the moral compass of a soap dish.

In the story, the female lead uses her “rebirth” cheat code to reclaim her stolen identity, snatch back her fiancé from the fake heiress, and steal the other girl’s entire career—eventually soaring to the top of the world like some kind of reincarnated queen bee.

The body Tong Xuelu had landed in belonged to the fake heiress in the novel—the classic dumbed-down villainess designed purely for the heroine to slap around like a human punching bag.

As the IQ-deficient cannon fodder, she was doomed to get humiliated repeatedly, forced into marrying some middle-aged divorcé, and eventually meet her end as a victim of domestic abuse.

In other words, she was literally written as a plot device to make the heroine look good.

Seriously—what kind of karmic retribution was this?

It’s not like she’d ever been a homewrecker, or gone around tearing down other women. Did she really deserve to get screwed over this badly?

Whatever. She was already here, might as well roll with it.

Besides, this body was eighteen years old—seven years younger than her real one. Technically, she’d gotten a discount on time. She’d take the win.

As for the plot and the heroine’s so-called cheat codes? She wasn’t scared. She’d just treat it like a new game map with new NPCs to conquer.

According to the story, the original host’s biological parents had recently died in a car crash, leaving behind not just her—but three younger siblings.

Right now, those siblings were dirt-poor and struggling to survive. But in the future? They’d grow into industry titans, legends in their respective fields.

That left her with two options: One, stay in the Tong family and fight the heroine in some endless soap-opera-style house feud or two leave the Tong family and raise three future tycoons like the boss she was.

Transmigrating into a novel meant she was here to win—not get stuck in petty drama. If someone else wanted to play chicken in a henhouse, be her guest.

She was choosing the power-up path. The “raise-a-CEO” route.

At that thought, her lashes fluttered. She let out a low, indistinct murmur.

Cai Chunlan noticed the movement and stomped over, giving her a rough shove. “If you’re awake, get up already!”

Tong Xuelu’s lips twitched. She mumbled something again.

Cai Chunlan leaned in, annoyed. “What are you muttering about? Speak up!”

Tong Xuelu’s lips curled slightly. Then—she grabbed Cai Chunlan by the shoulders and shrieked like a groundhog: “AAAAAAAHHHH—!”

Caught off guard!

Eardrum apocalypse!

Instant death!

Cai Chunlan felt like her eardrums had just exploded. She slapped Tong Xuelu’s hand away with a sharp smack. “Are you crazy?! What the hell are you screaming for? My poor ears…”

Tong Xuelu sat up, clutching her chest with a terrified expression. “I—I just had the scariest dream… Second Sister-in-law turned into a tigress and tried to kick me out of the Tong family! It was horrifying!”

Second Brother: “……”

Cai Chunlan: “……”

Her ears were still ringing, and now this girl had the audacity to call her a tigress? Cai Chunlan’s face twisted with rage, just as she was about to let loose—

Footsteps suddenly sounded at the door.

“What’s going on in here? Who was screaming just now?”

It was Tong Xuelu’s eldest brother and his wife, Chen Yueling, rushing in with anxious faces.

Second Brother quickly stepped in to explain. “It’s nothing, really—Xiao Mei just had a nightmare and woke up screaming.”

As soon as he said that, tears began streaming down Tong Xuelu’s face.

All four people in the room froze in alarm.

Cai Chunlan, the most flustered of the bunch, straightened her neck and shouted defensively, “You scared yourself with a stupid dream—when did I say I wanted to kick you out? Don’t go pinning that on me!”

Even though it had already been confirmed that Tong Xuelu wasn’t the Tong family’s biological daughter, after raising her for over a decade, she wasn’t just some stray off the street.

Her in-laws were deeply attached to the girl, and until there was a final decision, Cai Chunlan didn’t dare go too far. She was afraid of backlash if things turned in Tong Xuelu’s favor.

Tong Xuelu got out of bed and casually exposed the back of her hand, red from where Cai Chunlan had smacked her earlier. “Second Sister-in-law, don’t worry—I’m not blaming you.”

The two Tong brothers saw her reddened hand and immediately turned to glare at Cai Chunlan.

Cai Chunlan: “……”

Tong Xuelu wiped her tears with her sleeve, deliberately rubbing her eyes until they were bright red. Her voice trembled as she said, “Big Brother, Second Brother… This might be the last time I get to call you that. I know I’m not welcome here. I’ll leave now.”

Big Brother’s expression changed instantly. “Xiao Mei, don’t say things like that! As long as I’m here, no one can drive you out of this house.”

Second Brother shot his wife another sharp look. “He’s right, Xiao Mei. Just stay. The Tong family has more than enough to feed one more mouth.”

Cai Chunlan was so furious she nearly cracked a tooth from grinding it: “……”

Tong Xuelu shook her head. “Even though I can’t bear to leave Mom, Dad, and you all, staying will only make things harder for everyone. It’s better if I go. Thank you, truly, for putting up with me all these years. I know I’ve been too willful… I let you down time and again, but I won’t anymore.”

Her voice choked up as she continued, tears welling in her eyes though she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

“Mom’s knees act up whenever it rains—you’ll have to take extra care of her. And Dad… his migraines are getting worse. Please keep an eye on him so he doesn’t sneak alcohol…”

By the time she finished, her voice was barely a whisper.

Humans were strange creatures.

