Chapter 1: Rebirth and Return

“Gu Siqing, a ruined woman like you is only fit to marry a cripple. All these years you’ve eaten our food, worn our clothes, used our things—now it’s time you repay us. You’ll marry in place of your cousin.”

“Your parents are long dead. After you get married, we are your maternal family. Your dowry rightfully belongs to us. If your husband treats you badly, we can still support you.”

“Your cousin owes a lot of gambling debts. We’re still short 300 yuan. Doesn’t your crippled husband receive a state pension? Use his pension to pay off your cousin’s debts. Remember, your brother is your real support. Without support, you’ll never gain a foothold in your husband’s household!”

All kinds of chaotic voices rang in her head. The unconscious Gu Siqing felt like her brain was about to explode, her head throbbing with pain.

She couldn’t take it anymore.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the familiar, old house around her.

It was the room she used to live in before marriage.

Looking around in confusion, she found that the furniture and layout were exactly the same as before.

She had really come back!

Her previous life had been tragic—her parents and brother died young, leaving her alone. Her uncle’s family seized all her parents’ assets and forced her to do all the housework while her grandparents turned a blind eye due to their preference for boys.

She had fought hard to get into university, but her cousin took her place.

During college, her cousin caught the eye of a professor who wanted to set her up with his son, a military officer who later became a regiment commander. But the man was injured in an accident and became crippled. Her uncle and aunt didn’t want their daughter to marry a cripple, but they didn’t want to give up the generous bride price of 1,888 yuan either—so they sent her to marry him instead.

After the marriage, they kept manipulating her, pressuring her to get money from her husband to support their leeching household.

Eventually, her cousin’s gambling debts led to them demanding she steal her husband’s pension. When she refused, her cousin beat her to death in rage.

Only after death did she learn that her world was just a twisted novel. The heroine was her cousin, and she herself was merely cannon fodder.

Her cousin stole her university admission letter, her life, and even her mother’s heirloom necklace. That necklace, once bonded by blood, could activate a spatial dimension.

Afterward, she was bound to a system and told that if she completed missions across ten different worlds, she could return to her original one.

She had just completed the last mission and unbound from the system—and now, she was really back!

Looking at everything familiar around her, Gu Siqing was overwhelmed with joy.

She wasn’t married yet. Her mother’s spatial necklace hadn’t been bound by her cousin. It wasn’t too late to change everything!

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by her cousin Gu Wanrou’s voice:

“Siqing, are you awake? Come out for a moment—we need to talk about your wedding the day after tomorrow.”

Her nerves tensed instantly.

The wedding’s in two days—that means her cousin will soon get the chance to bind the space.

She remembered that in the book, on her wedding day, her cousin wore the necklace, accidentally injured herself, and the blood activated the space, beginning her “cheat-mode” life.

Gu Siqing got out of bed and walked into the living room, where she saw Dabao and Xiaobao helping wipe the table.

Her heart ached. Her two little children—only two years old—were already helping with chores because they knew if they didn’t, their mother would have to do it alone.

Back then, when she got into university, her cousin tricked her into drinking, and after she passed out, she was taken advantage of by an unknown man. After that night, she lost her purity and fell into despair. Her family kept feeding her the belief that she was ruined and unworthy of school, until she gave up on her dream.

She quickly called out:

“Dabao, Xiaobao, stop cleaning. Come here.”

The two little ones instantly dropped their rags and came running, one on each side, hugging her legs.

Dabao looked up and asked, “Mom, Auntie said we’re about to have a dad. Is that true?”

Xiaobao looked at her hopefully, waiting for her answer.

“It’s true.”

Thinking of her husband, Gu Siqing was filled with guilt.

In the past, brainwashed by her uncle’s family, she believed everything they said. Though she treated her husband kindly, she gave all their money to her uncle’s household. After ten years of marriage, she finally saw their true faces—but it was too late. After spoiling them for so long, not giving them money suddenly made her the bad guy.

In this life, they won’t get a single cent from her. Not anymore.