Chapter 1: Awakening from a Dream

In the hospital, the cold medical equipment kept beeping relentlessly.

Zhao Yu lay on the hospital bed, her fingers struggling to clutch the edge of someone’s clothing beside her.

“Mother-in-law, why are you grabbing me? Are you begging me?”

Bai Qingshuang toyed with the oxygen tube of the ventilator in her hand, then twisted her face into a hideous grimace and flung Zhao Yu’s hand aside.

“If it weren’t for you, my mother would have married Uncle Lu long ago! Only if you die can we truly become a family. Mom, you’re so kind—you’ll make it happen for us, right?”

“Why are you even talking to her?” Lu Yuan sat impatiently to the side. “Dad already said we should act quickly so we can bring Aunt Lin home. Why are you still dawdling here?”

“Yeah, Dad’s waiting too.”

As Bai Qingshuang finished speaking, she pulled hard and yanked the oxygen tube out of the ventilator.

The machine immediately blared a shrill alarm.

Zhao Yu’s vision blurred as she struggled for breath, her surroundings becoming hazy.

Only the words “Dad said we should act quickly” remained in her mind.

In the fog of consciousness, she finally realized the truth.

All her previous suspicions were correct—Lu Jing no longer loved her; he even wished she would die sooner.

So he could be with Lin Shu without any obstacles!

Zhao Yu’s hand trembled as she tried to lift it, but suffocation left her powerless.

Suddenly, as if waking from a deep dream, she found herself breathing smoothly again.

Her tightly closed eyes sensed a faint light, and the previously blurred voices became clear:

“Yuyu, I already told you, I’ll report our marriage as soon as I get back. Out of gratitude to Jianguo for saving me, just let Lin Shu take this position this time.”

Out of gratitude for Jianguo saving me.

These familiar words were something Zhao Yu had heard countless times over the thirty years of her marriage.

Every time, Lin Shu benefited greatly from them.

Zhao Yu forced her eyes open. The scene around her gradually came into focus.

She pinched her thigh hard. The sharp pain brought her fully awake. After surveying the surroundings, she recalled the words she had just heard.

She… had gone back to the day she first joined the performing arts troupe, the day Lu Jing deceived her into giving up the lead dancer position?

“Yuyu, don’t misunderstand Jing. If you really want this lead dancer spot, I can give it back to you.”

Lin Shu cowered behind Lu Jing, wrapping her arms around his like an octopus.

Her tone was pitiful, her movements careful, but her eyes glinted with unmistakable smugness directed at Zhao Yu.

Lu Jing, hearing this, immediately positioned himself in front of Lin Shu.

“Lin Shu is my childhood sister, and her husband died saving me. We’re about to get married, so it’s only right to take care of her a little.”

Zhao Yu stared blankly at the scene before her.

She had heard this justification countless times—any hint of complaint or discontent from her, and he would bring up Wang Jianguo’s lifesaving favor.

After their marriage, Lu Jing even used the excuse of “repaying kindness” and “taking care” to force her out of the troupe, promoting Lin Shu in her place!

In reality, Lin Shu, after her husband Li Jianguo died, discovered she was pregnant. If she couldn’t find a reason to stay in the troupe, her in-laws would have taken her back to the countryside.

In her past life, Zhao Yu had reluctantly agreed to please Lu Jing, allowing Lin Shu to stay.

And Lu Jing kept his promise and married her.

But after marriage, half of Lu Jing’s monthly salary went to Lin Shu. He even brought Lin Shu’s daughter home, leaving Zhao Yu to look after her.

Meanwhile, Lin Shu enjoyed her own salary, her deceased husband’s pension, and half of Lu Jing’s salary, living a carefree life.

Zhao Yu, on the other hand, was busy with endless household chores.

Though they were the same age, Zhao Yu looked over twenty years older than Lin Shu.

When her own children finally grew up, Lu Jing even justified having their son marry Lin Shu’s daughter—“repaying kindness” and “growing up together.”

This resulted in Zhao Yu, in her fifties, being suffocated by her daughter-in-law Bai Qingshuang pulling her oxygen tube!

Zhao Yu’s hands clenched into fists, her body trembling uncontrollably.

In her previous life, these two had made her suffer miserably. This time, she would never let history repeat itself!

Lu Jing, seeing Zhao Yu silent, assumed she had been pacified.

“I’ll go to the troupe leader today. You’re voluntarily giving up the lead dancer position—”

“Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?” Zhao Yu suddenly cut him off.

“What did you say?” Lu Jing thought he misheard.

“I said, who are you? Do I even know you? And marriage—who gave you the audacity to decide for me? You think saying ‘let’s marry’ means it’s done?”

“Zhao Yu!” Lu Jing’s face darkened. “I’ve already filed the marriage report! You’re going to back out of our marriage just because you don’t want to help Lin Shu?!”

A sharp slap cut him off.

Zhao Yu blew on her reddened hand. “Too much nonsense.”

“Zhao Yu, you’re crazy!” Lu Jing shouted in disbelief, covering his face.

“No, you’re the crazy one!” Zhao Yu kicked him in the leg.

“You and Lin Shu are all cozy, yet you’re harming others. Believe me, I could report your improper relationship!

I earned this lead dancer position on my own merit. Want me to give it to someone else? No way!”

The kick didn’t really harm Lu Jing, who had been trained for years, but it hit the fragile nerves of his male ego.

Lu Jing trembled, pointing at Zhao Yu, speechless.

Lin Shu screamed, her eyes full of concern as she checked Lu Jing’s reddened face.

“Yuyu, even if you’re upset, you can’t hit people!

Jing is your future husband, your everything! How can you lay a hand on him?

If you really have grievances, take them out on me!”

Tears streamed down Lin Shu’s face.

Lu Jing fussed over her, wiping her tears, occasionally shooting Zhao Yu a sharp glance.

Zhao Yu looked at the two, who seemed like tragic lovers, and snorted. “Fine, that’s the strangest request I’ve ever heard. Then I’ll grant it for you!”

Without hesitation, Zhao Yu slapped Lin Shu across the face.

In her past life, Lu Jing was rarely home, and she had gained a reputation for being a shrew just to protect her in-laws and children. Today, it was time for both of them to taste it!

Zhao Yu watched with satisfaction as two bright red handprints appeared on either side of Lin Shu’s face, one on each side of Lu Jing as well.

Though she had once liked Lu Jing’s appearance, thirty years of disputes and torment had completely destroyed her illusions. Now, even looking at him made her sick.