Chapter 2: The Mysterious Paradise  

Qian Jiangang’s hand froze mid-air, stunned by the unprecedented defiance from Liu Huiru and her daughter.  

Seeing his hesitation, Qin Hongxiang let out a wail and threw herself onto the floor, crying dramatically, “Oh heavens! Her father, do you hear this? You gave your life to save others, leaving us widows and orphans to be bullied. There’s no one to stand up for us now. How wretched my fate is…”  

The same old act!  

A cold smirk curled on Qian Lai’s lips as she spoke softly, yet with unmistakable venom, “Auntie, this trick of yours won’t work anymore. I’m not buying it!  

All these years, my father’s heart has been so biased it might as well be in his heel. Even if Uncle crawled out of his coffin now, he couldn’t match a fraction of what my father has done.  

Today, no amount of fuss will change anything. If you insist on stealing my university spot, you’ll have to do it my way. Otherwise, I’ll go to the factory and let everyone judge just how much blood and tears we owe to repay your so-called ‘kindness’!”  

As the workshop director, Qian Jiangang cherished his reputation above all. At these words, his face turned ashen.  

Realizing the situation was turning against them, Qian Xiaozhen dropped to her knees, clutching Qian Jiangang’s leg and sobbing hysterically, “Uncle, please! For the sake of my late father, give me a chance to go to school. I’m stupid, not as pretty as Laidi. If I miss this chance, I’ll have no way out. I beg you, Uncle! I won’t ask the family for money—I’ll find a way myself. Please, just let me go to school…”  

Her shrill cries pierced the quiet hospital corridor again and again.  

“What’s all this noise? This is a hospital—one more outburst and you’re all out!” The nurse’s sharp reprimand seemed to hand Qian Jiangang a lifeline.  

He was the first to bolt from the ward, silently thanking the nurse.  

But he didn’t head home. Instead, he rushed straight to the mediation room. He wondered how Qian Dong’s negotiations were going—whether the compensation and support fees would meet his expectations.  

The ward finally settled into silence.  

Exhausted, Qian Lai lay back on the hospital bed, her head throbbing and ears ringing. This body was far too weak!  

“If only I could bring the Spirit Concentration Pills from the lab…”  

The moment the thought crossed her mind, a familiar scene abruptly materialized before her eyes.  

“QL Bio-Genetics Research Base”—this place, she knew all too well.  

Nestled against Clarity Spirit Mountain and bordered by the Divine Spring Water to the east, the modern complex was encircled by two massive storage belts.  

This was the research park her grandfather had gifted her when she earned the title of bio-genetics researcher.  

Within the park were restaurants, hotels, department stores, and supermarkets—everything one could need. Beneath it lay the “Qian Family Vault,” known only to the Qian family. Inside were not only her grandfather’s treasured collections but also gold bars, cash, jewelry, and more.  

Her heart racing, Qian Lai hurried into the central research institute.  

The top-floor laboratory was filled with world-class equipment, all functioning as usual. The unfinished specimens in the cultivation chambers remained exactly as she had left them. Overjoyed, she realized—  

This was a gift from the heavens!  

Even in another world, she could continue her experiments. Success here would revolutionize human genetic and neural repair.  

She opened the refrigeration unit, took out a Spirit Concentration Pill, and swallowed it.  

Within moments, her body felt light and refreshed. The pain in her head vanished, and the persistent ringing in her ears ceased abruptly.

The Spirit Concentration Pill, refined from Divine Spring Water and numerous precious herbs, indeed had extraordinary effects.

After clearing her mind and sharpening her vision, she put on her white lab coat, safety goggles, and gloves, then sat down at the laboratory bench.

The two lifetimes of Qian Lai had now completely merged into one.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when a notification chime sounded in the lab.

It was midnight.

Her stomach growled in protest, and Qian Lai suddenly thought: how wonderful it would be to have a steaming bowl of beef noodles topped with chili oil.

At the hotel breakfast hall in the compound.

Pushing open the door, she immediately spotted a bowl of steaming beef noodles on her usual Table 8, its surface gleaming with bright red chili oil.

Qian Lai picked up the bowl and inhaled deeply—the aroma instantly filled her nostrils. It was truly the fragrance of freshly fried chili oil!

After wolfing down the noodles, Qian Lai went “shopping” at the supermarket.

Gulp after gulp, she downed the chilled fruit juice in one go. Looking up, she saw the previously empty spot had automatically restocked itself.

