Chu Xia couldn’t hold back. She shot back instantly, “Still better than you—more you look, the darker and uglier you get.”

That one hit Gu Yuzhu right where it hurt.

She flung herself upright, voice rising uncontrollably. “Tang Chu Xia, what’s your problem? What’s wrong with you today? Did you take the wrong meds or something?”

Chu Xia calmly lifted the mirror and looked at her reflection. “Yeah. So you all better start treating me a little nicer.”

Gu Yuzhu, Li Qiao, and Chen Sisi: “…”

Did she actually take the wrong meds? When had they ever treated her badly?

Seriously, what was wrong with her?

Gu Yuzhu cursed inwardly again but said nothing else aloud. She yanked the blanket higher and lay back down.

Chen Sisi and Li Qiao, naturally, stayed out of it. They exchanged a glance and quietly pulled up their own covers and lay down as well.

With the room silent, Chu Xia no longer paid attention to them either.

She stared at her face in the mirror, took a slow, deep breath in, then let it out quietly.

What she saw in the mirror was the same as what she’d seen in the water earlier—like a thick fog separated her from her reflection. She couldn’t make out her true face at all.

She looked at herself and thought—was this how she would remain for the rest of her life?

As a background character, a tool for someone else’s story, was she not even entitled to a face she could clearly see or others could remember?

Back when she had no sense of self, she hadn’t cared.

But now that she was conscious of herself, she wanted to be whole—fully and clearly herself, both in appearance and in thought.

And then she wondered—

Now that she had awakened, could she also find a way to make her face clear again?

She didn’t even know what she truly looked like.

In the eyes of others, she appeared plain and forgettable. Just as Gu Yuzhu had said—someone you’d pass over in a crowd. But if she could one day see herself clearly in the mirror, would that change how others saw her too?

As she was lost in thought, a voice called out softly, “Chu Xia.”

She blinked and looked up. It was Su Yun, freshly washed and ready for bed.

Backlit by the lantern, Su Yun’s face triggered a cascade of memories in Chu Xia’s mind—the plot of the novel she now found herself in.

From the novel’s perspective, Su Yun was the second main love interest for Han Ting, and her role far surpassed that of Han Ting’s first love, Tong Rui. Their emotional bond ran far deeper.

Tong Rui had been the female lead in the novel’s early arc.

She had a good background, good looks, and impeccable manners—a goddess in every way, embodying every man’s fantasy of a perfect first love.

Han Ting had fallen for her at first sight, chasing her with a passion that burned brightly.

Once they became a couple, theirs was a romance that made every young person in Beijing’s inner city envious.

Youthful, beautiful, pure, romantic…

You could attach every beautiful word to their love, and none of it would be an exaggeration.

Chu Xia had once been a witness to that love story.

Before they all came to the countryside, she had believed Han Ting and Tong Rui would be each other’s one true love for life.

But what surprised her most was that the passion they once had was matched only by how decisively they broke up—as if all that love had never existed.

Before she had awakened to her own consciousness, Chu Xia had felt sorry for Han Ting.

She believed he had loved Tong Rui more than he loved her, and that letting her go had broken his heart.

She thought it was Tong Rui who had abandoned Han Ting—for the sake of her bright future.

But after awakening, she saw the truth.

Han Ting had let go of that love with startling ease.

It was Tong Rui who had never moved on. She kept writing to him, but never received a reply.

Even after marrying someone else and starting a family, she never truly let him go.

Meanwhile, Han Ting had quickly fallen for Su Yun.

And the kind of woman who could capture Han Ting’s heart again—clearly, she wasn’t ordinary.

Su Yun was beautiful, danced well, but had a difficult background and a painful past.

Yet it was precisely these imperfections that allowed her and Han Ting to connect on a deeper emotional level. They understood each other, shared a quiet empathy.

During their harsh years together in the countryside, Han Ting and Su Yun leaned on each other, both physically and emotionally. They resonated completely, giving themselves to each other with no reservations.

Tong Rui had been a beautiful chapter of youth—a romantic memory.

But Su Yun was the one who truly stepped into Han Ting’s life, his heart, his soul—and showed him what love really meant.

Of course, in this relationship, there is also the figure of Chu Xia, the “tool” person.

Since Han Ting started his time in the countryside, he has been very attentive toward Su Yun.

From their initial acquaintance to their flirtation and eventual love, he has given more and more to Su Yun, with his feelings growing deeper and deeper.

