Chapter 11

Lin Qian couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Lin Yuanyuan. Why had she suddenly developed such a deep hatred toward her?

What, did she get shot or something?

Then it hit her—Lin Yuanyuan was shot in her past life. She’d been killed by gunfire.

Lin Yuanyuan’s married life in their past lives had also been miserable. The family she’d married into had fallen into decline just a few years after the start of the Reform and Opening period. Her husband, who was already unfaithful before marriage, turned into an alcoholic and became violent with Lin Yuanyuan after his family went bankrupt. The Lin family had tried to help her remarry, but her in-laws—unreasonable and domineering—made it impossible for her to divorce and start over.

Eventually, after she bore them a son, her in-laws finally began to pick themselves up. With help from Lin Dawei and Ma Guixin, Lin Yuanyuan had managed to set up a small tofu stall to make a living.

But then, Lin Qian’s real family came looking for her from Taiwan.

The Lin family of three had thought their salvation had finally arrived—that Lin Yuanyuan could take Lin Qian’s place and inherit a life of wealth and status.

They never expected that those people had come to kill the real Lin Qian—the rightful heir of the family—and eliminate any potential threats.

Lin Yuanyuan was gunned down in the street by a mentally ill man, used as a scapegoat.

Shortly after Lin Yuanyuan’s tragic death, Lin Dawei and Ma Guixin also died of illness—but thinking about it now, Lin Qian suspected they’d been silenced by her own powerful family.

“Lin Qian, you’re the one who should be dead! You!” Lin Yuanyuan’s eyes burned with rage as she stared at Lin Qian. Even though she was lucky enough to be reborn after death, her hatred hadn’t dulled.

She couldn’t accept that in her past life, she’d been killed in Lin Qian’s place, while Lin Qian went on to live peacefully as the wife of a military officer in the Lu family.

Even though Lin Qian never had children after marrying into the Lu family, Lu Zhanting still never divorced her.

Lin Yuanyuan had always trampled on Lin Qian since they were young—after all, she was the real daughter, treasured by their parents. Yet in the end, she died for this wretch.

She was filled with resentment.

Seeing the malice in Lin Yuanyuan’s eyes—like a vengeful ghost from hell—Lin Qian suddenly had a chilling thought: Had Lin Yuanyuan been reborn too?

Lin Yuanyuan suddenly lunged at Lin Qian again, like she truly wanted to tear her apart. Thankfully, a nearby neighbor pulled her back.

“Yuanyuan, you’re finally back. Quick, go comfort your aunt and uncle—they adore you and will definitely listen to you.”

“What happened to them?” Lin Yuanyuan asked, eyes still red.

“Sigh, your house was robbed today. Completely ransacked. Your aunt and uncle are nearly heartbroken to death.”

“My house got robbed? How could my house have been robbed?!”

Lin Yuanyuan shook her head. She tried hard to recall anything like that from her past life, but there was no such memory. She had just been reborn today—how could something so major have changed?

Could it be that her rebirth had triggered this ripple effect in reality?

As she turned to leave, she suddenly remembered Lin Qian. She had died in Lin Qian’s place last life. This time, she would have her revenge.

“Lin Qian, don’t you walk away from me!”

Lin Qian had just picked up her bicycle and was about to leave, but Lin Yuanyuan rushed over and grabbed her arm tightly.

“Our family’s in crisis, and you’re trying to slip away like you had nothing to do with it?”

She knew Lin Qian was anxious to return to the Lu family. In her past life, it was exactly because Lin Qian was so “virtuous and good at managing a household” that she earned their respect.

But anyone could be virtuous and capable. The Lu family was too good to let go—this time, she would be the one to marry into it.

Lin Qian didn’t know what kind of stunt Lin Yuanyuan was planning now that she was reborn. But honestly, she wasn’t particularly eager to return to the Lu family and deal with those annoying people anyway. Why not stick around and see what Lin Yuanyuan was up to?

Lin Yuanyuan dragged Lin Qian back into the courtyard. Seeing Lin Dawei and Ma Guixin crying like their world had ended, she pulled Lin Qian along to approach them.

“Auntie, Uncle, please don’t be so heartbroken. As long as our family is still together, we’ll get through anything.”

Ma Guixin looked up at her biological daughter and felt comforted. After all, Lin Yuanyuan had just returned from meeting the young man arranged for her, and Ma Guixin was very satisfied with that family.

“Yuanyuan, how did your meeting with Zhang Jie go today? Did you two have a good chat?”

Glancing around at the crowd of onlookers, Lin Yuanyuan pulled Ma Guixin inside the house.

Seeing his wife calm down, Lin Dawei followed them in—only to be kicked out by Ma Guixin.

“Ugh, just go to the factory and try to get some wages in advance. Look at this house—it’s been cleaned out! How are we supposed to survive without money?”

Having no choice, Lin Dawei obediently left. Ma Guixin quickly turned her attention to Lin Qian.

“Qian, you should also go to your factory and try to get some money in advance. Our family is in crisis—you need to help out.”

“Oh, and after you get your advance, go to the military district and see if Lu Zhanting can help us out. After all, you’re already engaged. He’s practically our son-in-law. There’s no way he’ll just stand by and do nothing, right?”

Ma Guixin’s scheming was practically slapping Lin Qian in the face—her intentions couldn’t be more obvious.

Lin Qian glanced over to see how Lin Yuanyuan would react, but before she could even respond, Lin Yuanyuan decisively cut in.

“Auntie, you shouldn’t be thinking about using the Lu family right now.”

“What nonsense are you spouting, girl? He and your cousin are about to be married. This is the perfect chance to test his character. If they’re willing to help us now, I won’t say another word—I’ll let your cousin marry into their family without further objection.”

Lin Qian almost rolled her eyes to death. Ma Guixin really had a way with twisting logic. As if the Lu family would ever want to help the Lin family.

But maybe she could use this to push the Lu family into wanting to break off the engagement.

Lin Yuanyuan knew her mother was only thinking of immediate benefits. She said bluntly, “Auntie, stop making things difficult for Cousin. Just look at her—she clearly doesn’t want to do this and probably can’t handle the Lu family either. Why not let me go instead? She’s not suited for them.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? You? Under what pretense would you go—”

Ma Guixin trailed off, realization dawning. She finally understood her daughter’s real intention.

Lin Qian was both shocked and amused. She looked at Lin Yuanyuan like she’d lost her mind.

Lin Yuanyuan snorted coldly at Lin Qian, full of arrogance. Having lived two lives, she wasn’t afraid—especially not with her parents backing her. She was determined to win Lu Zhanting over this time, no matter what.