Chapter 1: Waking from a Long Dream

“Mom, you can rest in peace.”

“I’ve grown up, I’m married, and I have my own family now. Dad has also retired, so you no longer need to worry about us.”

By the hospital bed, the daughter whom Lin Yuyao had protected for half her life personally removed her oxygen mask.

She died, just over fifty years old, her illness caused by years of overwork.

Or perhaps… she died from anger.

But even after death, her consciousness did not immediately fade. She could clearly hear the sound of everyone breathing a sigh of relief.

Her daughter said to Lu Jiangting, “Mom is finally dead, Dad, you can marry her now. Now that she’s gone, you don’t need to feel guilty anymore. From now on, we’ll have decades ahead of us, and our family can live happily.”

The “her” she spoke of was Fang Qing, her mother-in-law.

Fang Qing was also the widow of Lu Jiangting’s comrade-in-arms, the woman he had protected all his life.

Lu Jiangting and Fang Qing embraced each other, moved to tears. “Jiangting, we can finally be together.”

Lu Jiangting sighed, “Thank goodness my daughter is filial and sensible, not led astray by Lin Yuyao.”

At that moment, Lin Yuyao finally understood—‘they’ were the real family, and she had been the sinner standing in the way of their happiness.

Lin Yuyao couldn’t swallow her final breath. She was unwilling to accept it—her whole life had been spent paving the way for others.

She toiled all her life to support her husband, and the daughter she painstakingly raised ended up becoming Fang Qing’s daughter-in-law.

In the next second, it felt as though she had suddenly woken from a long dream. The pain in her body vanished, and her mind became exceptionally clear.

In front of her was the young Lu Jiangting—tall and handsome. At that moment, every inch of him still held a place in her heart.

But the words he spoke jolted her into full awareness.

“Lin Yuyao, what are you making a fuss about again? I’ve told you before, there’s nothing going on between Fang Qing and me.”

Those words were so familiar, as though she had heard them countless times.

The past now felt like a dream.

And it seemed like she had just woken up from that dream.

Lin Yuyao forcefully pinched the back of her hand. The pain made her even more alert.

“Nothing?”

Lin Yuyao looked at the money in Fang Qing’s hand—a thick wad.

The money that was supposed to be used for their wedding was now in Fang Qing’s hands.

Yesterday, Lu Jiangting had stammered as he told her that the wedding would have to be postponed.

He asked her to lie to her parents, saying that the army had an unexpected mission and that he had to return to the base, promising they would hold the wedding when he got back.

He said a comrade’s father had fallen ill, and they didn’t have enough money, so he lent out the wedding funds.

This was a matter of saving a life, and he asked for her understanding.

Fine, saving a life was paramount, so she understood.

But today, she caught him handing the money over to Fang Qing.

She hadn’t realized that Fang Qing’s father was the supposedly dying comrade.

“Yuyao, you’ve misunderstood the situation between Jiangting and me. This money is… is money I borrowed from him. I’ll return it when I have more funds. If you don’t agree, I… I can give it back to you now.”

Fang Qing put on an aggrieved expression, clutching that thick wad of money in her hand.

Her arm was extended as if to offer it back, but she was holding it so tightly that it seemed like she might crush it.

Just like how she had always claimed there was nothing between her and Lu Jiangting.

Yet she clung to him like an octopus, refusing to let go no matter what.

And there stood Lu Jiangting, her fiancé, shielding Fang Qing behind him protectively.

He looked at her with visible impatience, his gaze full of warning.

It was as if he were silently telling her that if she dared to reach out for the money, she would regret it.

Lin Yuyao stood there in a daze, staring at the scene. It was exactly like the dream.

Everything in the dream had been so vivid. Even after waking up, she could recall every detail as if she had actually lived through it.

This whole “borrowing money” charade matched the dream perfectly—right down to their exact words.

At that moment, she realized that the dream was no mere fantasy.

In the dream, Fang Qing never returned the money.

Not today, and not in the future. Not ever.

And it wouldn’t end there. Every month, half of Lu Jiangting’s salary would go to Fang Qing. Of the remaining half, Lu Jiangting would keep some for himself and send the rest to his family back home.

None of it would go to her.

Her entire life, she lived comfortably off Lu Jiangting’s money and the pension of her deceased husband, Wang Jianjun.

Even though she was a few years older than Lin Yuyao, by the time they both reached old age, she looked twenty years younger.

Because Lin Yuyao spent her life working the fields, waking up earlier than the chickens and going to bed later than the dogs.