As for Han Ting, he is a carefree, free-spirited person with a strong rebellious nature.

He rebels against the norms of this era, unwilling to be constrained by the rules of society. Naturally, he doesn’t gain much from this era.

Given his behavior in the village, it’s rare that he isn’t called to the stage for a public criticism session by the village leaders.

He is the one causing the most headaches for the village officials and the villagers, the one they think most needs to be re-educated by the poor and lower-middle class peasants. They even feel he’s impossible to educate.

Not only does he get into trouble himself, but he also leads other young intellectuals astray.

With his behavior, any good opportunities in the village never come his way. He himself spends his days in the commune’s welfare group, writing self-criticism reports at critique meetings, and what does he have to offer Su Yun?

So, his sacrifices for Su Yun, his efforts, all fall upon Chu Xia, the unfortunate female supporting character.

In the novel, Chu Xia is loved by the villagers because she is diligent, capable, and has a simple and easygoing personality.

Whenever something good happens in the village, or there is an opportunity, the village leaders first think of Lin Xiaohan, who is great at showing off, and second, they think of Chu Xia.

And whenever Chu Xia gets an opportunity, she always gives it to Su Yun.

Eventually, the opportunity for Su Yun to return to the city is something Chu Xia gave up for her.

Su Yun is more practical than Tong Rui, which is why Han Ting experienced the bitterness of love through Su Yun.

Su Yun loves Han Ting but also uses him. After she got the opportunity to return to the city, Han Ting was unable to quickly let go of the relationship. For a long time after, they remained somewhat entangled, unable to fully cut ties.

When they reunited later, Han Ting wanted to be with Su Yun forever, but in Su Yun’s heart, she felt that someone like Han Ting—free-spirited, unrestrained, and carefree—couldn’t provide her with the life she desired.

He could offer her love, but he could not give her a life of prosperity.

Su Yun chose the latter, a life of wealth and stability, but deep inside, she still loved Han Ting and couldn’t bear to let go of the love they shared. So, she became entangled with him again.

Later, Han Ting fully understood the bitterness of love and finally gave up, bowing to the demands of life.

He returned to Beijing and saw Chu Xia, still waiting for him in the courtyard, the same unlucky fool.

Then, he married Chu Xia and focused on his career.

After he found success in his career and became well-known, Su Yun reappeared, sending him a gift.

She secretly had a son with his features—eyes, nose, and brow—identical to his.

And then…

Su Yun passed away from late-stage cancer.

She would live forever in Han Ting’s heart.

In the novel, Su Yun completed her life. Now, she stood in front of Chu Xia.

She looked at Chu Xia, who was stunned, and with a smile asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you recognize me?”

Chu Xia snapped out of her daze and instinctively gave a polite, indifferent smile.

She didn’t answer Su Yun’s question, instead asking, “Did you need something?”

Su Yun sat on the edge of her bed, her gaze probing as she looked at Chu Xia.

After a while, she asked with a tone of concern, “What’s wrong with you today?”

Chu Xia smiled vaguely again, “I’m fine. Everything’s good.”

Su Yun clearly didn’t believe her, saying, “You’re acting strange today. Han Ting is really worried about you. He asked me to check on you. If there’s something you don’t want to tell him, you can tell me.”

Chu Xia shrugged and shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Su Yun looked at her for a while. “Then why don’t you join us? Why not be part of the group?”

Chu Xia spoke quietly, “I already told you, living with so many people is a hassle.”

Su Yun spoke seriously, “But as a girl, you’ll face many difficulties alone that you can’t solve. Living with others means someone will always be there for you. Isn’t that good?”

Chu Xia shook her head. “No, it’s not.”

Su Yun was silent for a moment.

At this point, Gu Yuzhu, who had been lying next to her, spoke up, “Su Yun, stop trying to convince her. The way she is right now, she won’t appreciate your concern. She chose this path herself. If she loves it, let her be. But when she faces difficulties, don’t go running to Han Ting. If things don’t work out, don’t come crying to us asking to join.”

Chu Xia immediately retorted, “Don’t worry. Even if you cry and beg, I won’t join.”

Gu Yuzhu suddenly threw the blanket off, “Tang Chu Xia, you!”

After pausing for a moment, she added, “Just wait. You’ll regret it.”

“Oh.” Chu Xia sneered, “Go ahead and wait.”

Gu Yuzhu was so furious she gritted her teeth but refrained from continuing the argument. She tugged the blanket back and lay down again.

Let her wait.