Chapter 1

In the dimly lit room, a delicate-faced girl with fair skin lay on the bed, her cheeks faintly flushed.

After a few hurried breaths, a sharp cry suddenly escaped her lips. She jolted upright, drenched in cold sweat, her eyes darting around the room. The furnishings looked achingly familiar. When her gaze landed on the calendar sitting on the table, her heart skipped a beat.

September 9th, 1975.

Wasn’t this the day she had married Wen Lin in her previous life?

What was going on? Hadn’t she already died in that car accident?

Could it be… she was alive again?

Overcome with excitement, Mu Wanwan leapt from the bed and rushed to the mirror hanging by the door. The reflection staring back at her brought tears to her eyes—familiar yet distant.

The girl in the mirror had a charmingly bright face, clear almond-shaped eyes unclouded by resentment or grief. This was her nineteen-year-old self.

Fearing it was all a dream, she pinched her arm hard. The sharp pain told her the truth—this was real.

She had truly been reborn, returned to the year she was nineteen!

Joy surged in her chest. Heaven had given her another chance at life. Yet just as quickly, her excitement dimmed.

Of all the days she could have returned to… why this one? Why on the very night she married Wen Lin? Even a single day earlier would have been better.

Memories of her past life twisted painfully in her chest.

Her greatest mistake back then had been falling in love with Wen Lin.

Wen Lin came from a prestigious family, cultured and capable, already a regiment commander at a young age. His cold, striking looks only added to his allure. Though aloof, he had no shortage of admirers—and she had been the most hopelessly smitten of all.

By birth, a village girl like her would never have crossed paths with him. But her grandfather had once saved the Wen patriarch’s life. When her grandfather passed away, the old man attended the funeral, bringing Wen Lin with him.

That was the day she first laid eyes on him—and never managed to free herself again.

Casting aside all pride, she did everything she could to approach him, trailing behind like a little shadow. Even when he treated her with icy indifference, she cherished every moment.

The old patriarch, grateful for her grandfather’s life-saving grace, noticed her devotion. He forced Wen Lin into marriage with her, and thus Mu Wanwan entered the Wen family on the strength of a past favor.

But love could not be forced. Naively, she had believed that with enough persistence, she could melt his cold heart. She had overestimated herself.

Wen Lin did have warmth—but never for her. There was always someone else in his heart, someone more important. For three years of marriage, he abandoned her time and again for that woman. He never once touched her, their conversations few and far between.

She had tried to resist, but every protest only earned her colder treatment.

Remembering it all, Mu Wanwan’s lips curled in bitter mockery.

How foolish she had been. She could have lived a far better life, yet she wasted all her time on a man unworthy of her love—and in the end, lost her life to his enemies’ revenge.

Having died once, she was finally clear-headed. From now on, she would stay far away from that scoundrel and cherish her life!

Just then, the door creaked open. A tall figure stepped inside, filling the room with light as he switched on the lamps.

Wen Lin stood before her, dressed in a crisp military uniform. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs—even clothed, the strength of his physique was obvious. At one meter eighty-six, he exuded an austere, forbidding aura.

Sharp brows, long phoenix eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips painted in a faint rose hue—his looks were impeccable. No wonder she had been so captivated in her past life.

Tonight, however, the girl before him wasn’t her usual lively, eager self. Instead of chattering, she only stared at him quietly. Wen Lin frowned slightly at the change.

But then he remembered—it was their wedding night. Perhaps she was simply nervous. His tone softened as he said,
“Everyone’s gone now. Let’s rest early.”

Under the light, Mu Wanwan’s face glowed pink, her eyes bright and delicate. Something stirred in his chest. He stepped toward her—

But before he could draw closer, a wailing voice rang out from outside:

“Wen Lin! Xiaoru’s having another episode—it looks worse this time. You’d better come quickly!”

Without hesitation, Wen Lin turned and strode to the door. He paused only briefly to explain,
“Xiaoru’s health is poor. I promised her brother I’d take good care of her. Don’t overthink. I’ll send her to the hospital and be back soon.”

Before Mu Wanwan could reply, he was gone.

Watching his retreating back, she gave a bitter smile.

So it was the same as before. In her last life, he had abandoned her on their wedding night as well. He had promised to return, and she had foolishly waited through the night, only to learn later that he had spent the entire evening at the hospital with Lin Huiru.

A dull ache welled in her chest. Yes—when it came to Lin Huiru, Wen Lin always put her first. How many times had she been cast aside for that woman in her past life?

But this time, her heart was dead to him.

She had wasted one lifetime to learn that Wen Lin’s heart was a stone that could never be warmed.

This life, she would never again tether herself to him. He wasn’t worth it.

Calm settled over her. Left alone on her wedding night, she didn’t care in the least. After washing up, she lay down and fell soundly asleep.

That night, Mu Wanwan slept deeply. Though she woke early, she felt refreshed.

After dressing and washing up, she went into the kitchen. There was plenty of food stocked. She immediately began kneading dough, planning to make steamed dumplings and a pot of pork-and-vegetable congee for breakfast.

Though she and Wen Lin now lived alone, the house was not far from the Wen family’s main residence in the same military compound. She decided to make extra and bring some over to Grandfather Wen.

In her past life, though the rest of the Wen family never liked her, Grandfather Wen had treated her with true kindness, as though she were his own granddaughter.

But he had passed away just over a year after her marriage, and even on his deathbed, his greatest concern had been her.

Her eyes stung at the memory. Quickly wiping away her tears, she set to chopping meat for the filling.

Before long, the fragrant dumplings and congee were ready. Mu Wanwan packed them neatly into a basket and set off toward the Wen residence.