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Baizhi Village, Southern Region, Northern Zhou.
Zhao Ruhua’s head throbbed as if it were splitting open. Waves of unfamiliar memories surged through her mind like a tidal flood, churning and crashing, the pain so intense she was forced to open her eyes.
In front of her was a dimly lit room, its corners cluttered with a mess of farm tools. The walls, made of hardened mud, were cracked wide open, and sunlight streamed in through one of the larger fissures, casting a faint glow into the gloom.
Still trying to process the overwhelming flood of information in her mind, Zhao Ruhua struggled to sit up. Just as she managed to rise, a ruckus erupted outside.
“Do you people have no shame at all? You were the ones who begged us back then to agree to this betrothal between the children!”
“Our Ruhua was sixteen when you said your family’s business had hit a rough patch and you didn’t have enough silver on hand. You asked us to wait until your affairs were back on track before discussing marriage.”
“Well, your business has stabilized now, and our Ruhua is already eighteen! But Li Hongyun not only broke his promise—he even went and fathered a child with that woman from the next village, the one surnamed Shen! Where does that leave our Ruhua? What does that make of the Zhao family’s reputation?”
Zhao Ruhua slipped on her shoes, ignoring the pounding in her head, and opened the door to step outside.
Outside, the courtyard was packed with people.
At the moment, none of them noticed Zhao Ruhua had come out. They were still shouting and arguing, voices rising in heated anger.
The more she listened to the clamor, the more her head throbbed.
“Shut up, all of you!”
Her irritated shout rang out. The pain in her skull surged so violently that she nearly blacked out on the spot. Fortunately, she managed to grab hold of the doorframe in time to steady herself.
Instantly, the main hall fell silent.
A large group of people turned to look at Zhao Ruhua in unison.
“Ruhua, you’re awake!”
In the next moment, a woman dressed in a coarse, gray-black linen dress rushed toward her with delight all over her face.
As soon as she got close, she threw her arms tightly around Zhao Ruhua, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Zhao Ruhua: “…”
Who… is this woman?
The moment that woman hugged her, the rest of the men and women nearby rushed over as well.
One after another, they were overjoyed to see Zhao Ruhua awake.
They surrounded her, speaking all at once:
“Ruhua, you’re finally awake! You scared us to death!”
“Don’t ever do something so foolish again, alright? If you do, what are we supposed to do?”
“It’s good that you’re awake. Really good. Don’t throw your life away for someone who’s not worth it.”
Amid the noisy commotion, the swirl of information in Zhao Ruhua’s mind finally settled.
The woman clinging to her and sobbing was her Mother. The man standing in front of her was her Father. The others nearby were her Big Brother and Sister-in-law, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law.
Or rather, to be more precise—they were the relatives of this body. Not hers.
She was merely a wandering soul that had taken over this body.
Surrounded by this overwhelming concern and affection, Zhao Ruhua felt something shift quietly in her chest. Her heart, which had long been cold and detached, began to soften.
So this… is what it feels like to be cared for. To be wanted.
“Father, Mother, don’t worry. I won’t seek death again.” Zhao Ruhua spoke softly, her voice clear, gentle, and melodious—pleasant to the ear.
The woman holding Zhao Ruhua was surnamed Hu, known in the village simply as Madam Hu.
Wiping her tears, Madam Hu said with relief, “Good, good, as long as you’ve come to your senses.”
The others around her looked equally emotional and relieved.
The ones arguing with the Zhao family were from the Li family. They had come today to call off the engagement with Zhao Ruhua.
Standing among them was a man with a refined appearance, fair complexion, and a face tinged with arrogance—that was Li Hongyun, the original host’s fiancé.
A few days ago, the original Zhao Ruhua had dressed carefully and gone to see Li Hongyun.
But she happened to stumble upon him hugging and cuddling a young woman surnamed Shen from the neighboring village. After overhearing their conversation, she discovered that Li Hongyun had been secretly involved with this Shen girl for quite some time—and she was already carrying his child.
The shock of the truth had been too much for the original Zhao Ruhua to bear. Unable to accept the betrayal, she jumped into the river to end her life. Fortunately, someone had passed by in time and saved her.
As a result, Li Hongyun’s affair with Shen could no longer be hidden.
The Li family, seeing the situation exposed, decided to stop pretending. After a quick discussion, they came straight to the Zhao family to officially break off the engagement.
“Zhao Ruhua, since you’re awake now, it’s time we settled things between us,” Li Hongyun finally spoke.
His words, like his demeanor, were laced with arrogance—aloof, condescending, as though he were a lofty Buddha and Zhao Ruhua merely an ant crawling on the ground.
Zhao Ruhua said nothing. Her eyes calmly rested on Li Hongyun.
She was thinking: aside from his pale skin and slightly scholarly appearance, there was really nothing particularly outstanding about this young man. She couldn’t understand what the original host had seen in him. What had made her fall for someone like this—so much so that she would try to end her own life for him?
Seeing Zhao Ruhua remain silent, Li Hongyun assumed she was still clinging to him. The disdain in his eyes grew even more obvious.
“I’ll be honest with you—I’ve been disgusted with you for a long time. You know what you look like, don’t you? You and I were never a good match. Whether in terms of family background or appearance, we’re from completely different worlds.”
“Shen is different. She’s as beautiful as a flower, a hundred times better than you. When I’m out with her, I can hold my head high. Besides, she’s already carrying my child. This engagement between you and me—whether or not you shamelessly cling to it—must be annulled.”
What utter nonsense.
Zhao Ruhua had just transmigrated and hadn’t even fully sorted out the current situation, yet this man was already standing over her, talking like he was doing her a favor—did she owe him something?
When had she ever clung to this man?
What the hell?
Zhao Ruhua was thoroughly irritated.
“If you want to break off the engagement, then fine—do it. But why spew so much bullshit? Cling to you? Are you serious? Have you even looked in a mirror? You think you’re some kind of national treasure? You think you’re Kang Shifu* or something? That everyone who sees you just falls all over themselves? That anyone who lays eyes on you wants to throw RMB at you?”
Huh?
The Zhao family exchanged bewildered glances.
The Li family looked equally stunned. Was this still Zhao Ruhua? She sounded like a completely different person. This wasn’t the timid, soft-spoken girl they knew.
What was “Kang Shifu”? What was “RMB”? They’d never heard of such things.
Zhao Ruhua paused, gave Li Hongyun a slow once-over, and continued coldly, “Since you’re so set on breaking off the engagement, you came empty-handed? You think canceling a betrothal is child’s play? Just say the words and it’s done? You think you can wipe your hands clean and go off to shack up with your mistress? Let me tell you—over my dead body.”
*Note: “Kang Shifu” refers to a famous Chinese brand known for its instant noodles and beverages, often used humorously to suggest someone is universally loved or desired.
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