Chapter 7

“You…”

The words were at the tip of his tongue but he swallowed them back. Without turning his head, he said, “You go to sleep first. I’m going out for a walk.”

Song Si replied, “Alright.”

She looked at Lu Yancheng.

He really was a soldier — that posture, that back!

Such a big man, always acting so shy?

Then again, this was 1974 — seemed pretty normal, actually.

When she and Aunt Qin went to Lu Yancheng’s dorm, the first thing they saw upon entering was the calendar hanging on the wall, with the clearly printed numbers “1974.” But the specific month and day were still unclear.

She looked out the window. It was obvious — early spring in the north. The willow trees outside had already begun to bud, but the weather was still a little chilly.

Actually, her accident had also happened in the early spring of 2024.

Thinking about her past life, she couldn’t help zoning out, feeling both amused and bitter — that had also been a story of swapped daughters.

Yes, she was the real daughter, brought back to the capital by her biological parents.

Who would have thought that upon returning to her birth family, she — the real daughter — would be treated far worse than the adopted one? Living a life of financial strain, having to rely on winning prize money from Go tournaments just to make ends meet.

Strangely, her health got worse and worse. During a championship final among China, Japan, and Korea, she suddenly vomited blood and collapsed.

When she woke up, she was in the ICU — wearing an oxygen mask, tubes inserted all over her body, and standing before her was her half-sister, same mother, different father.

“Big sis, mom and dad went abroad on vacation. The brothers are all busy and couldn’t make it, so they sent me to visit you.”

For the first time, she saw a completely different side of her sister.

Even though she had never tried to compete for affection, even though her sister always acted sweet and docile like a delicate flower in a greenhouse — the moment she dropped the act, it was like a bullet wrapped in poison. One shot, fatal.

Yes, that precious adopted daughter of her parents yanked off her oxygen mask and spoke through gritted teeth: “Song Si, everything the Song family has belongs to me. Mom and Dad are mine. The brothers are mine. You can go in peace.”

She died without a clear explanation. Cremated the same day, reduced to ashes — all traces of the crime erased.

At her funeral, her parents and brothers merely sighed a few times in front of her portrait, then turned around to comfort the sobbing adopted daughter, full of heartache and concern.

Was that why the damn system pulled her into this period drama?

Another story of a real daughter — maybe bound to go through the same suffering again?

In her past life, she died horribly. Maybe the stupid system thought she’d be easy to manipulate, using some “help the male and female lead survive” excuse to scam her?

What a joke.

She wasn’t a saint — she’d just had poor judgment and failed to see through the weak-little-girl act last time.

This life? Rely on the male and female leads to survive? She’d rather rely on herself!

Thinking back on that fake white lotus — wasn’t it all just a pity party performance that got everyone doting on her, pampering her like she was made of glass?

And herself? Pure tomboy vibes.

Now that she had been reborn into 1974, she had no intention of repeating the same tragedy — nor did she care to play power games. Might as well keep her distance from Song Nian and her so-called biological parents.

Looking at how tolerant Lu Yancheng was with the original host, he seemed like a decent guy, didn’t he?

Besides, whether in 1974 or 2024, men like Lu Yancheng were the kind you couldn’t find fault with. Might as well get along with him.

…

An hour later, Lu Yancheng returned.

His face looked… off. Song Si asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Lu Yancheng felt extremely uncomfortable, his blood surging. “It’s nothing.”

Song Si glanced at the clock on the wall. “Didn’t you say Aunt Qin was coming over? Why haven’t we seen her?”

Lu Yancheng’s dark eyes shifted away, clearly avoiding her gaze. “Oh, I ran into her on the way. She didn’t come in.”

Song Si noticed something strange about his expression. Why did he look more and more flushed?

Even with his naturally tan skin, the redness was obvious.

Lu Yancheng was stiff all over.

What kind of medicine had Dr. Wang given him?! Ever since drinking the soup Aunt Qin had personally prepared, his head had been full of inappropriate images!

Especially the things Song Si had said — they’d been stuck in his head, and his body was definitely reacting.

He prided himself on being a proper man, not some pervert — but now he wasn’t so sure.

What made it worse was that right after drinking the medicine, he ran into Deputy Commander Zhang. The older man had heard Song Si was here and, like a seasoned veteran, gave him all sorts of bedroom advice.

Lu Yancheng had just casually asked what to pay attention to when consummating a marriage, but once that door was opened, there was no closing it.

Deputy Zhang had been very enthusiastic, even recommending where to buy certain… supplies.

He: “……”

Taking a deep breath, he said, “I’m going to take a shower.”

Song Si said, “Okay.”

What was wrong with him?

Soon after, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.

A full hour passed before Lu Yancheng emerged.

He still didn’t look well. He glanced at Song Si and said in a hoarse, low voice, “Did you get some rest? Let’s go to the city.”

Song Si, “Yeah, I’m awake. What happened to your voice? Do you have a cold?”

Lu Yancheng had no choice but to reply, “Yeah.”

They’d been married for over a year, and he had never reacted this way before.

He was too embarrassed to talk about it!

He used to think she was the shameless one, but now… he wasn’t so sure they were any different.

Maybe going out, getting some fresh air, would help clear his head?

“Let’s go.”

By the time he left the bathroom, he was already neatly dressed. Since they were going into town, he’d changed into civilian clothes — a navy blue Zhongshan suit, collar buttoned tight and precise, not a wrinkle out of place.

Seeing him like this… he really did give off that abstinent vibe.

Song Si stole a few more glances at him.

Lu Yancheng was holding his uniform, and while reaching into the pocket, he found the foreign exchange coupons Aunt Qin had given him. He casually placed them on the table. “Take this. You might need it in the city.”

Song Si said, “Okay.”

Money?

She put on a green army coat.

Lu Yancheng wanted to tell her to change, but he didn’t have any women’s clothes here, so he hesitated and didn’t say anything.

His dark eyes accidentally glanced over her chest — then quickly darted away like he’d been shocked, clearly uneasy, and got up to head out the door.

Song Si finished getting dressed and put on cloth shoes. She walked over and picked up the money on the table, giving it a look. Written on it: Bank of China Foreign Exchange Certificate.

Well then. Knowledge gap alert.

In her previous life, she’d never learned much about this era.

Once outside, she saw Lu Yancheng already waiting with a bicycle ready.

In her last life, she’d used bike shares plenty, but this was her first time riding a man’s bicycle — one of those old-school types.

Lu Yancheng figured she wouldn’t be able to get on easily, so he suddenly reached out and lifted her up entirely.

Before she had time to steady herself, he had already let go and started pedaling.

Song Si: “……”

[Why did I feel so light, like a baby chick being picked up?]

Lu Yancheng, facing forward, said in a hoarse voice, “You are light. Not much heavier than a baby chick.”

Song Si: “……”

Lu Yancheng: “Hold on to my coat. Don’t fall.”

“Okay.”

Song Si wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

Lu Yancheng’s back instantly went stiff.

Song Si mumbled softly, “What do you have in your pants pocket? It’s so hard — poking my hand. Just toss it in the front basket.”