Chapter 1

Zhao Yunsheng was “dead.”

Today was her burial.

She had no family or friends—only one person stood at the funeral from beginning to end: her lover, Pei Hechuan.

He stood before her grave in full military uniform, as rigid as a statue. In his hand, he clutched a photograph of the two of them. His eyes, bloodshot and red, brimmed with grief.

A cold wind swept by, scattering the burning paper offerings, as if Zhao Yunsheng were still by his side.

And in fact, she was by his side—he just couldn’t see her.

“System, have my acting skills really been that good these past two years? Why do I feel like the male lead is head over heels in love with me?”

As a soul, Zhao Yunsheng stood at Pei Hechuan’s side, watching his devastated expression with smug satisfaction.

She had been an orphan in her past life, and after dying of illness, she bound to a system. The system told her she had to transmigrate into a book and play the role of the male lead’s doomed first love.

As long as she completed the task, she could go on living in this world—and even receive extra rewards.

Zhao Yunsheng was still young and had no desire to die, so she readily agreed.

For two years in the book’s world, she dutifully played her role—gentle, kind, and considerate. She took care of Pei Hechuan, who had been injured in the leg, and accompanied him through his darkest, most painful days. Then, according to the script, she died in a fire one spring—right at the height of his love for her.

In the original novel, after her death, Pei Hechuan fell into despair until five years later, when he met the heroine.

The heroine resembled her in both looks and personality, and instantly fell in love with him. Despite his coldness and indifference, she persevered with gentleness, ultimately winning his heart. Together, they would have triplets and live happily as a family of five.

The system’s voice chimed: “Host, since you’ve completed your task, your promised eighty years of life have been credited. As a reward, you’ve also been granted a personal storage space stocked with supplies.”

Zhao Yunsheng’s eyes lit up, and she jumped with joy.

“Really? That’s perfect! Does that mean I can just lie flat and enjoy life now?”

There was no reply. She called out several times, but the connection light between her and the system had already gone dark.

Her “companion” of two years was gone.

For the first time, Zhao Yunsheng felt a pang of loneliness. In this unfamiliar era, the system had been her only friend. No one knew that every time she acted before Pei Hechuan, she and the system were secretly laughing themselves silly inside.

Now, with the system suddenly gone, she was left uneasy. Before she could dwell on it, however, a wave of dizziness swept over her, and she blacked out.

Two days later, at the hospital.

She was woken by a nurse shaking her gently.

“Comrade, comrade—you’re finally awake! If you didn’t wake up soon, we wouldn’t have known what to do.”

Zhao Yunsheng’s eyes flew open. She bolted upright on the bed and looked around in alarm, grabbing the nurse’s hand.

“Nurse, what happened to me? Am I going to die? Don’t tell me the system tricked me!”

The nurse, seeing her pale face, tried to soothe her with a smile.

“Don’t worry, comrade. You’re fine—perfectly healthy. You were just in a coma for two days, and we couldn’t figure out why, so it worried us.”

Relieved, Zhao Yunsheng let go and slumped back. Then, frowning, she asked, “Who brought me here?”

The nurse hesitated, puzzled. “It seemed like you collapsed right at the hospital entrance yourself. Do you… have a partner? You should probably let him know the good news. You’re pregnant.”

“…What?!”

Her voice cracked into a shriek as she leapt out of bed, grabbing the nurse again in panic.

“What did you just say? Pregnant? Me?!”

The nurse, misreading her wide-eyed shock as joy, chuckled.

“Of course. You’re already eight weeks along.”

Zhao Yunsheng stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

She was… pregnant? With Pei Hechuan’s child?

But Pei Hechuan was fated to meet the heroine. If she had this baby, wouldn’t she be raising it alone?

What now—should she have it or not?

After several days of turmoil, Zhao Yunsheng made her decision: she would give birth.

At least with a child, she wouldn’t be alone in this strange world. And besides, she had supplies in her space—enough to ensure they could live comfortably.

Her personal space was massive, larger than a football field, with shelves full of goods: clothing, food, medicine, skincare, fruits, snacks—everything. Time inside stood still, and she could enter and exit instantly.

With her mind made up, Zhao Yunsheng didn’t linger. After all, she was supposed to be “dead.” If anyone recognized her, especially Pei Hechuan, she wouldn’t be able to explain.

So, she packed her things and vanished.

Five years later, at the entrance of the meatpacking factory auditorium in Shanghai.

Wrapped in a padded coat, Zhao Yunsheng pedaled her bicycle briskly, two glossy black braids swinging behind her. A few bottles of milk clattered noisily in the basket.

“Yunsheng! Yunsheng, stop! Auntie needs a word with you!”

A round-faced woman waved from the roadside.

Zhao Yunsheng braked quickly and recognized her. It was Auntie Li, the neighborhood matchmaker.

“Auntie, what’s the matter?”

Auntie Li gave her a once-over, nodding with satisfaction before scolding, “Yunsheng, really now—how could you just plop the child on the back seat like that? What if he fell? What kind of mother are you?”

She reached out, beckoning. “Come here, little one. Grandma will hold you.”

Before she could reach him, a chubby little boy hopped off the back seat. Tugging at his wool hat with pudgy fingers, he declared in a milky voice, “I can do it myself, Grandma.”

His rosy cheeks peeked out from a fluffy scarf, his wide round eyes sparkling—adorable at first sight.

Auntie Li chuckled and pinched his cheek before slipping him a couple of candies.

“Yuanbao, how about Grandma introduces you to a new daddy? He’s tall, handsome, and an officer.”

Zhao Yunsheng nearly burst into tears on the spot. She rubbed her hands together, pleading, “Auntie, please spare me. How many men have you introduced me to this month already? I really don’t want to marry. I want to stay a widow for my man…”

“Nonsense!” Auntie Li huffed. “You’re still young. Why waste your life like that? This time is different. The man’s an officer—earns over a hundred yuan in subsidies each month. He’s looking for someone pretty, and all the other matchmakers failed. Lucky I asked whether he’d mind a remarriage, and he said he didn’t! Tell me that’s not fate?”

Zhao Yunsheng choked, speechless. Auntie really dared to talk big. With his conditions, he could have anyone—why would he ever…?

Still, the word “officer” made her uneasy, dredging up memories of Pei Hechuan.

But no, he was in Binhai, thousands of kilometers away, north and south—there was no way their paths would cross.

Lost in thought, she glanced up to see Auntie Li already carrying Yuanbao inside. Gritting her teeth, Zhao Yunsheng followed reluctantly.

Just as they entered, a military jeep rolled to a stop at the gate.

The door opened, and out stepped a tall, broad-shouldered man in uniform.