“Limitless supply?” A tremendous sense of security welled up in Qian Lai’s heart.

With this “mysterious paradise,” what did she have to fear in this unfamiliar era?

“Return,” she silently willed.

When she opened her eyes again, the pungent smell of disinfectant assaulted her nostrils. She was back in her hospital bed.

Having taken the Spirit Concentration Pill and drunk the Divine Spring Water, she had slept peacefully through the night.

Waking the next morning, Qian Lai felt clear-headed, and the wound on her head was nearly healed.

After organizing her thoughts, she strode to the nurses’ station: “Comrade, may I borrow your telephone?”

Moments later, the call connected. “Hello, is this the Municipal Organization Department?…”

Yesterday’s discussion had reached no conclusion, but today she was fully prepared for a final showdown with the main branch family and Qian Jiangang.

Unexpectedly, as she approached the courtyard gate, she saw a crowd gathered outside. From within came the sound of objects being smashed to the ground.

“Qian Jiangang, you heartless bastard! Qian Lai is your own flesh and blood! She was nearly killed by a car yesterday and is still lying in the hospital! I scrimped and saved to buy this chicken, wanting to make soup to nourish my daughter. And you… you stole it to give to your elder brother’s family? Are you even human?”

Liu Huiru’s hoarse, grief-stricken screams pierced the air, her voice already raw from crying.

Qian Lai pushed through the crowd and kicked open the half-closed gate.

The courtyard was in shambles. Fragments of an earthenware pot littered the ground, soup and scraps of chicken mixed with dirt. Liu Huiru sat collapsed on the ground, hair disheveled, sobbing uncontrollably.

Qian Jiangang stood over her with hands on hips, his face full of impatience. Behind him, the mother and son from the main branch family stood on the porch, snickering as they watched the spectacle.

“Mom.” Qian Lai rushed over to help Liu Huiru up, her eyes reddening.

“I can’t take this anymore, Lailai. We’re leaving your father. He’s never cared about us.” Years of pent-up rage erupted when Liu Huiru saw her daughter. She burst into loud sobs, “The chicken I worked so hard to buy—your father secretly gave it to the main branch. When I found out, they’d watered down the soup and left only these chicken heads and feet…” Liu Huiru’s heart ached unbearably.

She grieved for the chicken bought with her hard-earned savings now wasted on unworthy people. But more than that, she grieved for her daughter—injured yet denied even a bowl of chicken soup.

“Qian Jiangang! Are you even my father?” Qian Lai’s furious roar carried waves of hatred.

Qian Jiangang was stunned by her direct address and instantly flew into a rage. “You little brat! How dare you call your own father by his full name! It’s just a bowl of chicken soup. Why make such a fuss among family? You and your mother are so petty, making a scene for the whole neighborhood to laugh at!”

“Family?” Qian Lai’s voice was icy. “Seems to me you’re the one treating them like family. How much longer do you and your ‘family’ plan to keep sucking the lifeblood from me and Mom?”

“Laidi, how can you speak to your elders like this?” Qin Hongxiang interjected. “Your uncle died saving your father’s life. Now your father wants to repay that debt by looking after us widows and orphans. Is that so wrong? Poor my Qian Dong and Xiaozhen, growing up without their father. Sucking your blood? Who’s sucking your blood… Just return my people to me, and the three of us will leave immediately!”

Qin Hongxiang had perfected this act over the years. The neighbors watching the spectacle burst into laughter as if enjoying a play.

Ignoring the shrew, Qian Lai pulled her mother aside and coldly confronted Qian Jiangang. “Dad, have you made a decision about what we discussed yesterday?”

Her small face flushed red with anger, wishing she could beat up every single one of these scumbags.

“Since your sister is so virtuous and decided to support herself after college, I’ll keep the betrothal gifts for your brother’s marriage! As for you, once you marry into the Gu family, you won’t lack for anything. The betrothal gifts should naturally go back to your birth family.”

“What about my dowry then? I know you’ve saved 300 yuan for Cousin’s dowry. Shouldn’t I get the same?”

The onlookers nodded in agreement.

“Nonsense! I don’t have 300 yuan. My salary goes straight to household expenses—I don’t have a penny to my name.” A flicker of guilt flashed in Qian Jiangang’s eyes.

“Oh really?”

Without another word, Qian Lai stormed into the small kitchen.