If someone who’s always been obedient says something thoughtful, it barely registers. But when it comes from someone usually stubborn and bratty, it hits different. It feels like growth.

That’s exactly how Eldest Brother, his wife Chen Yueling, and Second Brother felt in that moment.

Especially seeing Tong Xuelu—once so spoiled and sharp-tongued—now red-eyed and holding back tears, it was like watching a once unruly child suddenly grow up overnight. Their hearts softened instantly.

Chen Yueling stepped forward and gently took her hand. “Xiao Mei, stay. If you leave like this, what are we supposed to tell Mom and Dad when they get back from the hospital?”

The newly returned Tong Zhenzhen had fainted and been hospitalized after an argument with Xuelu. Malnourished and emotionally fragile, it hadn’t taken much to overwhelm her. When their parents sided with Zhenzhen, Tong Xuelu had thrown a fit—then attempted to hang herself. The household had been in chaos ever since.

Chen Yueling had honestly been pretty fed up with her troublemaking sister-in-law. But now… she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy.

After all, they’d lived as a family for over a decade. Suddenly being told there was no blood relation—and losing your real parents on top of that—was a blow anyone would struggle with.

Tong Xuelu had been raised with love, pampered from the start. An emotional breakdown in this situation? Totally understandable.

Still, Tong Xuelu shook her head again. “Thank you, Sister-in-law, but I’ve made up my mind. From now on, I’ll be counting on you and my brothers to take care of the family.”

She gently pulled her hand back and turned to leave.

Seeing her really about to walk away, everyone felt a wave of complicated emotion wash over them.

Eldest Brother Tong quickly pulled out all the cash he had on him, pressing it into her hands. “We can’t let Xiao Mei leave empty-handed,” he told his wife. “Yueling, go pack up some clothes for her—make sure she has everything she needs.”

Second Brother quickly reached into his pockets as well, but came up nearly empty. With no choice, he turned and said to Cai Chunlan, “Go to the room and get some money.”

Cai Chunlan was fuming inside.

But with everyone watching, she couldn’t say no. With an irritated huff and a twist of her hips, she stormed off to fetch it.

Tong Xuelu heard Big Brother’s words and couldn’t help but smile. Her pace, which had been brisk just moments before, instantly slowed to a crawl—practically turtle speed.

By the time she reached the small courtyard gate, she counted down silently in her head: Three, two, one…

Right on cue, Chen Yueling’s voice called out behind her, “Xiao Mei, wait!”

Tong Xuelu turned around, feigning confusion. “Sister-in-law? Is something wrong?”

Chen Yueling caught up, slightly out of breath, and shoved a military satchel and a travel bag into her arms. “Take these clothes with you. There’s some money and ration coupons inside, too. Just take it for now. If it’s not enough later…”

“No, no—I can’t!” Tong Xuelu cut her off, pretending to be shocked as she pushed the bag back. “I’m not the Tong family’s daughter anymore. I can’t take anything from you.”

Seeing her like this, Chen Yueling felt even more moved. “Xiao Mei, just take it, alright? I asked around. That other Tong family—your birth family—their situation isn’t good. You’ll need food and clothes. If we send you off empty-handed and Mom and Dad come back to find out, they’ll skin us alive.”

Tong Xuelu bit her lip, looking conflicted. “…Then I’ll just borrow it for now. Once I earn some money, I’ll pay everything back to you and Big Brother!”

She wasn’t trying to freeload—the other Tong family was flat-out broke. She needed some capital to get started. Once she got on her feet, she’d return it all, with interest.

Chen Yueling reached out and gently patted her head, voice catching with emotion. “You’ve changed so much all of a sudden. It’s… it’s heartbreaking.”

Tong Xuelu’s eyes shimmered with tears. “When you’ve stared death in the face… staying naive just isn’t an option anymore. Sister-in-law, I actually…”

“What is it?” Chen Yueling asked, seeing her hesitate. “If there’s anything you need, just tell me. I mean it.”

Tong Xuelu looked at her with a soft, earnest gaze. “Sister-in-law… I’m just worried that once I’m gone, someone in the Tong family might bully you.”

“…”

The little tyrant of the Tong family was her.

Now that she was leaving… who else could even do the bullying?

Tong Xuelu leaned in, voice full of “concern.” “Sister-in-law, you’ve probably noticed—Tong Zhenzhen’s only been back two days, and she’s already teamed up with Second Sister-in-law. You’re kind-hearted and not the type to argue… I’m just worried they’ll gang up on you. I don’t want to see you suffer.”

“…”

Chen Yueling hadn’t really thought about that before. But hearing it now sent a chill down her spine.

She and Cai Chunlan had never gotten along. And though Tong Xuelu could be bratty and sharp-tongued, she still gave Chen Yueling, as her elder sister-in-law, a fair bit of face. Not to mention, she hated Cai Chunlan’s guts—so more often than not, it had been two against one.

But now with a new sister-in-law in the picture—and that sister-in-law already cozying up to Cai Chunlan? It’d be one against two. How could she possibly hold her ground?

Tong Xuelu noticed the tight knot forming in Chen Yueling’s brows, gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder, then turned to leave.

The moment she turned around, a small smirk tugged at her lips.

On that fair, delicate face bloomed a bright and cunning smile.

Tong Zhenzhen had been reborn, right?

Well, she’d make sure the girl had her hands full.

That way, she wouldn’t have the time or energy to bother her.

=^_^=