Chapter 1: Twin Sisters, Double Rebirth

“Follow this road straight ahead. Don’t look back. I’ll create the illusion that you escaped. Don’t ever return. If you need me to take responsibility… go to a state-run restaurant called Qing and leave a message.”

Gunshots rang out behind her as the scar-faced man finished speaking and pushed Jiang Tangtang forward.

Jiang Tangtang didn’t even glance at him and ran off immediately.

She ran as fast as she could, all the way back to the city, back home!

She never imagined that she… would be reborn!

Reborn to the moment before her family was raided.

She and her sister Lu Mianmian were twins—she took their mother’s surname, her sister took their father’s.

A year ago, the two of them went on a trip and encountered a group of thugs. In order to escape, her sister had pushed her toward the criminals without hesitation and fled alone.

Jiang Tangtang was kidnapped by a gang and presented as merchandise to be chosen from. Because she had a bad temper, some of the gang members decided to teach her a lesson by having several men gang up on her.

It was at that moment that the scar-faced man appeared.

He was the third-in-command of the gang and had specifically picked her to stay with him only.

Staying with one man was better than being assaulted by many, so Jiang Tangtang chose him.

He was an odd one—though she stayed by his side for a year, he never touched her. Then recently, as if he took the wrong medicine or something, he suddenly slept with her.

And today, out of nowhere, he decided to let her go home.

As for what he said about taking responsibility and the state-run restaurant—she couldn’t hear clearly over the gunshots. She didn’t want him to take responsibility anyway! Her top priority now was to get home!

In her past life, after returning home at this point, her family betrayed her again.

It turned out that her father, Lu Zhicai, had offended someone and was reported for making money through illegal capitalist means. A raid was imminent. By the time she got home, the family—already aware—were packing up and getting ready to flee.

They didn’t say a word to her, only told her to rest at home, while they hid all the antiques and escaped overnight with the cash.

The next day, when the authorities raided the house, she was arrested.

Fortunately, she was pregnant with the scar-faced man’s child, so she was exempt from prison during her pregnancy. Within the year, she proved that she had nothing to do with her father’s business, and with the help of her maternal grandfather, a former red capitalist, she was released from any charges.

But her life was still miserable after that. More than ten years later, she ran into her returning sister and questioned why she never told her the truth or took her along when she escaped. The two ended up falling down the stairs in a fight.

When she woke up again, she was back to this moment!

Heaven had given her a second chance—so she was going to change her fate!

Jiang Tangtang returned to the front of her house and approached the window. From outside, she heard voices:

“We’re doomed. Totally doomed. A friend of mine in the investigation team said we’re on the raid list. All those gold bars—they’re all going to be confiscated!”

Lu Zhicai had just entered the house and was pacing in panic, sweating heavily, completely terrified.

Aunt Shui, who was calmly sipping tea on the couch, nearly dropped her cup in shock.

“What did you say? H-how is that possible!?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? We offended someone and got reported! What do we do? The investigation team could show up any second!”

Seeing this familiar scene, Lu Mianmian’s eyes gleamed with cunning and excitement.

She had been reborn!

The moment she opened her eyes and found herself back home, she thought it had all been a dream.

But now, with her father returning and saying the exact same things he had in her dream—it wasn’t a dream. It had really happened!

She had truly been reborn, back to the moment before the raid!

This time, she was going to live a better life than before!

“Dad! There must still be gold bars and money in the house, and the antiques and jewelry Mom left behind too. Let’s take it all and run while there’s still time!” Lu Mianmian urged.

But Lu Zhicai didn’t agree with her suggestion. He shook his head and waved his hand in defeat.

“It’s too late. If someone’s already stalling for time, we won’t get far as a family.”

Same scene, same lines—Lu Mianmian shook his arm eagerly.

“Dad, Mom, trust me! Tangtang is coming back soon. Leave her here. We’ll go first and come back after the heat dies down. Don’t hesitate!”

The familiar voice of her twin sister from inside sent a chill down Jiang Tangtang’s spine.

How did her sister know she was coming back?

Could it be… she was reborn too?

Actually, it made sense—they fell down the stairs together.

They died together, and were even dramatically reborn together.

Were they really destined to be tied together forever?

How infuriating.

At this thought, Jiang Tangtang shifted slightly and continued to eavesdrop.

“Tangtang? She’s been missing for a year. How could she be coming back now? And how do you know?” Lu Zhicai asked suspiciously.

“Dad, believe me! I had a really long dream. I saw the future. I dreamed… I dreamed Tangtang was abused by criminals and got pregnant. But she escaped and is coming back! Let’s pack up now—if she shows up, that’ll prove my dream is real!”

Seeing how confident she was, Lu Zhicai stared into her eyes. Though unwilling to believe it, he eventually nodded hesitantly.

“Alright, I believe you. If she really comes back, it proves your dream was real. But if she really got abused and is pregnant… then she’s just a disgrace. We’re not taking her with us. We’ll let her take the fall. Shui, pack the valuables. We’re leaving!”

Hearing the chaos inside as they packed, Jiang Tangtang bit her lip, stood in the light rain, and stepped to the door to knock.

Knock knock knock.

The heavy sound stopped all movement inside. Lu Zhicai and the others exchanged glances. He signaled Lu Mianmian to open the door.

To prove she was right, Lu Mianmian confidently unlocked and pulled open the door—only to see a drenched, rain-soaked Jiang Tangtang standing there.

“Sister, you’re back? After being missing for over a year, I thought you ran off with that wild man and abandoned the family!”

She gave her a scornful once-over, her tone falsely concerned.

“Heh. Get out of my way.”

Looking at her, Jiang Tangtang was full of rage—but held it in.

She couldn’t let anyone know she had also been reborn.

She had to act. Fool everyone. Hide the truth. Only that way could she protect herself and the children in her belly.

With tears in her eyes and a pitiful expression, she stepped past Lu Zhicai and recited the exact words from her past life.

“Dad! I finally found you. This past year, I’ve suffered so much. I couldn’t even sleep at night. Dad! Wuuu…”

Jiang Tangtang collapsed in front of Lu Zhicai, sobbing uncontrollably. Her delicate features, reddened eyes, and flushed nose made her look even more pitiable.

“Tangtang, where have you been this whole time? Don’t tell me… you were really kidnapped by criminals?”

Lu Zhicai thought of what Lu Mianmian had just said, and his expression turned grim.

She really came back. So the part about her being abused and pregnant must be true too?

His daughter had become a disgrace.

How could he ever show his face again?