She devoted herself to fulfilling Lu Jiangting’s filial duties, caring for his parents until they passed away.

On top of that, she raised their sickly daughter all on her own.

Perhaps it was because she had been too spineless all her life, tethered to her child, tied down by Lu Jiangting’s parents, and forced to scrape by on just a quarter of his salary.

From an early age, she taught her daughter to be independent, always telling her that relying on others would never be as secure as relying on oneself. She warned her not to follow in her footsteps.

Her daughter grew up to be extremely accomplished, starting her own business at a young age.

Yet, the daughter she had painstakingly raised would end up marrying Fang Qing’s son.

Even though Fang Qing’s son was a complete failure, unable to get into school, Lu Jiangting pulled some strings to send him to the army.

But the son lacked any ambition, returning home after only a few years.

Afterward, he took up a job as a security guard.

To ensure that this good-for-nothing would never have to worry again, Lu Jiangting personally acted as matchmaker.

He claimed it was a promise made long ago between him and Fang Qing’s deceased husband, Wang Jianjun.

When a person dies, promises are broken, leaving her to deal with the aftermath.

Fang Qing had been her lifelong nightmare, and Lin Yuyao had gone mad trying to stop her, but it was no use. Her efforts only alienated her from her daughter.

After they got married, her son-in-law, citing his mother’s loneliness, brought Fang Qing to live with them.

Thus, Lin Yuyao became the maid of the entire family. By her early fifties, her health had deteriorated from overwork, and she ended up in the hospital. In the end, her daughter was the one to remove her oxygen mask.

Thinking of that pitiful version of herself from the dream, Lin Yuyao couldn’t hold back her tears.

Seeing her cry, a trace of guilt flashed across Lu Jiangting’s face, but it was so fleeting, it vanished in an instant.

He quickly masked his guilt with anger.

“I lent her the money because Jianjun saved my life. He sacrificed himself, and I can’t just stand by and watch his widow and child starve. Lin Yuyao, can’t you be a little more understanding? Who are you crying for? It’s as if I’ve wronged you or something.”

These two shameless people! How is this not wronging her?

In the dream, she had endured endless grievances. If she didn’t change things, that dream would become her future reality.

No, Lin Yuyao would never allow herself to walk down such a path of suffering.

In reality, she wouldn’t tolerate even the slightest injustice.

If anyone made her life difficult by one degree, she would pay them back tenfold.

As for Lu Jiangting, that worthless man— even if he begged her on his knees, she would never marry him again.

“Lu Jiangting, do you feel righteous taking care of Fang Qing and her son?”

Lu Jiangting was taken aback, unsure why she was asking this.

“Of course, I’ve told you many times—Jianjun saved my life.”

Lin Yuyao chuckled. “If you’re so righteous, then why did you lie to me?”

Lu Jiangting was left speechless.

“I was just afraid you’d get upset, but I admit it was wrong to lie to you.”

For once, he actually acknowledged his mistake.

Lin Yuyao wiped away her tears and calmly said, “Alright then, I’ll let it go. I forgive you.”

Lu Jiangting was stunned, completely caught off guard by her sudden change of heart.

Fang Qing was equally bewildered.

Based on her understanding of Lin Yuyao, Fang Qing had fully expected her to cause a huge scene. Afterward, Fang Qing could then play the role of the considerate peacemaker, which would starkly contrast with Lin Yuyao’s behavior, further causing Lu Jiangting to dislike her. In fact, Fang Qing secretly hoped that he would grow so disgusted that he might call off the wedding altogether.

But to her surprise, Lin Yuyao let the matter slide so easily.

Awkwardly, Fang Qing forced a smile and said, “Really? That’s great, Yuyao, thank you.”

“Hmm,” Lin Yuyao softly responded, her gaze shifting to the money in Fang Qing’s hand. “How much is there?”

“Uh… I haven’t had a chance to count it yet. You came in before I could.”

Indeed, Lin Yuyao had barged in. She was out shopping for wedding necessities when a neighbor casually mentioned seeing her fiancé, Lu Jiangting, heading into Fang Qing’s house. Without hesitation, Lin Yuyao had gone straight to Fang Qing’s house, where a small push had easily forced open the flimsy wooden door.

Lin Yuyao then turned to Lu Jiangting. “How much money?”

Lu Jiangting stammered, “I… I didn’t count it.”

Really? He hadn’t even bothered to count it before handing it over, and he still had the audacity to call it a loan?

“Count it,” Lin Yuyao said.

Fang Qing, visibly shaken, weakly responded, “Yuyao, I’ll pay it back. You don’t have to insult me like this.”