Chapter 23

Lin Qian left her bicycle in the Hua family’s courtyard and walked back to the Lin house on foot.

Just as she reached the front gate, she heard voices—apparently the Lin family had visitors today.

She pushed the gate open and saw Wu Meifen and her son, Zhang Jie.

Zhang Jie had been sitting on a stool, but when he saw Lin Qian, he immediately stood up nervously, rubbing his hands together shyly as he greeted her, “Lin Qian, you’re finally back.”

Lin Qian was surprised that he seemed to know her already.

She remembered in her past life, after this man married Lin Yuanyuan, the look in his eyes whenever he saw her had always been off. She’d assumed he was a man of poor character. Eventually, even Lin Yuanyuan would lose her temper about it and rarely brought him to the Lin house again.

Lin Qian pointed to herself and asked uncertainly, “Have we met before?”

Zhang Jie smiled brightly and said, “How could we not have? Back in April, there was a major rainstorm that caused a bus to overturn into a mountain ditch. We were trapped together, remember? Luckily, Commander Huo, who was on a mission nearby, stepped in and saved all of us. Everyone was rescued, but you had a high fever—you were in bad shape. I was the one who drove while Commander Huo carried you along with your coworker to the hospital.”

After hearing that, Lin Qian felt like she’d just awakened from a long dream.

No wonder the Huo family had taken the initiative to contact Ma Guixin about a matchmaking proposal. It turned out her fate with Huo Xiujin had started even earlier than she’d known.

She had been unconscious from the fever back then, completely unaware of everything that happened during their first meeting.

Now it all made sense.

Huo Xiujin… he must have started liking her from that moment on.

How wonderful.

Their bond was so unexpectedly beautiful.

Lin Qian instinctively turned and took a few steps, wanting to go find the man and talk to him right away—only to remember suddenly:

She had let her joy cloud her head.

He was out on a mission again. She had no way to find him now.

Just then, Lin Yuanyuan walked out carrying a plate of sliced fruit. She happened to overhear the conversation, and an intense wave of jealousy washed over her.

So Zhang Jie hadn’t fallen for Lin Qian at first sight—he had been waiting and scheming all along.

No wonder when she went to the Zhang family this afternoon to propose the match, Zhang Jie had immediately dragged his mother over to their home, eager to seal the deal.

In her past life, no matter how she interrogated Zhang Jie, he never gave a straight answer. Yet here, just upon seeing Lin Qian, he spilled everything.

So if Lin Qian had been the one to marry into the Zhang family, she would’ve had his true affection?

No way. She wouldn’t allow Lin Qian to outshine her!

In a fit of rage, Lin Yuanyuan hurled the fruit plate to the ground with a loud crash.

Everyone in the courtyard turned toward the noise.

Ma Guixin rushed out from the kitchen, alarmed. She’d thought Lin Qian was causing a scene over the marriage proposal, but to her surprise, it was Lin Yuanyuan throwing a tantrum.

Wu Meifen, proud and arrogant by nature, didn’t care to deal with Lin Yuanyuan’s outburst. She stood up and walked over, taking Ma Guixin’s hand warmly.

“Guixin, dear sister, you’ve really raised a wonderful daughter. Just look at my son—he’s completely smitten. And I’m quite pleased with Lin Qian too. If you ask me, we should go ahead and settle this marriage.”

“No!” Lin Yuanyuan was terrified that Lin Qian might really marry into the Zhang family and live a happy life. She objected immediately.

Lin Qian only glanced at Lin Yuanyuan, seeing her conflicted expression, and instantly understood what she was thinking.

Wu Meifen had had enough. She glared at Lin Yuanyuan and said mockingly, “Yuanyuan, I know you originally proposed this marriage for yourself, and I was fine with that. But I also heard you were the one who offered to swap with your cousin and marry into the Lu family instead. Now you want to back out of that too?”

Lin Yuanyuan was instantly provoked by her former mother-in-law. Her fighting spirit ignited, and she jumped up on a stool like a shrew, bending over and shouting at Wu Meifen.

“You old hag! Let me tell you something—your Zhang family isn’t even in the same league as the Lu family! Your son’s plain-looking and worthless, and you dare to dream of marrying me? Keep dreaming!”

“You—you crazy girl!” Wu Meifen had not expected such venom from a young girl. She was so enraged that she nearly fainted.

“Mom!”

Zhang Jie rushed over and caught his mother in his arms.

Ma Guixin stood frozen for a moment before snapping out of it. “Yuanyuan, what on earth are you doing?!”

Lin Yuanyuan regained her composure, only to meet Lin Qian’s calm gaze across the courtyard.

A chill ran down her spine.

Impossible. Something as miraculous as rebirth couldn’t happen to two people. She must be the only one.

“Son, let’s go. Let’s go home now.”

Wu Meifen had finally caught her breath. She grabbed her son and turned to leave. She couldn’t stand another second around Lin Yuanyuan. The girl was like a demon.

Ma Guixin still couldn’t let go of the Zhang family—such a “good catch.” She tried to stop them, “Sister Wu, please reconsider. My niece’s behavior has nothing to do with my daughter. I assure you, our Lin Qian is a gentle and virtuous girl.”

“Yes, Mom. Whatever’s wrong with her cousin has nothing to do with Lin Qian,” Zhang Jie chimed in, still fond of Lin Qian and trying to salvage the situation.

Wu Meifen shook her head. “Son, you’re young—but I’m not stupid. Everyone around here knows the Lin family favors their niece over their own daughter. They’re clearly trying to push a girl onto us. And now Yuanyuan can’t stand the thought of her cousin marrying better than her? Please. We can find a good daughter-in-law elsewhere.”

Ma Guixin knew from that comment that the deal was off. She gave up trying to save face.

She turned and muttered to Lin Yuanyuan, full of frustration, “What were you thinking?”

Zhang Jie liked Lin Qian, but in their household, his mother called the shots.

As he passed by Lin Qian, he let out a helpless sigh. “Comrade Lin Qian, maybe wait for me… I’ll try to convince my mom…”

Lin Yuanyuan saw him throwing glances at Lin Qian, and in a fit of rage, she picked up an apple slice and hurled it at Zhang Jie’s face.

“Get lost!”

Zhang Jie lost his temper and snapped, “You’re insane, Lin Yuanyuan!”

Lin Yuanyuan had now fully realized that in her past life, she had probably only married into the Zhang family because she was Lin Qian’s stand-in. Zhang Jie had settled for her—and even then, he hadn’t treated her well.

Her whole body shook with fury as she screamed at the Zhang mother and son, her voice hoarse and desperate, “Get out! All of you, get out!”

It was the first time Ma Guixin had seen Lin Yuanyuan this unhinged. She feared the neighbors would gossip and quickly rushed to cover Lin Yuanyuan’s mouth.

“Oh my little ancestor, what’s gotten into you now?”

Lin Qian looked at Lin Yuanyuan, who had completely lost control, and gave her a deep, meaningful glance.

At this rate, once Yuanyuan married into the Lu family, Lin Qian wouldn’t even have to lift a finger—Yuanyuan would make sure the Lu family never had a day of peace.